Tomorrow is the official closing date for the Houston Forest Products mill in Houston.
Chamber of Commerce president, Troy Reitsma says the mill closure is disappointing but Houston is resilient and looking ahead to the future.
“Council is working on a number of projects to benefit the town including doing a full branding project which is a step towards just figuring out exactly who we are at the end of all this. The business community is very optimistic, there’s new businesses opening and new businesses expanding so we are optimistic.”
A provincial transition team has also been working with the mill and council to help with the adjustment after the closure which affects approximately 200 employees.
“It’s going to be a very tough day in town. Friends and family are going to be suddenly out of work tomorrow, it’s going to be a very rough day. But everybody that works there knows they are getting supported by everybody else in town so we will get through it.”