A nearly 10-page spread. Over 50 years of craftsmanship. Here is the story behind the story.
We received some incredible news recently. Woodworking Canada Magazine dedicated nearly 10 pages of their Spring 2026 issue (Vol. 40, No. 2) to the Westwood story. For a company that started with a station wagon, a trailer, and one man’s determination to build a better life, seeing that story told in one of Canada’s most respected trade publications is a moment we will not forget.
Here is a look at what was featured, and why this recognition means so much to us.
You can read the full digital issue here: kleisermedia.com/Woodworking/Vol40No2
Where It All Began
Westwood Cabinetry was founded by Nick Grasa, a Croatian immigrant who came to Canada in 1958 during a time when Yugoslavia was under communist rule. Nick and two friends made the decision to leave, travelling on foot to Austria and eventually making their way to Canada. He settled first in Alberta, fell in love with the Okanagan on visits over the years, and moved to Kelowna in 1971.
Nick was a journeyman cabinetmaker by trade. After working as a finisher in Kelowna, he had built strong relationships with local contractors and developers and saw an opportunity to serve them directly. He started by selling kitchens and cabinets out of his wood-paneled station wagon with a trailer in tow. He would go to job sites, measure, head back to the shop to build, then deliver the finished pieces himself.
He chose Kelowna for more than opportunity. The Okanagan reminded him of Croatia, the natural beauty of it, the vineyards and rolling hills. He also recognized that being centrally located along the valley meant he could serve communities from Penticton in the south to Vernon in the north. That instinct proved right. Westwood now serves clients across Western Canada, the Western U.S., and other parts of Canada and the U.S.
Nick built Westwood’s first building, just over 5,000 sq. ft., on what was then the outskirts of Kelowna. Kelowna grew right up around it. That original building is still Westwood’s showroom today. During a recent renovation, as the team opened up the ceiling, they found Nick’s handwriting on one of the support beams. “That was a special moment,” Angie says, “and we made sure we kept that and preserved it.”
A Legacy Passed Down
Nick passed away in 1991, far too early. At the time, his daughter Angie, along with her mother and sister, stepped in to take over the company alongside the team Nick had built.
Angie had grown up in the business, spending summers working alongside her father. She had studied genetics in university with plans to pursue medicine, but Westwood had always been part of her life. When her father passed, she was ready.
“When he passed away we took over running the company along with the great team my father had assembled.”
Under Angie’s leadership, the original 5,000 sq. ft. building has grown into a 55,000 sq. ft. facility, with a 28,000 sq. ft. warehouse next door. The team has grown to approximately 60 people, and Westwood continues to expand its reach year over year.
Women Leading the Way
One of the most compelling threads in the Woodworking Canada feature is Westwood as a proudly woman-led company. Angie is joined by Rishelle Tarr, Director of Business Operations and a board member of the Canadian Kitchen Cabinet Association, and Lisa Fletcher, Director of HR. Many of Westwood’s designers are women, and team members are currently working toward their Red Seal in carpentry right inside the Westwood plant.
“I think all the trades, especially with AI becoming so prevalent, are a great place for people. There are a lot of opportunities for women in the trades. The stigma of the old, dusty shop is just that, these days.”
It is a message she hopes reaches the next generation of craftspeople.
Built to Adapt
More than 50 years in business means weathering a lot. COVID. Inflation. Spiking interest rates. Shifting housing markets. Angie credits Westwood’s resilience to a deliberate decision to serve multiple segments of the market rather than locking into a single niche.
“We’ve been through many cycles over the years, experienced many different markets, and I think what has kept us resilient through those challenges is that we are able to adjust. We have different levels of cabinetry and we are not just in one segment.”
It is a philosophy that traces back to Nick’s original instinct: build something that lasts by building something that can change.
A Moment Worth Celebrating
When Woodworking Canada reached out to tell Westwood’s story, it was a chance to step back and reflect on just how far the company has come. From Nick’s first workshop to a 55,000 sq. ft. operation. From a local Kelowna business to a company with reach across Canada and the U.S. From one man’s dream to a multi-generational legacy that is still being written.
We are grateful to Woodworking Canada Magazine for shining a light on our story, and to every client, partner, designer, and team member who has been part of building it.
Read the full feature in the Spring 2026 issue of Woodworking Canada (Vol. 40, No. 2):
kleisermedia.com/Woodworking/Vol40No2
