A definite highlight of our Board and staff strategic planning meeting in Ottawa last week was our visit to the Lee Valley Tools headquarters to meet with CEO Robin Lee and tour some of the company’s vast production facilities.
Further to the Inspired to Make videos series, created by Lee Valley, released last fall, and featuring the Arnprior-McNabb-Braeside Men’s Shed, we were thrilled to have been invited to take a look behind the scenes at Lee valley’s impressive operations, and learn more about their customer-and staff-focused approach to retail and to community engagement.
A Canadian family-owned company doing business all over the world, Lee Valley’s vision is grounded in finding and developing the best tools in the industry, inspiring customers make the most of their creative journeys and a deep commitment to giving back.
“Stores are social spaces and places for peer interactions,” explained Robin. “We always aim for our customers to take something away from their experience, whether that’s learning something new, participating in craft events, meeting with their local woodworking club instore or knowing their older tools are being distributed to an organization that will value them”.
Here are some of the many high points of our tour:
Technical training areas and photo studios for Lee Valley’s website and highly anticipated seasonal print catalogs.


A peek at Lee Valley’s collection of more than 100,000 tools from the last three centuries, as well as all past prototypes.


Display development programs.

Research and development, manufacturing, assembly, laser engraving and distribution for about 12,000 Lee Valley manufactured tools.



Tool-lending and book libraries for staff members.

We even spotted a hand-carved plaque from the Arnprior-McNabb-Braeside Men’s Shed displayed on a library shelf.

As eloquently noted by Robin, “Doing woodworking for someone else is much more satisfying than doing it for yourself.” — True words shared by members of Men’s Sheds around the world.
We thoroughly enjoyed our tour! Thank you so much to Lee Valley for taking the time to welcome us so warmly.