A Short History of the Eagle Pencil Company of Canada Ltd.
- 1931 - The Eagle Pencil Co. of Canada Limited was established at 201 St. Jean St. in Drummondville, Quebec.
- 1965 - Eagle acquires North-Rite Limited.
- 1967 - Eagle builds a new expanded factory in the Industrial Park at 1275 Rue Janelle in Drummondville.
- 1969 - Eagle Pencil Co. of Canada changes its name to Eagle/North-Rite, a division of Berol Corp. of Canada.
- 1975 - The name of the company is changed to that of Berol in order to allow international marketing under one name.
- 1981 - Berol celebrates its 50th Anniversary with a two record LP.
- 1987 - Berol is sold to Empire Pencil Company. Berol continues to produce pencils under its own brand name.
- 1991 - The number of employees at the Drummondville plant drops from 90 to around 30. The Toronto distribution centre is closed. Berol celebrates its 60th Anniversary with a special edition of the Mirado pencil.
- 1992 - The Berol factory in Drummondville ceases production of Canadian made pencils. The factory continues to be used for warehousing and some packaging.
Image of the Eagle factory in Drummondville, QC from the top of a box of Mikado pencils
News Articles
Our Mirado Pencils from the Drummondville Historical Society
The Montreal Gazette, Monday, February 16, 1931 page 31
EAGLE PENCIL CO. COMES TO CANADA - Market in Dominion to Be Supplied by Plant Established at Drummondville
The largest and one of the world's best known pencil companies, now celebrating its seventy-fifth anniversary as an international industry, is incorporating the Eagle Pencil Co. of Canada Limited and have equipped a large factory at Drummondville, Quebec, from which the Canadian market will be supplied with pencils made in Canada.
This new pencil industry will be one hundred percent Canadian operated and managed. The general offices will be in the Robert Reford Building, 217 Bay Street, Toronto. The general manager is Charles G. Easton, a Canadian who has been representing the Eagle Pencil Company of New York and London in this country and in Newfoundland.
Heretofore the Canadian pencil market has been largely supplied from the New York and London, England factories of the Eagle Pencil Company, the latter factory having been operated continuously by one hundred per cent British workmen for over thirty years. In coming to Canada, the Eagle Pencil Company has now anchored two of its three roots in British soil.
This new pencil factory meets a basic need in this country. Eagle Pencil Company technicians from New York and London have planned the factory at Drummondville to be most efficient in the world and have equipped it with every modern device for making and testing lead pencils. They will direct the Canadian personnel until it is thoroughly trained to carry on.
EAGLE PENCIL CO. COMES TO CANADA - Market in Dominion to Be Supplied by Plant Established at Drummondville
The largest and one of the world's best known pencil companies, now celebrating its seventy-fifth anniversary as an international industry, is incorporating the Eagle Pencil Co. of Canada Limited and have equipped a large factory at Drummondville, Quebec, from which the Canadian market will be supplied with pencils made in Canada.
This new pencil industry will be one hundred percent Canadian operated and managed. The general offices will be in the Robert Reford Building, 217 Bay Street, Toronto. The general manager is Charles G. Easton, a Canadian who has been representing the Eagle Pencil Company of New York and London in this country and in Newfoundland.
Heretofore the Canadian pencil market has been largely supplied from the New York and London, England factories of the Eagle Pencil Company, the latter factory having been operated continuously by one hundred per cent British workmen for over thirty years. In coming to Canada, the Eagle Pencil Company has now anchored two of its three roots in British soil.
This new pencil factory meets a basic need in this country. Eagle Pencil Company technicians from New York and London have planned the factory at Drummondville to be most efficient in the world and have equipped it with every modern device for making and testing lead pencils. They will direct the Canadian personnel until it is thoroughly trained to carry on.
Le Nouvelliste, Drummondville, Quebec, September 25th, 1965, page 2
The Eagle Pencil Company acquires North-Rite
The acquisition by Eagle Pencil Company of Canada Limited of North-Rite Limited is announced today. The price of the transaction was not disclosed.
The Eagle Pencil Company is Canada's largest manufacturer and distributor of marker pens and designer supplies, while North-Rite, founded in 1948 by Mr. V. H. Lust, is Canada's largest manufacturer and marketer of ballpoint pens and spare cartridges, mechanical pencils and fountain pens.
