Talent City Grant Recipient Profile – Wood Manufacturing Council
Talent City Vaughan is a first-of-its-kind municipal workforce development initiative that supports purpose-driven training initiatives across Vaughan. The 2024 cohort of grant recipients offers a host of in-demand training programs for Vaughan residents and employees of Vaughan-based businesses – like the Wood Manufacturing Council’s wood manufacturing upskilling training program!
The Program
The Wood Manufacturing Council (WMC) is running a series of workshops on critical entry level skills in wood manufacturing. Training content includes topics such as: finishing processes, machine operation, laboring skill sets and computer numerical control (CNC) fundamentals. Beginning in the fall of 2024, WMC will train participants over the course of six weeks. This training will be held in-person at the wood manufacturing facility on evenings and weekends. The goal of this program is to provide entry level skillset training for the possibility of transitioning into wood manufacturing, or upskilling and cross-training for people already in the industry.
About Wood Manufacturing Council
The Wood Manufacturing Council (WMC) is a non-profit corporation that has worked across Canada for more than 22 years to bring together stakeholders in advanced wood processing. Their mandate is to plan, develop and implement human resources strategies that support the long-term growth and competitiveness of Canada’s advanced wood products manufacturing industry and meet the developmental needs of its workforce. The WMC has a focus on underrepresented groups and youth with barriers to employment entering, staying and experiencing a welcome environment in wood manufacturing.
The WMC has managed over 75 projects with federal, provincial, and municipal governments. WMC has created labour market intelligence, projects and strategies both nationally and provincially. The WMC has rich partnerships that represent across Vaughan and the surrounding regions, including post-secondary colleges such as Humber College and Georgian College, and trade organizations such as the Architectural Woodwork Manufacturers Association of Canada, the Wood Manufacturing Cluster of Ontario, and the Canadian Kitchen Cabinet Association. The WMC has offered training programs for diverse people entering wood manufacturing for more than 12 years. These training programs always have a focus on youth farthest from employment including newcomers, racialized youth and women.
Are you a non-profit organization that offers upskilling or reskilling training? You can apply for a grant of up to $10,000 to run training programs for Vaughan residents or employees of Vaughan-based businesses. To learn more about Talent City Vaughan click the button below!