DO YOU HAVE THE RIGHT STUFF

Welcome to the inaugural issue of STUFF, a guide to the manufacturing and building industries in Eastern Ontario. We’ll explore these important and fast-growing sectors by answering three key questions: what is manufactured and built in Eastern Ontario, who’s making it and what kinds of careers are available?

What is made here?

Did you know that more than 100 major and minor league baseball teams swing a bat made in Carleton Place? Did you know that a company in Lancaster powers video production for billions of viewers every day?

In our feature story cool things made and built here you’ll discover that what is manufactured in our region is in fact pretty cool ​– vodka made from cows’ milk, optical equipment that helps guide spacecraft at the International Space Station and next-generation nuclear reactors are just a few examples.

Who is making it?

Across Eastern Ontario, there are thousands of dynamic and innovative companies making and building “stuff,” many of them operating under the radar.

They include small firms launched by local entrepreneurs, large corporations with Eastern Ontario operations that have made them market leaders worldwide and everything in between. 

In our sector profiles (page 32) we look at several of these companies ​– specifically in the 3D printing, environmental and food and beverage sectors ​– to illustrate some of the challenges manufacturers are facing and showcase the job opportunities available in those industries. 

The one thing all these companies have in common is a creative, talented workforce. Their success comes from building teams that combine traditional jobs on the build site, plant floor or back office with new technology-driven roles at R&D labs and engineering departments and on the jobsite or plant floor.

With the combination of top-notch manufacturing facilities, cutting-edge technology and a highly skilled workforce, the towns and cities of Eastern Ontario offer very attractive options not only for job-seekers, but for business owners and investors.

Can you make a career in it?

One of the most important functions of this magazine and the accompanying website is to answer this key question: can you make a career in the manufacturing industry? The answer is yes. The demand for talent is rising, and the opportunities are immediate. If you are a student or a job-seeker, take the time to consider manufacturing and building as a worthy career path. 

Manufacturers in Eastern Ontario need talent in a wide range of fields. They are looking for people who want to work with their hands and their heads, people who take great pride in the skills required for making “stuff” and those who want to be on the leading edge of the digital transformation. 

If you’re a student or job-seeker, we invite you to go to the recruiting section on page 48, where we’ll introduce you to some local companies that are hiring right now and share the stories of some of the young employees who are climbing the ladder at their workplaces. 

Thank you to our sponsors for making this project happen: the Ontario East Economic Development Commission, Ottawa Employment Hub, our partners at the City of Kingston, the City of Cornwall, the County of Renfrew, the Ottawa Carleton District School Board, the Ottawa Catholic School Board and to the manufacturers and building companies who shared their stories. We invite you to connect with them.

Hope you enjoy the issue.

Terry Tyo.