CKCA supporting members with their skilled labour shortage concerns

August 2022

Written by Chris George, CG&A Communications and CKCA Communications Advisor

We have all become too familiar with the realities of Canada’s skilled labour shortages. Two-thirds of Canadian businesses struggle to hire workers and a quarter have difficulties retaining employees. Skills Canada documents a 40 per cent shortage in skilled trades today and this is projected to grow as workers age and retire.

Certainly, the country’s skilled labour shortage is impacting all areas of Canada’s business community. Given its critical importance, CKCA is actively supporting its membership by keeping a pulse on the issues at play and by providing tools for members to profile their businesses and attract new employees.

CKCA keeps its members abreast of the latest news, whether it is the data from Statistics Canada Labour Report or a new government program for skilled trades. For example, recently a 2022 StatsCan study was shared that provided current insights into private sector business strategies to deal with personnel recruitment, retention and training.

A 3M Canada survey tells us that there is much work to still be done to attract students to consider a career in skilled trades. Even though 96 per cent agree that the country’s workforce needs more skilled trades workers, three in four Canadians (76 per cent) say they would never pursue a skilled trade for themselves.

This 3M survey also revealed that nine in 10 (92 per cent) believe there is a lot of opportunity in skilled trades, and 91 per cent trust vocational or trade schools to give them the education needed to have a successful career. Eight in 10 (81 per cent) believe they would earn as much money in a skilled trade as they would in a career that requires a university degree.

With this appreciation for skilled trades, it remains a wonder why young people do not consider a career in a trades business. In a recent Forbes Magazine interview, CEO Mark Perna of consulting firm TFS urged employers to target messaging about the value of skilled trade careers to young workers, their parents, friends, classmates and teachers. Also, Perna asserts young people need to know more about the significant financial incentives in pursuing a career in the skilled trades.

On this point, CKCA is supporting its members by developing materials that better describes our businesses and the varied career opportunities within our industry. The Communications Committee is developing presentations for business and community meetings, for student tours, school visits and to share with guidance and career counsellors.

Statistics tell us that skilled labour challenges will be with all trades, manufacturers and retailers for years to come. We must all plan accordingly. CKCA’s efforts on this issue are aimed to give members a competitive advantage when dealing with the attraction and retention of employees.

CKCA Launches the National Forum 2022 Program and Registration

It’s been a long haul!

Actually it’s been 31 months by the time we deliver our first face-to-face event for the industry.

So we are VERY excited about hosting our first in-person national event focused on the kitchen cabinet industry in Canada and you don’t want to miss it!

Networking – Learning – Connecting

Amazing plant tours. Industry experts. Lots of talk time.

Build those important business connections to help your business prosper.

Want more details? Click here and visit our National Forum page. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity. We look forward to welcoming you to Waterloo, Ontario September 28 – October 1, 2022.

Sunrise Kitchens announces addition of Cefla paint line

Sunrise Kitchens is pleased to announce the addition of our new 85-foot automated Cefla paint line to our finishing process.

This new finishing line increases our capacity to 1,300 doors (50 kitchens) in 8 hours.

Sunrise Kitchens is the only kitchen cabinet manufacturer in Western Canada to own this high-performance paint line with the revolutionary Sun-Spot paint drying system. The Sun-Spot provides accelerated drying and curing with catalytic infrared heaters that efficiently and cleanly cure coatings to a more robust finish.

Other features of the Cefla finishing process:

  • Micro-Cleaning – ensures surfaces are completely dust-free which is an essential prerequisite to produce high-quality finish.
  • Spray Booth – contains two-arm oscillating spray nozzles providing impressive results for a smooth and consistent coating.
  • Flash Oven – the compact vertical oven is perfect for flash-off drying and with the 6-tray stacked system it delivers the same function of an in-line oven.

We have also made the decision to switch to polyurethane coatings instead of the traditional conversion varnish coating. Sunrise Kitchens is the only kitchen cabinet manufacture in BC to use polyurethane coatings as standard. This significantly increases durability and resistance to moisture, scratches, and spills for our painted products.

Sunrise Kitchens can proudly say that we are the industry leader in Western Canada for the cabinetry finishing process.

Click for more information on Cefla Paint Line and our Finishing Process.

Marathon Hardware launches Summer Collection 2022

Marathon Hardware launches the New Golden Champagne Summer Collection launched

July 11, 2022

Featuring four handles (Shift, Mercury, Getwinn, Brook) and one finger pull (Cornet), the summer collection highlights the versatility of the exquisite Golden Champagne finish.

