Tim Hodgson
TORONTO — The Honourable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources… announced the launch of a single-window pathfinding service, funding to promote the use of Canadian wood in construction, and the creation of the Canadian Forest Sector Transformation Task Force. Natural Resources Canada’s new, single-window pathfinding service includes a new website with information on all programs available to forest sector businesses and direct access to Natural Resources Canada experts on eligibility and program applications. …Starting in early 2026, the Task Force will seek input from industry, provinces and territories, Indigenous foresters, communities, and labour groups on how to restructure the forest sector. Led by Ken Kalesnikoff of Kalesnikoff Mass Timber and Frédéric Verreault of les Chantiers Chibougamau, the Task Force will have 90 days to seek recommendations. …Additional members of the Task Force will be announced in the coming weeks.
B.C.’s largest-ever forestry trade mission to Asia
Zoom Seminar | November 18| 11:30am – 1:00pm| This seminar helps leaders and teams learn to use artificial intelligence to enhance productivity, communication, and operational efficiency. Rather than replacing people, AI can act as a digital teammate, handling routine or repetitive work so humans can focus on creativity, decision-making, and critical thinking. Participants will explore practical ways to use AI tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, and others to streamline workflows in areas such as administration, project management, customer service, and content creation. You will learn: How AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot work; common misconceptions; How to give clear, effective instructions to AI. Examples of strong vs. weak prompts; Examples of AI applications for administrative tasks, writing, and increasing productivity; and What to include in an internal AI-use framework: approved tools, privacy, and accountability. Safe and unsafe examples. $29 per person (you do not need to be a BC Wood member to participate – Limited to participants from Canada only)
When Prime Minister Mark Carney toured Intelligent City’s advanced manufacturing facility in Delta, B.C. this spring, it was more than just another campaign stop. It signalled that prefabricated and modular construction has moved from the margins to the mainstream of Canada’s housing conversation. That recognition is overdue. If we are serious about tackling Canada’s housing affordability crisis by delivering more homes at scale, governments need to stop paying lip service to the huge potential of off- site construction and start putting it into policy and practice. …First, governments should publish a multi-year prefabricated housing procurement roadmap. Off-site manufacturing depends on predictable, portfolio-scale demand. A provincial roadmap in British Columbia, for example, that consolidates housing needs across ministries, Crown agencies, and municipalities would give factories the confidence to invest in automation, skilled labour, and supply chains.
The audience of dedicated urbanists at Vancouver’s Robson Square Theatre was startled earlier this year when the first speaker at a debate about mass timber—which B.C. has been promoting vigorously—said it isn’t the for-sure climate-change silver bullet that everyone likes to think it is. Adam Rysanek, a UBC professor of environmental systems who specializes in energy efficiency, poked hard at the assumption that, because everyone thinks of mass timber as just wood—a plant! that comes out of the ground!—it must be natural and environmentally friendly and surely better than concrete. But Rysanek kept making the point at the Urbanarium debate that those ideas are not fully proven. A study he cited, which aimed to factor in all the uncertainties of carbon emissions in different types of building materials, found there is not a clear answer yet about the differences between mass timber and concrete.
A technique used for the long-term preservation of human and animal remains is now being tested on Western red cedar. Plastination, originally designed to embalm the dead, is now being used to improve the functionality and durability of advanced composite materials. A team from UBC Okanagan’s School of Engineering has been experimenting with the technique and published a study that examined the 
TORONTO — The Ontario government has launched a new working group to guide the implementation of the 
Payson sits in one of the most fire-prone regions in the country, yet the town council has repeatedly declined to adopt fire-hardening requirements for new homes. The town several years ago approved a Firewise landscaping code aimed at thinning overgrown properties and removing vegetation touching buildings. However, the council has twice rejected a Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) building code, most recently after firefighters urged the council to adopt standards for new construction. Builders raised concerns about cost, and the council again declined to move forward. A collection of studies suggests those concerns may not align with the data. Research from federal agencies, economists and wildfire specialists shows WUI codes add little to the cost of new construction, save money over time and significantly reduce the likelihood of homes burning in a wildfire. The research also points to major long-term savings for taxpayers, who shoulder growing federal firefighting costs in high-risk areas.