North-Rite Limited is a Canadian company based in St. Lambert, Quebec. Eagle's head office is in Toronto and its manufacturing facility is in Drummondville, Quebec. The Eagle Pencil Company owns other companies in England, Venezuela, Colombia, Mexico and the United States.
North-Rite, as a subsidiary company of Eagle Pencil Company of Canada Limited, will continue operations at its current location with its own sales organization. Mr. V. Lust retains the position of President and Mr. Richard Davine, who has managed the company since its founding in Canada, has been appointed Vice President and General Manager of North-Rite.
The Eagle Pencil Company acquires North-Rite
The acquisition by Eagle Pencil Company of Canada Limited of North-Rite Limited is announced today. The price of the transaction was not disclosed.
The Eagle Pencil Company is Canada's largest manufacturer and distributor of marker pens and designer supplies, while North-Rite, founded in 1948 by Mr. V. H. Lust, is Canada's largest manufacturer and marketer of ballpoint pens and spare cartridges, mechanical pencils and fountain pens.
North-Rite Limited is a Canadian company based in St. Lambert, Quebec. Eagle's head office is in Toronto and its manufacturing facility is in Drummondville, Quebec. The Eagle Pencil Company owns other companies in England, Venezuela, Colombia, Mexico and the United States.
North-Rite, as a subsidiary company of Eagle Pencil Company of Canada Limited, will continue operations at its current location with its own sales organization. Mr. V. Lust retains the position of President and Mr. Richard Davine, who has managed the company since its founding in Canada, has been appointed Vice President and General Manager of North-Rite.
Le Nouvelliste, Drummondville, Quebec, October 28th, 1967, page 2
Opening of the Eagle Pencil plant in the Industrial park
The company increases its production and in addition manufactures new products
DRUMMONDVILLE (J.P.C) - A special ceremony attended by a large number of personalities of the city and the company, marked on Thursday afternoon the pre-opening of the company Eagle Pencil and the start-up of the equipment of production, in its new building of the park industrial, although the official opening will take place only in the spring of 1968.
Mr. Jean Moreau, production manager at the local plant, first provided some information on the company's beginnings in Drummondville. It was necessary to go back to 1931, when this important company was building, in the quadrilateral formed rue St-Jean, des Ecoles. St-Edouard and Brouillard, in the center of the city, to stay there until this year. In 1962, the leaders thought of reorganizing themselves in the face of the pencil industry at home.
In January 1966, after a reorganization of new production methods in 1962, a study of plans for the construction of a new plant costing a million dollars was seriously considered. With the collaboration of the city and the new techniques used as well as the launching of new products, it was decided to build a new factory in the industrial park of the city. Construction work began on April 10, but it was not until May 1 that the first symbolic earthen shovel marked the official inauguration of the new plant [at 1275 Rue Janelle Drummondville, Quebec].
August 2nd. Mr. Albert Berol, Executive Chairman of Eagle International, went to Drummondville to see the progress of the work.
October 26th
"Today," said Mr. Moreau, "you are witnessing our first move in 36 years that Eagle Company is established in Drummondville, and the commissioning of the production equipment for ballpoint pens and other known products. To highlight this important event, I would like to ask Mayor Philippe Bernier to open the ribbon symbolically.
Mr. Mayor
"This may be the first time I have the honor to put a production line into service," said the first magistrate, "but I must say with great pride that it is not the first time I was in a factory and working in a factory for twenty years", he says, "I went to the factory every morning, and today it's an honor to me to make this symbolic gesture since it involves a considerable amount of significance, not least for the mayor of your city and the citizen I am.
The event that brings us together right now is filled with significance for us all, since the inauguration of a production line in a new factory is for us, the City Council, an important date. When a company like Eagle Pencil decides to invest more than a million dollars in a municipality, it is because we trust the industrial climate of this city, and believe in the industrial policy of the city council.
Too long for a city, industrial promotion was only about bringing new industries into its walls. As for us in recent years, we have changed our course of action to this effect. The development of the industries already established here is also industrial promotion, and an even safer promotion, since we are working with a company that we know well, a company that has proved itself, a company firmly established on the plan, and that was the case for Eagle Pencil.
