Fort Frances residents reflect on future of Resolute mill

Fort Frances residents hope a new buyer is found for Resolute's shuttered pulp and paper plant, but their opinions vary on how likely that is.

Pub owner Pat Gartshore said many of his customers feel the mill is finished — and Gartshore doesn't think the province will grant wood rights to a new owner.

"There's gloom and doom,” he said.

“We figured, because we're so far out here, and being represented by a party that's not in power, perhaps not much can be done to help us."

Mayor Roy Avis has a solution-centred view on the situation.

"I hope that we could bridge the gap between the buyer and the government, the provincial government. But, we have to have a willing seller as well."

Avis said the wood issue needs to be solved before there's any sale, but adds that getting Resolute, the province and a buyer to make that happen might take some time.

"A few years back International Falls went through quite a bit of change. They built a new paper machine. And, that new paper machine has kept them operating today,” he said.

"So, when you see the smoke coming out of those and you look at our stacks and see nothing. It's real, it's a downer. But, I look at the bright side and say, 'we'll have smoke come out of ours someday as well.'"

People 'have gone on with their lives'

Greg Gustafson, who owns Great Bear Shell just outside of town on Highway 11, said he hears “a mixed bag” of opinions on the matter.

“Quite a few people don't think it's ever going to re-open,” he said.

“A lot of people, myself included, are optimistic that some part of it will come back to life. It would be a shame to see it all far apart after a hundred years, this spring."

Fort Frances resident Nancy Dittaro said getting to this juncture has been rough for this community.

“Everybody was … hoping for the best, but, it just didn't happen. More and more people were getting laid off every year,” she said.

“After everybody was laid off, it was actually a relief. Because, people were so stressed out not knowing the future, and now people have just gone on with their lives."

Many onlookers say they don’t trust Resolute when it comes to the issue of wood rights. They feel the company will try to keep the wood supply, stalling any sale of the mill.

"There was a serious buying looking at it, but the thing with the wood rights … was making other buyers very iffy,” Dittaro continued.

“It would be wonderful if they could re-open. I think the town would really, really like that. It's stability for the town really. I'm hoping for the town that it does."

The mill once employed 800 people.