Town of Collingwood, Ontario, Canada

Collingwood Mayor Chris Carrier and Economic Development Officer Catherine Durrant recently welcomed a new manufacturing partner to Collingwood. Barber Glass has purchased the former Alcoa plant and will soon provide much needed employment opportunities to a town's work force that has been hit hard by recent plant closures. This announcement comes at a much happier time for Collingwood Mayor Chris Carrier, who had to announce to the town that Alcoa would be closing it's plant on his first day as Collingwood's newly elected Mayor. However, the announcement that Alcoa would close was quickly followed by a telephone call from John Barber of Barber Glass Industries, looking for information on the facility. "Three hundred and seventy-six days later, I'm looking forward to seeing Barber Glass grow as a company" Carrier said in welcoming the company to Collingwood "This is a significant investment in Collingwood and an integral component of a sustainable community in having such a respected employer creating new jobs for our citizens" Mayor Carrier added.

Evergreen Developments (North) Ltd., will be renovationg 200 Mountain Road into multiple tenancies for the purpose of manufacturing. Barber Glass Industries Inc., a new tenant of Evergreen Developments (North) Ltd., will be manufacturing architectural glass products for the safety glazing industry at this location. The Collingwood plant will produce a heat strengthened tempered and laminated glass. Barber Glass Industries Inc., is the largest tempered and laminated glass manufacturer in North America.

John Barber stated that "Barber Glass has been committed to the glass industry by providing extraordinary service combined with a wide range of available products at competitive prices." "At Barber Glass, we turn ideas into glass, is supported by the most state of the art technologies available in the glass industry today." Barber stated.

Mr. Barber said that it will take approximately three to six months to renovate the plant with the intention of opening in August. Barber said a Job Fair will be held in February with the hiring process to begin in March. The plant will initially operate with a staff of 35, growing to approximately 60 when the operation is in full production. (Barber Glass employs 140 people at its Guelph location) Barber Glass will occupy 150,000 square feet of the factory and plans to turn the remainder of the facility into rental space.

"We looked at facilities in Brampton, Cambridge, Milton and Mississauga but at the end of the day we kept coming back to Collingwood" Barber said.

Collingwood Economic Development Officer Catherine Durrant has been working long hours to help finalize the deal to bring Barber Glass to Collingwood. Early meetings with Mayor Chris Carrier, Collus CAO Ed Houghton and John Barber reviewed energy needs and the cost effectiveness of electricity and water, along with discussions regarding Collingwood's available work force and the town's excellent track record for employee training and retraining. "This is a very happy day for everyone in Collingwood" Durrant said.

Alcoa closed its Collingwood operation in June, 2007. A media release from Alcoa earlier this year stated that it was necessary to close the Collingwood operation because of the loss or pending loss of key contracts with auto manufacturers. The release stated the lost or pending loss of key contracts have caused anticipated sales volumes to drop to the point where continued operation of the plant will cease to be economically viable.


Collingwood Welcomes Barber Glass

	Collingwood Mayor Chris Carrier says this good news story began one day after the town had to deal with the bad news of learning that the Alcoa Wheel Plant would close its doors.

Collingwood CAO Gord Norris, Mayor Chris Carrier, John Barber of Barber Glass, Economic Development Officer Catherine Durrant and Collingwood Councilors Dave LaBelle, Norm Sandberg, Kathy Jeffery and Mike Edwards gather together to celebrate the arrival of Barber Glass Industries to Collingwood.
Collingwood Mayor Chris Carrier and Economic Development Officer Catherine Durrant recently welcomed a new manufacturing partner to Collingwood. Barber Glass has purchased the former Alcoa plant and will soon provide much needed employment opportunities to a town's work force that has been hit hard by recent plant closures. This announcement comes at a much happier time for Collingwood Mayor Chris Carrier, who had to announce to the town that Alcoa would be closing it's plant on his first day as Collingwood's newly elected Mayor. However, the announcement that Alcoa would close was quickly followed by a telephone call from John Barber of Barber Glass Industries, looking for information on the facility. "Three hundred and seventy-six days later, I'm looking forward to seeing Barber Glass grow as a company" Carrier said in welcoming the company to Collingwood "This is a significant investment in Collingwood and an integral component of a sustainable community in having such a respected employer creating new jobs for our citizens" Mayor Carrier added. Evergreen Developments (North) Ltd., will be renovationg 200 Mountain Road into multiple tenancies for the purpose of manufacturing. Barber Glass Industries Inc., a new tenant of Evergreen Developments (North) Ltd., will be manufacturing architectural glass products for the safety glazing industry at this location. The Collingwood plant will produce a heat strengthened tempered and laminated glass. Barber Glass Industries Inc., is the largest tempered and laminated glass manufacturer in North America. John Barber stated that "Barber Glass has been committed to the glass industry by providing extraordinary service combined with a wide range of available products at competitive prices." "At Barber Glass, *we turn ideas into glass, is supported by the most state of the art technologies available in the glass industry today." Barber stated. Mr. Barber said that it will take approximately three to six months to renovate the plant with the intention of opening in August. Barber said a Job Fair will be held in February with the hiring process to begin in March. The plant will initially operate with a staff of 35, growing to approximately 60 when the operation is in full production. (Barber Glass employs 140 people at its Guelph location) Barber Glass will occupy 150,000 square feet of the factory and plans to turn the remainder of the facility into rental space. "We looked at facilities in Brampton, Cambridge, Milton and Mississauga but at the end of the day we kept coming back to Collingwood" Barber said. When they're marketing their company they'll also be marketing Collingwood" -- Mayor Chris Carrier* Collingwood Mayor Chris Carrier said that the arrival of Barber Glass and Evergreen Developments (North) Ltd. validates what has been worked on at the council table. "You're going to see more investment here. This is where the growth is, in the niche marketing" added Mayor Carrier. "When they're marketing their company they'll also be marketing Collingwood" Carrier added. "This is a very happy day for everyone in Collingwood - Economic Development Officer Catherine Durrant Collingwood Economic Development Officer Catherine Durrant has been working long hours to help finalize the deal to bring Barber Glass to Collingwood. Early meetings with Mayor Chris Carrier, Collus CAO Ed Houghton and John Barber reviewed energy needs and the cost effectiveness of electricity and water, along with discussions regarding Collingwood's available work force and the town's excellent track record for employee training and retraining. "This is a very happy day for everyone in Collingwood" Durrant said. Alcoa closed its Collingwood operation in June, 2007. A media release from Alcoa earlier this year stated that it was necessary to close the Collingwood operation because of the loss or pending loss of key contracts with auto manufacturers. The release stated the lost or pending loss of key contracts have caused anticipated sales volumes to drop to the point where continued operation of the plant will cease to be economically viable.

John Barber - Barber Glass Return To News Headlines