Williams Lake, B.C. - Massive Canada, a leading sustainable mass timber manufacturer, is set to construct a new $75 million mass timber manufacturing facility in Williams Lake, located in the Central Interior of British Columbia. The provincial government has committed up to $10 million towards the project, which aims to boost affordable housing and help achieve climate goals in B.C. communities.
The CEO of Massive Canada, Gaetan Royer, expressed his enthusiasm for the project, stating, "Massive Canada brings together sustainable mass-timber products and prefabrication in this facility. We manufacture buildings to help B.C. communities achieve their affordable housing and climate goals. The B.C. government's 2022 Mass Timber Action Plan was a pivotal document for us. Thanks to the Manufacturing Jobs Fund, we will create jobs for knowledge workers and tradespersons in this innovative industry."
The company plans to renovate and equip an existing 91,000-square-foot manufacturing plant to produce prefabricated laneway homes, apartment units, townhouses, and commercial projects using mass-timber building products and systems. By utilizing mass timber, construction time will be significantly reduced, increasing the supply of housing throughout the province.
The facility is expected to commence small-scale operations later in 2023, with full operations commencing in 2024. This project marks the first approval under the Province's new $180-million BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund, which began accepting applications in February 2023.
Brenda Bailey, Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation, emphasized the importance of supporting innovative projects like Massive Canada's, stating, "By getting behind Massive Canada's innovative project, we're helping move B.C. forward as we build resilient communities in every corner of our province. Making investments in innovative manufacturing projects throughout B.C. will help get more value out of our forests while retaining long-term, high-quality jobs for British Columbians, especially in forestry-dependent communities and rural B.C."
The BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund aims to support established for-profit organizations in launching high-value industrial and manufacturing projects that create stable jobs and drive clean and inclusive growth throughout the province. Applications for the fund are currently open and being approved on a rolling basis.
Mayor Surinderpal Rathor of Williams Lake expressed excitement about the project, stating, "This investment in Williams Lake and the job opportunities that will come with it are welcome news for our community. We're excited to see this project moving forward with support from the Province and can't wait to welcome Massive Canada to Williams Lake."
The construction of the new mass timber facility in Williams Lake represents a significant step towards sustainable and innovative building practices, further establishing British Columbia as a leader in the mass timber industry.