Khumar’s Editorial from the Mount Pleasant Observer

Every second year the Greater Mount Pleasant Economic Council sponsors a three day conference. This year the host was the Fransisco DeLuca College, named after a very successful local business man and philanthropist who made his fortune in the construction industry.

Among the many interesting seminars was a presentation by Mount Pleasant’s  Director of Economic and Business Development, Dr. Eugene Forsythe. He is a recent addition, recruited from a similar position at the city of Springfield and a graduate of the University of New Mexico.

Dr. Forsythe was unusually insightful in the way that he highlighted significant economic changes. He noticed while pouring over the business section of the Mount Pleasant Observer that sometimes on facing pages were legal notifications on one side and employment search advertisements on the other. Small print legal notifications of bankruptcy, bankruptcy protection proceedings and similar developments were included. Willie Nelson said it best “there is seldom any good news in the fine print”.  Opposite were requirements to fill technical and executive  positions.

Employing the latest graphics Dr. Forsythe highlighted in the fine print notices: “In the Matter of the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act and in the Matter of a Plan of Compromise or Arrangement for the Creditors of Terrace Bay Pulp Inc.. . — On the facing page was a the following :” Executive Director, National Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Alberta Starting as a Vice President of Research”—-

Next in fine print: “Ernst and Young has been appointed as receiver and manager of all of the assets of St.Mary’s Paper Corp. —-. The facing ad was a “Placement opportunity for a Director of Engineering that included a requirement of five years of experience in sustainable building technology —-”

Thirdly in fine print : ” In the Matter of the Receivership of Pope and Talbot Ltd.” —- In the same paper was the following advertisement: “University of Waterloo Associate Vice-President International —”

Another example in fine print : ” Holly Park Meat Packers Inc. is currently in receivership”.  A Confidential Information Memorandum is available  from the Receiver, Zeifman Partners Inc.”—- Once again a close by ad appeared requesting applicants to head up a genome initiative with a major pharmaceutical company.

These are specific examples that put flesh on the bones of shrinking industries versus those ascending. No tiresome stats, no exhaustive analysis and no recriminations. They are simply dramatic displays of anecdotes that contrast  tragic failures, against robust successes. They all herald growth and decline of industries that profoundly influence people’s  lives.