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October is Manufacturing Month, celebrating industry

by WPBGE | Oct 1, 2021 | Manufacturing Month, Workforce Planning Board Of Grand Erie News

October is Manufacturing Month, celebrating a key industry that provides thousands of jobs in the Grand Erie region.

About 1.7 million people work in manufacturing across Canada, with half of those jobs in Ontario – the country’s manufacturing heartland.

Manufacturing is the No. 1 employer in our area, with about 700 businesses employing 15,000 people in Brantford, Six Nations, New Credit, and the counties of Brant, Haldimand and Norfolk.

Local companies make an amazing array of products, some of which are household names and brands that people buy every day. Think bread, chocolates, chicken nuggets, frozen waffles, hockey sticks, air fresheners, house paint, barbecues, cat litter, drywall, windows, kitchen cabinets, LED lighting – to name a few.

Other products are for special uses or niches. Think truck trailers, forestry equipment, neon signs, cabinetry for grocery stores, playground equipment, vinyl siding, swimming pool liners.

Other products are used as a part of others. Think auto parts, steel, pharmaceutical products, recycled rubber, cement wall panels, building supplies, industrial pumps, plastic hoses.

October will be celebrated as Manufacturing Month in North America, with Oct. 1 marked as Manufacturing Day in many areas.

In the past, manufacturers have thrown open their doors to tours, giving students and other visitors a behind-the-scenes look at what they make and the types of jobs they hire for.

The October Manufacturing Month tours are a way for companies to showcase their products, people and jobs, and to dispel commonly held myths about what it is like to work in manufacturing.

The Workforce Planning Board of Grand Erie has previously organized tours of local manufacturers and has produced a dozen videos about careers at local companies (see the resource section below).

Today’s manufacturing is a lot different than 30 or 50 years ago.

The days of workers standing at a production line, doing mind-numbing repetitive tasks, in a loud, dirty factory are largely past.

Today, production is highly automated, with computers, robots and cutting-edge technology heavily used. Companies value innovation, looking for better ways of doing things and creating new products.

Advanced Manufacturing, which uses new technologies, is a rapidly growing part of the industry.

Manufacturing offers a large variety of jobs, covering dozens of occupations, types of work and skill levels, from entry level positions to the most senior and experienced.

And while men have traditionally made up the bulk of people working in production and skilled trades roles in manufacturing, more women are entering the industry.

TYPES OF JOBS: Jobs can range from machine operator to office staff, packagers, salespeople, welders, millwrights, material handlers, computer programmers, engineers, designers, researchers, chemists, quality control specialists, health and safety experts.

JOB SKILLS: Skills used in manufacturing jobs also vary. Among the skills highly valued by businesses are: problem solving, critical thinking, team work, good communication, attention to detail, customer service and people skills. Learning to work safely is also important. Each occupation may have its own set of technical skills, from operating CNC machines to blueprint reading, programming robots and repairing equipment. And like all businesses, companies need people who are reliable and show up for work on time.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING: Businesses hire people who haven’t finished high school up to PhDs, depending on the role. Many companies offer on-the-job training, apprenticeships, or send workers to specialized training. Many companies provide opportunities for their staff to upgrade their skills and may help pay for their courses.

OPPORTUNITIES: Many companies regularly hire to fill open positions. Some increase their hiring to meet a large order or to fill seasonal demands. Companies like to promote from within, providing opportunities for advancement to employees who demonstrate a strong work ethic, a desire to learn, and a commitment to the business. There may be further opportunities as some older workers retire.

Find Out More

We Make It Here: A dozen videos produced by the Workforce Planning Board of Grand Erie that showcase local companies, the products they make and the people that make them.

Grand Erie Jobs: This online job board is the best source to find local manufacturing jobs, or to learn about specific manufacturing occupations or companies.

Local Training and Education

Skills2Advance: Free job training program that prepares people to work in manufacturing and warehousing in the Grand Erie region.

Skills for Steel: Free job training program to prepare people to work in the steel industry.

Conestoga College: College courses for manufacturing, including skilled trades and manufacturing management, plus continuing education courses.

Fanshawe College, Simcoe/Norfolk Regional Campus: College courses in welding and office administration, plus a number of continuing education courses.

Six Nations Polytechnic: Training for welders and machinists.

Mohawk College: College courses for manufacturing, including skilled trades, engineering and robotics training, plus continuing education courses.

