REGINA —The goose is flying proudly again to represent Regina’s steel plant.
At an event at the newly renamed Interpro Pipe and Steel on Wednesday, workers gathered for the unveiling of a massive and restored 10 foot statue of the iconic goose, the longtime symbol representing the steel mill.
As the statue was unveiled, workers broke out in chants of “the goose is back!”
The goose logo had been historically associated with the plant from its days when it was owned by Ipsco. But by the time of the eventual purchase of the plant by EVRAZ the beloved goose logo had gone away and the goose statue itself was retired.
This year, EVRAZ North America was acquired by U.S.-based Atlas Holdings, with the steel operations now under the banner of Orion Steel Companies.
With the change in ownership, all of Orion Steel’s Canadian sites will be known as Interpro Pipe and Steel, with the first letters of I, P and S being themselves a nod to the old “Ipsco” era.
But the decision has also been made to relaunch the goose branding associated with the former era as well, as well as to restore the old statue. Brad Forster, vice-president of Interpro Pipe and Steel, spoke to the assembled gathering of Interpro workers about the moment he learned the goose logo was coming back.
“Early on in this process, we were engaging with Atlas, the new team that obviously has partnered with us and set up Orion Steel and now Interpro Steel. They revealed the logo to me one day, and I was so proud,” said Forster.
“Just to see the goose back was something that I’ll never forget. And I was so proud that they took the time to understand our roots and make sure that they were going to leverage that moving forward. The goose has not only been part of our logo statue outside our building, it’s about the people here, and it’s about the pride we feel every day when we come into work. And I think that is restored now, and I think it’s gonna move into the future with all of us…
“Geese always return to their nesting place. They always come back to the place that they were the previous year and where they were hatched and born, just like our employees here.”
Doug Matthews, president and CEO of Orion Steel, said that the goose has always represented more than a logo.
“It’s a connection to our roots, a tribute to our people who have built this industry, and a symbol of momentum as we look into the future. This unveiling is both a celebration of Regina’s legacy and a statement of our continued commitment to our employees, our customers, and of course our community. Today, we gather not only to reintroduce the goose, but… to celebrate the employees of Interpro Pipe and Steel who give it meaning. Through your generations of your additional commitment, unity and resilience, this symbol reflects values that reach far beyond its form and substance.”
“At first glance, the Canadian goose may seem like an unlikely mascot for a steel mill, but there are lessons in it,” said Don Hunter, EVP for Canada for Interpro Pipe and Steel, in his remarks at the event.
“From the beginning, geese are fast learners. As the goslings grow, they learn boldly, just as we at Interpro and Orion continue to innovate and evolve. The Canadian goose is also fearless. When threatened, it doesn’t back down, and neither have we. For more than a hundred years, Interpro’s pushed through the challenges together and come out stronger. As we enter a new Orion era, like a flock, we persevere through obstacles together. And like geese, our people show loyalty and grit.”
Workers were in a buoyant mood at the unveiling, wearing T-shirts that read “the goose is back” and posing for pictures beside the statue. The prevailing feeling at the plant has been one of optimism.
“So far, it’s very positive,” said Mike Day, president of United Steelworkers Local 5890, about the changes at the steel plant when he spoke to reporters earlier this summer.
“What they’re doing is trying to get back to the grassroots of what we used to be.”
Day had also indicated that jobs would be returning to the plant, and that is indeed the case. In a news release Wednesday, Interpro said that it is currently ramping up hiring for 400 to 600 full-time jobs at the Regina operation.
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