Navigating Hope & Uncertainty

Exploring viable solutions through economic Opportunities and prosperity in the forestry sector.

In this episode of Forestry Uncut, host Todd Burgess (Executive Director, Forest Nova Scotia) sits down with Kevin Merriam, Executive Director of the Maritime Lumber Bureau, and Patrick Crabbe, CEO of The Mass Timber Company.

They explore how Atlantic Canada’s forestry sector can move “from tree to city” through mass timber, panelized and modular construction, and other value‑added wood products. The conversation covers:

• The current challenges in the sawmilling sector, including U.S. tariffs and duties
• How mass timber and prefabricated wood systems can help address the housing crisis
• Why Atlantic Canada’s spruce‑pine‑fir lumber is stronger than previously published values
• The role of government policy (like Nova Scotia’s wood‑first policy) in growing domestic wood construction
• Success stories from companies like East Cut, Dora Construction/MacLellan Group, and others innovating with wood

If you’re a forestry professional, developer, architect, engineer, policymaker, or landowner wondering how wood can play a bigger role in housing and infrastructure, this episode is for you.

Subscribe to stay updated on future episodes of Forestry Uncut, and learn more about Forest Nova Scotia at forestns.ca.

00:00 – Opening thoughts: Adversity and opportunity in forestry
00:31 – Todd introduces Forestry Uncut and today’s guests
01:22 – Kevin’s background and path to the Maritime Lumber Bureau
02:39 – From inspector to executive director: Kevin’s career progression
03:32 – Patrick’s roots in a family sawmill business
05:55 – 2008 downturn, receivership, and Patrick’s pivot to mass timber
07:35 – WoodWORKS and early work on mass timber and building codes
08:49 – Founding The Mass Timber Company and project status
09:36 – “Tree to city”: A circular, fully integrated wood economy
10:29 – Nova Scotia’s wood‑first policy and early market activity
12:03 – Hidden value chain: Why landowners don’t see the full picture
12:47 – State of the sawmilling sector and U.S. tariffs/duties
14:36 – Why develop domestic markets? Origins of Atlantic WoodWORKS
15:39 – Why mass timber took so long to arrive in Atlantic Canada
17:00 – Strength testing Atlantic SPF and the “aha” moment
19:13 – “We’ve veiled the gold”: Realizing the true value of the wood basket
20:10 – Beyond mass timber: Panelized and modular wood systems
21:55 – Wood, cost‑effectiveness, codes, and speeding up housing delivery
23:38 – How developers can engage WoodWORKS and technical teams
23:48 – Prefab vs volumetric modular – where mass timber fits
26:13 – Case study: Crosswoods project and exposed mass timber floors
28:13 – How much Nova Scotia lumber could mass timber actually use?
29:25 – 7–20x value: Increasing value per cubic metre of wood
30:13 – Emerging Atlantic companies: East Cut, Atlas, truss manufacturers
31:29 – Perfect storm: Market disruption and local circular solutions
35:07 – Forestry’s role in affordable housing: Call for government–industry dialogue
36:18 – Who needs to be at the table? Municipal, provincial, federal
36:59 – Closing thoughts and call to action for collaboration
37:30 – Outro: About Forest Nova Scotia and where to learn more

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