Sign Manufacturing Day invites students across Canada and the U.S. to visit and tour sign companies in their area.
The sign industry could see a surge in young workers, thanks to the record-breaking success of the sixth annual Sign Manufacturing Day on Oct. 5.
Sponsored by the International Sign Association (ISA) in conjunction with the National Association of Manufacturers, the event, which invites students from across North America to visit local sign, graphics, and visual communications companies and learn more about career opportunities within the sign industry, experienced a 26 per cent growth in participating companies compared to 2017.
“We continue to hear companies discuss the challenge they are having in finding the next generation of workers,” said ISA CEO Lori Anderson. “The interest in participating proves this event is providing a solution to that challenge. Companies have successfully used this day to build year-round relationships with local high schools, community colleges, and technical schools, and to hire skilled workers to help grow their businesses.”
Participating companies were provided a toolkit to help them connect with area educators and showcase the many diverse careers within the industry.
Of the 89 participating companies, 10 were Canadian, including:
- Aero Sign and Print (Calgary, Alta.);
- Brooklin Bulletin Signs (Whitby, Ont.);
- Enseignes Geneau Sign (Moncton, N.B.);
- Hansen Signs (Moncton);
- Mattatall Signs (Dartmouth, N.S.);
- Montreal Neon Signs (Laval, Que.);
- Pride Signs (Cambridge, Ont.);
- Rea Sign Group (Vaughan, Ont.);
- Selkirk Signs and Services (Cranbrook, B.C.);
- Sleek Advertising (Regina); and
- Spectra Advertising (Concord, Ont.).
“ISA Sign Manufacturing Day has grown into the program we hoped it would: a year-round initiative to showcase the excellent and varied careers our industry offers,” said Alison Kent, ISA’s director of workforce development. “Participating companies and their workers are thrilled to showcase what they do every day. Students and educators are excited to learn more about the industry. It truly is a win-win for all involved.”
Many of these sign manufacturers have formed relationships with local schools to provide real-life practical experience to what they have been learning in the classroom. According the Sign Association of Canada (SAC-ACE), Sign Manufacturing Day provides a great opportunity to share the many exciting and diverse jobs that exist within the sign and visual communications industry.
Several sign manufacturers across Canada were packed with those eager to learn. For example, Mattatall Signs welcomed students from Dartmouth High School (Nova Scotia) and NSCC Ivany Campus, Montreal Neon Signs opened its doors to Rosemere and Phoenix High Schools, Pride Signs welcomed Huron Heights Secondary School, and Spectra Advertising continued its co-op student exchange program with St. Elizabeth Catholic High School.
“We’ve had three very successful students thus far who have all completed their co-op program with great feedback and excellent marks,” said Spectra Advertising’s Matthew Lavery. “We work directly with the school’s manufacturing and engineering students and, over two years, we have developed a really good rapport with the school, its students, and staff.”
According to Lavery, the company welcomed approximately 12 students from the school to its shop to spend the day with them, giving them a briefing of what we they do, as well as a tour of the various work stations all while showing them the sign making process.
“The goal is to continue to reach out to the youth and promote the sign industry and the opportunities we can offer, as well as other participating shops with respect to long-term career opportunities,” said Lavery. “Sign manufacturing day also provides them with a better understanding of what education is needed or will them advance in the field of sign making.”
