CTA Partners

Canadian Textile Industry Association

Established in 2009, the Canadian Textile Industry Association (CTIA) represents the Canadian textile industry in Ottawa, advocating and influencing government policy affecting the sector.  The association provides a means for collective industry action on policy issues, ensuring that the industry's views are known at the earliest possible stages when those views can make a difference.

Members are provided with up-to-date, clear and reliable information on news and issues of interest and concern to the industry.  A regular newsletter, issue summaries and alerts are sent electronically to participating firms.

Textile Federation of Canada

The Textile Federation of Canada was created as an umbrella group to bring together other Canadian textile associations and increase awareness of each other’s activities. 

Members of organizations such as the Canadian Textile Association and the Association nationale textile are automatically members of this national organization, which does not charge independent membership fees.  An annual golf tournament encourages members of the various associations and industry organizations to network and share expertise.

The Federation’s current president is Rob Ariagno of Seaway Yarns, who works with a small Board of Directors to support the activities of other associations, share information and develop its annual event.  The Textile Federation of Canada also regularly contributes speakers to FuturTex, the national conference organized by the Textiles Human Resources Council.

National Textile Association

Following consultation with its members, the National Textiles Association (NTA) was formed in 2005 by combining the three active Québec textile associations (the Eastern Township Textile Association, the Textile Graduate Society and the Canadian Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists).

The new group organizes events to increase textile knowledge among its members, support research related to textile processes and materials, and provide networking opportunities. Annual events in support of these objectives include conferences, dinners, golf and curling tournaments. The association is also an active supporter of technical textiles education, providing grants and scholarships to textile technology students and organizations/individuals doing useful work in the textile industry.

Anyone who works in the textile industry can become a member for the annual price of $40.  For more information about NTA or to become a member, please visit www.ant-nat.com.

Institute of Textile Science

Established in Canada as a non-profit organization in 1956, the Institute of Textile Science promotes and encourages knowledge exchange and research related to textile science and technology.  In addition to a student awards program, its voluntary Board of Directors oversees efforts to recognize scientific qualifications and develop industry standards.

Working with government and other industry organizations, ITS promotes innovation in the area of textile science, providing a forum for technical exchange and growth in research and development.  This work is supported by two annual sessions where researchers share their insights and receive feedback, while building a network of associates with similar expertise.

ITS has recently completed an inventory indicating where and what kind of textile research is taking place in Canada.  The report identifies opportunities for industry and academia to work together, and illustrates the impressive level of research taking place in Canada today.

ITS membership consists of textile researchers at companies, organizations, R&D facilities and universities across Canada.  Students and retirees are also welcome to join.  To apply to become a member, please visit www.textilescience.ca or contact Aldjia Begriche, Membership Secretary, at abegriche@gcttg.com. 

CSMO Textile

Since 1998, the Comité sectoriel de main-d’œuvre de l’industrie textile du Québec (CSMO Textile) has been offering free human resources development support to Quebec textile companies.

Led by a Board of Directors of ten industry and union representatives, CSMO Textile addresses needs by creating practical HR tools for small and medium-sized companies.  Learning programs specific to loom operators, spinning machine operators, and fibre and yarn machine operators ensure in-depth, quality training in key industry occupations.

In addition to networking HR managers across the province, CSMO Texile promotes sector careers and helps enhance the industry’s image at education fairs and school career days.

Their team of six undertakes plant visits to help implement HR tools, integrate performance evaluations and support workforce planning.  They also host an annual conference where companies are recognized for innovative approaches to HR.

Technology Roadmap for the Canadian Textile Industry

In 2008, the Canadian textile industry prepared a twenty-year strategy known as the Technology Roadmap to determine its future positioning. Specialized products (technical textiles and other value-added textiles) will be targeted, taking into account the various forces that will drive demand for years to come.

This product-focus requires implementing, improving and combining existing technologies such as composite and hybrid technologies (woven, knitted and nonwoven), intelligent technologies, technologies related to nonwovens, high-performance fibres and fabrics, nanotechnologies and biotechnologies.

The Technology Roadmap calls for the utilization of scientific and technical resources and the implementation of dynamic R&D cooperation platforms, innovation, commercialization and business networking. These platforms will offer business intelligence, leadership and proactive processes. This initiative will enable the industry to develop a critical mass that will interest major public and private clients and group them around structuring projects

Textiles Human Resources Council

The Textiles Human Resources Council is a non-profit partnership that works to ensure workers in Canada’s technology-driven textile industry have the world-class skills the industry demands.  The Council brings together textile producers, unions, suppliers, government departments and educational institutions to develop innovative training and education solutions that respond to established and emerging needs.

The Council helps manufacturers and related organizations develop and maintain the skills of their workforce.  It offers customizable skills development programs, online tools and other resources designed to support skills development in the workplace.

Among the resources available to members, all employees receive personalized access to the Skills and Learning Portal, offering an extensive range of online learning programs addressing technical, foundation, textile manufacturing, personal computer and business skills.  Nominal membership fees are based on total employee count, regardless of how many individuals access the Council’s programs and services.

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