Ontario

A Message from our President

After the last few tumultuous years, 2022 brought many welcome changes, and much needed return to normalcy to the world, and by extension to us at AWMAC Ontario.

As life returns to normal, it’s imperative we remember and build upon the one key lesson that recent years taught us:

Together we are stronger than we ever imagined.

Built from the grass-roots, AWMAC Ontario is an association that truly exists solely to serve the architectural woodwork community and for the betterment of our industry as a whole.

From our proven established standards, currently up to NAAWS 4.0, to our tested Guarantee and Inspection and Expert Opinion Services, to our many education seminars and CEUs, and supporting our schools and post-secondary institutions, we are acting on our commitments to quality and education in the woodworking industry.

From our membership Advantages program, to our upcoming Benefits Initiative, and our Government lobbying strategies; we are continuously moving forward with our commitment to helping our members bear the struggles of being successful in our field.

With memberships for Installers, Schools, Designers, Suppliers as well as Manufacturing Shops we have led the nation in giving a voice to all the facets of our industry; and we’re serious about putting what we’ve heard into action, and pushing the boundaries of what we can do to make membership in AWMAC Ontario a true asset to our members.

But none of this would be possible without YOU. We are member driven. Member focused. Member directed. Without your participation, nothing would be possible. Ontario has more manufacturing members than any other Chapter. So that stands to reason that there should be no limit to what we can do, together.

Membership Engagement is what has made our association and our Chapter Great.

This association doesn’t look like it did 5 years ago, and it’s almost unrecognizable to what it was 10 years ago.

It’s up to all of us to envision where we will be in the next 5-10 years, and it’s also up to us to realize that vision.

Together.

Nick Anastas, Awmac Ontario Chapter President

Rich in History

AWMAC Ontario Chapter is a not-for-profit Association of manufacturers and associated companies that have been promoting architectural woodwork manufacturing since the 1956, when several leaders in the industry joined together and created the Architectural Millworkers of Ontario. In 1970 the woodworking association of BC invited the AMO to participate in a National meeting. At that meeting it was determined that a manual on proper fabrication and installation methods for architectural woodwork would be beneficial to all in the industry. From that time on, the AMO was an ardent supporter of the Quality Standards Manual and continued to participate in various capacities with the woodworking association called the Architectural Woodwork Manufacturers Association of Canada (AWMAC). The Ontario Chapter joined AWMAC in 1999 and has continued to promote quality architectural woodwork fabrication and installation methods, together with our AWMAC Chapter partners across Canada.

Proud Members

AWMAC Ontario is primarily comprised of industry leading Manufacturer members that fabricate and install architectural woodwork such as Millwork, Stairwork and Rails, Wall and ceiling panels, Doors, Cabinets and Casework, Countertops and Historic Restoration Work, and Associate Members that support the Manufacturers by providing quality goods and services such as Lumber, Sheet Products, Hardware, Adhesives and Manufacturing Machinery.

History

In 1956 it was recorded that a group of woodworkers came together to form a Millwork Association. The original association in Ontario was named the Architectural Millworkers of Ontario (AMO) and was active as an association in the late fifties early sixties.

Member companies included Syd Thompson with Jones Wood, Welsh Custom Woodwork, Laidlaw Lumber, Rathburn Millwork and Ken Watson with Gardener of Galt.

On November 7^th, 1966 the AMO have the first recorded Registration at the Ontario Registrar of the not for profit formed association of Millworkers – Woodworkers and related industries to be known as “ARCHITECTURAL MILLWORKERS OF ONTARIO”.

The British Columbia woodworkers association, Architectural Woodwork Manufacturers Association of Canada (AWMAC), invited various reps from across Canada to attend their meeting on September 25, 1970 in Vancouver, BC. The AMO was represented at that meeting by Doug Wignal of St. Catharines.

In 1972 the first AWMAC Quality Standards Manual was released. The Architectural Millworkers of Ontario worked in conjunction with the national AWMAC association but continued as an independent association. The AMO was an active participant and promoted the standards manual in Ontario.

The offices of the AMO were held at 223 Church Street in Toronto until 1989 when the Toronto Construction Association was contracted to provide administrative services.

In 1990 Werner O. Schmidt (Blier Construction) of Ontario, became the President of AWMAC and held that position until 1991.

In 1994 the Guaranteed Inspection Service Program (GIS) was designed as a tool to monitor architectural woodwork projects from shop drawings through to installation.

Under the leadership of Ken Jackson (Mirmil Products), AMO President in 1999, the Architectural Millworkers of Ontario changed their association name to the Architectural Woodwork Manufacturers Association of Canada – Ontario Chapter.

Under the leadership of then National President Vince Parolin (Art Magic Carpentry) , the first national board meeting in Halifax, Nova Scotia was held in 2002 with the Atlantic Chapter being established the following year.

In (2015), AWMAC Ontario Chapter President Peter Gallagher of Convoy Custom Interiors hired Laurie Suikki as Association Manager and the Chapter offices were moved to Convoy Custom Interior offices in Vaughan. Ontario.

The Ontario Chapter of AWMAC has continued to grow through the years. In 1999 when AWMAC Ontario was formed there were 48 Members at the time of this recording, there were over 140 Members.