The province is contributing $280,000 into an “action centre” in Terrace Bay to help 330 workers, impacted by layoffs at the AV Terrace Bay pulp mill, find new employment.
A news release said the former mill workers will get be connected with the services and training they’ll need to find new jobs in the forest products industry or some other line of work.
Parent company Aditya Birla Group shut down the mill in early January, issuing lay off notices to 400 workers.
The centre, located on Selkirk Avenue, is run by the Township of Terrace Bay and will be open until next June 16.
The centre will also provide skills upgrading through courses and workshops and offer job search assistance, such as interview skills training, resume building, and access to job postings. These customized resources will help affected workers prepare for more well-paying careers in the skilled trades.
“By investing in this action centre, we’re making sure all workers get the support, resources and opportunities they deserve to find rewarding jobs to provide for themselves and their families,” said provincial Labour Minister David Piccini in a statement.
"We know how difficult the idling of AV Terrace Bay has been for former employees, the community, and the forestry sector as a whole," said Kevin Holland, associate minister of forestry and forest products and MPP Thunder Bay – Atikokan. "While we continue to work with our partners with the aim of AV Terrace Bay operating again, in the interim this new Action Centre will equip these hardworking men and women with the resources they need to support themselves, their families and the community."
“The Township of Terrace Bay would like to thank the provincial government for their support and assistance ensuring that the Action Centre for displaced workers opens in a timely manner,” said Paul Malashewski, mayor of Terrace Bay. "The Action Centre will be a valuable resource for laid off workers looking to upgrade their skills. The resources that the Action Centre provides will assist in developing the North’s workforce and make investing in the North attractive to various companies."
