Jennifer Murray, the Atlantic representative for Unifor, confirmed on Thursday the news that people had been speculating over for months: the owner of the AV Nackawic pulp mill, Aditya Birla, is shutting the aging plant west of Fredericton and laying off the workers, as of Nov 4.
Along with management and other non-unionized staff, 350 people work at the mill.
"Our hearts are breaking for that community," Murray said of the town with about 1,000 people. "This community's been built around this mill. The last thing we want to see is families having to uproot and leave the community. That's why we're looking at every potential solution that's out there. We've been looking at it for months now, trying to think outside of the box."
The mill manager told local union officials the news on Thursday. The president of the Unifor local, Grant Charlton, began telling workers at the plant right away.
"It's scary, honestly," Tabitha Burrell said in an interview.
Her husband Steve has worked at the mill for 14 years, and the family had built its financial commitments around that income. With the closure, they are facing uncertainty over their mortgage, bills and the significant cost of supporting their daughter through veterinary school.
"And we're only one family. There are hundreds of other workers and families who woke up today facing their own version of this."
The company issued a short news release Thursday evening, describing the closure as a "temporary idling" but gave no timeline for when the plant would re-open - if at all - and didn't mention the layoffs.
Mike Legere, AV Group Canada's director of government relations and communications, did not answer calls.
"The decision follows a careful assessment of the continuing challenges presented by prevailing market conditions and broader macroeconomic factors," said the release. "AV Group NB Inc. will continue to monitor the market situation and business conditions and assess future scenarios for the facility."
It added that the decision did not affect the Atholville pulp mill run by AV Group in northern New Brunswick, where hundreds of other people work.
A spokesperson for Premier Susan Holt said the politician was too busy for an interview Thursday night but pointed to a post she had made on Facebook.
"Today's news that AV Group plans to temporarily idle its Nackawic mill is very difficult for the workers, their families and the entire Nackawic-Millville community," Holt said, referring to the larger municipality that the town joined through forced amalgamation in 2023.
"When a major employer faces uncertainty, the impact reaches far beyond the workplace. It affects families, local businesses, and the entire community.
"My team and I have been in regular touch with community leaders and with Unifor. We are listening and working with those directly affected to understand what this decision means for them and what is needed."
She said the Liberal government was putting a support plan in place.
"Teams across government are working together to make sure people have access to the support they need, and we will share more in the coming days. Your government has your back. We will be there for you, for your community, and for the region as we work through this difficult time together."
Heather de Garnay, who grew up in the town and whose father worked at the mill when it first opened more than a half century ago, said the closure was particularly difficult because of the mill's longstanding connection to the community. She said she hopes Nackawic will be able to bounce back.
"My dad did when the mill first opened up years ago in 1970, when Landegger owned it," she said. "I grew up in this town. So, to see this here close, it is sad."
Other townsfolk echoed those concerns, pointing to the mill's economic importance.
"It's sad for the community, just because of how much money goes into the community because of it," said Ken Langille. "It'll definitely have an impact."
