A piece of Prescott-Russell’s dairy history has officially been recognized.
A provincial historic plaque was unveiled June 26 at the site of the former Proulx Cheese Factory near St-Bernardin, marking the importance of rural cheesemaking in Ontario’s history.
The blue and gold plaque, part of the Ontario Heritage Trust’s historic plaque program, recognizes the factory’s role in supporting local farmers, creating jobs, and producing cheese for both local markets and export to Great Britain.
The Proulx Cheese Factory opened in 1918 on what is now Roger Lalonde Sideroad in Caledonia Township, and operated until 1957. The building later received municipal heritage designation in 1989 and is now a private residence.
The plaque project was led by The Nation Municipality’s Heritage and Culture Advisory Committee over three years, with research support from McGill University rural history expert Dr. Jodey Nurse.
At its peak, Ontario had more than 1,200 rural cheese factories, but modernization and consolidation in the dairy industry led to the closure of most small operations. By the time Proulx closed, only 113 factories remained across the province.
Today, St-Albert Cheese Co-operative is the last independent cheese factory operating in the United Counties of Prescott and Russell, continuing a tradition that once played a major role in the region’s economy.
Visitors wishing to view the historic plaque are reminded that the property surrounding the site is privately owned.