Manufacturing represents 9 per cent of Toronto’s total employment. And while, of course, that percentage is far lower than it was even 10 years ago, manufacturing remains crucial to Toronto’s employment landscape.
Toronto MADE, a non-profit launched this past May, is hoping to bring renewed attention to the sector. While still in its nascent stages, Toronto MADE has started making progress on its ambitious goal - the creation of the Toronto Manufacturing Network, a virtual hub profiling every manufacturer in the city.
Based on similar models in New York City and Montreal, Toronto MADE features small-scale creators alongside big-time employers.
"Right now we have mostly small-scale manufacturers
featured on the site [including jewelry makers and beer brewers]," says Toronto MADE founder and director Derek Brunelle. "But though small-scale, it’s still manufacturing and still really important."
As the directory continues to grow, says Brunelle, it will work both to link independent manufacturers to each other, as well as to promote Toronto's important manufacturing community.
"The big picture is that manufacturing jobs are good jobs," says Brunelle."Manufacturing jobs tend to pay better and they help to diversify the economy. The hope with this project is to encourage manufacturing in our city and to maybe change the policy discussion to focus even more on supporting this sector."
Eventually, Brunelle plans to start hosting manufacturing meetups and to secure funding to keep the project going for the long term. In the meantime though, he’s focusing on building the network up one maker or manufacturer at a time.
Looking to models like Made in Montreal for inspiration, Brunelle is optimistic that as Toronto MADE grows it will help to facilitate local supply-chains by bringing manufacturers together and will become the go-to place for companies looking to source material locally. And, as with Made in Montreal and other similar projects, every manufacturer added to the directory will also be able to use the Toronto MADE logo to gain recognition for manufacturing in the city.
"The network will become more valuable the more people are on it. Some people have reached out to us, and I’m spending time sending out explanatory emails and cold-calling manufacturers. It’s going to take some time before it’s big enough to be really worthwhile. But so far the reception has been really positive."
Writer: Katia Snukal
Source: Derek Brunelle, Director and Founder, Toronto Made