Christopher Gagnon and Armel Zambou Kenfack receive 2026 Chisholm Awards for Innovation in Forestry
Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2026 Chisholm Awards for Innovation in Forestry, recognizing emerging leaders whose research is advancing innovation across Canada’s forest sector.
The award theme—promoting the use and adoption of Canadian forest products through value chain innovation—highlights the importance of strengthening performance, efficiency, and competitiveness across the sector.
“The work of these young innovators reflects the practical innovation the sector needs right now,” said Derek Nighbor, FPAC President and CEO. “They’re focused on real-world applications—improving performance in construction and efficiency in manufacturing—which supports broader use of Canadian forest products and delivers tangible benefits across the sector. Their work demonstrates how research can be directly applied in industry settings.”
Christopher Gagnon is pursuing his Masters in Wood Engineering and Bio-based Materials at Université Laval. Gagnon is working on the reinforcement of dowel-type connections in solid wood structures using self-tapping screws. His research addresses one of the key technical barriers limiting the broader adoption of wood in construction: the performance and reliability of structural connections. By reinforcing dowel-type joints with strategically placed self-tapping screws, the project significantly improves strength and ductility—reducing the risk of brittle failure and enhancing overall structural performance. Preliminary results show increases of up to 45% in strength and 60% in ductility.
Armel Zambou Kenfack is a PhD candidate in Wood Engineering and Bio-based Materials at Université Laval. Kenfack is working on a project that reduces energy consumption associated with fiber refining in Medium-Density Fibreboard (MDF) panel production. Focusing on one of the most energy-intensive stages of manufacturing, this project applies machine learning and advanced optimization techniques to improve efficiency in MDF production. By developing predictive models based on real industrial data, it has the potential to lower energy consumption by more than 25%.
Chisholm Award applicants must be students or researchers who are 30 years old or younger as of March 1, 2026. Applicants must be carrying out research and innovation projects relevant for forestry, forest products, and/or forest products processing technologies – with links to academia, public or private research centres, and/or corporate research and innovation departments.
About FPAC
FPAC provides a voice for Canada’s wood, pulp, and paper producers nationally and internationally in government, trade, and environmental affairs. As an industry, we contributed $19.9B in real GDP in 2025.
Canada's forest products sector is one of the country’s largest employers—providing nearly 200,000 direct jobs and operating in hundreds of communities across the country. Our members are committed to collaborating with Indigenous leaders, government bodies, and other key stakeholders to develop across-Canada action plan aimed at advancing forest health, while supporting workers, communities and our environment for the long term.
2026 Chisholm Awards for Innovation in Forestry Recipients
Christopher Gagnon, Université Laval
Originally from the Montérégie region, Christopher Gagnon is currently pursuing his Masters in Wood Engineering and Bio-based Materials at Université Laval. He completed a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering at the Université de Sherbrooke, specializing in structural design. Throughout his academic path, Christopher had the opportunity to complete co-op internships in Australia and New Zealand in the field of underground heavy civil engineering structures, as well as an academic exchange in France focused on sustainable and intelligent buildings. It was during this latter experience that his interest in wood construction took shape, fueled by a long-standing passion for carpentry and woodworking. His engagement and academic achievements during his undergraduate studies earned him the Léonard de Vinci Merit Medal upon graduation.
Driven by a desire to pursue a project at the intersection of his interests, he began a master's degree at Université Laval, focusing on the strengthening of connections in mass timber structures—an important technical challenge for the advancement of tall timber buildings. As part of this project, he will soon undertake a research stay at the University of Northern British Columbia to further enrich his study and expand his international scientific network. He is also preparing to present his work at the CSCE 2026 Conference in Quebec City and at the 13th meeting of the International Network on Timber Engineering Research (INTER) in Norway.
“Mass timber offers a concrete and renewable response to climate challenges, but its large-scale deployment still depends on overcoming key technical barriers. My research aims to improve the performance and reliability of timber connections, and this award confirms that we are moving in the right direction.” – Christopher Gagnon
Armel Zambou Kenfack, Université Laval
Armel Zambou Kenfack is a PhD candidate in wood and bio-based materials engineering at Université Laval, where his research focuses on optimizing the energy performance of industrial processes using artificial intelligence (machine learning and deep learning) and advanced optimization methods. Originally from Cameroon, he has a background in energy and environmental physics, with a specialization in bio-based materials, obtained at the University of Yaoundé I.
His research sits at the intersection of process engineering, artificial intelligence, and sustainable development. He develops predictive models and optimization approaches aimed at reducing energy consumption in the production of fibreboard (MDF), while maintaining fibre quality and industrial performance. His doctoral project has already led to several articles currently under review by scientific committees.
Prior to his PhD, Armel contributed to a number of applied research projects in Africa and internationally, particularly in the areas of energy systems, green hydrogen, and the valorization of renewable resources, including forest products. His work has resulted in several scientific publications in high-impact international journals, as well as practical applications in the energy sector. He is also engaged in academic mentoring, science outreach, and industry collaboration.
Through his work, he aims to accelerate the decarbonization of industrial processes in the forest sector by developing intelligent energy optimization solutions, contributing to a more sustainable, efficient, and competitive value chain.
“Forestry is at the heart of the transition to a more sustainable economy, but this requires fundamentally rethinking how we produce. Through my research, I explore how artificial intelligence can help make industrial processes more efficient and less energy-intensive, without compromising product quality. Receiving the Chisholm Award is a great honour for me and a recognition of the potential of this work. It motivates me to continue developing practical solutions that can support the forest sector in adopting lower-carbon, more sustainable practices.” – Armel Zambou Kenfack
For interview requests with the recipients, please contact Sahithi Bollu at sbollu@fpac.ca.
