Our History

The Ontario Structural Wood Association

Earlier version of OWTFA logo

(OSWA) was formed in 2016 but it’s history stretches back to 1982 and beyond. Engineered trusses have been widely used in Ontario since the 1960s and gained popularity throughout the 1970s. In 1982 a few industry leaders saw the need for a unified voice and they formed the Ontario Wood Truss Fabricators Association (OWTFA). In 2015 the OWTFA Executive felt the need to rebrand and re-structure under the new OSWA banner.

OSWA was incorporated in the spring of 2016 to better serve the entire engineered structural wood community in Ontario.

1952: Carroll Sanford invents first truss plate (Gri-P-Late)

More About Structural Wood Products

Once the concept of roof trusses was developed, floor trusses were a natural next step. They are effective for long spans, where the need for intermediate bearing walls, beams, columns and footings can be reduced. The open web configuration provides space for plumbing, electrical and mechanical runs.

Floor trusses

The Truss Industry Begins to Sell Other Wood Solutions

Our industry provided engineered wood solutions to both designers and builders of wood structures in Ontario. It was only natural that with the development of engineered wood products such as I-joists, LVL ( laminated veneer lumber ) and LSL ( laminated strand lumber ) that our distribution channels were utilized. And with the expansion of sales of these products through contractor supply yards into various forms of manufactured buildings and ever more types of new wood product solutions, such as cross-laminated timber (CLT) and glulam, the need to expand the mandate of the association became self-evident.

CLT panels in the new Laurentian University School of Architecture

ONTARIO STRUCTURAL WOOD ASSOCIATION (OSWA) Formed in 2016

The OSWA is the direct result of this history. Our members are spread across Ontario, representing the very best in structural wood components. In today’s environment, to build the very best wood buildings in Ontario, you will need to talk to the members of OSWA.