Collection RS - Collection Événements Reesor Siding

In 1963, the strike of the unionized bush workers employed by the companies Spruce Falls Power and Paper in Kapuskasing and Kimberly-Clark Company in Longlac left an indelible mark on the history of the region and the country. It is the bloodiest strike in Canadian labour history. During the night of February 10-11 1963, some strikers were going to Reesor Siding (56 kilometres west of Kapuskasing) to tumble down the piles of wood that the “independent” bush workers, members of Chantier coopératif Val Rita-Harty, stacked at Reesor Siding. These strikers were trying to prevent the members of Chantier coopératif from sending their cut wood to the Spruce Falls paper mill, in Kapuskasing. When the strikers arrived at Reesor Siding, members of the Chantier coopératif opened fire; three strikers were killed and eight others were injured. This deadly conflict has divided the population and left deep scars in communities throughout the region.