corner brook is a mill town. in the early 1920's the british bowater's pulp and paper company built the mill and then built the town. in the 1980's kruger took it over and laid off hundreds of workers as it "modernized". there were 2 other pulp and paper mills in newfoundland and in the past few years they have both shut down. the demand for pulp and paper is just not there. so kruger had a 1 week shut-down in the fall and for the first time ever it closed down for christmas. for 4 days there has been no steam coming out of the mill stacks. the parking lots are empty. kruger is still the biggest employer in corner brook (rivalled only by the hospital). the town was silent. we don't know if the mill will survive. i felt this past weekend that i was looking at a corner brook without the mill.
2 comments:
Shawn, the day of reckoning may be coming in the industry. Thanks to the internet, we don't need newsprint in such high quantities.
The next few months will be the hardest for us all who are employed by Kruger! Let's hope for the best.
Merry Christmas to you and Keith and all the best in the New Year.
That photograph speaks volumes....let's hope it keeps on for just a little longer!
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