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PRPEAK.COM
Wednesday.April 19.2017
Vol.22 No.26
Canada Post Agreement 40069240
Catalyst optimistic about future
Paper corporation revamps and restructures Get the Peak to Go in face of ongoing industry challenges iPhone app now CHRIS BOLSTER reporter@prpeak.com
POSITIVE OUTLOOK: Catalyst Powell River division vice-president and general manager Fred Chinn said the past decade has been the mill’s toughest to date, but things are beginning to turn around. CHRIS BOLSTER PHOTO $479,000 EMERALD LANE
$479,000 OCEAN VIEW
7199 Esquimalt Court 6-4415 Manson Avenue 4 bedroom and den New, detached Fullyfully fenced backrancher yard 2 bdrm, ensuite, in-floor Quiet cul-de sac heat Kitchen appliances, patio Terrifi c new price Fabulous view $324,900 NO GST!
7199 Court 6843Esquimalt Alberni Street 4 bedroom and den 2-bdrm, 1-bath rancher Fully fenced back yard Centralcul-de location Quiet sac 1/3 acre,c new lane access Terrifi price Fabulous view $199,000
Catalyst Paper Corporation’s Powell River division was, for a long period of time since its inception in 1912, at the centre of Powell River’s identity; it was mill town. Thousands of people used to work at the pulp and paper mill. At its height, more than 2,700 people were employed, but times change. Get the and Peakthat to Go By 1990, the mill was down to 2,000 employees total decreased iPhone app now to 700 by 2001. Catalyst now employs available approximately 360 workers in in the Powell River. App Store or iTunes Declining markets for its newsprint and other paper products, and technological improvements, mean that even though the size of the mill has not shrunk by much, everything else about the industry has done so dramatically. Unifor Local 76 represents about 220 of the current employees, including operations and maintenance workers, pipe fitters, electricians, welders and lab technicians. Its president, Mike Rumley, a 39-year mill veteran, has witnessed some tumultuous changes over the second half of his career. When he started working at the mill in the mid-1970s, the local represented around 1,800 members. “There has been an incredible amount of downsizing,” said Rumley. “At one time, there were seven paper machines running. We’re down to two now.” Unifor Local 1, responsible for providing the mill’s paper-machine operators, accounts for another 80 workers. The remaining 60 Catalyst employees include administrators and office support staff. Catalyst Powell River division vice-president and general manager Fred Chinn said the past 10 years have been particularly challenging for the local mill. It is a well-known fact that there is less demand for the products it produces, he added. “Every single printing and writing grade is in decline and has been in »2 $479,000 OCEAN VIEW
$479,000 WATERFRONT
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Warren Behan
Personal Real Estate Corporation
Broker Owner 604 485 2324 warren@warrenbehan.com View current listings at
available in the App Store or iTunes
7199 Court 7199 4082Esquimalt Joyce Avenue 10746Esquimalt Mariners Court Way 4 bedroom and den 4 bedroom and den 3-bdrm, 3-bath family home 2Fully bdrm,fenced 2 bathback in Okeover Fully fenced back yard yard Walk to schools, Beautiful quality sac home Quiet cul-deseawalk sac Quiet cul-de Fenced yard, double garage Road access, Terrifi c new price Terrifi999-year c newprepaid price lease Fabulous view Fabulous view $475,000 $279,000
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