The Powell River Pulp and Paper mill in British Columbia turned 100 years old this week.

The mill in Powell River was at one time the largest pulp and paper mill in the world. In its prime, one in every 25 newspapers in the world was printed on paper from the Powell River mill. However, since then it has significantly cut back on production and now produces newsprint and specialty papers for Catalyst Paper. Only 3 paper machines (#9, #10 and #11) remain in production today.

100 year celebrations are rather subdued though due to owner Catalyst Paper’s possible demise.

The president of the CEP union local 76 in Powell River, Mike Verdiel, said, “Both financially and, I mean, how does it look in a community if you’ve got suppliers and small businessmen that we are saying, ‘we can’t pay you’, but we are out having celebrations?” he pointed out. “So it is sort of a mixed bag, trying to be respectful, but at the same time recognizing what I believe is a significant accomplishment to have a mill that has run for a hundred years.”

In ten days, on April 23, the creditors of Catalyst Paper will vote on the company’s restructuring plan.

Read more:
Powell River, British Columbia (Wikipedia)
Powell River mill turns 100 amid Catalyst conundrum (HQCowichanValley)