With the search on for a new mill manager after it was officially announced last week that Jim Gartshore and family will be moving to Montreal, a second set of big shoes also will have to be filled here as his wife, Maureen, leaves her role as administrator of the Fort Frances Clinic.
Gartshore, who will work here until Dec. 31, said the application process to find her replacement is now underway, with interviewing to start in mid-December.
But Gartshore also noted she’s in no hurry to get back into the workplace in the New Year after she moves to Montreal. “My priority is going to be with my family,” she said Tuesday.
Jim, Maureen, and their youngest of three daughters, Amy, will be relocating to Montreal in the New Year when he take over as vice-president of Engineering and Technology for Abitibi-Consolidated full-time.
He starts part-time Dec. 1
“We’re looking forward to a new beginning and a great adventure,” said Maureen Gartshore. “My youngest daughter is looking forward to becoming bilingual.”
But she stressed they will always miss Fort Frances—after all, it was where she, Jim, and the family were raised.
Meanwhile, Jim Gartshore is looking forward to the new job. “I’m really excited. It’s the next step up from mill manager,” he said Friday.
In his new position, Gartshore will oversee the company’s capital expenditures as well as manage its power generation facilities while developing an energy strategy.
“We buy a lot of energy. I’ll be looking at ways to reduce use, and to be as efficient as we can,” he noted.
Over the years, Gartshore has held various positions of increasing responsibilities at the mill here, including maintenance and engineering services manager.
He has worked at the mill here since 1977, when he started as a project engineer after graduating from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering.
But he noted just because he’s moving, he’ll never forget the Fort Frances mill. “I’ll be like a friend in Montreal. Someone who knows and understands how the mill here operates,” he said.
Gartshore stated in the latest issue of “Screenings” that although his time as manager wasn’t without challenges and uncertainties due to the changes in companies and products, he feels the mill here has a good future.
And fellow mill employees showed their appreciation for Gartshore’s years of service at a farewell dinner Monday evening, which Maureen noted was very humourous, very enjoyable.”
Bruno Tremblay, senior vice-president of technology services at Abitibi-Consolidated, said in a press release last week that Gartshore is the right man for the job.
“Jim brings a wealth of great experience with him and we are happy to count him as a member of our team,” he noted.
“Together with the operations group, I know Jim will be able to forge strong partnerships with key players and bring valued results to the bottom line.”
With Gartshore accepting the promotion in Montreal, Abitibi-Consolidated is in the process of finding a new general manager for the mill here, with an announcement expected by mid-December.
