Queen’s Park is funding the first cross-laminated timber factory in southwestern Ontario.
Frank Dottori, the founder of Tembec, is spearheading the creation of Ontario’s first cross-laminated timber (CLT) plant in southwestern Ontario.
St. Thomas will host a $32-million fully-automated manufacturing facility that will create over 60 jobs.
The Ontario government has announced nearly $5 million in support for the facility from its Forestry Growth Fund.
Element5, a design, engineering, and fabrication company based in Toronto and Montreal that specializes in mass timber construction, will operate the plant.
Last January, Dottori stepped back from daily management at his sawmills in White River and Hornepayne to collaborate with Element5 on establishing a CLT plant for Ontario.
They were looking for locations close to customers and major homebuilding and construction markets in southern Ontario.
“This one would probably be the biggest industrial fabricator of CLT in North America,” Dottori said last winter during an interview with Northern Ontario Business. The goal was to have the CLT plant running by August 2020.
Element5 has been running a CLT factory in Ripon, Quebec since 2017. With recent upgrades to their facilities, they expect to produce 10,000 cubic meters of CLT and Glulam (glue laminated timber) annually.
“This is a significant investment in the Ontario forestry industry, job creation, housing, innovation and technology, and the environment through green building practices,” Dottori stated in an announcement from the Ontario government.
“Thanks to their generous support, Ontario-and particularly St. Thomas-are well positioned to become the hub of the mass timber industry in North America.”
The provincial government aims to boost timber use within homebuilding while encouraging eco-friendly materials for construction projects across Canada and the U. S.
“I’m happy to back Element5’s efforts to create affordable and environmentally sustainable building materials using renewable resources,” said Environment Minister Jeff Yurek, who represents Elgin-Middlesex-London.
“This investment will cut carbon dioxide emissions while generating jobs right here in Ontario and St. Thomas as we strive for a balance between a healthy economy and environment.”
Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Steve Clark noted that this plant is part of their strategy to provide more housing options.
“Mass timber construction will be an essential innovation that can help deliver housing more quickly while still complying with high standards outlined by the Ontario Building Code for public health and safety.”
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