2020 was planned to be a highly active year for EMC Members in Eastern Ontario. Strategic Interest Group Sessions were developed covering all manner of topic throughout the year to learn, benchmark and share best practices until…
COVID.
It currently challenges us and changes us and changes us forever in many ways that we currently have understood or yet to face. Each facility has had to pivot and then pivot again… and I suspect it will continue to do so. 2020 saw new COVID directives from the Ministries, funding from the Feds to provide stimulus and wage replacement programs. As you know as these programs were announced implementation and policy changed daily, and we at EMC did our best to keep you up to date. PPE was another challenge that kept us busy and helping not just industry but our local health care workers and small businesses.
Members continued to be actively engaged in benchmarking and best practice sharing outside the sessions by using the National and Local Member Needs Help Services provided by EMC. We have been able to attract new members to add to our growing group of manufacturers in Eastern Ontario.
Great community partners like local Economic Development offices, Workforce Planning Boards & Post Secondary Institutions throughout Eastern Ontario continued to provide great support to EMC Members in 2020. Special mention to the Making it in Manufacturing group in Ottawa for the publication of Stuff Magazine. A tremendous resource for those thinking of a substantial career in Manufacturing. I would be remiss without mentioning the Health Units and Ministry of Labour for ably responding to our requests for Zooms sessions, follow up and answering question after question.
2021 will certainly be guided by our recent EMC Eastern Ontario Business Feedback Survey and strategic Interest Group schedules via Zoom will continue to take place.
Lastly, thanks so much for your continued support of me, EMC and for being EMC Members and community partners!
Happy Holidays
Steve Holmgren