Press Release

For Immediate Release

Marathon Hardware presents the Golden Champagne Summer Decorative Collection

Mississauga, ON – Marathon is proud to present the Golden Champagne Summer Decorative Collection. The collection showcases four beautiful handles and one finger pull from across the decorative hardware spectrum, featured in our breathtaking Golden Champagne finish. Set against a variety of colour schemes, the summer collection emphasizes the versatility of the Golden Champagne finish.

“Our Inspired Living Magazine has been a huge hit throughout our Canadian Client base. It not only serves as an inspirational tool but allows us to showcase the hottest trends in Decorative and Cabinet Hardware.”  – Troy Scherer, Vice President, Western Canada

The summer collection will be released throughout July, August, and September of 2022. You can learn more by visiting our Website or on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Pinterest. It is also prominently featured in our Inspired Living Magazine.

About Marathon Hardware

Marathon Hardware is a Canadian cabinet hardware distributor serving the needs of manufacturers and designers. Their extensive product offering includes a complete range of decorative hardware, kitchen storage accessories, and functional hardware. At the heart of everything they do is a focus on what matters most to their customers: Quality, Innovation, and Service.

Learn more

– 30 –

Marathon Hardware media contact information:

www.marathonhardware.com

charlie.ricottone@marathonhardware.com

1-4120B Sladeview Crescent

Mississauga, ON  L5L 5Z3

Celebrating Canadian Kitchen Cabinetry on Canada Day 2022 and Year Round

July 2022

This Canada Day we will be waving maple leaf flags for our country’s 155th birthday celebration. CKCA encourages all kitchen cabinet manufacturers to harness their sense of pride on this day and display “Made in Canada” on their products all year round.

In an industry that predates our country’s Confederation, Canadian wood crafting and kitchen cabinetry is well respected world-wide for its quality. This is something special to share with consumers.

Much like our country’s history of its earliest immigrants, Canadian kitchen cabinetry has its origins in the finest European traditions. From those earliest days when John Jacques and Robert Hays were developing mass production techniques in Upper Canada, the industry has proven to be very innovative. The craftmanship has evolved through centuries to develop into what is today an uniquely Canadian product. Today there is a wide range of cabinet designs and products, but they all reflect a superior Canadian quality.

From a consumer’s perspective there are good economic reasons to buy Canadian, the greatest being that we are supporting Canadian labour and local businesses. In purchasing a Canadian product, consumers avoid the hidden costs of import duties and fees. There are no supply-chain issues and local service and sales mean direct, personal service.

There is also the fact that every dollar spent on a Canadian product has a ripple effect in our country – helping to support our local community’s economy and the multiple businesses and services that have supported the crafting and installation of your kitchen cabinetry.

There are other benefits that we often do not factor. For example, a Canadian product must meet the high regulatory criteria of Canada’s Health and Safety standards. A Canadian product also meets the environmental regulations that are set for manufacturing goods. Further to safety standards and environmental controls, our country’s businesses adhere to Canada’s employment standards.

From a business point of view there is good reason to be promoting our Canadian legacy. From a consumer’s point of view it is rewarding to know the purchase of a Canadian product helps fellow Canadians and our country’s economy.

So, proudly display the maple leaf on your product tags and packaging and in your marketing and social media. CKCA has promotional media badges to highlight our Canadian-built products to customers. We also have a compelling list of reasons to buy Canadian kitchen cabinets. Click here for more information: https://ckca.ca/why-buy-canadian-built-kitchen-cabinets/

And, join CKCA in displaying the maple leaf. Happy Canada Day!

CKCA stands with CMC on EI reform

CKCA is a member of the Canadian Manufacturing Coalition (CMC) and attended a recent meeting that invited the EI Employers Commissioner, Nancy Healy to provide an overview of the EI reform currently underway. Proposed changes pose concerns for employers still recovering from the impact of Covid-19.

As a group, the CMC discussed that reform of EI should lessen the burden on employers and not add to it. While there is no question that the EI system is in need of updating (it has been 25 years since the last revisions were done),  the challenges business face in Canada are substantial as we experience unprecedented labour shortages. Most recent statistics revealed there are approximately 1 million jobs in Canada now available and we are at record lows for unemployment rates.

