The Workforce Planning Board of Waterloo Wellington Dufferin (WPB) has organized local events to mark the region’s first annual Manufacturing Day on Oct. 3.
Manufacturing Day started in the U.S. in 2012 and has spread across North America with 16 companies conducting tours in Waterloo, Guelph and Wellington this year. Over 200 local high school students and 100 members of the public will have the chance to witness firsthand what is being built in their backyard. North American media have participated in student and public tours for the past two years.
Between tours, students in Wellington will have lunch at Linamar’s training facility where they will have a tour and meet with education minister Liz Sandals. In Waterloo, students will lunch at Conestoga College’s South Campus where they will have the opportunity to see the prototype Rover being developed for NASA.
At Bingemans, professor Larry Smith will speak at a business luncheon to launch a recently completed Manufacturing Talent Strategy and Carol Simpson of the Workforce Planning Board will unveil a new three-year career information strategy aimed at addressing the image of the industry.
Participating companies include Anchor Danly, Ontario Drive and Gear, Christie Digital, PWO, Septimatech, Linamar, Hitachi, Musahai, MSW Canadian Plastics Inc., Toyota Boshoku, Kuntz Electroplating, Husky Farm Equipment, Dana Corporation, ABS Friction, CGL Manufacturing Inc., and TG Minto.
Manufacturing Day is supported by: the City of Waterloo, City of Cambridge, City of Guelph, City of Kitchener, County of Wellington, Township of Woolwich, Conestoga College, Career Education Council, WRDSB and WCDSB.
Operating as part of the Workforce Planning Ontario network, it is one of 26 local areas funded by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities to conduct and distribute local labour market research and engage community stakeholders in a planning process that supports local solutions to local issues.
WPB’s mandate is to provide guidance regarding important workforce and employment challenges.
