The economic roller coaster of a small Ontario town fuelled by chocolate and cannabis

A small eastern Ontario town that was once known as the province's chocolate capital is preparing for the sweet return of Hershey's.

SMITHS FALLS, Ont. — A small eastern Ontario town that was once known as the province’s chocolate capital is preparing for the sweet return of Hershey’s.

“It’s like an old friend coming home after being gone for 15 years,” said Smiths Falls Mayor Shawn Pankow.

That return is the latest in a slew of changes around a facility that has been essential to the town’s identity and economic prosperity.

For 45 years.

Hershey’s once operated a factory in the community of around 9,000 people, which is located about 75 kilometres southwest of Ottawa.

There was an image of a chocolate bar on the water tower. School groups making field trips to the capital to see Parliament often sweetened the deal with a stop at the Hershey’s visitor centre.

The factory employed about 400 locals, including Richard Kirkwood, who worked there for 35 years.

“It was a good place to work. It paid my mortgage for 30 years,” he said, reminiscing about family barbecues, Christmas parties and track and field days organized by the company.