McCain Foods workers leave PEI Borden Carleton plant for last time

It began as a trickle — people with their arms filled with personal items, leaving the McCain Foods processing plant in Borden-Carleton for the last time Wednesday — and soon it turned into a mass exodus.

In August, workers found out that the New Brunswick-based company would be shutting down its P.E.I. operation on Friday, Oct. 31.

For many it was the end of a long association with McCain Foods, and the mood of many of those leaving was sullen.

Despite that, Kirk Haddock - one of the former employees - said it wasn’t all doom and gloom Wednesday.

“Surprisingly, the mood around the plant has been pretty positive,” he said. “A little bit of tears in there today. It’s emotional for a lot of those who have been here a long time. It’s a good group of people.”

Haddock is moving on and will be joining the Irving-owned Master Packaging in neighbouring Borden-Carleton.

McCain is offering its employees severance packages, retirement benefits and retraining options.