At a ceremony Tuesday morning in St. Thomas, Element5 officially opened its new state-of-the-art glue-laminated production line and unveiled the expansion of its mass timber manufacturing facility in the city’s north end.Element5 is the province’s first certified manufacturer of cross-laminated timber, and the expansion more than doubles the size of the plant from 130,000 square feet to over 350,000 square feet.
It will create 150 new jobs, increasing the company’s workforce to over 325 employees.
The expansion doubles the facility’s production capacity from 50,000 cubic meters annually to 100,000 cubic meters annually of cross-laminated timber (CLT) and glued-laminated timber (Glulam) products.
With little fanfare, Element5 has become a significant success story less than five years after constructing its $50 million plant on 40 acres of land on Dennis Road.
Even more impressive is the fact that the company itself has been in existence for only a decade.
It was founded in 2015 when it purchased a small cross-laminated timber (CLT) manufacturing company in Ripon, Quebec and began production.Chris LaTour, Element5 president, called the plant expansion “A bold step forward.”
He continued, “Five years ago, the campus that you toured today was a greenfield site. And Element5 was just 15 passionate employees. Two years ago, the space that we sit in and dine in today was just endless potential.
“But today, this campus with our $107 million investment by Element5, Kensington Capital Partners and the Hasslacher Group makes Element 5 the most advanced wood manufacturing facility in North America.
“We are driven by a skilled workforce of passionate employees, leading change in sustainable building construction. This team has delivered over 300 mass timber projects to date using innovative building methods, and we changed the expectation on how to construct affordable housing at a rapid pace.”
“Affordable housing is getting a lot of traction. We’ve put up a few already, and we’re having a lot of conversations in the pipeline around this design concept.”
In February of last year, the Hasslacher Group, based in Austria, announced it was acquiring a stake in Element5.
Hasslacher is one of Europe’s largest and most prominent timber companies and is a global innovator.
The family-run enterprise has a workforce of 2,000, and its stake in Element5 will result in what was being billed as a “mass timber powerhouse in North America.”
Hasslacher Group CEO and owner Christoph Kulterer explains the expansion into North America.
“As a global leader in mass timber, we began exporting our products to this market years ago. Given the local resources and opportunities, it became clear to us that establishing a production facility here was the natural next step.
“And in our search, we found Element5, and we knew immediately it’s a perfect fit.” Element5 brought with it a strong market access, along with an experienced leadership team and a well-connected equity partner.”
He added, “We have come here with a long-term vision – to stay, and to help shape the future of building with wood.
“True to our motto: From wood to wonders.”
Elgin-Middlesex-London MPP Rob Flack added, “Today’s investment further bolsters Ontario’s role as a leader in advanced wood construction and will play a pivotal role in our mission to build homes faster.”
Vic Fedeli, Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, stressed that the expansion of the Element5 operation in St. Thomas will bolster Ontario’s wood manufacturing supply chain.
“Ontario’s forestry and wood manufacturing sectors support tens of thousands of jobs across the province . . . Element5’s expansion will create over 100 new jobs and bolster the province’s wood manufacturing supply chain, increasing the forestry sector’s competitiveness and unlocking new opportunities for workers, builders and homeowners.”
Completing the St. Thomas expansion is a two-storey, 18,000 square foot front office, using CLT produced by Element5.
To date, Element5 has completed ten affordable housing projects, with another ten currently under construction or in development.
Over the past decade, Element5 has delivered more than 300 projects across Canada and the U.S.
In March of last year, we spoke at length with Element5 CEO Patrick Poulin and the firm’s foray into affordable housing.
“We have an affordable housing cookie-cutter, Lego block kind of design profile, a repeatable design,” explained Poulin.
“Structural components which are standardized but which can be somewhat customized in terms of shape. The components in that building are all made up of repeatable items.
“We see the affordable housing building profile as something we are actually carving out in our sales team and giving it a dedicated focus.
“Affordable housing is getting a lot of traction. We’ve put up a few already, and we’re having a lot of conversations in the pipeline around this design concept.
“The cost per square foot is quite good, and you can see that it’s really maturing. It was an idea two years ago, and now it’s up and running.”
Latour picked up on that theme at Wednesday’s opening ceremony.
“We are proud to provide innovative, sustainable building solutions that help address Canada’s urgent need for affordable, climate-friendly housing and infrastructure.
“With our expanded operations, we are even better positioned to support communities across Ontario and North America.”
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AWARD-WINNING LAKE MARGARET
The former Axford gravel pit that has been transformed into a vibrant, natural community space will no longer be known as just Lake Margaret.
As of this week, the rehabilitated aggregate site is now the award-winning Lake Margaret.
At a ceremony on Tuesday morning, the Ontario Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (OSSGA) announced Lake Margaret is the recipient of their 2025 Bronze Plaque Award.
The recognition is the OSSGA’s highest honour for environmental rehabilitation.
At the ceremony held in Jim Waite Park at the east end of Lake Margaret, Mike McSweeney, OSSGA executive director, noted, “Lake Margaret is a shining example of what happens when community and environment are prioritized.”
He continued, “This Bronze Plaque Award has been given out for decades for rehabilitation projects across Ontario that truly exemplify what it means to operate responsibly and be a good neighbour.
“This award is not given lightly. It recognizes true excellence in rehabilitation and environmental stewardship in the aggregate sector.
