A forestry company in northern Ontario is investing $10 million to construct a new, 44-unit housing complex in Gogama in an effort to recruit talent to an area where living accommodations are limited.

Located between Sudbury and Timmins, The EACOM Timber Corporation’s sawmill in Gogama can produce 110 million board feet of lumber annually, including wood chips, sawdust and shavings. The eastern Canadian wood products company owns seven sawmills, a remanufacturing facility, and an engineered I-joist plant.

The company plans to welcome 12 international employees and their families to this facility over the next year. Housing will also accommodate corporate and regional employees who travel to the area on business.

“This is the realization of an idea that started two years ago”, says Eric Larouche, EACOM vice-president of human resources. “EACOM appointed a dedicated task force group to work on this project and they worked countless hours to make it happen. We are extremely happy to offer our employees a housing alternative to better their life at work, as we always strive for the best for our employees.”

For this project, EACOM partnered with IVEY Group, based out of Sudbury. IVEY Group, a recruitment and immigration firm, will oversee the operations of the facility including foodservice, housekeeping, maintenance and upkeep.

“Our team at IVEY Group is pleased and extremely proud to partner with EACOM on this exciting project,” says Anthony Lawley, president and founder of IVEY. “Further, our organization has partnered with First Nation Industrial Systems, out of Timmins, to bring this project to fruition.

“From the very beginning of the process, EACOM made it clear they wanted to support local businesses to stimulate the local economy. This is in direct alignment with our vision at IVEY Group which is to continue to support the development of northern Ontario, creating high-value jobs and promoting the north as a great place to work and live.”