When Tawni Marcil learned that the paper mill where she is employed is closing down, her immediate concern was for the feral cats that inhabit the premises. Marcil is among the 350 employees on Vancouver Island who will be out of work following Domtar’s decision to permanently shut down its Crofton pulp mill in British Columbia in early December 2025.
The mill has been a home to a colony of feral cats for almost the entire duration of its 68-year operation, according to Marcil. Over time, with the implementation of trap-neuter-release programs, the cat population has decreased to around 14 scattered across various areas of the site.
Despite facing an uncertain future herself, Marcil has been collaborating with local cat rescue groups over the past month to capture the mill cats, relocate them from the site, and place them in new homes.
One standout case is that of Wasabi, a cat cared for by retired instrument mechanic Elliot Cole for five years. Cole, who retired last August, took special care of Wasabi, providing daily meals and even constructing a cozy shelter for the cat within the mill premises. Following the news of the mill’s closure, Cole promptly arranged to adopt Wasabi, who has now settled into his new home, gradually adjusting to indoor life under Cole’s attentive care.
The closure of the mill’s operations commenced in early January and is expected to be completed over the coming months. Marcil expressed relief that the cats have been successfully rehomed and remains optimistic about her own future, acknowledging the initial shock of the closure but emphasizing the need to adapt and move forward.