MEMRAMCOOK, N.B. – The New Brunswick government has appointed a committee to create a sustainable business plan for the provincially owned Memramcook Institute.
The facility, southeast of Moncton, includes a spa, restaurant, golf course, walking trails and banquet facilities.
It used to include a French-language university and seminary, both of which closed in the 1960s.
“It’s always been a part of community life .., there were cultural activities,” said Patricia Leger, a community member. “It would be really sad to lose this building.”
The corporation that operated the institute accumulated a debt of $4.5 million and declared bankruptcy last month.
About 80 employees were laid off.
Paul-Emile Leger, who worked at the institute for 40 years as an engineer, lost at least 50 per cent of his pension. He said he’s looking for work now instead of planning his retirement for September.
“I’m going to be 60 in October and wow … I don’t know how to plan anymore,” he said.
“We feel very sad about this situation,” said Transportation Minister Claude Williams. “The last thing we wanted is people losing their job, pensions. This is something we don’t like to see but this is the reality.”
Williams says he expects to receive recommendations from the committee before the end of the year.
With files from Laura Brown
Comments