CKCA National Forum plant tour.
The Canadian Kitchen Cabinet Association held its 2013 National Forum in Winnipeg, Man. Jan. 31 – Feb. 3.
Members from across Canada attended the event, which featured a full slate of activities, meetings and of course a chance to meet with friends and colleagues in a relaxing atmosphere.
The CKCA arranged plant tours, suppliers’ presentations, a Hermetic Code Tour and dinner at the Manitoba legislature building, a look at the latest design trends, an economic examination of the U.S. housing market’s continuing recovery, presentations by Canadian Olympian Mark Heese, the President’s Dinner and the popular Manufacturer’s roundtable.
Just prior to the Forum, membership changes at the board level meant the president’s position for the upcoming term would be vacant. However, current president Jake Wolters agreed to serve another term.
Following registrations and a welcome cocktail reception on Thursday, the Forum got underway in earnest Friday morning when two busses set out for plant tours, starting with Decor Cabinet Company, about two hours south of Winnipeg.
Decor focuses on custom kitchens, bath and specialty cabinets. The company operates two production facilities and a showroom in Morden, Man.
Founded in 1977, the company’s focus is on making beautiful products for its customers, but, as president Larry Dyck says, it is also “committed to improve our local and global community by supporting organizations that give help to the needy, lend a hand to those on trouble, and teach values that remind us to show compassion to our neighbor.”
In fact, the company supports nearly two-dozen organizations both at home and abroad – all in keeping with its commitment “to leave behind more than we take.”
Following the tour of Decor’s modern and efficient production facilities, the tour returned to Winnipeg for a visit at Duha Group, a leading manufacturer of color marketing tools such as paint chips, fandecks and colour systems. Duha has facilities and/or partnerships in Canada, the U.S., Mexico, Germany, China, Singapore and Australia. Duha Group has a strong focus on the LEAN system in manufacturing and production and in fact sells expertise in that area as well as products and services to other companies.
In the evening, participants enjoyed a fascinating tour of the Manitoba legislative building and learned about its mystery and architectural wonder, the many hidden meanings behind the building’s design and the strong Masonic influence that guided architect Frank Worthington Simon. The tour was led by Winnipeg’s own, Frank Albo, a Cambridge architectural historian and an expert on Freemasonry.
He unlocked the ‘code’ of the building over a 10-year period. The tour was followed by dinner at the legislature.
Workshops and presentations.
Convention Centre
Saturday was a day for keynote speakers, including Mark Heese, who related his pursuit of Olympic medals to the world of business. He shared his efforts and commitment to achieving his personal best with CKCA members.
The CKCA annual meeting was also held Saturday morning and it was followed by supplier presentations from Rick Hurst of Richelieu Hardware; Leslie Pritchard of Hettich Canada; Neil Purdy of Blum Canada Ltd.; Peter Mate of Planit Canada and Manuel Koessler of Grass Canada.
Richelieu’s Françoise Dion spoke about design trends and offered an overview of the imm 2013 and LivingKitchen 2013 shows held in Cologne, Germany in January. And Mark Heese continued his presentation from the morning session.
Members also heard from Dr. David Crowe, the chief economist of the U.S.’s National Association of Home Builders who said the recovery will continue at a slow but steady pace.
In the afternoon, Jim Lawrence of Avondale Kitchens in New Brunswick, told members about his business and how he started out building kitchens in customers’ homes before he built his own shop. Rob Wigood, of Upper Canada Forest Products, talked about changes and news in the hardwood lumber and composite panel market.
A cocktail reception and supplier’s showcase preceded the evening’s President’s Dinner.
The Forum officially wrapped up at noon Sunday following the Manufacturer’s Roundtable.