SALT LAKE CITY — Homeowners in high wildfire risk areas should soon expect home assessments and a new fee. HB48 Wildland Urban Interface Modifications requires the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands to draw a high wildfire risk boundary across the state. The division will inspect homes within the boundary for fire risk, and property owners will pay a fee based on their risk and square footage, which will cover the cost of the program and lot assessments. State Wildfire Risk Reductions Programs Manager Joseph Anderson said the assessments will focus on the vegetation surrounding the home and the materials used in the structure. “The goal is to remove any vegetation or anything that could catch an ember and allow that ember to burn and catch the structure on fire,” Anderson said. The bill comes after catastrophic wildfires across the West, like the California Eaton Fire from January 2025. 
REDDING, Calif. – A groundbreaking effort is underway in Redding where 
Michigan is the latest state to launch an initiative aimed at accelerating mass timber construction. The new Michigan Mass Timber Catalyst Program will provide cash awards ranging from $25,000 to $75,000, along with technical assistance and peer-learning opportunities, to encourage the use of engineered wood in new buildings. Although mass timber products are not yet manufactured in Michigan, interest in the material is growing rapidly. …The Catalyst program, produced collaboratively by the Michigan DNR, MassTimber@MSU, the Michigan Green Building Collaborative, and WoodWorks, will support early-stage projects that use mass timber as a primary structural or architectural material. …Awarded teams will join a cohort led by MassTimber@MSU and Woodworks to work through design, procurement, cost estimation, and code approval challenges. …In New York City, the NYCEDC’s Mass Timber Studio offers $25,000 Grants and technical support for early-stage projects…. In the Southeast, the Georgia Mass Timber Accelerator… provides funding and technical assistance to teams exploring timber-based design solutions.
Chinese tissue paper made from bamboo has emerged as a trendy choice for eco-friendly shoppers. However, new research suggests these bamboo paper products may not offer significant climate benefits over tissue produced in the United States and, in some cases, may be more detrimental to the environment. North Carolina State University researchers compared the carbon footprint of bamboo tissue paper manufactured in China with that of conventional tissue paper manufactured in the U.S. and Canada. They found that… the fossil fuel-heavy power grid in China led to significant increases in emissions compared with cleaner fuel sources used in North America. “As far as emissions go, the technology used to create hygiene tissue paper is far more important than the type of fiber it’s made from,” said Naycari Forfora, lead author of the study…. “Because the Chinese power grid is so reliant on coal for power, emissions … are higher than the wood-based option.”
Futamura, a Japanese manufacturer of cellulose films and packaging products, has announced a solution to help reduce the quantities of microplastics generated from glitter products. Microplastics are defined as plastic particles less than 5mm in size, which can be either intentionally manufactured at that size (primary microplastics) or created when larger plastic items break down (secondary microplastics). Glitter has been particularly criticised in recent years for its contribution to microplastic pollution in oceans and soil. According to Futamura, biodegradable glitter can be created from its NatureFlex materials [wood pulp], which will safely degrade in the environment it was disposed of after use without producing harmful microplastics. …Currently, glitter based on conventional plastics can still be sold into cosmetic applications due to a transition period granted under the EU’s Microplastics Regulation. However, once this period ends cosmetic applications will also be banned.
Understanding the differences between lyocell vs cotton becomes crucial when choosing sustainable, comfortable fabrics for your wardrobe and home. Over 68% of US consumers now prioritize eco-friendly textiles in their purchasing decisions, yet many remain confused about lyocell’s advantages over traditional cotton. This comprehensive guide reveals the exact properties, environmental impact, and performance characteristics that distinguish these two popular fabrics in 2025. …Lyocell is a regenerated cellulose fiber made from wood pulp through an innovative closed-loop manufacturing process that recovers over 99% of solvents used in production. …The choice between lyocell vs cotton depends on your priorities: sustainability goals, budget constraints, specific use applications, and care preferences. Neither fiber is universally superior—each excels in different scenarios. Choose lyocell if you prioritize: environmental sustainability, moisture-wicking performance, luxury feel, and durability. …Our sustainability analysis shows lyocell winning decisively with 78% less water usage, no pesticide requirements, and complete biodegradability. 
Ireland must realise the “massive opportunity” that exists as timber construction is set to triple market value and deliver climate action, Forest Industries Ireland (FII) said. The director of FII, Mark McAuley has welcomed a