The expansion will add prefabricated floors, roof panels and stairs to the company’s existing wall systems.
Vancouver Island wood-product manufacturer Ron Anderson & Sons has broken ground on an expansion of its Chemainus manufacturing facility, supported by up to $2m from the government of British Columbia.
Backed through the BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund, the project will increase production of prefabricated wood-building components and expand the company’s product range. It is expected to create 35 new jobs.
The company has already hired 20 employees following investments in advanced manufacturing equipment, with construction now under way on the final phase.
The project will add prefabricated floors, roof panels and stairs to Ron Anderson & Sons’ existing range of wall systems.
By increasing its use of off-site wood-frame construction, the company expects to improve production efficiency and product quality while reducing construction time on site.
“This funding supports our vision of delivering high-quality prefabricated construction solutions more efficiently, while strengthening the local economy and helping address British Columbia’s housing needs,” said Jack Downing, president and CEO of Ron Anderson & Sons.
Adrian Dix, acting Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth, said supporting local manufacturers would help strengthen domestic supply chains amid trade pressures from the US.
“We’re investing $153m in more than 150 projects just like this one to help grow and protect thousands of manufacturing jobs for British Columbians,” he said.
The project is expected to increase sales for Ron Anderson & Sons while supporting the province’s value-added wood manufacturing sector and the use of prefabricated construction in housing and other building projects.
Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests, said it would help increase the use of BC-produced wood in local construction.
“We’re bringing support to BC companies like Ron Anderson & Sons, so that they can continue to innovate and bring good-paying jobs to their community,” he said.
The expanded facility is expected to be completed in Feb 2027.
Supporting BC projects
The BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund provides funding for industrial projects across British Columbia, with a focus on modernising and expanding manufacturing operations.
The province has committed up to $153m towards more than 150 capital projects, representing as much as $1.2bn in total investment. The projects are expected to create more than 2,100 jobs and protect more than 2,700 existing positions.
The government estimates the projects will generate $17bn in new economic activity, contribute nearly $7bn to BC’s gross domestic product and generate $714m in provincial revenue during construction and the first few years of expanded operations.
A new refundable manufacturing and processing investment tax credit, announced as part of Budget 2026, is expected to provide about $55m in annual tax savings for companies investing in new equipment.
The Ron Anderson & Sons expansion is part of the province’s Look West strategy, which aims to strengthen local supply chains, diversify markets and support growth in sectors including construction, technology, aerospace, marine, artificial intelligence, quantum technology, life sciences and agriculture.
“Forestry has always been the foundation of Chemainus since its founding, and it is exciting to see Ron Anderson & Sons build on that history with new innovation that translates to more local jobs and a stronger manufacturing sector in our region,” said Debra Toporowski (Qwulti’stunaat), MLA for Cowichan Valley.
