When Sébastien Rheault joined the Paperboard shop at 22, he was the youngest on a seasoned crew.
“The second youngest was 47—the rest were in their 50s,” he recalls.
Rather than feeling out of place, he saw opportunity. “I felt privileged. These guys weren’t shy about sharing their knowledge, and that stayed with me.”
More than 25 years later, he’s one of the experienced tradesmen passing that knowledge on.
A Job That Keeps You Thinking
What keeps him coming back?
“No two days are the same. You’re always being challenged.”
From troubleshooting to major repairs, the work is hands-on and constantly changing—ideal for people who like solving problems and working with their hands.
“If you want to grow, the opportunities are there.”
Learning—and Leading
Sébastien credits his early mentors for shaping his career.
“Sharing knowledge builds a strong team. I learned that quickly.”
Now, as the industry shifts, he’s helping train the next generation.
“We’re training the future of the mill. The challenge is finding people who want to learn and stick with it.”
For new hires, it’s a chance to learn directly from decades of experience.
Pride in Doing It Right
Over the years, Sébastien has worked on high-impact projects—like rebuilding paper machine rolls in-house, saving time and cost.
But his standard is simple:
“Do the job right the first time. Coming back to redo it is unacceptable.”
At Paperboard, we support that mindset by giving our Millwrights the time they need to do the job properly—so the fix lasts.
Big Challenges, Real Teamwork
One standout moment: replacing bearings on a 14-foot, 240,000 lb MG dryer roll.
“The crane couldn’t lift it, and the floor couldn’t support it. We had to figure it out safely with what we had.”
That’s the job in a nutshell—planning, teamwork, and problem-solving.
“I was glad to be part of that.”
More Than a Job
For Sébastien, millwright work goes beyond repairs.
“You’re involved in improvements, safety, and solving recurring issues. You can help make things better.”
That sense of ownership is what makes the role meaningful.
Built for Life in Témiscaming
His story is rooted in the community. He moved to Témiscaming at 10 when Paperboard started up, and his father worked there too.
“I grew up here. Working with people I’ve known my whole life made it an easy decision.”
The lifestyle matters just as much:
“I can have supper with my family every day and not miss my kids’ activities. Nothing beats that.”
Life Outside the Mill
Outside of work, Sébastien enjoys the region—camping, snowmobiling, and the outdoors. It’s a lifestyle that fits the job.
Quick Facts
- Best part of the job:
“The mill setup makes it easy to bring my toolbox right to the work.” - Go-to tool:
“My brain. I’d rather think through a problem than reach for a hammer.” - Day or night shift:
“Day shift. I don’t sleep well during the day—but I’ll still help on big night jobs.” - Coffee or energy drink:
“Coffee with the crew before the morning meeting.” - Fun fact:
“I’ve got a great memory at work—almost scary. At home? I’ll forget one item every time my wife sends me to the store.”
Thinking About Becoming a Millwright?
His advice is straightforward:
“If you like to learn and work as a team, you’ll do well here.”
But it takes commitment:
“If you’re not willing to go beyond the basics or be part of the team, it makes things harder for everyone.”
After 25 years, Sébastien still takes pride in the work, the team, and sharing what he’s learned. For the next generation, that opportunity is just getting started.
