ATIKOKAN – After suffering through an incredible economic downturn, the quick wit of the Atikokan Economic Development Corporation saw an opportunity to replenish its workforce while supporting the country's humanitarian effort.
Having nearly exhausted the local labour supply, the Resolute Sawmill in Sapawe, about 30 kilometres east of Atikokan, struggled to find employees to keep up with the heavy demand.
Recognizing a lot of people have been displaced by the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, an opportunity arose that would benefit the refugees in Canada and Resolute Sawmill.
Resolute Forest Products hired 31 Ukrainian men and women in 2023 to replenish their workforce; however, there was still one more problem to solve - Where were these people going to live?
Garry McKinnon, Executive Director of the AEDC, explained: “What's important is that we've been able to resolve a number of problems together. Resolute was finding a challenge securing employees. There were a lot of people displaced from the conflict zone in Eastern Europe. We had a vacant facility.”
Seeing the Atikokan Hotel as a valuable asset after the former owner defaulted on its loan six years ago, the AEDC maintained the old Hotel.
As it turned out, the solution was to lease the rooms to Resolute to house the new employees.
“So, the convergence of those things just turned out to be serendipity. We were able to help Resolute accommodate newcomers to this country that would work in their mill, reduce their turnover, increase their productivity, and put a vacant facility to use and provide a safe and comfortable home for displaced people,” McKinnon told Newswatch.
Since then, roughly 100 Ukrainian refugees have made Atikokan their home. McKinnon admits some have since moved out of the country, some remain in the hotel while others have purchased property in town.
“We consistently have about 26 people living here and of the 26 that are currently here, 22 of them are working at the mill,” said McKinnon.
The significant impact this project has had on the community of approximately 2,788 people has increased the population by five per cent.
According to McKinnon, the AEDC did an impact analysis in the community and found that one job in Atikokan was the equivalent to 1350 jobs in Toronto.
Alex Bakal worked for Resolute when he arrived in Atikokan, but has since transitioned into the role of Community Development Advisor with the AEDC after a car accident on Highway 11.
Bakal described to Newswatch that over the last couple of years, the small northwestern town has become home.
Earlier this year Bakal returned to Europe. After he left, he felt a sense of longing to return to the community that had opened its door to his family.
Moreover, the sense of community has aided newcomers in adapting to the new environment.
“It has helped everybody feel more comfortable because you are coming to a new place and you’re just alone. Despite the fact that you have people coming there are some complications in the beginning. This helps everyone that is coming to accommodate themselves around. Because it's about habits. Its tradition. it's about some rules. It’s what are you comfortable with in this integration,” explained Bakal.
Recently FEDNOR recognized the Ukrainian Refugee Support project as the Community Economic Development Project of the Year.
Bakal said there were people from the Community Futures Development organization asking about how they would be able to replicate the AEDC’s success in other communities.
“It’s not just about this town because the success of this project here can be multiplied in the whole country. It’s not only about Ukrainians. It’s about a difference people can make. It can be for people from everywhere,” said Bakal.
Correction: Updated information has been added to this article. Bakal was not in an accident at the sawmill as previously reported.
