Firestone textiles closing shop in Woodstock

WOODSTOCK The beginning of the end just days away for an 80-year-old industrial fixture in Southwestern Ontario, city officials are taking a big-picture view of the loss of Firestone Textiles here. Workers at the tire cordmaker’s plant were warned in October the last of its textile looms will be shut down starting Jan. 1, costing 50 jobs and rising to 162 when the rest of the factory closes by the end of 2018.

“It’s always terrible when someone is losing their job, particularly when the labour force has been with the company for a very long time,” said Woodstock economic development officer Brad Hammond.

“It destroys stability in people and causes angst,” he said.

But, tough as the loss of a landmark plant like Firestone may be, with some of its production headed to North Carolina, Hammond and others say it’s just another illustration of the region’s changing economy and that Woodstock — with the area economy doing well — is in a strong position to shake off the loss.

“If there is a silver lining, it’s that the city’s economy is very good right now. Many of the companies we talk to say their only impediment to growth is finding more staff,” said Hammond.

For about a century, textiles plants were part of the economic bedrock of Woodstock and other Southwestern Ontario centres.

At one time, Woodstock — its economy now dominated by Big Auto, including a Toyota assembly plant in the city — was also home to LaFrance Textiles, the Paquette sock factory and several Harvey Woods plants.

All but Firestone, owned by parent company Bridgestone, have closed.

Woodstock Mayor Trevor Birtch, who as a student worked for Firestone for three years, said he’s accepted that times change and some jobs never come back.

In all, Woodstock has lost five other textile plants over the years.

“There have been many transitions the city has seen over the years, and this will not be the last,” he said.

The plant mainly produces cord material for automobile tires. Kim Whitehead, interim general manager of the Woodstock Chamber of Commerce, said she understands the decision to close the plant was made for “economic reasons,” but that the company has tried to be fair to its workers and the city’s economic outlook is “pretty positive.”

Hammond predicted many of the Firestone employees will find work quickly because they’re well-trained and experienced.

“My message is, it’s rotten to happen. But if you’re going to be out of work, better to be out when the economy is good,” he said.