Workers face uncertain future after Newfoundland seafood plant destroyed by fire

The smoking has cleared followers the demolition left wing by a discharge last week at a seafood processing plant in St. Mary's, but questions remain about what the future holds for this important business — and a string of coastal communities — in St. Mary's Bay.

“It was really devastating to see everything gone just within a few hours," Ceara Ryan said on Thursday during an interview at her home in Gaskiers-Point La Haye.

Both Ryan and her partner, Colton St. Croix, worked at the plant. They have two children, ages 10 and 12, and the revival of the plant by the Daley family changed their lives.

For years, Ryan drove 90 minutes each way to a job in St. John's, and that meant precious time away from her children. When the plant opened three years ago, work was a five minute drive away, the job was enjoyable and the pay was decent.

“We didn't have to be postponing Christmas and Easter and other holidays. I was able to be home with the kids," she said.

St. Mary's resident Patricia Gibbons also worked at the plant, and she had a front row seat to the inferno when fire erupted on the evening of Nov. 4, during a fierce wind and rain storm.    

“You could hear the crackling of the fire and all of a sudden you could hear propane tanks just exploding," she recalled.

Now all that remains of the once-busy plant that had revitalized the economy in St. Mary's Bay is a pile of charred rubble  

The Daley family had invested many millions into the business, and this past season was a major success.

The workers processed more than seven million pounds of crab, and also handled cod, whelk and red fish. There was hope that lobster and pelagics would be added in the future.

Every Friday, about half-a-million dollars in wages was paid out to the employees, many of whom came from as far away as Mexico and the Philippines as temporary foreign workers.

Times were so good that Patricia Gibbons and her husband were able to build a new house from their dual income.

“It’s devastating knowing you had a cheque coming every week. You could do things, go places and now that’s gone," said Gibbons.

The cause of the fire is still being probed, and insurance investigators have been sifting through the rubble.

At the same time, a dark cloud of uncertainty has settled over the region.

“I think everyone's a little stressed, devastated, obviously," said Ryan.

There's one question on everyone's mind: will the Daley family rebuild an enterprise that employed more than 300 people at the height of this year's seafood harvest.

The Daley's are not commenting. But St. Mary's mayor and business owner Stephen Ryan, who's in regular contact with the Daley's, seems to have some insight.

“It looks like we're going to have a rebuild. Hopefully nothing happens between now and when he officially announces it, but it's looking positive," said the mayor.

What’s known for sure is that even if the Daley's decide to rebuild, 2026 will be a lost season for St. Mary’s, and the mayor says the Daley's are looking at processing options in other areas for next season.

“Stand by. There’s a lot of announcements to come," he said.

There's been a parade of politicians of all stripes, and from all levels of government, visiting St. Mary's in recent days, trying to figure out a way to support these vulnerable workers.

There have been promises of government-funded projects and calls for an extension of federal employment insurance benefits.

Some, like Colton St. Croix, have already found work elsewhere, though it means travelling long distances and being away from his family and community for weeks at a time.

But the displaced plant workers hope this current uncertainty is temporary, and that they're back with their work family as soon as possible.

“It was beautiful working down there and to see it gone is devastating," said Gibbons.

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