Since 1931 Eagle Pencil is a real value for our community. Each of his enlargements, each of his new products, has been a source of satisfaction for us. Eagle Pencil's industrial contribution, its clan in our community life, its financial contribution, are all factors that make this company. a valuable asset for the city of Drummondville. Mr. Chairman, on behalf of the city of Drummondville and my fellow citizens, thank you for your confidence in the city council and in the future of our city. You will always have nice ears to the municipal council to welcome your requests.
Mr. Tuffin
The president of the company. Mr. George G. Tuffin, warmly thanked the mayor of the city for his kind words to Eagle Pencil, assuring him that the directors of his company have always believed in the economic future of Drummondville has the sympathy that they have always met with the municipal authorities for 36 years
When we thought about expanding our existing St-Jean Street plant, we were approached by the chairman of the Chamber of Commerce's industry committee, Mr. George Haggerty, who suggested that we instead build in your beautiful industrial park. After seriously studying the proposal, we met the municipal authorities who received us with great courtesy. After exposing our views and deepening the conditions of the city, we decided to invest nearly a million dollars in your city for an expansion of our factory. We are proud today of this achievement, convinced of the constant growth of our Drummondville plant.
Personalities
Several senior officers of the Eagle Company, as well as of the North Rite Company of St-Lambert, of which Eagle Pencil is now the owner, attended this pre-opening of the start-up of the production equipment.
Opening of the Eagle Pencil plant in the Industrial park
The company increases its production and in addition manufactures new products
DRUMMONDVILLE (J.P.C) - A special ceremony attended by a large number of personalities of the city and the company, marked on Thursday afternoon the pre-opening of the company Eagle Pencil and the start-up of the equipment of production, in its new building of the park industrial, although the official opening will take place only in the spring of 1968.
Mr. Jean Moreau, production manager at the local plant, first provided some information on the company's beginnings in Drummondville. It was necessary to go back to 1931, when this important company was building, in the quadrilateral formed rue St-Jean, des Ecoles. St-Edouard and Brouillard, in the center of the city, to stay there until this year. In 1962, the leaders thought of reorganizing themselves in the face of the pencil industry at home.
In January 1966, after a reorganization of new production methods in 1962, a study of plans for the construction of a new plant costing a million dollars was seriously considered. With the collaboration of the city and the new techniques used as well as the launching of new products, it was decided to build a new factory in the industrial park of the city. Construction work began on April 10, but it was not until May 1 that the first symbolic earthen shovel marked the official inauguration of the new plant [at 1275 Rue Janelle Drummondville, Quebec].
August 2nd. Mr. Albert Berol, Executive Chairman of Eagle International, went to Drummondville to see the progress of the work.
October 26th
"Today," said Mr. Moreau, "you are witnessing our first move in 36 years that Eagle Company is established in Drummondville, and the commissioning of the production equipment for ballpoint pens and other known products. To highlight this important event, I would like to ask Mayor Philippe Bernier to open the ribbon symbolically.
Mr. Mayor
"This may be the first time I have the honor to put a production line into service," said the first magistrate, "but I must say with great pride that it is not the first time I was in a factory and working in a factory for twenty years", he says, "I went to the factory every morning, and today it's an honor to me to make this symbolic gesture since it involves a considerable amount of significance, not least for the mayor of your city and the citizen I am.
The event that brings us together right now is filled with significance for us all, since the inauguration of a production line in a new factory is for us, the City Council, an important date. When a company like Eagle Pencil decides to invest more than a million dollars in a municipality, it is because we trust the industrial climate of this city, and believe in the industrial policy of the city council.
Too long for a city, industrial promotion was only about bringing new industries into its walls. As for us in recent years, we have changed our course of action to this effect. The development of the industries already established here is also industrial promotion, and an even safer promotion, since we are working with a company that we know well, a company that has proved itself, a company firmly established on the plan, and that was the case for Eagle Pencil.
Since 1931 Eagle Pencil is a real value for our community. Each of his enlargements, each of his new products, has been a source of satisfaction for us. Eagle Pencil's industrial contribution, its clan in our community life, its financial contribution, are all factors that make this company. a valuable asset for the city of Drummondville. Mr. Chairman, on behalf of the city of Drummondville and my fellow citizens, thank you for your confidence in the city council and in the future of our city. You will always have nice ears to the municipal council to welcome your requests.
