Element5 Investing $107M to Expand Mass Timber Facility, Creating 150 Jobs

What’s Happening at Element5?

Element5, a mass timber manufacturer based in Ontario and owned by the Hasslacher Group, is investing $107 million to expand its operations in St. Thomas.

• The expansion will create 150 new jobs across the region
• Includes new production lines for glue-laminated and cross-laminated timber
• The Ontario government is contibuting $8 million toward the project through the Invest Ontario Fund.

The project was announced by the Ontario government on September 17, 2025.

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Project Overview

The expansion will enable Element5 to increase its production capacity and output of engineered wood products, which are used in construction and modular housing.

• Location: St. Thomas, Ontario
• Total investment: $107 million
• Provincial funding: $8 million via Invest Ontario
• New capabilities: Glued-laminated timber (GLT) and cross-laminated timber (CLT) production lines
• Materials: Sourced from Ontario’s forestry sector
• Purpose: Scale up production of sustainable building materials

Official Statements

Vic Fideli, Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development, said that “Element5’s expansion will create over a hundred 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.”

Chris Latour, President of Element5, commented: “This expansion represents a bold step forward for Element5, our partners and the mass timber industry in Canada.”

Don’t Sign an Employment Contract Immediately

Considering a job at Element5? Like many non-unionized employees in the province, you may be asked to accept an employment contract before starting a new role.

However, you don’t have to sign anything right away. These agreements often reduce your legal protections — especially when it comes to severance pay, job duties, or workplace changes.

Concerning Contract Clauses

When reviewing an employment contract, look for any provisions that:

• Limit severance to just a few weeks’ pay
• Allow your employer to make significant changes to your job without your consent
• An Ontario probation period that affect your job security

If you’re unsure about any part of the agreement, contact the experienced employment lawyers at Samfiru Turmarkin LLP. We’ll review your contract and confirm that your workplace rights are protected.

WATCH: What You Need to Know About Employment Contracts

How Switching Jobs Affects Severance

The amount of severance pay you’re owed is heavily influenced by how long you’ve worked for a company.

Non-unionized employees in Ontario can receive up to 24 months’ pay — sometimes more — when they’re fired or let go without cause.

LEARN MORE
• How to Calculate Severance Pay in Ontario
• Severance for Short-Service Staff: Significant Payouts Possible
• Should I negotiate my own severance package in Ontario?

However, if you resign voluntarily to work for another employer, you’re likely NOT entitled to any compensation.

Your best course of action before switching jobs is to seek legal advice. Our firm can make sure you’re fully aware of the factors at play before making your decision.

Recruited Then Let Go? You May Be Owed More Severance

In Ontario, if you left a stable, long-term job because another employer actively recruited — or “induced” — you to join them, you could be entitled to enhanced severance pay. This is especially true if you were let go shortly after making the move.

• LEARN MORE: Everything Ontarians Need to Know About Inducement

An employment lawyer at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP can enforce your rights and ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve.

Speak to an Employment Lawyer Today

Contact Samfiru Tumarkin LLP today: 1-855-821-5900 or request a consultation online.

Our employment lawyers in Toronto have helped thousands of non-unionized individuals navigate new jobs and secure proper severance following a termination.

At Samfiru Tumarkin LLP, we have:

• 👥 Represented 50,000+ Canadians
• 💰 Secured millions in severance payouts
• ⚖️ Settled over 99% of cases out of court
• 📱 Free Termination Consultations — in many, but not all, cases
• ⭐ Earned 3,000+ 5-star Google reviews
• 🏆 Named on of Canada’s Best Law Firms

Disclaimer: The materials above are provided as general information about the rights of non-unionized employees in Canada. It is not specific to any one company and SHOULD NOT be read as suggesting any improper conduct on the part of any specific employer, or a relationship between Samfiru Tumarkin LLP and a specific employer.