Canadian Wood Council names Lalonde scholarship winners
Canadian Wood Council

OTTAWA, Ontario — The Canadian Wood Council awarded two students with 2024 Catherine Lalonde Memorial Scholarships for their academic excellence and impactful research projects in the structural wood products industry.

Laura Walters and Jiawen Shen were recognized for the annual scholarship program established 19 years ago to honor Catherine Lalonde word as a professional engineer and president of the CWC.

Laura Walters 2024 CWC Catherine Lalonde Scholarship Winner
Laura Walters

Walters is a third-year graduate student pursuing a Master of Applied Science in Civil Engineering under a joint collaboration between McMaster University and the University of Northern British Columbia. Her research project explores the use of pre-engineered beam hangers in mass timber post-and-beam systems, with a focus on the implications of design and modelling assumptions on the evaluation of structural load paths. Her work provides valuable insights into the design considerations and assumptions required for more accurate and reliable design of mass timber columns when pre-engineered beam hangers are used.

Jiawen Shen 2024 CWC Catherine Lalonde Scholarship Winner
Iawen Shen

Shen is a first-year graduate student pursuing a Master in Wood Science at the University of British Columbia. Her research project focuses on the development of binderless composite bark-board cladding and insulation panels that are durable, ignition resistant, carbon neutral, and manufactured from an underutilized byproduct that would otherwise be burned, landfilled, or used for low-value purposes. Collaborating with a Vancouver-based architecture firm on this project, her work is key to advancing the commercial application of these innovative cladding products.

“This year marks a historic milestone for the Catherine Lalonde Memorial Scholarship program as, for the first time, it is awarded to two exceptional women,” said Martin Richard, VP of market development and communications at the CWC. “Their achievements highlight the outstanding talent driving innovation in wood research and construction. We are inspired by their contributions and the growing diversity shaping the future of wood-based solutions.”

Celebrating its 65th anniversary, The CWC supports its members by accelerating market demand for wood products and championing responsible leadership through excellence in codes, standards, and regulations. The organization also delivers technical support and knowledge transfer for the construction sector through its WoodWorks program.
 

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Rich Christianson is the owner of Richson Media LLC, a Chicago-based communications firm focused on the industrial woodworking sector. Rich is the former long-time editorial director and associate publisher of Woodworking Network. During his nearly 35-year career, Rich has toured more than 250 woodworking operations throughout North America, Europe and Asia and has written extensively on woodworking technology, design and supply trends. He has also directed and promoted dozens of woodworking trade shows, conferences and seminars including the Cabinets & Closets Conference & Expo and the Woodworking Machinery & Supply Conference & Expo, Canada’s largest woodworking show.