“C’est grave pour moi, mais c’est encore pire pour ceux dont les deux membres d’un même ménage y travaillent.” These poignant words from a Venmar employee encapsulate the despair felt by many as the company announced the permanent closure of its factory in Drummondville, Quebec, affecting 350 employees.
The closure, set to take place in November 2026, is part of a significant reorganization plan initiated by Venmar’s parent company, Nortek International. This decision comes after years of economic uncertainty, a decrease in orders, new tariffs, and rising transportation costs that have plagued the manufacturing sector.
Venmar, founded in 1978 in Drummondville, has been a key player in the local economy and was designated as a center of excellence in research and development in 2016. The company has been under the ownership of Nortek International since 1995, which has now decided to relocate production activities to the United States and Mexico.
Jean-François Houle, a local representative, expressed frustration over the lack of communication from management, stating, “Nous aimerions bien faire quelque chose pour empêcher un tel dénouement. Mais en l’absence de communication de la direction, que pouvons-nous faire ?” This sentiment reflects the growing anxiety among workers as they face an uncertain future.
The factory is expected to continue operations until July 2026 to fulfill existing orders before shutting down. However, the exact number of employees who may avoid layoffs remains unclear, leaving many in a state of limbo.
In the backdrop of this economic turmoil, Christine Fréchette recently became Quebec’s next premier, securing 58% of the vote in the CAQ leadership race. Her leadership may play a crucial role in addressing the fallout from such closures in the province.
Adding to the distress in Drummondville, a series of suspicious fires have prompted police investigations. “À ce stade-ci, il est trop tôt pour établir avec certitude des liens entre ces événements,” stated Sergeant Louis-Philippe Ruel, indicating that authorities are still assessing the situation. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported from these incidents.
As the community grapples with the impending closure of Venmar and the associated economic impact, the future remains uncertain. Details remain unconfirmed regarding the broader implications of new tariffs imposed by Donald Trump on the closure decision, leaving many to wonder what lies ahead for Drummondville and its workforce.