Mr. Tuffin
The president of the company. Mr. George G. Tuffin, warmly thanked the mayor of the city for his kind words to Eagle Pencil, assuring him that the directors of his company have always believed in the economic future of Drummondville has the sympathy that they have always met with the municipal authorities for 36 years
When we thought about expanding our existing St-Jean Street plant, we were approached by the chairman of the Chamber of Commerce's industry committee, Mr. George Haggerty, who suggested that we instead build in your beautiful industrial park. After seriously studying the proposal, we met the municipal authorities who received us with great courtesy. After exposing our views and deepening the conditions of the city, we decided to invest nearly a million dollars in your city for an expansion of our factory. We are proud today of this achievement, convinced of the constant growth of our Drummondville plant.
Personalities
Several senior officers of the Eagle Company, as well as of the North Rite Company of St-Lambert, of which Eagle Pencil is now the owner, attended this pre-opening of the start-up of the production equipment.
La Tribune, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Friday 16 February 1968, page 3
Eagle Pencil is built based on its expansion
DRUMMONDVILLE (FA) - Located in new ultra modern premises which have just been completed, the Eagle Pencil factory in Drummondville, is built according to the future expansion needs of this business.
This was revealed this week by Eagle manager Marc Ruel as he received a group of local Junior Chamber members who were on an industrial tour there.
Mr. Ruel welcomed the group, pointing out that it was the first time that Drummondville residents had made an industrial visit to their new premises.
New installations
The young manager of the factory, which has 80,000 square feet of floor space, revealed that there is still a good part of the area that is not occupied to allow the installation of new equipment in three or four years.
In addition, Mr. Ruel specified that all the heavy and fixed equipment used for the manufacture of wood pencils, was installed along the Rue Cormier, so that, when the current premises have become cramped, it will be possible to expand on the west side of the plant without having to move too much machinery.
It is the industrial visits commission of the local Junior Chamber of which Mr. Gaston Marcotte is the person in charge, which organized this visit, in which about fifteen members took part.
Eagle Pencil is built based on its expansion
DRUMMONDVILLE (FA) - Located in new ultra modern premises which have just been completed, the Eagle Pencil factory in Drummondville, is built according to the future expansion needs of this business.
This was revealed this week by Eagle manager Marc Ruel as he received a group of local Junior Chamber members who were on an industrial tour there.
Mr. Ruel welcomed the group, pointing out that it was the first time that Drummondville residents had made an industrial visit to their new premises.
New installations
The young manager of the factory, which has 80,000 square feet of floor space, revealed that there is still a good part of the area that is not occupied to allow the installation of new equipment in three or four years.
In addition, Mr. Ruel specified that all the heavy and fixed equipment used for the manufacture of wood pencils, was installed along the Rue Cormier, so that, when the current premises have become cramped, it will be possible to expand on the west side of the plant without having to move too much machinery.
It is the industrial visits commission of the local Junior Chamber of which Mr. Gaston Marcotte is the person in charge, which organized this visit, in which about fifteen members took part.
La Tribune, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Saturday 10 April 1971, page 2
50 percent of Canadian production of wooden pencils machined in Drummondville
DRUMMONDVILLE. (AR) — It was in Drummondville in 1931 that Eagle Pencils Ltd. today Eagle - North Rite, began its first production on Canadian soil. This was stated by Mr. Marc Ruel, manager of the Drummondville plant, during the industrial visit to this plant by a group of officials, at the invitation of the Drummond County Chamber of Commerce. and municipal authorities. According to the explanations provided by Mr. Ruel, the company which previously supplied the Canadian market with the production of American factories, first set up on St Jean Street in Drummondville in 1931 in premises in the city of Drummondville and employed at the time about a dozen people.
Expansion
In 1967 due to the expansion taken by this company and mainly due to a company policy to renovate all existing factories, the company moved to a completely new premises built in the municipal industrial park.
The new premises erected on land with an area of 16 acres, covers 80,000 square feet and represents an investment of approximately two million dollars, half of which is for the construction of the new factory.