Therefore CKCA, along with a number of other manufacturing industries have written to Government asking for meaningful reform of the EI system that strikes the right balance for the employer and the employee. Consideration must be given for the challenges business currently face. The current plans include passing along some of the EI costs to employers in the form of increased premiums, meanwhile increasing the EI benefits to employees.

EI must be responsive and available to the unemployed workers while they seek other employment, but benefits should not act as a disincentive to work.  The EI system should remain as a temporary job-loss protection program.

Without sufficient workers, industry will be forced to reduce capacity, which our industry is already experiencing, or even worse, face closing. Closed business will diminish the Government’s ability to collect much needed funds to support EI benefits. Increasing business costs continue to threaten business in Canada and our ability to compete globally. The kitchen cabinet sector faces these challenges with the low cost of foreign kitchen cabinet imports. Therefore it is critical that  Government policy and reform of existing systems help to support and strengthen Canadian industry.

We’ll keep you posted on how this progresses in the weeks ahead.

Overview of Government’s Review here »

Current Consultation (ending July 29) here»

Institute for Research on Public Policy here»

 

GRASS Canada announces the Vionaro V8

 

GRASS Vionaro V8

The world’s first 8 mm, one-piece steel drawer side. The slimmest steel drawer side ever. The extremely slim design and the continuous rectangular shape ensure maximum space utilisation. Until recently, the very idea of reducing a drawer side to 8 mm and, moreover, making industrial production commercially viable would have been technically unthinkable. With Vionaro V8, GRASS is turning this vision into a reality. Designed for eternity. 100% laser-welded steel. 0% plastic, 0% glue. 100% recyclable. High-tech made in Austria. German Design Award Winner 2022. Everything. Except. Usual.

Details here »

What’s also really amazing with this new drawer is the machine that will produce it. The V8 machine is the only machine that can build a drawer from steel-coil to finish. Highly automated, nobody else has this or can do this. No other supplier will have this available, not even in the Automotive industry. Once we have a video ready to show this, I am sure this will be great for others to see since everyone is always looking into new machinery

CKCA Members Elect 2022/2023 Board of Directors

June 1, 2022

The Canadian Kitchen Cabinet Association held their 2022 Annual Meeting on Wednesday, May 25 at 2pm (EDT) via Zoom.

Members voted to elect by acclamation the Board of Directors for 2022/2023. Immediately following the AGM, the newly elected Board then appointed the Executive Officers.  Current president, Heidi Boudreault has now completed her term as President and moves to the Past-President position.

  • Pete Fournier, Triangle Kitchen – President
  • Amrita Bhogal, Sunrise Kitchens – Vice-President
  • James Dewinetz, Pacific Rim Cabinets – Treasurer
  • Heidi Boudreault, Denca Cabinets – Past-President
  • Sandra Wood, CKCA Staff – Secretary

Directors:

  • Trevor Chaulk, Chaulk Woodworking – (new)
  • Craig Atkinson, Marathon Hardware
  • Joerg Brauns, 2020 – Director
  • Giuseppe Castrucci, Laurysen Kitchens
  • Earl Ducharme, Hafele Canada
  • Varun Gajendran, Lucvaa Kitchens
  • Gerald Van Woudenberg, Van Arbour Design
  • Luke Elias, Muskoka Cabinet Company
  • Wes Love, Taurus Craco

CKCA would also like to acknowledge and sincerely thank departing Board member Mike Slobodian, Decor Cabinets who also served as CKCA President 2018 – 2020.

Link to Board members photos and bios can be found here.

CKCA President, Pete Fournier says: 

“CKCA is excited to continue the work we have been doing on behalf of our industry. We were thrilled to have a new industry professional step forward, especially given how busy our industry is. As Mike Slobodian of Decor Cabinets completes his term and steps down, we want to take this opportunity to thank Mike for all has done to help the association, which included serving as a CKCA President for two years. We continue to have a strong Board and active committees that are working on critical issues impacting our industry including the labour shortage and technology adoption. It’s important the industry comes together through CKCA to speak up and find the solutions we need to ensure our industry continues to thrive in Canada.”

The CKCA National Forum will be held September 28 – October 1 in Waterloo, Ontario. Details will be coming out this summer.

CKCA established in 1968, is a national trade association representing the kitchen cabinet industry in Canada. CKCA works to inspire progress and innovation in the industry, by promoting excellence, facilitating continuous improvement and working to ensure high standards for design and manufacturing are upheld

If you have any questions please contact Sandra Wood, CKCA Executive Director at 613-493-5858 or sandra@ckca.ca for more details.