Event Program
8:00 – 9:00 Registration and Breakfast
Sponsored By:
Honourable Dave Ritcey
Minister of Communities, Culture, Tourism, and Heritage, and MLA for Truro Bible Hill Millbrook Salmon River
9:00 – 9:15 Opening Remarks
Brock Dickinson, MA, EcD. (F)
9:15 – 10:00
Building our Next Economy: Navigating Technology, Trade and Tariffs in Pursuit of New Opportunities
We have grown up in a world of steady economic growth, predictable demographic cycles, and a stable international system. But this world – the only one we’ve ever known – is about to be forever altered, and the old rule books are out the window! From increasing workforce shortages to global conflict, and from the collapse of our supply chains to the impact of tariffs, Brock Dickinson takes a look at the sometimes frightening world of tomorrow, and what this means for Nova Scotia, the construction sector, our businesses and our communities. How we can position ourselves for success in this frightening new reality? This session will surprise, alarm and enlighten – but as always, Brock also promises a few laughs along the way!
Biography
Originally from Digby County, Brock is one of North America’s leading economic development actors. He started his career with the United Nations, working on development projects in more than 30 countries before returning to Canada to lead economic development and tourism agencies in both Nova Scotia and Ontario.
In 2007, he founded MDB Insight (now part of Deloitte), where he worked with some 300 communities across North America to identify and pursue economic development, investment attraction, and job creation opportunities. In September of 2010, the company was named to Profit Magazine’s “Hot 50” list of Canada’s fastest growing young companies, and it eventually became the largest specialist economic development consulting firm in Canada. In 2017, he joined the University of Waterloo, serving as their Entrepreneur-in-Residence and later as the Director of the University’s Economic Development Program.
Today, Brock serves as the Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors of Invest Ontario, as an Executive-in-Residence with Innovate Niagara, and as a partner in Stonebridge Solutions, a U.S.-based private sector investment group on the financing of economic development projects around the world.
A widely published writer and popular public speaker, Brock has a BA from the University of North Carolina and a Master’s degree in International Relations from Brock University, where his research focused on global economic development best practices. He has also studied at Queen’s University, the University of Waterloo, and the French-language Université Sainte-Anne.
David Porter
- Program Coordinator, WoodWorks ATL Maritime Lumber Bureau
10:00 – 10:45
Mass Timber Opportunities
Mass timber has emerged as a transformative material, offering an eco-friendly, cost-effective, and aesthetically pleasing alternative to traditional building methods. This presentation will explore the vast potential of mass timber in future construction projects, highlighting its benefits in sustainability, carbon reduction, and architectural design. Through case studies and expert insights, we will uncover the future of mass timber in creating more sustainable, efficient, and innovative construction projects.
Biography
In 2019, David joined the Maritime Lumber Bureau as the Program Coordinator for the WoodWorks Atlantic program. He works with architects, engineers, developers, building/fire officials and government, to increase the use of wood in non-residential projects. He has been involved in the design and construction of many wood projects built in Atlantic Canada, providing technical support for both light wood frame and mass timber.
10:45 – 11:00 Morning Refreshments
Sponsored By:
Bruce Casey
- President, Casey Concrete Limited
11:45 – 12:30
Precast Concrete Construction
Biography
Bruce Casey is the third generation President of Casey Concrete Limited, owning the business with his two brothers, Steven and Peter Casey. He lives in Truro, with his wife Natalie and two teenage children Will and Elle. He graduated from Acadia University with a BA in Economics; he then received an Advanced Diploma in Human Resources from the NSCC before completing an MBA from St. Mary’s executive program. Bruce began working in his family business when he was a teenager and continued to do so throughout his education in many different capacities. Bruce has real-world experience working construction and manufacturing, with a growing interest in prefabricated construction.
Casey Concrete is a manufacturer of construction products for the local construction market. The company manufactures and sells ready-mix concrete, concrete masonry units, hardscape products and both standard and custom precast concrete products.
Alex Lathion
- Sales Manager, Hundegger Canada
11:00 – 11:45
Biography
CNC Machinery and Automation
12:30 - 1:00 Lunch
Sponsored By:
Brandon Searle
- Director of Innovation and Operations at the University of New Brunswick (UNB) Off-site Construction Research Centre (OCRC
1:00 – 1:45
How finance, procurement models, and contracts are impeding construction sector productivity
Biography
Brandon is the Director of Innovation and Operations at the University of New Brunswick (UNB) Off-site Construction Research Centre (OCRC). Before joining UNB, Brandon worked in the public sector on capital projects followed by a five-year position with WSP where he was a consultant within the Canadian infrastructure management team and supported the municipal and surveying team. Brandon is responsible for collaborating with industry organizations to build research driven partnerships, attract investment into the OCRC, manage the OCRC’s research infrastructure, budgets and people, support research projects through grant identification and strategic and key management of projects and programs, and report to an Executive Board consisting of 12 executives in the construction industry. Additionally, Brandon works across the four key areas of the OCRC, with research emphasis on the benchmarking and maturity of the construction sector, innovation and productivity in construction and macro-level projects looking at procurement, financing and contracts and how those processes may need to innovate to leverage off-site construction methods and technologies. In addition to his role at UNB, Brandon is the Chair of the Board of Building Transformations, a not-for-profit organization focused on innovation in the construction sector, and holds membership on several committees with the Modular Building Institute, Canadian Society for Civil Engineering, CSA Group, and the International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction.
Patrick Crabbe
- CEO of Mass Timber Company (MTC) & Director of Mass Timber at Bird Construction
1:45 – 2:30
Volume to Value: How Mass Timber Transforms Forestry, Accelerates Construction, and Builds a Low-Carbon Future
Biography
Patrick Crabbe is the CEO of Mass Timber Company (MTC) and Director of Mass Timber at Bird Construction, one of Canada’s top three general contractors. At Bird, Patrick leads a portfolio of 15 active mass timber projects valued at over $1 billion, having established the first Mass Timber Centre of Excellence in the general contracting industry.
As CEO of MTC, a $215 million mass timber manufacturing startup based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Patrick is spearheading the development of one of the world’s most advanced, sawmill-integrated glulam and CLT production facilities. With an annual capacity of 50,000m³, MTC will provide 2.5 million ft² of incremental construction capacity per year, supporting the rapid adoption of mass timber in infrastructure, housing, and commercial development. With expertise in construction contract methods, supply chain solutions, and high-value structural wood products, Patrick is driving the transformation of forestry from a commodity-based sector into a high-value, prefabrication-driven industry, reducing carbon emissions while revolutionizing modern construction.
2:30 – 2:45 Afternoon Refreshments
Sponsored By:
Bertrand Eyffred
2:45 – 3:30
Cadwork for DfMA
CADWORK is a unique 3D BIM package made for the wood construction, ranging from light-frame to mass timber.
This software suit allows you to produce full documentation of your projects including BOM, panel drawings, on-site assembly, data for CNC equipment and more.
Build wall, floor, and roof panels according to your building system with all details needed like MEP and hardware from well-known suppliers.
It is your whole-house software!
Biography
Bertrand “Bert” grew up in the south-west of France where he studied structural engineering with a specialization in Timber construction. He finalized his master’s degree working for Timberframe company along with Compagnons du Devoir, learning advanced timber framing techniques and the reality of the field. He then moved to Montreal in Quebec back in 2017 and started working at Cadwork in 2018, combining what he likes the most, problem solving and sharing ideas and knowledge.
Panel Discussion
3:30 – 4:15
Moving towards Off-Site Construction
4:15 – 4:30 Closing Remarks
Platinum Sponsor
Bronze Sponsor