GEOGRAPHY: Lorne de l’Acadie is located five miles from Highway 11, a public highway open year round.
POPULATION: The village of Lorne is a series of 224 houses placed on either side of a road which extends four miles from east to west to the main road.
CHALLENGES: After the mechanization of the logging industry, unemployment among men of working age was estimated to be between 50% and 75%. In response, the community procured a sawmill which created 35 new jobs and started furniture and hand-craft industries. Villagers also pooled their savings to buy a fire engine and have organized a fifty-man Fire Protection Association.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
The Lorne integrated wood industry, sawmill, shingle mill, and woodworking shops produce jobs and market products.
Lorne Economic Development Corporation organized to serve as Management Team for industries.
The citizens of Lorne have constructed a firehall, secured two firetrucks, have 18 trained volunteer firemen and have conducted fire protection programs in the community.
Lorne identity has been recaptured through creating “The Lorne History Book” in its centennial year in 1979 and work on the Heritage Homestead for the Village Square.
Lorne residents have presented the story of Lorne’s development to raise funds and to call upon resources in New Brunswick and Eastern Canada and travelled to Korea, Zambia and Great Britain to share with other communities.
An Education Guild organized adult education courses to give 21 adults the chance to upgrade their education. The Early Learning Centre has conducted classes for over 80 preschool children over the 3 years.
