TERRACE BAY — The Township of Terrace Bay will have its anticipated new action centre to help more than 330 workers impacted by layoffs at AV Terrace Bay mill.
The development of the centre is the result of a $280,000 investment by the Ontario government and aims to connect Northern Ontarian workers with services and training to find new jobs in the same sector or to further their careers in other sectors.
Terrace Bay Mayor Paul Malashewski said the action centre will host workshops, seminars, provide peer-to-peer support and job search assistance, and will operate until June 16, 2025.
The centre will offer interview skills training, resume building, and access to job postings to help affected workers prepare for more well-paying careers in the skilled trades.
"Upgrading their skills will make them more attractive to potential employers when they can see what these employees have to offer," Malashewski said.
Since the mill closure earlier in January, most of the tradespeople have gone on to find work in area mines and other industries. Those who remain in the community are watching where and how they spend their money which is impacting local businesses, the mayor noted.
"With the mill closure, it is hard to attract new businesses. However, we are working to attract new business to town," he said. "We are working on an updated strategic plan that will identify some of these issues."
Meanwhile, Malashewski said they are in frequent contact with AV Terrace Bay, which is part of the Aditya Birla Group, to discuss the company's plans with the mill.
"They're actively seeking a buyer and they're not ruling out opening the mill back up under their banner," he said. "They've told us they shut it down because of the price of pulp."
Malashewski surmised the price of pulp had increased to almost $1,700 a tonne, an increase of $400 per tonne, since the mill was idled in January.
"We've also been in contact with Minister Kevin Holland (associate minister of forestry and forest products and MPP for Thunder Bay-Atikokan). He knows the situation," he said.
"We met with the NDP caucus, which included leader Merit Styles, and our MPP Lise Vaugeois. They're aware of the situation."
Plans for a new initiative that will help to rebuild the town's economy through a partnership with EDF Renewables and their development of a solar farm is still in the works.
"We haven't signed a lease agreement yet," Malashewski said. "We want to make sure that the lease we sign is not one-sided and that it's beneficial to both parts, the community and the company."
Funding for the Terrace Bay Action Centre, along with Employment Ontario, Better Jobs Ontario and the Skills Development Fund Training Stream are supported through labour market transfer agreements between the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.
The Chronicle Journal / Local Journalism Initiative
