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Ribbon cutting marks re-opening of Commonwealth Plywood in Rapides-des-Joachims

Four officials stand with their hands on a ribbon, with the one on the right holding a pair of scissors while workers in hard hats watch in the background.
Local officials from the Pontiac were in Rapides-des-Joachims to mark the official re-opening of the Commonwealth Plywood mill. From left: Rapides-des-Joachims Mayor Doug Rousselle, Pontiac MNA André Fortin, Pontiac Warden Jane Toller and owner Bill Caine Jr. Photo by Caleb Nickerson/CHIP 101.9.
Caleb Nickerson - CHIP - Pontiac • QC | 20-04-2023
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A ribbon cutting was held yesterday afternoon to celebrate the reopening of the Commonwealth Plywood mill in Rapides des Joachims.

The mill had been closed for more than a decade and has been in the process of reopening since late last year. It currently employs approximately twenty people in the mill on one shift and has the potential to expand further. The mill produces eastern white pine and red pine lumber for a variety of end products, from cabinetry to pallets.

Owner Bill Caine Jr. explained that several circumstances led to the mill's closure ten years ago:

Caine added that they had invested heavily to bring the machinery up to speed, especially with the electronics and software controlling the machines. He said that they were caught off guard when the Quebec provincial government announced that they had cut their pine allocation by 40 per cent and added that they would be appealing the decision.

MRC Pontiac Warden Jane Toller explained that she had been involved in discussions about re-opening the facility since 2018 and was pleased to see them come to fruition. She added that she would be asking the provincial forestry ministry to change their decision on Commonwealth's pine allocation.

Rapides des Joachims Mayor Doug Rousselle was thrilled with the news that the mill was open again.