The Newsletter of the Wood Manufacturing Sector Council of Canada

A Note from the PresidentThe Wood Manufacturing Council hosted its second annual WMC HR Awards on November 25, 2008 in Ottawa. Approximately 50 industry stakeholders were on hand to recognize the winners. This year we received some amazing nominations with incredible projects that are leading the way in taking the initiative in regards to Human Resources for our industry. This made for some very difficult decisions for our awards selection committee. I want to thank all the nominees for their hard work and success; you are true leaders in our industry.

Congratulations to the winners, the awards are well deserved. We hope your success stories inspire others in the industry to pursue projects that help develop Human Resources for the future of the wood processing industry.

Consider preparing a nomination for your own company, or for a firm you know is doing good work. Nominations for the 2009 awards are already being accepted. The awards dinner will take place at the WMS show in September 2009

Richard Lipman

WMC HR Awards ProgramThe HR awards program was started with the goal to recognize companies and individuals and share best practices in Human Resources in the wood manufacturing industry. We want to highlight the great work being done in the industry and share those stories. The WMC HR Awards celebrate champions from the industry who are proactively creating programs and solutions to the HR challenges of the industry.

Our evening started with a keynote address from

Andrew Cardozo, executive director of The Alliance of Sector Councils. His speech examined the current economic

times and offered encouragement; like a

wooden pen, our industry has the craftsmanship of old and the technology of new to rely on to get us through these tough times. We would like to extend a special thank you to Andrew for taking time out of his busy schedule to speak to us at the awards dinner.

Along with Richard Lipman, Blair Tullis, Chair of the WMC Board of Directors, was on hand to make the presentations and congratulate each of the award winners.

For more details on each of the award categories and to make a nomination for the 2009 WMC HR Awards, please see our website www.wmc-cfb.ca

Funded by the Government of Canada’s Sector Council Program.

Wood Manufacturing Council Suite 1016, 130 Albert Street Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5G4

Phone: 613-567-5511 Fax: 613-567-5411 www.wmc-cfb.ca

Awards 2008In This Issue:• Message from the President (1)• WMC HR Awards Intro (1)• Thank You’s (3)• WMC HR Award Winners (2-4)

Awards 2008The WMC HR Award Program recognizes and honours work in four categories:

Innovation in Human Resources – For an individual or organization that makes a difference to the people it serves, through an innovative HR program or practice that creates a new standard of performance.

Equity Award – Awarded to an individual or company who provides opportunities for members of equity groups (including aboriginals, visible minorities, people with disabilities, women and new immigrants) to become employed or to further their careers in the advanced wood manufacturing industry.

WoodLINKS Success Award – Awarded to an individual or school who has demonstrated outstanding success in delivering the program.

WMC Award of Distinction – Recognizes an individual or company that has made a significant contribution over time to support the human resource needs of the advanced wood processing industry.

Offcuts Awards 2008 Offcuts Awards 2009

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Prestige Homes is a manufacturer of custom homes that serves Eastern Canada and the state of Maine. It is located in the town of Sussex, NB and employs 175 employees directly as well as a retail network of sales and site completion trades people. Prestige Homes has an annual production of 350 homes. The main HR challenge faced by Prestige is the ability to recruit and retain new people. Of particular concern is the enormous bottleneck/waiting list that exists to train young people through the normal community college route.

To tackle this challenge, Prestige Homes initiated the creation of a partnership between Prestige Homes and Sussex Regional High School to offer co-op learning opportunities in construction and wood manufacturing. The goal of

the partnership was to provide students with hands-on learning to aid in their career decisions.

Joe Gushue was instrumental in starting the discussions with Sussex Regional High School. Joe met with Mike Bishop, the principal at the school and Brian Gray, school district manager. Together they designed the co-op project. Safety was of key concern and Lois Lynn, the HR and occupational Health and Safety advisor at Prestige was key in providing proper training to help integrate the students into the workplace safely. The program also has strong roots in creating a personally enriching experience for the students; teaching them strong work ethic, good work habits and safety.

Since the first student entered the program, it has proven to be a huge

success. Prestige Homes is finding the students who have progressed through this co-op education initiative are considered “assets” among the regular employees should they decide to take permanent employment following graduation. These students/employees are more than welcome and sought after by their peers at Prestige.

Congratulations Joe and Prestige Homes. The WMC wishes you continued success with your program.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Joe Gushue and Blair Tullis

WoodLINKS Success Award – Roger Conrod; Lambrick Park Secondary SchoolRoger runs a highly successful WoodLINKS program at Lambrick Park Secondary School in Victoria, BC. The program developed over many years. With the help of WoodLINKS, Roger was able to attend various trade shows in the US. As they attracted high profile sponsors like 3M Abrasives, Franklin Adhesives, Julius Blum Canada, Cloverdale Paint, Weinig America, Delmhorst Instruments, Machine Automation Technology and Scan Hugger to name just a few of the industry leading sponsors, the program started attracting the attention of the various woodworking associations. From there the program grew with more support. Sponsors as far away as Denmark and Germany donate equipment and supplies and the school has received well in excess of half a million dollars in donated equipment and supplies.

Roger’s WoodLINKS program has formed a commercial business, paying students up to $10.50/hr to work after school to process wood orders. Some students have gone on to work for companies they do business with, such as local millwork shops. Each year students are certified to operate one of the three forklifts. The school also processes lumber for local retailers as well as contractors and the general public. Besides the standard school equipment, the school operates a lumber dry kiln, resaw, straight line ripsaw, moulder, CNC router, panel saw and wide belt sander.

Roger Conrod’s WoodLINKS graduates have been very successful, and are sought after by industry. Nine students have gone through UBC’s Centre for Advanced Wood Processing degree program. Several students have started their own businesses after leaving high school and now have several employees working for them.

