Shortly after opening his own woodworking business in Howick, Jesse Roskies was honoured for his efforts.
In March of 2015, St-Anicet native Jesse Roskies was acknowledged for his entrepreneurial efforts, taking the honour of Local Winner of the Concours Québécois en Entrepreneuriat in the category of Commerce shortly after establishing his own woodworking business. Lovingly named The Valley Workshop, Roskies creates everything from signage to delicate woodworks in his Howick-based shop. The workshop’s services are separated into three divisions: Jesse’s Wooden Letters, Carved Signs Canada and a faction that includes custom work.
Originally from St. Anicet, local entrepreneur Jesse Roskies returned home to Quebec to be closer to family after studying at the University of Calgary and the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology. He spent several years working in the soft-gel encapsulation business, which led him to his interest in high-tech production. “It was my introduction into automated processes—the use of machinery in manufacturing that creates repeatable, high-quality products at a rate and with the accuracy that hands-on labour just isn’t capable of. That experience opened my eyes to what technology can do.” He later went on to work for a wood working business in Granby, which after a time, required new signage. His research led him to discover something called a Computer Numeric Control (CNC) machine. After becoming a partner, Roskies took his knowledge home to the Chateauguay Valley, where he started The Valley Workshop in April 2014. As for the name? “The name is an ode to the community that raised me and the one I returned to,” said Roskies.
Roskies, who is the grandson of the founder of the former Huntingdon Mills, won the Quebec Entrepreneurship Contest this year. That publicity helped kick-start the business, which is largely web-based. “Being a primarily web-based business, I could have chosen many places to set up shop. But it was my heart that led me back to the Valley. There are so many people here that were worth coming back for, and I’m glad I did. My wife is the best example, but there are many others.”
Roskies designs everything from welcome signs to commercial consignments, which include products in both wood-based and synthetic options. “We are able to turn a two-dimensional logo into a 3D work of art.” The company is also working with some major restaurants and breweries to design specialized products. This is Roskies’ favourite part. “Sitting down with the client, analyzing designs, testing, and bringing ideas to life. And with the help of the automated process through CNC machining, we can ensure the quality and precision of each unit we put out,” he says. With so much talent being fostered in the area, it is always a celebration when a local returns home, bringing an innovative idea with him.
To view some of Roskies’s work, visit www.thevalleyworkshop.com.
