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A legacy of craftsmanship, rooted on the Island.

Bavarian craft.
Canadian made.

From a 700-square-foot shop to a five-acre facility.

Canadian Bavarian’s story began in 1982, when Georg Wörnle and his family arrived from Germany and set up a small woodshop on Salt Spring Island. It was just 700 square feet, but even then, the focus was clear: do the work right, with care and precision, no matter the scale.
A year later, Georg and his father built a new facility in Duncan, designing it with a Bavarian-style facade that still gives the company its name. They built it by hand, just like the products inside.
As the company grew, so did the need for space. In 2004, Canadian Bavarian moved to Chemainus to a five-acre property with the room to take on larger projects, invest in better tools, and build a facility that matched the quality of its work. But the principles didn’t change. It is still family-run. Still committed to consistency. Still focused on getting things right the first time.

Today, the team includes more than 20 skilled craftspeople working out of a 30,000 square foot facility that blends traditional techniques with modern equipment. And while the machines are newer, the mindset is the same: build things that last, and relationships that do too.

Values that craft every piece.

The name Canadian Bavarian carries more than heritage. What we believe shows up in what we create.

The Bavarian region of southern Germany built its reputation on highly skilled artisans, with techniques passed down through generations. In Bavaria, woodworking was never casual. Timber frames were joined without nails, cut and fitted by hand, built to last for centuries. The buildings still standing today are proof of that legacy — craft made to endure.

But “Bavarian” isn’t just about technique. In that region, tradition and quality go hand in hand. From the food and festivals to how things are built, grown, and handed down, it’s a mindset rooted in pride of place and pride in the work.

Today, that Bavarian mindset is matched by a Canadian commitment to community, sustainability, and service.

Craftsmanship

We take pride in how we design and manufacture — from raw material to final detail, our work reflects care, precision, and pride.

Integrity

We say what we mean and stand behind everything we deliver — with honesty, accountability, and follow-through.

Value

We help clients save time, cost, and effort by doing things right the first time — and asking the right questions up front.

Sustainability

Our operations are efficient, vertically integrated, and committed to low-waste practices and clean energy.

Community

We’re rooted in a small town, known for showing up, supporting local projects, and building long-term relationships that matter.

Sustainability isn’t separate. It’s the process.

We power our facility with the wood chips left over from production. What we don’t use is compressed into briquettes and distributed commercially through BioFlame. And on our roof sits Vancouver Island’s largest solar array. The 318kW system offsets our grid use with clean, on-site power.

This isn’t a green marketing angle. It’s how the shop works.

If you’ve got questions about our products or services, our sales team is ready to chat!
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