“This rehabilitation project captures the very essence of progressive rehabilitation. It’s about giving back the land and ensuring that our industry not only extracts responsibly but restores, renews and reimagines.
“The Bronze Plaque Award exists to honour those who do just that. It’s a symbol of what is possible when environmental responsibility and community vision come together. And it’s fitting that this plaque will rest on a rock that comes from Lake Margaret itself, a piece of the past now anchoring a tribute for the future.”
McSweeney stressed, “At the Ontario Stone Sand and Gravel Association, we believe that the aggregate industry is not about supplying the materials that build our homes, roads, schools, hospitals, long-term care facilities, sidewalks, highways, etc. It’s about building relationships, strong, responsible and lasting relationships with the communities where we operate.”
“The placement of this recognition here in Jim White Park ensures that all who use this space are reminded of both the collaboration that made it possible and the natural beauty that surrounds us.”
And that is the basis for the prestigious Bronze Plaque Award, he added.
Mayor Joe Preston also touched on the collaborative undertaking.
“For the City of St. Thomas, Lake Margaret is more than a restored landscape – it’s a shared space for walking, cycling, paddling, fishing, birdwatching and more.
“It’s also a testament to what can be achieved when industry and community work hand in hand.”
Adrienne Griffin Lacey, the city’s director of parks and recreation, commented on the significance of the large boulder to which the bronze plaque is attached.
“It is especially meaningful to see this bronze plaque displayed on stone from the original Axford pit quarry, tying the site’s history to its future.”
She continued, “The placement of this recognition here in Jim White Park ensures that all who use this space are reminded of both the collaboration that made it possible and the natural beauty that surrounds us.
“Together, these efforts highlight the power of partnership in building a healthier, greener, and more connected community.”
McSweeney observed, “This site was rehabilitated, not just with ecological goals in mind, but with people in mind. It reflects the values of the community it serves and stands as a legacy of collaboration and care.”
TIME FOR ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
An exasperating month for Chief Marc Roskamp and the St. Thomas Police Service. In addition to the typical roster of incidents related to breach of bail conditions, there was an armed robbery this past week, a failed bank robbery that may have included a weapon, a series of distraction thefts involving lottery tickets in multiple jurisdictions across Ontario and Quebec that included a joint investigation with Aylmer Police and another bank scam victim.
The quick arrest after the armed robbery prompted the following message from Chief Roskamp.“This timely arrest is a testament to the unwavering dedication, professionalism, and expertise of our officers. Rapid responses from our Communications Centre to frontline officers, coupled with skilled investigative teamwork, have brought a high-risk investigation to a close in under 48 hours, directly contributing to the safety and well-being of our community.
“In recent months, we have witnessed a troubling escalation in violence and serious crime. Our priority is clear: to continue investing wisely with the right resources and targeting these concerning trends in violent crime.”
Of course, an ongoing issue is the prevalence of repeat offenders and the country’s broken bail system.
And with Parliament convened for the fall session, a priority for Elgin-St. Thomas-London South MP Andrew Lawton is this country’s beleaguered bail system.
Lawton cites an example right here in St. Thomas, where a repeat offender charged with break and enter and breach of conditions has been released on bail (see release order above).
“Our members are held accountable for the decisions they make and the actions they take. Why isn’t anyone else?”
His new conditions include remaining in his residence daily from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m.
The problem is, the man is homeless.
Lawton asserts, “It shows how absurdly broken our bail system has become.”
It has become broken to the point where Toronto Police are questioning the accountability of judges.
The Toronto Police Association has issued the following statement.
“We’re not sure what this city has come to with the recent incidents of youth violence. Learning that a 12-year-old boy has been charged with the murder of a random victim while on a release order is beyond comprehension.
“We have met in person with the federal government to share our concerns, and we hope change flows imminently.
“In the meantime, it’s clear there needs to be some accountability.
“Where are the judges who make these decisions. And where are the community supports that have failed?
“Our members are held accountable for the decisions they make and the actions they take. Why isn’t anyone else?”
A roundtable discussion was held on July 24 of this year to examine the evolving challenges impacting public safety in St. Thomas and Aylmer.
In attendance were St. Thomas Police Chief Marc Roskamp, Aylmer Police Chief Kyle Johnstone, along with deputy chiefs from both services and Elgin-St. Thomas-London South MP Andrew Lawton and Brantford-Brant MP Larry Brock.
The two Conservative MPs are members of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.
Front and centre was the growing concern over repeat offenders, a matter well documented in both municipalities.
The need was expressed for stronger accountability to curb chronic offending and reduce the burden on victims and frontline responders.
Read more on the roundtable here.
FOR THE CALENDAR
The city is holding an AccessAbility Open House on Sept. 26 at the Joe Thornton Community Centre.
This free annual event features vendors, exhibits and door prizes. The event provides an opportunity to learn more about different organizations that offer services and supports for seniors and people with disabilities.
The event runs from 3 to 7 p.m. in the Doug Tarry Room and is hosted by the St. Thomas Municipal Accessibility Advisory Committee in partnership with the Elgin County – Central Elgin Joint Accessibility Advisory Committee.
Questions and comments may be emailed to City Scope
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And a reminder, I can be heard weekday afternoons as news anchor and reporter on 94.1 myFM in St. Thomas. As always, your comments and input are appreciated.
