The Mass Timber Connections and Constructability Hub—the British Columbia Institute of Technology’s (BCIT’s) mobile mass timber training platform—took a road trip to the Selkirk Technology Access Centre in Trail, BC, to give Selkirk College students direct, practical experience in construction and fabrication techniques.
Learners in the Mass Timber Fabrication Foundations and Design for Mass Timber micro-credentials spent a week rigging and hoisting glulam posts and beams, assembling them using pre-engineered connections and custom steel components, and attaching cross-laminated timber (CLT) wall and floor panels. The hands-on work mirrors the real-world tasks they’ll do on job sites.
The workshop is part of a growing collaboration between Selkirk College and BCIT to build regional workforce capacity in mass timber. Mass timber is one of British Columbia’s fastest-growing sustainable construction sectors.
“Through this partnership with Selkirk College and alongside industry partners, BCIT is expanding its workforce mandate by bringing hands-on training directly to learners in the West Kootenay and Boundary regions of BC,” says Dr. Jeff Zabudsky, BCIT President. “Together, we are equipping local talent with in-demand skills to lead in sustainable construction and drive growth in BC’s mass timber sector.”
A Growing Collaboration
The collaboration was established as a result of the BC Future Ready Action Plan with the goal of advancing mass timber construction across BC through education and training. Selkirk College and BCIT built on a like-minded approach to learning: a student-focused outlook that emphasizes hands-on applied learning informed by industry.
The partnership started with a 2024 pilot program that saw Selkirk College students participate in a BCIT mass timber micro-credential. Following up on that early success, Selkirk College launched two new micro credentials: Mass Timber Fabrication Foundations, which incorporates the Connections and Constructability Hub developed by BCIT; and Mass Timber Design, developed by Selkirk College and co-delivered online with BCIT.
The collaboration is expanding into other programming areas as well. In 2026, Selkirk College and BCIT formalized their partnership to enable local delivery of the BCIT micro-credential in Fundamentals of Architecture, Construction and Engineering with funding and curriculum provided by BCIT.
Hands-On Learning and Industry Connections
The collaboration is strengthening Selkirk College’s position to meet the strong demand for applied mass timber training in the West Kootenay region.
Local industry partners, including Spearhead, Kalesnikoff, International Timber Frames and Hamill Creek Timber Homes, have played a central role in shaping Selkirk College’s mass timber programs. They’ve contributed materials, co developed instructional content and hosted site visits, exposing learners to real world pre-fabrication and offsite construction environments. They have also upskilled their internal workforces in crucial skills, such as mass timber-specific CAD modelling, the fabrication approval process, foundational knowledge of wood science, and hands-on use of mass timber-specific tools and techniques.
“These mass timber micro-credentials show what’s possible when colleges and industry work together to meet workforce needs,” says Selkirk College President Dr. Maggie Matear. “We’re very pleased to partner with BCIT and regional organizations to train learners for future-focused jobs in low-carbon, sustainable construction.”
About Selkirk College
The Selkirk College community draws its identity and purpose from the mountains, forests, animals and water around us. The land sustains us and shapes how we teach, learn and innovate.
Students gain practical, real-world experience that prepares them to adapt and thrive in a changing world. Through partnerships with local businesses, organizations and communities, they learn problem-solving, industry-leading practices and relationship-building skills.
Selkirk College offers a distinctive post-secondary experience grounded in land and community.
About the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT)
The British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) is one of BC’s largest post-secondary institutes, serving over 40,000 students annually across five campuses. BCIT delivers flexible, industry-focused education, with programs developed in collaboration with employers and taught by experienced professionals. Through applied, hands-on learning, BCIT prepares graduates for job-readiness across sectors including applied and natural sciences, business and media, computing and IT, engineering, health sciences, and trades. Together with industry and government, BCIT is building a future-ready workforce in BC and beyond.
Photo caption: Instructor Bruce Fitz-Earle (first on left) and Selkirk College President Maggie Matear (third from right) and learners at the Mass Timber Connections and Constructability Hub at the Selkirk Technology Access Centre in Trail, BC.