With a long history of being a logging region and building the local economy around the forestry industry, when mills started closing in 2008, many people were devastated and jobs were lost. At the time Smurfitstone, Davidson, Rapides-des-Joachims and Jovalco all closed.

After years of trying to revive the forestry industry in the region, the time has finally come. On October 13, Commonwealth Plywood Company Ltd., owned by Bill Caine Jr., announced the reopening of its sawmill located in Rapides-des-Joachims. The company operates more than 10 processing plants in Quebec and one in the United States. It harvests, processes and distributes for . . .

both domestic and international markets. The company also operates 23 distribution centers in five provinces, mainly in Quebec and Ontario, as well as in the United States.

The Rapides-des-Joachims location is the first sawmill to open up since it was inoperative. To support the reopening the company invested over one million Canadian dollars and is estimated to start operations in November.

A major advocate for the revitalization of the forestry industry was Warden Jane Toller, who explained that it takes a lot to reopen a mill that has been closed for almost nine years. “This is really amazing,” she said.

“In 2017, I ran for warden making the statement that forestry was not dead, and that for the psychological revitalization of the Pontiac, we needed to be a player in forestry again because forestry built the Pontiac,” said Toller.

Determined to make the goal a reality in 2018 Regent Dugas, who was the manager of teritory and Toller met with Bill Caine Jr. regarding the potential reopening of Rapides-des-Joachims and ever since they have worked towards this opening.

With the mill opening up Toller is confident it will encourage other mills to follow suit and boost employment as the shut down of the mills caused about 300 people to lose jobs and leave the Pontiac. She hopes the opening of the sawmill will also show the greater Quebec area that the Pontiac is back in forestry and possibly attract forestry business to set up shop in the region.

Caine did not have to invest in the Pontiac, but Toller explained that she’s grateful he has and this moment can change the course of the Pontiac for the best. Due to the large investment Pontiac will once again be a competitor in forestry, she said.

“We are the only part in Quebec that has 65 different types of trees, and so what I’m proud of is we are showing the rest of Quebec how resourceful we are.”

The sawmill will start by sawing white and red pine and expects to begin hiring the more than 65 people needed for the mill, and necessary for the sawmill and forestry activities in full operation soon.

“I am determined to revitalize the Pontiac and make it once again a successful place and a better place for all of us to live. And this is just the beginning, but it’s a big start. I have been talking about this, and I do not like to be a person who promises and doesn’t deliver,” said Toller.

Toller said a ribbon cutting ceremony will take place soon, with the hopes of the other three mills following suit.

Register or subscribe to read this content

Thanks for stopping by! This article is available to readers who have created a free account or who subscribe to The Equity.

When you register for free with your email, you get access to a limited number of stories at no cost. Subscribers enjoy unlimited access to everything we publish—and directly support quality local journalism here in the Pontiac.

Register or Subscribe Today!