A $215 million mass timber manufacturing plant being developed in Nova Scotia could reap economic benefits that ripple through its community, region, province and Atlantic Canada. It will be “one of the most modern plants of its kind,” producing 50,000 cubic metres of commodity mass timber and large-scale glulam products for up to 3,100 residential units annually, said Patrick Crabbe, director of mass timber with Bird Construction and leader of the MTC Mass Timber Company. “The anticipation is it will be capitalized by May/June this year.” Crabbe, who spoke at a conference recently themed Indigenous Collaboration, said he sees the venture as “a circular economic opportunity that is a diamond in the rough.” Through integration with the First Nation sawmill industry in the region, the plant could help the small Pictou Landing First Nation community of about 650 residents maintain its large swath of evergreen forest.