
October was Manufacturing Month in Brantford, full of information and activities for area students exploring career opportunities in the trades. Events and activities including plant tours, “We Make It Here” videos and a Manufacturers Appreciation Breakfast were coordinated by the Workforce Planning Board of Grand Erie, along with municipal partners like the City of Brantford, Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board, Grand Erie District School Board and a number of area manufacturing companies. This project is funded in part by the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.
In the Grand Erie region, hundreds of manufacturing companies employ some 16,500 people between them, and those employees make an amazing array of products. Some of those products are household names, while some are more for specialty markets. Some of the products are sold in North America, while others are sold around the world.
Manufacturing tours took place across the Grand Erie region on October 4th. Students got a first-hand look at their operations and a chance to learn about manufacturing-related careers. Thanks go out to all the companies that participated:
- Apogee Ceramics Inc. (Paris)
- Battlefield International Inc. (Cayuga)
- Bowman Precision Tooling (Brantford)
- CGC Inc. (Hagersville)
- CoorsTek Inc. (Paris)
- DM Precision Products (Dunnville)
- GIZEH Packaging (Brantford)
- Hematite (Brantford)
- iSPAN Systems LP (Princeton)
- Norfolk Fruit Growers’ Association (Simcoe)
- Patriot Forge (Brantford)
- Stelco Inc. (Nanticoke)
- Tigercat Industries Inc. (Paris)
- Titan Trailers Inc. (Delhi)
- Toyotetsu Canada Inc. (Simcoe)
- Walters Inc. (Princeton)
To illustrate the wide diversity of manufacturing occurring in our communities, four “We Make It Here” videos were produced that offer a behind-the-scenes look at modern manufacturing in Brantford, Brant, Haldimand and Norfolk. Brantford’s “We Make It Here” video features metal fabricating business 3D Mechanical, inground pool maker Latham Pools and Mott Manufacturing, which manufactures laboratory equipment.
This is the second year for the “We Make It Here” video series, which showcases the importance of local manufacturing and the career opportunities companies offer. The theme of this year’s videos is that people who are hired in manufacturing have many opportunities to learn new skills, upgrade their training, take on new responsibilities and move up the ladder in their company.
Schools and employment services can use the videos to provide students and job seekers a glimpse of today’s modern manufacturing, and inform them of the industry’s career pathways.
The videos, posted on YouTube and elsewhere, were produced by the Workforce Planning Board of Grand Erie in partnership with the companies, economic development departments in each community, the Grand Erie District School Board and the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board. The project was funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.
View the latest video for Brantford. All the videos can be found on the Workforce Planning Board of Grand Erie’s website.
October will end with a Manufacturing Appreciation Breakfast, to thank all the companies that participated in the tours and videos. Participants also will also have a chance to hear a speaker on an industry topic.