National furniture school to close
The École nationale du meuble et de l’ébénisterie, which operates in Montreal as a branch of the CEGEP de Victoriaville, is set to close by 2027. Will the government step in to find a way to keep the school open? Making furniture by hand is not something that artificial intelligence will be doing by 2027.
Ian 18:54 on 2024-02-20 Permalink
Cabinet making is the term in English, but it goes way beyond cabinets. It’s any detailed carpentry beyond structural construction, so basically anything wood that involves finishing, particularly in new home construction and manufacturing. I see “nous embauchons” signs for ébénisterie all over VSL. It’s a very in-demand trade.
DeWolf 19:29 on 2024-02-20 Permalink
My wife did the EMSB ébénisterie program. (The French term is a lot nicer, given that “cabinet making” in English sounds pretty limiting.) One of the potential routes for graduates was to work in aviation making custom wood components for private jets – which is apparently a very lucrative trade and not one you normally think about. Turns out rich people love wood.
Dominic 19:49 on 2024-02-20 Permalink
Friend of mine did that in the early 2000s, is now a master woodworker. Pulls in way over six figures, huge house in the ex-urbs, fancy car. I guess woodworking has a high demand and low supply.
dwgs 20:37 on 2024-02-20 Permalink
I also did the EMSB program. Most cabinetmakers (not a term that I have a problem with, nobody works with ebene anymore :-)) aren’t employed in new home construction, it’s usually finish carpenters or multi skill guys who do the finish work. Cabinetmakers in general make less money than the guys who do framing for new construction, which I’ve always found ironic since the the skillset is way more broad and deep. Most of us don’t make way over six figures but if you’re good and can work fast you’ll do all right although it’s one of the first trades to be hit hard in an economic downturn. Strange you say that AI won’t affect us because I think one of the reasons we’re paid less is that CNC routers can do a lot of what we do cheaper and faster and it’s been that way for a long time. When I had my own business and someone asked me for a quote for a custom bookcase / armoire / whatever I would always ask about budget and had they checked what was on the market. Inevitably the reply was “Yes but we want something special”. So you put in the time to do a quote and when they see the price they’re shocked and say “But I can buy one from Ikea for $100!!” That’s because Ikea can crank out Billy bookcases for less than it would cost me for rough materials, never mind my time.
A lot of graduates go to work for Bombardier doing custom work on private jets. It’s a good living and the work is high end but it’s not traditional woodworking, lots of veneer on ultralight honeycomb aluminum panels because having a lot of heavy solid wood isn’t a good thing in an airplane.
In short, it’s a great, interesting craft but don’t get into it if you want to get rich.
Kate 20:51 on 2024-02-20 Permalink
DeWolf – That’s why the TVA piece mentions Bombardier. I was wondering. But it makes sense.
She must have studied at the Rosemount High School building? I taught briefly in their graphic design program, and one evening the cabinetmaking class started a fire and the alarm went off, and we ended up spending most of the class time outside. At least it wasn’t winter…
dwgs: I didn’t know about the involvement of CNC routers in this trade. But then, I’m the guilty owner of several Billys.
dwgs 21:12 on 2024-02-20 Permalink
Yes, the EMSB program is at Rosemount Technology Centre. It’s a great program that costs very little. I find it hard to believe they’re thinking of closing L’Ecole du Meuble, there was always high demand for the one at RTC and i had the impression that the work was higher end on the French side. BTW, I would bet that most graduates of these schools end up working in large cabinet shops contributing skilled labour to the economy, if you want to make a living doing high end work it’s like being an artist, you need wealthy clients who appreciate your craft.
CE 20:47 on 2024-02-21 Permalink
I once went to the École nationale du meuble et de l’ébénisterie open house and it was a fun experience. The students make interesting items and even have a little show and sale of their final projects. It will be a shame if it shuts down. I worked next to an old man who ran a furniture repair/restoration workshop and he said he made good money (most of his customers were from Westmount) but couldn’t find an apprentice to take over the shop. I love working with wood so why I didn’t drop everything and start working with him is a great mystery to me!