The prospect of mass timber construction in Ontario got the much needed boost in 2014 when Ontario Building Code was amended in Ontario to permit new wood frame buildings to extend to six storeys. Since then, Ontario has witnessed enormous interest and increase of wood products usage in construction.
The College of Carpenters and Allied Trades received funding through Ontario’s Mass Timber Program to promote and offer an innovative building of wood and connection system training platform to equip workers with the skills and techniques they need to work efficiently, effectively and safely on job sites centred on wood frame buildings.
In Toronto today, there are many tall wood building demonstration projects which permit tall wood building to be up to 18 storeys.
However, the College of Carpenters hosted a Mass Timber Open House on Wednesday March 27, 2019 from 4pm to 7pm. The Mass Timber Open House showcased and highlighted the training program designed to equip workers with the skills and knowledge to be efficient, effective and safe on mass timber projects.
The Open House featured David Moses, founder of Moses Structural Engineers, an award-winning Canadian firm which specialises in cutting edge wood design. David spoke about the benefits, opportunities and what the future holds for mass timber across Ontario.
While talking about the Open House, Mike Yorke, President of the Carpenters’ District Council of Ontario said: “Developing a mass timber program has been a focus for the Carpenters’ Union for several years. The College of Carpenters has developed a training program that I feel will be a critical component in ensuring mass timber projects are built with the most knowledge and skillful tradespeople in the industry.”
The Carpenters’ District Council of Ontario (CDCO) is made up of 16 affiliated Locals of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters all over the province of Ontario. The council represents about 30,000 women and men who work various skilled trades like carpentry, scaffolding, interior systems, welding, resilient flooring, concrete formwork, underwater construction and other construction related work.
