August 12, 1959 -- The announcement by Wizewood Products Limited, Prince
Albert, to build a $2,500,000 plant for the production of poplar
building board in Hudson Bay, promises a tremendous boost to the
forest products industry in this area.
At a meeting with local businessmen, members of the Town Council
and Board of Trade, Monday evening, Wizewood company officials discussed
the various aspects of the new industry.
Mayor Allan Anderson chaired the meeting and introduced W.F.
Thorpe, president of Wizewood Products Limited; J. Korodi, general
manager and J. Meyer, industrial consultant with the Industrial
Development Office, Regina.
Mr. Thorpe outline the general organization of
the new Company and called on Mr. Korodi to describe the details
of the plant and its capitalization.
Mr. Korodi, who will be the manager of the Wizewood
plant, described the four main products and the process by which
they would be manufactured. He also pointed out that the company
may be interested in securing local capital to insure the controlling
interest of the plant to Saskatchewan people.
Both company officials went into some detail to describe their
sentiments regarding the capitalization of the new plant through
the subscription of Saskatchewan residents and expressed their hopes
that local residents would subscribe funds and do everything possible
to co-operate in assisting the Company to become established here.
Mayor Anderson pledged the support of the Town in matters
pertaining to housing, etc.
The new plant will be located just south of the
Town limits on the west side of the highway. Constructed in a T
formation, the plant will measure 450 x 120 across the end of the
T and 320 x 120 on the long end.
Employing some 60 to 70 people on a three-shift basis, the plant
will have a maximum payroll of over $200,000. Approximately 25 thousand
cords of poplar bolts will be required for the 75 ton capacity mill.
Four different kinds of board will be produced: Foundation Board
of dimensions from one quarter to three quarter inch; outside sheeting
from five sixteenths to three quarter inch; inside wall paneling in
quarter inch only and floor underlay in five sixteenths to three quarter
dimensions.
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