It was a Christmas present nobody wanted – the announcement from Resolute Forest Products that they would be permanently
closing the newsprint mill in Iroquois Falls.

The small northern community saw 181 jobs directly affected by the mill closure on December 22nd.

In March, a Job Action Centre unofficially opened but today (Tuesday April 28th 2015), marks the official ceremonial opening of the Job Action Centre.

Thanks to MCTU stepping in ( a responsibility mandated by the province) financial support helped Iroqouis Falls officially open its doors

In attendance today at the Job Action Centre, is representatives from Resolute human resources, the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, and members of the four unions that were represented at the mill.

Co-ordinator Dina Festarini says the goal is to find jobs for the 181 directly affected people a second chance in the workforce.

Festarini says  it’s difficult to put an exact number on people who were indirectly affected by the closure, because the closure had a “ripple effect”  on children, spouses and businesses in the community

The Job Action Centre is on Union Street and is open Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Weekends 1:30 p.m. – 4 p.m.

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