Transition Committee Urges Workers to Visit Career Centres

The advisory team established to help communities identify new economic opportunities in the wake of closure of the Bowater-Resolute mill will be announcing public consultations later this month.

The Bowater Transition Advisory Team has spent much of the last six weeks meeting with community, business and municipal leaders, local chambers of commerce, sawmill owners, regional development agencies and government to understand the impact of the closure on the region's economy.

"We have been very busy over the last number of weeks educating ourselves on all the issues and challenges, as well as some of the potential opportunities, to ensure we are well prepared to effectively engage the community in the next part of this exercise, which is public consultation," said Transition Advisory Team chair Ron Smith.

The team has also been an advocate for the community, conveying community questions to the province on issues such as worker pensions, training, fire and safety issues at the mill site, and wood supply.

Training access has been an important theme heard by the advisory team. About 120 workers have visited career resource centres in Liverpool and Bridgewater, and many are still considering their options.

"I want to encourage all people interested in retraining to visit their local career counselling centre," said Mr. Smith. "The Nova Scotia Community College and the province can respond with specialized training or additional courses at the college, but workers need to start a career plan with their career counsellor to get the process underway.

"Our best asset is our people, and a visit to a career counsellor is the best first step to finding work."

To offer comments and input on how the region can create jobs and grow the economy call, toll free, at 1-855-354-2612 or by e-mailing bowatertransition@gov.ns.ca or by visiting or writing the Community Navigator at the Transition Advisory Team Office, 7 Henry Hensey Drive, Liverpool, N.S., B0T 1K0.

Information is also available at novascotia.ca/bowatertransition .