Innovation in Human Resources – Joe Gushue; Prestige Homes

Roger Conrod and Blair Tullis(continued on page 4)

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Equity Award (Individual) Carla Coyle; A&K MillworkCarla gives all employees an opportunity to develop new skills by gaining experience in different positions or departments. She uses visual aids to facilitate communications for hearing impaired employees and employees who may not have strong English skills. Carla teams up new unskilled employees with experienced employees who offer support and guidance while the new hire gets settled in the workplace. She proactively seeks out employees who speak the same language as new hires to make the transition into the workplace less stressful

Carla participates in a program that provides work experience to at-risk-students so that they can gain employment skills and experience for life after high school. She is also involved with Corrections Canada, offering newly released offenders an opportunity for full time employment. In addition, the wood manufacturing industry can be intimidating for women. Carla has helped make the integration of women into her organization a little easier by acting as a mentor.

The Wood Manufacturing Council is proud to recognize the work of Carla in helping equity groups integrate and find success working in the wood manufacturing industry.

Equity Award (Company) – Triangle Kitchen

Over the years Triangle Kitchen Ltd. has been a leader in treating all employees fairly by being the most equal opportunity employer possible. This stems primarily from its owner Roger Fournier’s own personal philosophy. Triangle Kitchens provides equal pay and opportunity for men and women both in the front office and on the shop floor, equal opportunity for French or English speaking employees and equal opportunity for employees of other races and cultures. Triangle has had employees from various parts of Canada and various countries over the years including the following: Germany, France, Switzerland, Japan, England, Wales, India, Africa, Mexico, Portugal and China.

Triangle also ensures equal opportunity for people with disabilities and has had hearing impaired people at the factory for over 15 years; as a result some of the team leaders and managers have learned sign language. The emergency alarm system and procedures have also been modified to accommodate the needs of these individuals. Triangle has provided equal opportunities for ex-offenders for over 20 years. The Triangle Group has a comprehensive benefit package that includes an employee/employer pension plan, full medical plan, and profit sharing program. These plans are in effect at all three manufacturing plants, including the one in China.

In addition to the benefit package, Triangle has found ways to show the respect it holds for its employees by doing many activities inside and outside of work such as company barbeques, employee appreciation week, bowling tournaments and gifts at Christmas.

The WMC recognizes Triangle Kitchen for its dedicated work in creating the best “equal opportunity” employer for all with this company Equity Award.

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Carla Coyle; A&K Millwork

Thank YouTo the awards selection committee,

for guiding our awards program with your wisdom and knowledge: Ollie

Orobko; Red River College, Leo Huard; Consultant and Heidi Hauver; CIRA.

Roger and Pierre Fournier; Triangle Kitchen

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Roger Fournier started with humble roots in 1975 with two retail locations for kitchen cabinets; one in Moncton, one in Bathurst. His business grew in 1979 with the purchase of the factory that would become Triangle Kitchens. Over time the business has grown to three manufacturing locations: Dieppe, Moncton and China. Kitchen cabinets are supplied through retail outlets of which there are over 150 sellers all over the world (Canada, England, Japan and Caribbean). Not only was Roger intent on growing the business, but he also devoted time to growing the education of woodworkers.

Roger was involved with many woodworking associations. He was president of the Canadian Kitchen Cabinet Association, President of the Woodworking Centre of Excellence at Campbellton, New Brunswick and was on the Board of Directors for the University of Moncton and University of New Brunswick.

In 1991, Roger was asked to be a part of the National Education Initiative (NEI) that was formed to address the human resource development needs of the advanced wood manufacturing industry and lead to the development of a “wood engineering” curriculum for a Canadian University. The University of British Columbia won the right to offer the new Wood Products Processing Degree program, starting in 1995. From the NEI, the Wood Manufacturing Council was formed.

Roger is a strong advocate and supporter of wood manufacturing education, by way of his involvement in the NEI and with the Centre of Excellence in New Brunswick. Roger is able to balance supporting the development of wood manufacturing education with building a world class company

that is innovative in developing human resource programs within the company and showing respect to its employees. Roger has led Triangle Kitchens to be a successful company, but still retains the feeling of family among its employees with employee barbeques, bowling and pool tournaments, an employee recognition program, employee appreciation week and equal pay and opportunity for all.

Roger Fournier has a quiet way about him, but his passion and drive shines through, he is a true champion of the wood processing industry. He has built a global company that leads the way in employee respect while building world class products. Roger has given of himself to the development of wood manufacturing education programs in Canada. Roger has led Triangle Kitchens with his own personal philosophy and giving back to the community that has supported him by raising money for local hospitals and supporting the Boys and Girls club and local hockey clubs. Though a very humble person, Roger is an exemplary member of our industry and an inspirational leader. His colleagues think of him as a highly respected gentleman, who gives his industry a good name by his integrity, high standards and leadership.

WMC AWARD OF DISTINCTION – Roger Fournier; Triangle Kitchen

Many students have completed their journeyman’s ticket in millwork/joinery. One student makes high end custom furniture for customers all over the world and gets as much as $5000.00 for a single dining room chair. For the past 12 years Roger’s WoodLINKS program has had a runner up or winner in the “Youth in Action Awards” hosted by the Vancouver Island Chamber of Commerce.

The program has won the Conference Board of Canada Award, the Forest Renewal Award and the Canadian Home Builders Award. Roger has found that with program fame, comes a greater interest in the program from students and parents alike. There are now more requests for graduates than students enrolled in the program.

Roger Fournier and Blair Tullis

WoodLINKS Success Award (continued from page 2)