NEPEAN, ONTARIO -- Anniversaries give us a chance to both reflect back, think about our current situation and wonder what the future holds.  With the CKCA turning 50 this year, it is a time of reflection and celebration, but also an opportunity to think about what’s next.  The kitchen cabinet manufacturing industry in Canada began in the late 50’s. What used to be the job of a trim carpenter who was building a home and also built the cabinets in the kitchen, has morphed into a complex manufacturing system driven by computers and robotics.  But even with all the technology, behind it, all are the real people, the committed business owners and their employees who are at the heart of any business.  With the pressures of skilled trade labour shortages, the large numbers of people starting to retire, the ever-changing kitchen design and smart technologies of the home, the demand for kitchen cabinets remains constant and challenging.

CKCA celebrates the anniversary by collecting the stories behind the many successful businesses. So much hard work, perseverance and creativity have gone into building the industry to where it is today.  How do we ensure its sustainability for the future?   If you are a manufacturer or supplier in this industry we want to hear from you. We want your stories, your thoughts on what it takes to be successful in this industry.  Why did you get into this industry? What have you learned? What would you say to that high school student who is contemplating the profession?  With your help, the CKCA will create a tool to share with the industry that provides the insight on how to be successful. A legacy project to thank those who have given so much and an opportunity to mentor the next generation.  We know many companies are family run and are passing down their business to the next generation. But we still need the injection of new employees, new entrepreneurs, new innovators and we need to support those businesses that are being passed down through the generations.  With your help we can entice the next generation to join this exciting industry with a proven record of success built on a solid foundation of experience. The founders of CKCA understood that bringing the industry together would always be valuable and 50 years later, this industry has benefitted from their foresight.

Tell us your story.  CKCA has created a survey, please go to the link in this article and help us build a succession tool for the industry.