THUNDER BAY - Despite hundreds of layoffs expected to take place next week at the local Bombardier plant, the doors were opened to the public to showcase the work being done at the site for not only the community, but also the rest of the province.
“We are trying to showcase the site because the site performs really well now,” said Dave Black, general manager at the local Bombardier plant. “The team here is very proud of what they do and we are trying to show the community and Ontario what this site is all about. It’s Ontarians building cars for the people of Ontario.”
The local Bombardier plant held an open house on Saturday, inviting the public to tour the facility and see the work being done on bi-level cars and Light Rail Vehicles.
The open house comes less than a week before more than 200 workers will be laid off the job due to two contracts coming wrapping up at the end of the year, with a total of 550 workers expected to lose their jobs.
“We are in the unfortunate position that we have two big contracts ending at the same time,” Black said. “They both wind down toward the end of the year. The GO cars and the LRVs, so unfortunately we are going to have layoffs.”
An order for 36 additional bi-level cars for Metrolinx will provide some work, but Black said the company is continuing to work with the city of Toronto and the province to secure other contracts.
“We are optimistic that things will pick up,” he said. “We do have an extension of 36 bi-level cars that will carry the workforce into next year. We are working with the government and bidding on contracts and working with local community leaders to try to secure more work post that.”
“Within our own business, we are working with other sites to see if there is extra work we could put here,” Black continued. “We have Metrolinx roofs here. The roof is a major component of the cars that Metrolinx LRVs have, and we are doing those here, we are sharing the work with some of our other sites and it has provided some opportunities and jobs at the site.”
The doors have not been opened to the local plant since it celebrated its 20thanniversary in the city.
Bombardier has been in Thunder Bay since 1993 and the site has been in operation since 1912 and has had an extensive history in the community.
Known as Canada Car and Foundry, the plant played a key role during the Second World War manufacturing Hawker Hurricane aircraft that were used during the Battle of Britain.
Black said it is important to share not only the history of the plant with the community, but the work that is still being done today and the important role it serves for the city.
“It is something we are trying to get out there and show the community and the public what we are all about,” he said. “Especially here in Thunder Bay at this site, we employ almost 1,000 people and we have had up to 1,300 or 1,400 people, all local people from the community. They are heavily engaged and we’re involved in the community, so all the work force is local.”
During the tour, people were shown the process of manufacturing a car, from concept and engineering models to the assembling of components on the shop floor.
People were also given an opportunity to take a ride on an LRV on the plant’s test track.
“We are really proud of the site,” Black said. “We have had a turnaround in the last two years. We provide all the cars to Toronto on time and the quality is second to none and we’ve had good feedback. We are very proud of a the team for that.”