The plant currently employs 150 people, mostly female staff but according to the periods of the year the staff can be up to 200 people.
The manager Mr. Ruel specified indeed that the most occupied for the factory located in the six months preceding entering classes while the orders to be filled larger than in balance of the year.
Salaries
The company pays in the local economy a sum of approximately $700,000 annually in wages paid to its employees and Mr. Ruel specified than the average salary currently stands at $2.30 per hour while the salary of a beginner, after a month of probation is $2.05 per hour. The product range of the local factory in Eagle-North Rile includes among other things the wooden pencil production of the local factory in this area would represent approximately 50 percent of the Canadian market, while in the ballpoint business the factory local provides about 35 percent of the Canadian market.
The plant also produces wax markers wrapped in paper, as well as colored lead for your pencils the only Canadian plant to manufacture the latter product.
50 percent of Canadian production of wooden pencils machined in Drummondville
DRUMMONDVILLE. (AR) — It was in Drummondville in 1931 that Eagle Pencils Ltd. today Eagle - North Rite, began its first production on Canadian soil. This was stated by Mr. Marc Ruel, manager of the Drummondville plant, during the industrial visit to this plant by a group of officials, at the invitation of the Drummond County Chamber of Commerce. and municipal authorities. According to the explanations provided by Mr. Ruel, the company which previously supplied the Canadian market with the production of American factories, first set up on St Jean Street in Drummondville in 1931 in premises in the city of Drummondville and employed at the time about a dozen people.
Expansion
In 1967 due to the expansion taken by this company and mainly due to a company policy to renovate all existing factories, the company moved to a completely new premises built in the municipal industrial park.
The new premises erected on land with an area of 16 acres, covers 80,000 square feet and represents an investment of approximately two million dollars, half of which is for the construction of the new factory.
The plant currently employs 150 people, mostly female staff but according to the periods of the year the staff can be up to 200 people.
The manager Mr. Ruel specified indeed that the most occupied for the factory located in the six months preceding entering classes while the orders to be filled larger than in balance of the year.
Salaries
The company pays in the local economy a sum of approximately $700,000 annually in wages paid to its employees and Mr. Ruel specified than the average salary currently stands at $2.30 per hour while the salary of a beginner, after a month of probation is $2.05 per hour. The product range of the local factory in Eagle-North Rile includes among other things the wooden pencil production of the local factory in this area would represent approximately 50 percent of the Canadian market, while in the ballpoint business the factory local provides about 35 percent of the Canadian market.
The plant also produces wax markers wrapped in paper, as well as colored lead for your pencils the only Canadian plant to manufacture the latter product.
La Tribune, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Friday 17 April 1987, page A7
Berol Sold to Empire Pencil: Rumors of Closure Denied
by Richard JEAN
DRUMMONDVILLE - The management of the Berol company in Drummondville ended yesterday the strong rumor of the closure of its plant, announcing with pride that the company was instead sold to the American corporation Empire Pencil Tennessee, the largest manufacturer of pencils, which is also firmly established in the retail market.
In a statement issued to the press, the management recalls that Berol Corporation was put on sale last November by its owners, the Berol family who had owned it for 130 years, "but could not take over," says Ms. Suzanne Trépanier, responsible for human resources at the Janelle Street plant.
"Unlike a possibility of closure, this transaction is rather a big advantage for the company and Drummondvilloise St-Lambert. The company Berol becomes by this sale one of the ten largest manufacturers of writing instruments in the world, mainly in commercial terms. All our employees have been informed and they are very happy about it," added Ms. Trépanier.
Berol, which has production facilities in a few other countries, including the United States, England and Latin America, employs some 110 people in Drummondville.
Berol Sold to Empire Pencil: Rumors of Closure Denied
by Richard JEAN
DRUMMONDVILLE - The management of the Berol company in Drummondville ended yesterday the strong rumor of the closure of its plant, announcing with pride that the company was instead sold to the American corporation Empire Pencil Tennessee, the largest manufacturer of pencils, which is also firmly established in the retail market.
In a statement issued to the press, the management recalls that Berol Corporation was put on sale last November by its owners, the Berol family who had owned it for 130 years, "but could not take over," says Ms. Suzanne Trépanier, responsible for human resources at the Janelle Street plant.
