Connecting the dots along the local fibre supply chain immediately brings us to the importance of the fibre processing mill. Once a thriving industry in Ontario, many small towns in the rural Ontario landscape are situated along rivers with falls or fast current needed to turn the drive shaft that powered the machinery. During WWII, mills such as the Dominion Woolens and Worsted Ltd in Hespeler, employed mostly women to support the war effort. All of these mills have long since closed their doors, but there are a couple of wool processing mills locally that have since opened to serve fine fibre producers. One of which is Wellington Fibres located just outside of Elora, owned and operated by Donna Hancock. I sat down with Donna to discuss her mill and how it connects into the fibre supply chain of the Upper Canada Fibershed.
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