On May 21, 2020, the BioProducts Institute at the University of British Columbia announced it had designed a N95 Canadian-Mask, or Can-Mask that that can be sourced entirely in Canada from wood fibres such as pine, spruce, cedar and other softwoods.

Following prototypes testing to meet health industry specifications, the Institute planned to apply for Health Canada certification.

The shortage of medical grade masks worldwide had hobbled health care professionals responding to the novel coronavirus—highlighting the need for improving supply lines and manufacturing more masks locally.