The Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper celebrates 100 years of being an financial staple in northwestern Ontario.
THUNDER BAY – Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper has modified names many instances during the last 100 years, however the innovation, reliance, and stability of the mill stay the identical.
“I think it speaks to the sustainability of the forest products industry. It’s not like a mine where it runs out and you shut it down. It’s a sustainability to take a product and change direction. Then make different other products and invest,” stated Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper Mills president Kent Ramsay at an occasion celebrating the milestone anniversary of the plant, which has carried the Resolute and Bowater names in the latest interval of its prolonged historical past.
“And it shows that the history and the decision-making of the founders of this mill were pretty astute. Because if you think about it all that time from ground wood pallets to different types of paper through all the trials, tribulations and different parts of it, the investments in that you don’t see a 100-year-old facility. You see a lot of investment and a lot of money and that economic activity is what’s created a lot of the base of Thunder Bay and provided for a lot of families over that generation.”
Ramsay outlined the progressive modifications all through the years. Acknowledged as one of many largest pulp and paper mills on this planet, Thunder Bay’s mill nonetheless producing acres of product yr after yr, increasing into new markets, regardless of new expertise advances threatening to break down the trade.
“The invention of the internet draining the paper base has resulted in its own downsizing. I think you see that contraction has stopped. And over the last number of years, we’ve been able to start to grow the business back again,” Ramsay defined.
“I think you’re going to see a bit of a renaissance as we start to look at bioproducts and biofuels and other products that come. Frankly paper isn’t going away. The new generation likes a book and that’s a good thing. Everybody buy a book and read a book because you get to put the phone away and it gets to give you a break from that.”
He foretells the following 100 years of innovation on the mill will profoundly be within the sustainability of bioproducts. The mill has transitioned into the inexperienced economic system by manufacturing extra bioplastics and biofuels, which he admits not too many take into consideration.
“We make tall oil which has was a biodiesel. That is already taking place. We make turpentine, however that turpentine is made into fragrances and flavours. It is made into all types of merchandise that individuals do not understand,” Ramsay stated.
“But they use it every day when they go shopping. You buy a lemon meringue pie at one of the grocery stores and by and large, the flavour of lemon comes from turpentine molecule that comes from the forest and comes from a tree.”
The ceremony held on the mill welcomed a number of generations of staff, stakeholders, and dignitaries.
Fort William First Nation Chief Michelle Solomon supplied her congratulations for having the ability to attend the celebration whereas additionally sharing among the extra difficult historical past between the First Nation and the mill during the last 100 years.
“I was looking at the book that was shared and all that has happened over 100 years and it would not be right for me to come here and not acknowledge that there’s a whole other side to this story across the river,” stated Solomon.
She famous how the connection between each events has modified. Despite the fact that she acknowledged there’s room for enchancment, a path is working collectively as neighbours.
“I really want to acknowledge your celebration here today and all the people who have worked here over all these years. The hard work. There are people here that have retired from here and spent a lifetime working here and how that has contributed to their families, their Children, their grandchildren and to the community and economy of the City of Thunder,” she mirrored.
Newly minted Affiliate Minister of Forestry and Forest Merchandise Kevin Holland acknowledged the success story of the Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper Mill as an financial powerhouse in Thunder Bay and the area.
“Just a multitude of people that have contributed to and shared in the success of this organization. And, it’s so exciting to see everybody gathered here. This is an example of what we can accomplish when we work together,” stated Holland.
“The forest industry has deep roots in our history and Thunder Bay pulp and paper has been at the heart of it all contributing to the prosperity of the countless families, supporting local businesses and fuelling the progress for the entire region.”
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