Stelco hiring for Lake Erie Works and Hamilton Works

by WPBGE | Sep 28, 2021 | Workforce Planning Board Of Grand Erie News

Stelco Canada is a leading supplier of superior steel products to the North American market, employing some 2,200 men and women at their facilities and they are continuously hiring for Industrial Millwrights, Industrial Electricians, Welder Fitters, Instrumentation Technicians and Machinists. They also frequently hire Shift Managers, Management Associates, Engineers (Mechanical, Electrical, Reliability), Process Control Programmers, Finance Specialists and much more.

Stelco attests their company is rooted in a strong history of commitment to their employees and encouraging innovation, technological development and unparalleled customer-service. From its very beginnings, Stelco has consistently invested in its people and worked to ensure its facilities were equipped with leading edge technologies capable of delivering the next generation of quality, custom engineered products for the automotive, construction, infrastructure, agriculture, appliance, manufacturing and pipe and tube industries.

Asserting an innovative, forward-thinking vision has been central to Stelco’s resilience through the years. The company relays “It was a vision shared and ultimately carried forward by Stelco’s employees over the course of its iconic history, Stelco’s determined and innovative workforce has remained the company’s most valuable resource.”

Watch Stelco video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vB_g8M-JV_0

History of Stelco: The Steel Company of Canada – Stelco’s original title – was given life in 1910 via the merger of Montreal Rolling Mills, the Hamilton Steel and Iron Company, and a handful of secondary companies located from Gananoque to Brantford. It was the result of a bold partnership that forecast emerging challenges and charted a path toward nation-building opportunity.

Their facilities and where they are located: Stelco’s operations are located in Hamilton and Nanticoke and are comprised of fully integrated, industry-leading facilities that are among the safest, environmentally progressive, and productive steel plants in the world.

Hamilton Works

Stelco’s Hamilton Works is driven by innovation. Commissioned in 1905 at Hamilton Harbour, Hamilton Works has evolved with the steel industry and its customers by developing and applying the sector’s most modern technology and practices. Home to one of North America’s premier zinc-coating lines, Hamilton Works’ skilled employees produce world-leading galvanized and galvannealed sheet steel that serves important Canadian sectors such as the automotive, agriculture and infrastructure industries. The 18-storey Z-Line is a world leader that annually produces 470,000 tons of product with excellent surface quality, corrosion resistance and formability.

Lake Erie Works

Stelco’s Lake Erie Works has been at the forefront of North America’s steel industry since it was built in 1980. Located centrally on the north shore of Lake Erie, it is one of the continent’s most modern and capable steel facilities. It is also the newest greenfield integrated steel making facility, and it serves as an industry flagship of productivity and environmental innovation. The skilled employees who drive the success of this leading-edge operation work in an environment which has benefited from $600 million in investments and upgrades since 2000.

To learn more about available jobs at either of Stelco’s operations, visit their website for all of their current employment opportunities at www.stelco.com or email them at careers@stelco.com

Nursing Career Fair at Brantford Hospital

by WPBGE | Sep 2, 2021 | Workforce Planning Board Of Grand Erie News

The Brant Community Healthcare System (BCHS) is actively recruiting for various nursing positions and is holding a Nursing Career Fair at the Brantford General Hospital on Wednesday, September 15th from 2pm – 7pm. The BCHS consists of the Brantford General Hospital and the Willett Hospital in Paris, Ontario and is a leading-edge community wide health care system that supports the advance of programs and services provided through the two facilities.

About BCHS: In 1999, The Willett Hospital and the Brantford General Hospital became the first two partners in The Brant Community Healthcare System. With a total of 262 beds, the BCHS is also an affiliated teaching site of McMaster University Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine.

Today, the Brantford General Hospital is a regional acute health centre with an array of leading-edge technology complemented by more than 2100 health care professionals and volunteers and is the site of the Brant Community Cancer Clinic and the S.C. Johnson Dialysis Clinic for patients throughout Brant County and Haldimand-Norfolk.

The Willett site provides urgent care and ambulatory services meeting the healthcare needs of the wider community.

Their values: BCHS cheers for its dedicated staff, physicians, volunteers and committee members who put patients first in everything they do, every day. They support that through a rewards and recognition program that allows employees to recognize each other.

Valuing compassion, accountability, respect and equity, leadership strives to make BCHS a great place to come to work. Through the Patient Family Advisory Committee and other investment, BCHS ensures that their interprofessional team can work together in innovative patient care models that meet the needs of patients and staff.

To help maintain an active, healthy and positive workplace, they have a growing BCHS Wellness program in place for all staff, physicians and volunteers and to complete the package, their salaries are competitive; they offer a range of benefits, employee discounts, and a great pension and savings plan.