"Unlike a possibility of closure, this transaction is rather a big advantage for the company and Drummondvilloise St-Lambert. The company Berol becomes by this sale one of the ten largest manufacturers of writing instruments in the world, mainly in commercial terms. All our employees have been informed and they are very happy about it," added Ms. Trépanier.
Berol, which has production facilities in a few other countries, including the United States, England and Latin America, employs some 110 people in Drummondville.
La Tribune, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Friday 28 July 1992, page A6
Production at Berol to cease in mid-August
Drummondville (GP) -
While manufacturing production at the Bérol factory in Drummondville was to cease no later than June 1992, it was extended until mid-August, production director Yvon Fournier said yesterday.
The company announced, on October 2, 1991, the end of its production at its factory on Janelle Street, leaving only the storage and packaging of the company's products, made in the United States, which reduced its staff from 88 to 30, meaning 58 direct job losses.
In the spring, in view of the closure, the company, in agreement with the union members, had set up a committee for the reclassification of employees which has undertaken to raise public awareness. Several job offers have indeed been sent to the staff of Bérol and, at present, mentions Mr. Fournier, 7 or 8 employees have found work elsewhere. But as the production stoppage date was postponed, the other offers were temporarily suspended. "The committee should resume by September," said Mr. Fournier, noting the intense internal participation of staff from Bérol and the Drummondville community in the development and implementation of this reclassification program.
Production at Berol to cease in mid-August
Drummondville (GP) -
While manufacturing production at the Bérol factory in Drummondville was to cease no later than June 1992, it was extended until mid-August, production director Yvon Fournier said yesterday.
The company announced, on October 2, 1991, the end of its production at its factory on Janelle Street, leaving only the storage and packaging of the company's products, made in the United States, which reduced its staff from 88 to 30, meaning 58 direct job losses.
In the spring, in view of the closure, the company, in agreement with the union members, had set up a committee for the reclassification of employees which has undertaken to raise public awareness. Several job offers have indeed been sent to the staff of Bérol and, at present, mentions Mr. Fournier, 7 or 8 employees have found work elsewhere. But as the production stoppage date was postponed, the other offers were temporarily suspended. "The committee should resume by September," said Mr. Fournier, noting the intense internal participation of staff from Bérol and the Drummondville community in the development and implementation of this reclassification program.
La Tribune, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Sunday 27 December 1993, page D1
Dubois & Nadeau is expanding rapidly
Gérald PRINCE, Drummondville
The Dubois & Nadeau company from Drummondville is growing so quickly that it has to move. within a month or two in new spaces to keep pace with its progress, while planning to create around fifty jobs in 1994.
[...]
The company, through one of its subsidiaries, Nadeau buildings, has just purchased the Berol plant in the Drummondville industrial park (at a cost of $ 1.4 million) and has started renovations for $200,000 to occupy it, probably in February or early March. 50,000 feet of floor in this plant on Janelle Street, while leaving Berol, former owner, 30,000 square feet of space for the continuation of its operations.
[...]
As for Berol, we know that this company transferred, two years ago, its writing products factory (pencils, pens, felt-tip pens) to its headquarters in Shelbyville, Tennessee. Only its distribution services for Canada remain in Drummondville, reducing its staff from 88 to less than 30 people.
Dubois & Nadeau is expanding rapidly
Gérald PRINCE, Drummondville
The Dubois & Nadeau company from Drummondville is growing so quickly that it has to move. within a month or two in new spaces to keep pace with its progress, while planning to create around fifty jobs in 1994.
[...]
The company, through one of its subsidiaries, Nadeau buildings, has just purchased the Berol plant in the Drummondville industrial park (at a cost of $ 1.4 million) and has started renovations for $200,000 to occupy it, probably in February or early March. 50,000 feet of floor in this plant on Janelle Street, while leaving Berol, former owner, 30,000 square feet of space for the continuation of its operations.
[...]
As for Berol, we know that this company transferred, two years ago, its writing products factory (pencils, pens, felt-tip pens) to its headquarters in Shelbyville, Tennessee. Only its distribution services for Canada remain in Drummondville, reducing its staff from 88 to less than 30 people.
