HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-07-08, Page 24Page • - • = ich Signal -Star, Wednesday, July 8, 2009
The final grader
finds a home in Huron
Fortner and current Volvo employees ex-
changed greetings, hugged colleagues and
admired their life's work as the last motor
grader to leave the Goderich manufacturing
facility sat in front of the town's recreation
facility, waiting for it final assignment.
On Tuesday, June JO the final machine off
the assembly line at Volvo Motor Gfaders
was handed over to the County of Huron in a
simple ceremon v.
The model G960 road grader is a distin-
guished machine for a couple reasons; it
marks the end of the manufacturing of road
graders in Goderich and the signatures of all
Volvo employees are displayed on the side
panels of the grader.
As Jay Davis, Vice President and General
Manager of the Goderich plant handed over
the grader keys to Huru n County Warden
Ken Oke, he spoke of the dedication of the
skilled workers in Goderich who have built
machines for generations.
'This grader represents over 40,000 that
have been built here with pride," he told the
gathering. " The town now faces a future
without Volvo and is wondering what will be
next. But tl urn, : tgh the transition, the company
provided training and skill development, 20
Per cent of employees had work before their
last day and all employees will have a plan
for the future."
Acknowledging the dedication of the em-
ployees who worked through the notice pe-
riod since the company announced it was
moving manufacturing to Shippensburg, PA,
Davis said the quality of the machines leav-
ing Goderich "got better and better."
"The employees stayed focused day to day
and they can leave with pride and dignity," he
said. "They're ready for other businesses and
organizations and life will look fine."
Warden Oke thanked Davis for the gener-
ous donation acknowledging that the ma-
chine marked the end of over 100 years of
distinguished manufacturing.
"We are thankful to the grader company and
its 100 years of history will live forever and
Goderich will be known as the grader capital
and home of the first motorized grader," he
said. "Every municipality in the county had
a grader and we are proud of die machines
working on our roads and around the world."
More than just a local employer, Oke lauded
the company for its community -minded spirit
and the role it played as a county employer.
"You have been a great community sup-
porter and builder. I look around and I see
what support you have provided to the com-
munity," he said. "You provided jobs for
many families and supported lifestyles and
92 per cent of the employees were from Hu-
ron County.
"There is a tear in our eye as we say good-
bye."
The county was offered a 10 -year no -
charge lease to accept the last grader off the
Goderich line. Volvo also provided the town
of Goderich a 10 -year no -charge lease for
the first grader off the line to carry the Volvo
name and recently extended the term of the
lease to 2014.
The final grader off the Volvo assembly line in Goderich was turned over to Huron County at a special cer-
emony Tuesday, June 30 at the Maitland Recreation Centre. Above, Rob Kolkman and Amanda Dekker, of
the company's human resource department talk with Jay Davis, vice President and General Manager. Many
former employees turned out for the presentation. Below, retired employees Ted Crich and Jim Farrell look
over the names of colleagues inscribed on the side panels of the last machine.
New
loner
hours.
To be more accessible to you, we've introduced
a new standard to our hours of business.
Monday to Wednesday 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Thursday to Friday 9:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Visit us for all your personal and business
banking needs.
CIBC Goderich at
24 The Square,
tel: (519) 524-8371
what manors.