More than 100 industry leaders from Canada's advanced wood products processing sector will be in Kitchener on Wednesday, February 26 and Thursday, February 27 for the annual meeting of the Wood Manufacturing Council (WMC).
The purpose of the two-day event is to assemble senior management and human resources staff from the sector in order to consider the crucial human resources issues facing wood manufacturing companies, employees, educators and other key stakeholders, such as associations and governments.
An important factor in selecting Kitchener as conference site is Conestoga College's excellence in wood manufacturing education, as well as the internationally known Woodworking Centre of Ontario at the Doon campus.
The schedule on February 26 features an all-day meeting of the WMC Board and delegate registration at the Kitchener Holiday Inn. The conference-opening dinner is set for 6:30 p.m., with Conestoga College President John Tibbits as keynote speaker.
On Thursday, all activity shifts to the College, where the focus will be on the results and implications of the WMC's recently completed study, A Situational Analysis of the Advanced Wood Processing Sector. The morning program runs from 9 a.m.-12:15 p.m. and includes sessions on topics such as effective management, career directions in the sector, employee recruiting and postsecondary education. The afternoon features a panel discussion on lifelong learning, plus a session on promoting literacy and diversity in the workplace.
The conference closes with tours of the Woodworking Centre of Ontario. In addition, institutions offering postsecondary programs in wood products processing have been invited to display their information, to inform employers of sources for new employees and training for current employees.
Based in Ottawa, the Wood Manufacturing Council is one
of 26 sector councils addressing human resources issues in their industries.
Sector councils bring together representatives from business, labour,
education and other professional groups to analyze and identify human
resources issues, and to priorize and implement strategies to address
human resources needs.
CONTACTS: Conestoga College: Mike McClements, 519-748-5220, ext. 3251,
mmcclements@conestogac.on.ca
Wood Manufacturing Council: Richard Lipman, rlipman@wmc-cfb.ca