Community Futures Howe Sound Partnership: The Wood Innovation Group (TWIG)

A TWIG meeting in progress

The Sea to Sky is a phenomenally entrepreneurial area, with locals making incredible creative products both as a hobby and commercially for their work.   One of those groups of talented people can be found at The Wood Innovation Group, or TWIG.

Community Futures Howe Sound is excited to partner with TWIG to help support their regular networking events, bringing professionals together to discuss their trade.  

What is TWIG?  

TWIG has one main mission: to unite wood professionals living and working in the Sea to Sky.  

Each month, TWIG hosts a fun networking event. This is the place for professionals to get together, exchange knowledge, make new connections, and talk through their ideas. Their overall goals include modernizing practices, creating a renewed culture around wood, making new breakthroughs, and fostering collaboration across sectors.  

Squamish is of course a place with a rich history in timber, with a vibrant community of manufacturers, woodworkers, businesses, artists, and craftspeople. That’s why it has been chosen as the hub for these monthly meetings.  

These events are spearheaded by Lenny Rubenovitch, owner and artist at Rubenovitch Furnishings Co.  

What are the benefits of attending?  

Attendees are encouraged to join in and enjoy some of these benefits:

·      The opportunity to connect with fellow woodworkers

·      The sharing of knowledge and resources

·      Professional networking

·      Business growth

·      Support and guidance 

Burke McGuinness, of Burke Woodworks LTD, had this to say:

“TWIG meetups have proven to be a place of personal and business growth through exposure to other creative individuals and businesses. The conversations at these meetings have introduced me to new friendships as well as work relationships, and allowed me to take on more work by expanding my group of subcontractors.”

Why is Community Futures Howe Sound supporting this series?   

Community Futures Howe Sound supports numerous local entrepreneurial endeavours.   

In this case, we’re providing funding to help TWIG be able to put on these events. Our goal is to support entrepreneurs as they come together to learn, collaborate, and connect. We want to foster the innovative spirit in Squamish and throughout the Sea to Sky corridor, and promote sustainability and environmental stewardship by supporting events that focus on these areas.   

TWIG is a brilliant initiative that brings together the best attributes of local entrepreneurs; creativity, collaboration, innovation, community, and environmentalism. We’re fortunate to have such a group operating locally, and we’re proud to play a small role in making these events a reality.  

Interested in joining TWIG’s next event?   

TWIG’s events are held on the first Wednesday of every month from 6PM to 8PM. The location changes each month to showcase local businesses, and anyone is welcome to come along.   

The next event will be held from 6PM to 8PM on April 2 at Rubenovitch Furnishings. You can sign up by emailing lennyrubenovitch@gmail.com. Sign up is not strictly required, but suggested so Lenny knows how many to expect and cater for.  

Parking is available out front and on the side streets, and access to the shop is in the alley between 2nd and 3rd Ave.  

There’s also a TWIG WhatsApp group for woodworkers. Email Lenny If you would like to join!