Two workers killed in scaffold collapse at Quebec paper mill identified

Family, union colleagues and company officials expressed sadness over the deaths of Yan Baillargeon, 39, and Hugo Paré, 22, at the Domtar paper mill in Windsor, Que.

Two workers who became trapped under a tangle of debris inside a Quebec paper mill when a scaffold collapsed this week were being mourned Thursday after the recovery of their bodies during the night.

Family, union colleagues, company officials and the municipality expressed sadness over the deaths of Yan Baillargeon, 39, and Hugo Paré, 22, at the Domtar paper mill in Windsor, Que.

The town of 5,300 people in Quebec’s Eastern Townships issued a statement extending its condolences to the families of the victims and to those who were injured.

READ MORE: 2 trapped workers at Quebec mill found dead: union, family

“The Domtar factory has been a part of who we are for a long time, and the people who work there, whether employees or contractors who visit periodically, are important to all of us,” Mayor Sylvie Bureau wrote.

Baillargeon and Paré, who were both from towns south of Quebec City, were employed by a contracting firm that was doing major work at the Windsor mill.

Sherbrooke fire Chief Stephane Simoneau said Wednesday that the workers became trapped inside a silo about 60 metres high when scaffolding installed in the silo collapsed at around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday.

He said the rescue operation was slowed by fears that removing the rubble too quickly could lead to another collapse, further injuring the two men if they were still alive and placing rescuers at risk.