We are active in and committed to the communities in which we operate. Not only does this connection enable us to reach out to sectors of the community that otherwise would be underserved or excluded, it also gives us an opportunity to discover new talent. Because we understand that doing good for our business and doing good for our community are intrinsically connected.

Teknion contributes to causes that strengthen the well-being of the communities in which we operate. In keeping with our entrepreneurial spirit, we also encourage employees to work with charities that speak to them on a personal level, as personal engagement is the engine for collective responsibility. Ultimately, as a company, and as individuals, we want to leave a legacy behind that we can feel good about.

While it is not uncommon to have generations of families working here, we are actively recruiting the next generation of employees from the communities in which we operate. Not only does this give us an opportunity to discover new talent, it also allows us a way to reach out to sectors of the community that otherwise would be underserved. Because when our local communities thrive, our business and stakeholders also benefit.

FOR DANNY CHASE, FOUNDER AND CEO OF CHASE OFFICE INTERIORS, GIVING BACK IS A FAMILY AFFAIR.

Since founding his company 16 years ago, along with his team, Danny has grown his dealership, Chase Office Interiors, into one of the largest in Canada. Family and community were the foundational principles on which Saul and David Feldberg built Teknion. These same values are the cornerstone of Danny’s business, drive his growth and connect him to his roots. Chase Office Interiors is Teknion’s only fully-owned and controlled Aboriginal dealership. On Chase’s relationship with Teknion Danny remarks, “We step up and support each other. The Community of First Nations is the same. It’s all about community and family. In fact, giving back is very much a family affair.”

Danny, along with his Cousin Larry Wilkins, are major supporters of Alberta’s only private Aboriginal high school, Mamawi Atosketan Native School. Mamawi Atosketan means “working together” and it serves four nations and four reserves. The school provides its students with a well-rounded education comprised of spiritual, academic and hands-on experiential learning to instill pride in their roots while giving them the future-ready skills they will need when they graduate.

Larry Wilkins is Danny’s mentor and inspiration, and was key to getting him involved with the school. Larry recalls, “I took Danny to the school’s open house, and when he met the school principal, saw the kids and saw what they were wanting to build, he was hooked.” Larry adds, “We all share a passion for our First Nations heritage.” Danny thought he was going to talk about a donation of equipment and computers, but what Gayle Wilton, the principal said was, “We really need a high school.” That led to Chase sponsoring a major part of the construction, including the state-of-the-art gymnasium. Gayle explains, “We’re a private school. Without donations we wouldn’t be here. We thought we’d be lucky if we got a few rooms, but we ended up with a whole school! We are proud to have a school that is culturally appropriate, that gives our students a sense of pride about who they are and who they can be. They have a place here.”

“My charitable work motivates me. I was given an opportunity, and I want to give back, and provide that to others. I can open the door so that the next generation can walk through it,” says Danny. Chase Office Interiors’ team is proud of what they have helped build. Concludes Danny, “It demonstrates there is a greater purpose and meaning to things than just dollars and cents.”

SUZANNE TICK, CREATIVE DIRECTOR, LUUM TEXTILES, FINDS BEAUTY IN FOUND ITEMS.

Seeing the potential and promise in found objects is a gift Suzanne Tick has inherited from her father. She recalls, “My father was a third-generation recycler – he owned a scrap metal yard. It’s always been second nature to me to recycle or upcycle materials. It goes hand in hand with my respect for nature, and creating value from what otherwise would be discarded.” It’s also a passion she has carried forward into her business and her life. Appreciation of the found is apparent in her new textile offering, Tilt Shift. This textile incorporates upcycled cotton from apparel waste into its recycled polyester weave to create a beautiful and sustainable textile. For Suzanne, weaving connections between her craft and community is ongoing. Recently, she led a workshop with children from Publicolor to teach them the art of weaving. Publicolor is a youth development program that engages at-risk students in their education through a continuum of design-based programs that mentor them for success in college, career and life. Suzanne explains, “We ask participants to collect the materials that they will use in their weaving. We had one little boy bring in his old blue jeans, while another little girl had a ballerina costume that was too small. This way they are not only recycling material, but also keeping those materials they love relevant and meaningful through a second life.” The act of weaving is a contemplative discipline. It teaches the value of being patient, considerate, mindful and thoughtful, important values to instill in children. Suzanne explains, “It’s my calling – I like teaching them to reclaim. It’s a whole other feeling of satisfaction showing people how they can transform something, and at the same time perform a service to our planet.”

Marie France Gosselin Travail Jeunesse Quebec City, Quebec

In 1999, Travail Jeunesse started small. Dedicated to the successful integration of at-risk youth into the community and workforce, it established a 5,000 sq. ft. (465 m2) manufacturing facility in which it could hire and train at-risk youth (99 percent of whom are homeless when they meet Marie France and her support team). Youth not only perform contract manufacturing work for local businesses but also gain the necessary social skills to function within the community. At the time, Travail Jeunesse relied on the government for 80 percent of the funding. It started with simple manufacturing processes like bagging nuts and bolts. But with commitment to social and vocational training, the program grew. It added 15,000 sq. ft. (1,393.5 m2) and has brought many local business partners on-board.

Teknion has been involved since the beginning. Travail Jeunesse has diverted production through the facility and expanded the type of work undertaken in the plant to include more sophisticated tasks, like cabinet assembly. It also brings in engineers to train the youth on Kaizen (continuous employment) providing them with valuable skills they can use to advance themselves. Today, Travail Jeunesse returns about $1,000,000 per year in value back into the local economy and is 90 percent self-funded. Fortyfive individuals are enrolled in this program each year, and the organization boasts a 75 percent integration rate into the workforce. Teknion is a beneficiary of this success rate beyond just Travail Jeunesse,s manufacturing plant. It employs Travail Jeunesse alumni within its facilities, reaping the benefits of a skilled workforce it custom rained.