At the peak of its power white plumes billowed high into the sky from the AV Nackawic pulp mill that could be seen across much of the rural community. The white clouds that would climb out of the mills exhausts have now all but disappeared in preparation of the mill idling operations for the foreseeable future. “It’s kind of sinking in more and more, feels more and more real,” says Grant Charlton, who is a chemical plant operator at the mill and also the union president for Local 219, to which more than half of the mill’s employees belong too. “People are having trouble staying optimistic about a future at the mill,” he says. Charlton explains the feeling around the plant has become eerie as the hums from motors and pumps have silenced as crews work to wrap up operations by next Wednesday. He says outside of a handful of employees who have already left for other employment opportunities, most of the staff will continue to work until Nov. 4. The AV Group NB Inc., who owns and operates the Nackawic Mill, announced the temporary idling of the facility in mid-September citing challenging market conditions and broader macro-economic factors. The mill made no mention of if or when the mill would return to operation. CTV Atlantic News reached out to the group for an interview, which was declined. An email from the company also did not acknowledge any future plans for the mill itself. The company did confirm news that came out in the New Brunswick Legislature on Wednesday that the mill is looking at a possible sale of its freehold lands in both York and Carlton Counties. The New Brunswick government has confirmed their interest in purchasing the hundreds of acres of land. “AV Group has engaged the services of a real estate and land investment brokerage, to facilitate the marketing of these properties,” reads a media statement from the AV Group NB Inc. “The desired outcome of the marketing process is to find a vetted, qualified Natural Capital investor who will continue to manage the resource sustainably, will be an active market participant, and will respect the historical and community connections to the landscape. “This process does not contemplate the sale of any assets other than the freehold land. Proceeds from a realized sale, are expected to support company activities in New Brunswick at AV Group’s discretion.” Charlton admits the news about land sales isn’t sitting well with staff, who have heard very little from the company since the idling was announced. “It’s been kind of heightened emotions in the last week as we get closer to the fourth,” Charlton admits. “Everything is kind of heightened. People are more anxious than before now that the end of employment is closer, and there’s kind of higher frustration with the company as far as doing stuff like selling off the land.” Charlton spent 12 years working at the plant and says many others spent more time working at the site. He says people are grieving the loss of their worksite as it has become a central figure in many employees’ lives. Residents like Heather Ingraham are also sad to see the mill shuttered again. “It’s terrible, it’s going to be really bad for the town I think,” Ingraham says. “[the mill] means everything to [residents].” “It’s going to be really sad for people,” says Nackawic resident Joyce Allen. “We went through that 22 years ago and it’s happening again. I feel for the people really, because we’re not sure what’s going to happen over there. “It’s done a lot for the community. The golf courses and all that stuff are made when they first started, so I don’t know where it’s going to go with people, like they’re going to maybe have to move… I hope not.” For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
