Thoughts as a century-old hometown plant is set to close
Lisa LaFlamme, Chief Anchor and Senior Editor | CTV News
Hello everyone,
Stunning news this afternoon that Maple Leaf Foods is closing about 10 of its plants.
Kitchener, Ont. is my hometown and I can tell you, closing Schneider's meat-processing plant has shocked the city. It's been there for nearly a century... when Kitchener was still Berlin. It’s provided jobs to many 2nd, even 3rd generation family members.
As part of a restructuring plan, Maple Leaf will close the plant will in 2014, putting nearly 1,200 people in Kitchener out of work.
The city's mayor Carl Zehr released this statement:
"On behalf of the City of Kitchener, I'd like to extend my deepest regrets to those affected by today's announcement by Maple Leaf Foods, particularly the individuals and families within our community who have ties to the local J.M. Schneider plant. It isn't just a tough day for the Kitchener and Waterloo Region. Other cities which will see their processing plants closed as well: in Ontario - Hamilton and Toronto; North Battleford, Sask.; and a small plant in Winnipeg.”
The company says it's all part of a massive restructuring that will include the largest single investments in the Canadian food industry. Just after 5:30pm the company sent out this tweet:
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It says the changes -- the final phase of its 'value creation plan' -- will improve its competitiveness and profitability in the future. It’s spending about $560 million in infrastructure and technologies over three year to build a 'world-class prepared meats network'.
Here's the link to the company's news release if you want to read it for yourselves.
The reaction in the Twitterverse was varied.
Some reacted in anger:
- @AndrewWelsh74 5:13pm: The #Schneider plant is a part of the social fabric of #Kitchener. More #CorporateGreed.
- @checkraiseNS 3:39pm: If #mapleleaf want to take jobs out of our communities lets take Maple Leaf products out of out diet #local
Some support the move:
- @modernfarmer 3:32pm: Love them or hate them, #MapleLeaf doesn't sit around hoping for things to get better. Investment into processing a good thing for #ontag
Some were nostalgic:
- @mhuras 3:51pm: #Schneider's plant is closing? How sad...I have way too many older family members who worked there back in the day :( #LostHistory
- @HowieBG 5:33pm: Sad. I worked there for a summer. "Kitchener #Schneider’s plant to close, Maple Leaf Foods announces ow.ly/72BnU"”
Some are even taking advantage:
- @ErieMeats 5:24pm: @ionstratford we invite displaced #MapleLeaf employees to apply for work with us in our Listowel facility. #jobopportunity
And some are offering advice:
- @AmyDynero 5:04pm: #Mapleleaf Employee's can come to Conestoga Career Center for information about conducting job searches and program options #kitchener
Value creation plan’ or not, it’s hard not to get nostalgic about big changes in a company that’s been such a Canadian icon for so many years. Perhaps you remember commercials like this:
Mom's Birthday Breakfast in Bed
Or this old gem, featuring the mustachioed 'J.M. Schneider' circa 1890. Only he knew 'what good things went into a Schneider's weiner'.
It's hard to image driving past Courtland Avenue in Kitchener and not seeing that massive plant, teaming with people coming and going. Tonight, Jill Macyshon reports reaction to the news.
See you tonight,
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