When most people think of forestry, they picture tall pines, logging trucks, or stacks of 2x4s. It’s easy to stop there. But here in Northwestern Ontario, forestry is so much more than raw lumber, it’s the foundation for innovation, sustainability, and new opportunities waiting to be built.
Forestry is already a giant in our economy, contributing more than $21 billion in revenue last year and supporting over 128,000 jobs across Ontario. The province’s new Advanced Wood Construction Action Plan is proof of how big this future can be. Investments in cross-laminated timber, prefabrication, and modular construction are transforming wood into a high-tech building solution that cuts costs, shortens timelines, and even reduces emissions. Suddenly, a simple tree is the backbone of tomorrow’s cities.
But here’s the truth, if we want Northwestern Ontario to thrive, we need to think beyond the 2×4. The next wave of growth won’t come just from exporting lumber. It will come from innovation and automation that makes harvesting smarter, drones that monitor forest health, new products made from wood fiber, and technologies that connect sustainability with profitability.
Right now, these tools don’t exist here. Nobody is building them for our region. And that is exactly the opportunity.
The American tariffs on Canadian wood showed us how vulnerable we are when we rely too heavily on selling raw products across the border. If we want resilience, we need to create value here at home. That means diversifying what we produce, embracing advanced construction, and empowering entrepreneurs to dream up the next generation of forestry technology.
This is where the story turns to you. The real innovation will come from the entrepreneurs, students, and makers in this region who see forestry not just as trees, but as a launchpad. Imagine the companies that could emerge right here in Northwestern Ontario, designing the software, building the machines, inventing the materials, that will shape the industry of the future. The Innovation Centre is here to support the innovators and entrepreneurs through their business journey.
Forestry in Northwestern Ontario has always been about the forest. Now it’s about what we can create from it. The question is whether we will seize the opportunity. The time has come to think bigger, think smarter, and build a future where our forests don’t just provide lumber, but inspire innovation that carries our region forward
Because the future of forestry isn’t just about what we cut, it’s about what we create.
Carole Long, September 1st, 2025
