When discussing architectural specifications, commercial project delivery, and supply chain resilience, the conversation usually revolves around square footage, lead times, and fabrication machinery.
At Bobrick Canada, however, 50 years of regional operations have proven that machinery and buildings only tell half the story. The true foundation of operational reliability is people.
Taking a role at Bobrick has never been treated as just a nine-to-five shift or a temporary paycheck; it is built as an open pathway for continuous professional advancement, lifelong mentorship, and human connection. As Bobrick Canada prepares for its next chapter — transitioning into a new, 109,000-square-foot (10,125 square metres) advanced manufacturing and operations facility in Toronto in 2027 — the expansion stands as a direct reinvestment in the dedicated craftspeople and regional community who make it all possible.
Four Decades of Dedication: The People Behind the Precision
Operating across the Greater Toronto Area — one of the most culturally vibrant, diverse metropolitan regions in the world — Bobrick’s 100-strong local workforce reflects colleagues from more than 20 countries speaking 34 languages. Average employee tenure sits at 10.5 years, with 20% of the team contributing more than two decades of continuous service.
Behind those numbers are personal stories of reinvention, perseverance, and long-term advancement.
Faye Lent, Supply Chain Management (43 Years of Service)
Born and raised on an island off the westerly tip of Nova Scotia, Lent grew up in a traditional red-and-white-striped lighthouse where her father served as lightkeeper. After graduating college, she moved to Toronto, initially working at a brokerage. In an unconventional move, she placed her own classified ad in the Toronto Star outlining what she was looking for in an employer. Bobrick answered.
Starting in production control in August 1983, Lent was encouraged by leadership to continuously expand her capabilities. She stepped forward to supervise shipping and receiving, transitioned to leading manufacturing departments of up to 40 people on the plant floor, and eventually moved into supply chain management. Today, she is actively coordinating procurement for the new 2027 facility.
“I’ve had offers from other companies over the years, but Bobrick is a truly family-oriented, safe place to work,” Lent said. “You are treated with genuine dignity and respect right from the top. You aren’t pigeonholed into doing one thing for your entire life; you are given the trust and latitude to learn, adapt, and lead.”
Judy Le, Customs & Import/Export Specialist (40 Years of Service)
Le’s journey to Bobrick is one of extraordinary resilience. Le endured multiple harrowing attempts to escape war-torn Vietnam, including temporary separations from her husband, and refugee camps in Songkhla, Thailand, before coming to Canada in late December 1979. Arriving with empty hands, she worked in Ontario tobacco fields and attended evening school programs to learn English as a second language.
In March 1986, Le joined Bobrick as an office clerk drafting shop sketches for toilet partitions and typing shipping load sheets. When the North American Free Trade Agreement was introduced in 1994, she took the initiative to study complex customs regulations, master tariff classification codes, and attend monthly legal seminars. She relied on a well-worn desktop dictionary to translate industrial metalworking terms and transformed herself into Bobrick Canada’s vital customs and compliance authority.
“When I first arrived in Canada, people were so generous, helping us with basic pots, pans, and kindness. I wanted to bring that same heart into my work,” Le said. “Bobrick looked after our health, protected our safety on the shop floor, and gave me the opportunity to raise my boys.”
John Rigby, Shipping & Receiving (40 Years of Service)
Rigby joined Bobrick in April 1986 at age 21. His father, Ty Rigby, had previously served as general manager of the Canadian operation. When an opportunity opened in the shipping department, Rigby leaped at the chance and has made it his home for four decades.
Over 40 years, Rigby witnessed Bobrick’s operational evolution firsthand, transitioning from tracking inventory on manual chalkboards to computerized logistics management.
Through every shift, he became the welcoming face of Bobrick Canada, building personal relationships with regional truck drivers, local contractors, and longtime coworkers.
