Community and Collectivism: Nipigon, Ontario

This roller coaster ride is full of its ups and downs. It represents the power of a community, the triumph of collective action, all of which was unfortunately destroyed by fire. Many people say that the Star is a Toronto-centric paper, and these people have a point. But this story about Nipigon, Ontario gives a hard look at life outside Ontario's capital.

The story began in December 2005, when Oregon based plywood manufacturing giant Columbia Forest Products announced it was selling the Multiply Forest Products plant, the biggest employer in the town of 1,600, and would close the mill if no buyers came forward.

Finally, a group of managers from the mill, all people from Nipigon, contributed their life savings to rescue the company. Howver, they couldn't do it alone, and wanted the employees to have a stake in the company. So they asked the hourly employees – 120 tradesmen and labourers – to contribute 7 per cent of their salaries for one year – to a maximum of $3,000 each – toward modernizing the 50-year-old plant.

The employees agreed, seeing this not only as a way to keep their jobs in Nipigon and continue to make a livelihood for themselves and their families, but to have control over the means of production and have a say in their factory and their destiny. The deal closed on Dec. 22, 2006.

Sadly, earlier this month, fire destroyed the mill, burning it to the ground.

The story focuses on the struggle of the town, and on the prospects for the future.