Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper Produces Final Reel, Marking the End of a Century of Papermaking

Thunder Bay, Ontario – February 20, 2026 — Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper today marked the end of an era as its paper machine produced its final jumbo reel, concluding more than 100 years of continuous papermaking operations that have shaped the industrial and economic fabric of the Thunder Bay community.

For over a century, the mill transformed wood, water, steam, and skilled craftsmanship into paper products relied upon across markets and generations. Through wars, recessions, ownership transitions, grade changes, rebuilds, and restarts, the facility remained a constant industrial presence — and a cornerstone employer — in the region.

The final production sequence began in the mill’s Thermomechanical Pulp (TMP) plant, where the last chips were metered into refiners and reduced to fiber under carefully controlled heat and pressure. Operators monitored freeness, consistency, steam flow, basis weight, and moisture targets to ensure the final batch met the mill’s longstanding standards for quality and precision.

From stock preparation to the headbox and across the wire, the sheet was formed one final time. Crews on the machine floor maintained steady draws, managed sheet stability, and controlled reel tension with the same discipline and professionalism that have defined the operation for generations.

At approximately 1:46 p.m., the final jumbo reel was completed.

“This final reel represents more than paper,” said Shane Moscrip, Manager of Paper Operations. “It reflects generations of expertise — operators, electricians, millwrights, instrument technicians, lab teams, and supervisors — who built a culture rooted in safety, quality, and teamwork. While the machine may now come to rest, the capability and pride developed in this workforce will endure.”

Employees gathered in front of the completed reel to commemorate the milestone — a moment honoring both the equipment that supported a community for generations and the people who sustained its performance, shift after shift, year after year.

The closure marks the conclusion of a historic chapter in Thunder Bay’s industrial story, while underscoring the resilience, professionalism, and craftsmanship that have defined its workforce for more than a century.