Celebrating Manufacturing

Our Grand Erie region has many reasons to celebrate manufacturing.

Hundreds of manufacturing companies in our region employ about 16,000 people, and those employees make an amazing array of products. Some products are well known, like Nutella, straws, frozen waffles, pepperettes, barbecues. Other products are used to make other products, including parts for cars and steel. Products are sold locally, across Canada, North America and the world.

The success of manufacturing businesses contributes to community prosperity.

For a number of years, the Workforce Planning Board has celebrated Manufacturing Month in October. We’ve organized tours of select area companies for high school students and produced engaging We Make It Here videos that take people behind the scenes at local manufacturers.

The We Make It Here videos are shown below, but they are also on YouTube on the Workforce Planning Board’s YouTube channel.

The tours and videos raise the profile of manufacturing and let people know what kinds of jobs and skills the industry needs.

Manufacturing Month 2023

Manufacturing Day tours returned in a big way in 2023, after a 4-year absence mainly due to the pandemic making in-person tours of local companies impossible.

Thirteen manufacturers opened their doors to student tours on Oct. 5, giving about 160 senior high school students and their teachers a first-hand look at modern manufacturing. Two other companies were hosting tours at later dates in October.

We thank all the companies for generously giving up their time to inform students about the exciting career opportunities in the industry.

The 15 companies that participated on Manufacturing Day:

• Tigercat Industries
• Toyotetsu Canada
• Walters Group
• Cargo Ease – Did tours Oct. 19
• Elite Manufacturing – Did tours Oct. 19

Area companies that participated in 2023 tours were celebrated and thanked at a Manufacturing Appreciation Breakfast.

More than 50 people attended the Simcoe-area breakfast, which was organized by the Workforce Planning Board, the Grand Erie District School Board and the Brant Haldimand Catholic District School Board.

The majority of manufacturers who hosted tours sent staff. They were awarded appreciation certificates on behalf of Manufacturing Month organizers, and additional certificates awarded by representatives of the local MPP and Mayor offices.

Several students and teachers who went on tours talked about learning about careers in the industry. 

Also, Dave Eelkema (public school board) and Jennifer Boluk-Svec (Catholic school board) talked about the many ways companies can connect with schools to promote careers and bring on students who are part of the Ontario Youth Appreciation Program, or doing a co-op placement or Specialist High School Major.

Manufacturing Month 2019

We Make It Here videos 2019

Our 4 We Make It Here videos from 2019 offer a behind-the-scenes look at modern manufacturing in Brantford, Brant, Haldimand and Norfolk. The workforce is diverse and offers employees many opportunities.

Brant County 2019 We Make It Here video

Haldimand County 2019 We Make It Here video

Manufacturing Day tours 2019

Thank You

Thanks to the 19 area companies that participated in Grand Erie’s Manufacturing Day in October 2019.

Some 250 students and their teachers went on tours hosted by 18 manufacturing firms. Meanwhile, Tigercat Industries hosted tours for about two dozen guidance counsellors, principals, employment counsellors and other guests.

The tours were organized by the Workforce Planning Board in partnership with the Grand Erie District School Board, Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board and the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program.

Here is a list of companies that hosted tours:

Motts Manufacturing (Brantford)

Norfolk Fruit Growers’ Association (Simcoe)

Patriot Forge (Brantford)

R&W Metal Fabricating and Design (Paris)

Stelco Inc. (Nanticoke)

Tigercat Industries Inc. (Paris)

Townsend Lumber (Tillsonburg)

Toyotetsu Canada Inc. (Simcoe)

Walters Inc. (Princeton)

Manufacturing Month 2018

We Make It Here videos 2018

Our 4 We Make It Here videos from 2018 offer a behind-the-scenes look at modern manufacturing in Brantford, Brant, Haldimand and Norfolk. You’ll hear from people who work in manufacturing and learn about the exciting career opportunities in this diverse industry. Once hired, workers have opportunities to learn new skills, obtain training, take on different responsibilities and move up the ladder in their companies.

Brant County 2018 We Make It Here video

Haldimand County 2018 We Make It Here video

2018 Manufacturing Day tour hosts

The following companies hosted Manufacturing Day tours of their facility for small groups of high school students in 2018.

To learn more about this companies, click on their names.

Kuritec/Kuriyama Canada (Brantford)

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)

Manufacturing Month 2017

We Make It Here 2017

The first year for our community’s We Make It Here videos focused on skilled trades. Many manufacturers have a need for skilled trades to operate their plants, meet the demand for their products and grow their business. Companies support apprenticeships in the skilled trades and will help existing workers gain new skills, providing on-the-job training and help with additional schooling.

Brant County 2017 We Make It Here video

Haldimand County 2017 We Make It Here video

The We Make It Here videos project is produced by the Workforce Planning Board of Grand Erie in partnership with:

• City of Brantford Economic Development & Tourism
• County of Brant Economic Development & Tourism
• Norfolk County Tourism & Economic Development
• Haldimand County Economic Development & Tourism
• Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board
• Grand Erie District School Board

This project is funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.

Manufacturing Month 2016

Manufacturing Day tours 2016

2016 was the first year for Grand Erie to hold a Manufacturing Day.

The new event grew out of consultations with leading local manufacturers, who recognized a need to promote their industry and career opportunities, especially to young people.

A dozen companies from across the region participated in Year 1, hosting tours of high school students.

The tours were organized by the Workforce Planning Board in partnership with the Grand Erie District School Board, Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board and the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program.

To thank companies, a Manufacturing Appreciation Breakfast was held afterwards.

Students at Tigercat Industries

Students at Bowman Precision Tooling