This is the second year running GUNN’s Technical Team have ventured out East for training! Ada, GUNN’s Office and Quality Control Manager, organizes this annual event so we’ve caught up with her to talk all things “Toronto Training!”
Hey Ada! First up, we know Leadership headed out there first. What did Leadership get up to?
Ada: In the day to day, our Leadership team are usually working on things on a micro level. Our Leadership Offsite allows us to take a step back, reflect and re-evaluate how we’re doing at meeting our goals. Collectively, we offer guidance on any areas that need course correction and solutions to get there. I think these meetings have been a key catalyst for bringing us closer as a team and ensuring we’re all chartering in the same direction.
Sounds inspiring and productive! How did the week go once the Technical Team arrived?
Ada: It was fun to have many of our team in Toronto together, testing out our new office. We were nearly busting at the seams! I think it was a great opportunity to get outside of Vancouver and see what the Toronto market has to offer. We got to meet many new contacts and appreciate in-person the large scale of the city (a lot of time moving around in the busy GTA traffic!).
Sounds fantastic! What vendors/contractors did you meet with on this visit?
Ada: We met with KONE Elevator, MAD Elevator and Peelle, all with facilities in the GTA. It was inspiring to see the manufacturing activity happen right here on Canadian soil. This is the central hub for some elevator parts that get distributed and installed worldwide.
Wow the Technical Team were busy! We hear some Admins joined on this visit, what did their trip include?
Ada: For me, it was rewarding to see the weeks of planning come together and to see this growth opportunity for the team to get outside of their normal routine. I helped with some of the finishing touches of the new office and to get a lay of the land.
Sarah, GUNN’s Media Specialist, visited Premier Elevator and K Elevator Cab Interior Specialists. Sarah works with our Modernization department on Cab Interior Design, so these visits were extremely fruitful for her as she begins to design cabs out East. She attended a site visit in Markham with the Engineers, as she prepares mood boards for a modernization project. Sarah also handles GUNN’s project photography, so she enjoyed bouncing around the GTA capturing various New Construction projects as they go up! Keep an eye out on social media for her photos…
Now we know the team love some #GUNNfunn. Besides work, what did the team get up to in Toronto?
Ada: Yes, of course! We always make sure to schedule in some time for fun. On this trip, we visited the Pursuit OCR facility, an indoor obstacle course, for some #GUNNFUNN. We saw some serious monkey business come out of the closet with people attempting to parkour giant walls, racing giant trikes and playing heated matches of dodgeball. Luckily, we all came out mostly unscathed (… aside from a pulled muscle or two!).
Sounds like you lot has some tasty meals! Any recommendations…
Ada: There are so many restaurants in Toronto and I think they were all amazing! Notably, the Liberty Village NODO for Italian, Patois for Jamaican Chinese (I recommend ordering the feast!) and as summer is coming up, Bandit Brewery, right around the corner from our office, has a fantastic patio.