“The company’s core value is continuous growth, and I grew right along with it,” Rigby notes. “Even within the same department, it was never boring because management is fair, consistent, and always looking out for you. Nothing you do goes unnoticed. Starting your week knowing you have stability, mutual respect, and a team that cares about your family makes all the difference.”
Marlon Inniss, General Manager (36 Years of Service)
Inniss joined Bobrick in 1990 in an entry-level customer service position. Rather than staying confined to a single track, the company actively supported his progression across diverse operational disciplines, including workplace safety and hands-on manufacturing leadership. Recognizing his leadership potential, Bobrick sponsored a two-year cross-functional development assignment at corporate headquarters in Los Angeles from 2001 to 2003, allowing him to broaden his strategic capabilities before he returned to Ontario.
By 2005, Inniss was appointed general manager of Bobrick Canada, a post he has held for more than two decades, guiding the enterprise through sustained regional growth and spearheading the current facility development.
For Inniss, the company’s community is also profoundly personal: On his very first day on the job, he met his wife, who was working in accounting and administration. Together, they have raised three children and now share five grandchildren.
“Working here isn’t just about clocking in,” Inniss said. “It’s about having the space, encouragement, and leadership support to develop skills across different areas of the business and build a meaningful, lifelong career.”
A Culture of Belonging and Community Action
The workplace culture celebrated by long-tenured employees extends beyond daily production schedules. Bobrick fosters active employee resource groups, including Bobrick Black Employees, Bobrick Fearless Females, and Bobrick Asian Pacific Islanders, alongside workplace safety initiatives and the Elevate program, which champions a psychologically safe, fearless organization where every employee can voice ideas.
This shared connection reaches into the broader Ontario community through:
- The United Way CN Tower ClimbUP Event: Annual employee participation in scaling the 1,776 steps of Toronto’s iconic landmark CN Tower to raise charitable funds.
- Mother’s Day shelter outreach: Curated gift and floral baskets organized by the Bobrick Fearless Females for women in regional shelters.
- Community food and toy drives: Annual holiday initiatives supporting local food banks and families across the Greater Toronto Area.
Anchored for the Future: The Expansion
This deep reservoir of institutional knowledge and employee loyalty forms the foundation for Bobrick’s upcoming milestone: transitioning from its longtime 57,000-square-foot (5,295 square metres) facility into a newly constructed 109,000-square-foot (10,125 square metres) advanced manufacturing and operations hub in Toronto, scheduled for completion by March 2027.
Located in its current plant since October 1996, the Canadian operation has been an internal pioneer adopting industrial laser cutting and robotic press brakes. Rather than finding employees to run the new technology, Bobrick opted to train current employees to use the equipment.
The Toronto location was chosen with the employees in mind. Instead of moving somewhere with cheaper real estate, Bobrick committed to the $10 million investment and chose to stay in the metropolitan area in part to minimize hardship on the team. The new facility nearly doubles that capacity to meet the demands of modern infrastructure.
- High-velocity logistics: Expanding from six to 19 shipping docks and increasing vertical clearance from 7 metres to a 12-metre clear ceiling height, dramatically improving regional stocking and dispatch speed.
- Dedicated expansion reserve: Features 12,000 square feet (1,115 square metres) of reserved manufacturing floor, positioning Bobrick to assemble and fabricate additional core lines regionally, including commercial soap dispensing solutions and toilet partitions.
- Regional supply chain partnerships: Collaborating with established Canadian material partners — including Ryerson for raw metals and Picotte Plastics and Royal Containers for domestic packaging — ensures predictable fulfillment for Canadian jobsites.
- World-class Canadian design and construction: Built in close coordination with Canadian firms Torque Builders (general contractor), MAT 4Site Engineers, and Gensler architectural firm.
By pairing four decades of hands-on employee craftsmanship with expanded regional infrastructure, Bobrick Canada ensures that commercial specifiers receive more than a product catalog — they gain an enduring, locally invested partner dedicated to their project’s long-term success.
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