COLUMNS

Statistics Canada reports that 2025 marked the fifth consecutive year of increasing workforce participation among seniors. Participation rates now exceed pre-pandemic levels and are the highest recorded since tracking began in 1976.…

For many woodworking shops, there comes a point when manual production methods begin to limit growth. Lead times increase, labour becomes harder to find, and production bottlenecks start appearing throughout the shop. At that stage, many…

A specification is read differently by two stakeholders. A hardware expectation is assumed rather than defined. A project team references different versions of the same standard. An estimator interprets a requirement one way while…

CKCA recently hosted our Spring Regional event in Hamilton, Ontario. The province has been feeling the effects of housing slowdowns, tariffs, and the ongoing market pressures caused by increasing imports. CKCA President Amrita Bhogal…

The term and awareness of Emotional intelligence (EI) came into my life about ten years ago and quietly became the sharpest tool in my kit for dealing with humans (and humans who make cabinets). EI is simply noticing your feelings, managing…

In custom millwork, repeat customers often tell a deeper story than any showroom could. Interior Woodcraft Designs in Oshawa, Ontario, has been building custom kitchens and millwork for homeowners for four decades, with many clients…

The threats and implementation of tariffs have sent a shockwave of uncertainty through market predictions, forcing many companies to realign their business strategies and seek trading partners in foreign markets. Now, with another Middle…

Plywood has long been valued for its structural properties, but less so for its appearance. In cabinetry, furniture, and architectural applications, it has often served as the hidden layer beneath veneers, laminates, paint, or other…

Canadian organizations are experiencing a skilled trades labour shortage that is leaving building projects understaffed, delayed, and increasingly expensive. Expanding recruitment to include more women is one way to grow the talent…

Home renovation activity continues to hold steady, with the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) reporting a neutral score of 50.3 in its spring Renovation Market Index (RMI).

In today’s hyper-connected world, where personal opinions are frequently shared on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, the lines between professional and private life are increasingly blurred. A common…

A new report from Cylindo, a software company specializing in 3-D product visualization for furniture and home goods e-commerce, highlights several trends shaping how furniture companies support online product evaluation. Here are the…

It’s a familiar story: A shopper falls in love with a sofa while scrolling Instagram late at night. The next day, they look it up on your website to get more details. Later in the week, they compare it on Amazon, then stop by a local…

“Governments have spent years prioritizing big business needs, while small firms have been largely ignored,” says Michelle Auger, CFIB director of trade and marketplace competitiveness. “It’s time to put small businesses first and reverse…

Production schedules are tight, orders need to be filled, and many shop owners and managers are deeply involved in day-to-day operations. When someone decides to attend a CKCA event, they are making a deliberate investment of time. That…

I’m an annoyingly honest person. Some people say I have no filter. Believe it or not, what comes out of my mouth is the filtered version. Over the years I’ve learned that honesty has been my greatest advocate in sales within the building…

In today’s woodworking and manufacturing landscape, quality is no longer a differentiator. Precision, durability, and innovation are expected. Whether you’re producing cabinetry, furniture, or architectural components, chances are your…

Architectural woodwork is not commodity manufacturing. It is custom, highly interpretive, and built at the intersection of design intent, material science, fabrication capability, and site conditions. Without a shared benchmark, each…