Hard Times
The mill closings had a heavy impact on town residents, demographics, and evolution. Long-term joblessness and impoverishment resulted. Part of the workforce was able to find new jobs in neighbouring regional industries, while others took advantage of government programs. However, the widespread economic crisis of the 1980s limited the opportunities. Also, the English-speaking part of the population left town, the demographic decline of which can be attributed to the political climate. Young people migrated to city centres to attend university or college, and turned their backs on the manufacturing industry. The English-speaking part of the population, who once made up 40% of the town, dropped below 1%.
TRANSCRIPT
Laurent Lortie: At the end, they sent me to Magog to deliver machinery, and I was supposed to stay there, but I was too old. They needed a younger worker.
Question: You went all the way there to find out it wouldn’t work out?
Laurent Lortie: I was too old, they said, so I went back to Valleyfield. I was supposed to leave the truck in Magog, but I came back empty.
Question: That’s how you found out?
Laurent Lortie: You know, getting hit in the face doesn't hurt that much more.
Question: It would have been better if they had told you here that there was nothing for you, better than going over there with false hope.
Laurent Lortie: The manager told me: “Bring that over there and maybe you’ll stay there”. He gave me a form, but once there they told me I was too old.
Question: You weren’t that old, were you?
Gilles Guérin: Yes but, there needs to be an opening... If there's no opening for a skilled worker...
Laurent Lortie: There was an opening; the job was open.
Question: Did you see all the closure? The Gault mill wasn't demolished.
Laurent Lortie: I stayed there in 83 and him... You left before me?
Gilles Guérin: In 82.
Laurent Lortie: I emptied the entire department. I left with a spinning machine.
I left two days after the last spinning machine. There was nothing left, no a single spindle on a machine. The machines were completely bare.