Employee Corner: Watch a BCHS employee share their story: https://youtu.be/8a4GMC10Uyw

BCHS is currently actively hiring for Permanent Full-Time and Part-Time RN and RPN positions. They have positions available in many areas, including specialty programs, such as Emergency, Critical Care, Operating Room, and Centralized Resources. Meet the folks at BCHS during their Job Fair September 15th and see if working for them is a fit for your future!

What: Nursing Career Fair

When: Wednesday, September 15th from 2pm – 7pm

Where: Brantford General Hospital (200 Terrace Hill St., Brantford)

Location: near main entrance (A-Wing)

Career Opportunities – BCHS (bchsys.org)

Have questions? Please contact humanresources@bchsys.org

COVID measures in effect including masks, hand sanitizer, and physical distancing to ensure safety of all attendees.

Celebrating Grand Erie’s Essential Workers – David

by WPBGE | Mar 17, 2021 | Workforce Planning Board Of Grand Erie News

Today, in our Frontline Fridays feature we talk to David Birtwell. David works as an AZ Truck Driver in the Cement Division at Stubbe’s Precast. Located in the County of Brant, Stubbe’s is a multi-faceted company that offers Structural and Architectural Precast Concrete, Redi-Mix Concrete and Bulk Cement products for the construction industry.

John Veldhuizen, Manager at Stubbe’s Cement describes the value of employees like David during the pandemic: “Dedicated drivers like David were especially important to us this past year because they kept our product moving on schedule and kept our customers inventories up so everyone could stay profitable. Without our truck drivers, we would not have been successful.”

Through Frontline Fridays the Workforce Planning Board of Grand Erie pays tribute to essential workers in our community. Essential workers have helped us cope with the COVID-19 pandemic in Brantford, Six Nations, New Credit, and the counties of Brant, Haldimand and Norfolk.

What does an average day look like for you?

David: Since starting at Stubbe’s last summer, I have enjoyed driving for the powder division out of Princeton Ontario. This division delivers bulk powder cement to Stubbe’s plants and their customers throughout southern Ontario and Michigan.

During the summer when the powder division is at its busiest, I drive the afternoon shift, so I typically start late morning and end around midnight. The stagger of start times in the powder division gives us the flexibility to deliver to customers almost 24hrs a day when needed.

How has Covid-19 has affected your day-to-day work?

David: Last August I was referred to Stubbe’s Precast through a coworker and was told even though Canada was in the midst of a pandemic they were extremely busy. Lots of construction was still going on that was considered essential.

The pandemic hasn’t affected an AZ driver as much as other occupations. We are naturally isolated in our trucks and when we are in contact with customers and in their buildings, we wear masks. Less paperwork is now exchanged and many of our customers request that we wear gloves when handling their equipment. A unique side effect of the pandemic lockdowns was less traffic to contend with in the GTA, which made driving easier.

What have been the greatest rewards and challenges in your work? What have been greatest supports for coping as an essential worker this past year?

David: Making sure supplies and products needed for projects get there has been important. Management, as well as fellow drivers, have gone out of their way to welcome me and help me learn how to be a successful team member. I have seen first-hand Stubbe’s core values of hard work, teamwork, ethics, dependability and ownership being demonstrated in all areas of the business.

What made you pursue your career? What lead you to take a job in this community?

David: It was about 4 years ago that I started considering getting my AZ license. I was attracted to this career because I knew a few AZ drivers and recognized how strong the demand for drivers is. The existing shortages of drivers are big plus a lot of truck drivers are above the age of 45 and looking ahead at retirement. I was referred to Stubbe’s Precast through a coworker and went to work for them out of their Princeton location.

What was your education/training?

David: I obtained my license through a Kim Richardson Transportation Specialists in Caledonia. It was a great school and one of the only ones that is government approved for EI career upgrades. The rest of my training was done on the job

What advice would you give to someone interested in pursuing your career?

David: For anyone considering getting their AZ license I would recommend talking with as many AZ drivers as they can. There are so many different jobs within the trucking community; from long haul to local delivery; from dry van to tanker. Each one requires a unique skill set and has a different work/life balance.

To learn about opportunities with Stubbe’s Precast, visit Stubbe’s Careers

Local Training and Certification for careers like David’s:

Ontario Truck Driving School:

Call Brantford – OTDS | Ontario Truck Driving School

Kim Richardson Transportation Specialists:

Course information | KRTS Transportation Specialists Inc. (krway.com)

Tri-Country Training School:

Tri-County Training Truck Driving School Serving Kitchener, Cambridge… (tri-countytruck.com)

Mohawk College:

Air Brake Training | Mohawk College Continuing Education

Fanshawe College:

Fanshawe College – Fanshawe to offer Essential Skills for Truck Drivers program (educationnewscanada.com)