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Bay de Verde plant worker displaced by fire thriving in New Brunswick

Two months after fire destroyed the Quinlan Brothers fish plant in Bay de Verde, forcing dozens of temporary foreign workers to leave Newfoundland, a man known as "Tommy from Thailand" says he's thriving in New Brunswick.

'Tommy from Thailand' says he misses friends at Quinlan Brothers in Newfoundland

Thanakit Ruangcharoen spoke with the CBC's Anthony Germain in April. He's thriving in New Brunswick, but misses friends in Newfoundland.

Two months after fire destroyed the Quinlan Brothers fish plant in Bay de Verde, forcing dozens of temporary foreign workers to leave Newfoundland, a man affectionately known as "Tommy from Thailand" says he's thriving in New Brunswick.

Thanakit Ruangcharoen was one of 43 foreigners who watched his job go up in smoke April 11, just days before his first shift of the summer. 
 
Now he's processing shellfish in Cap-Pelé, New Brunswick.

"We do a new job here, lobster" Ruangcharoen told CBC Radio's St. John's Morning Show on Tuesday.  "They have lots of lobster. Everybody got work now. And right now it's high season already. Everybody got high hours."

After the fire destroyed the plant in Bay de Verde, Quinlan Brothers found jobs for 17 workers in New Brunswick. The other 27 were placed in Nova Scotia. Ruangcharoen says no one had to return to Thailand.

After the fire 43 temporary foreign workers from Thailand had to leave Bay de Verde. (Amy Joy/CBC)

"Our work permits finish [at] the end of october," he said. Then most workers will return home, even though some may have the opportunity to stay. 

"Somebody who want to continue, maybe they can find a company in another place. Maybe Ontario in the mushroom farm.  But it's up to them."

Still thinking about Newfoundland

Ruangcharoen said he's still in touch with friends he made while working the last two seasons in Bay de Verde.

"They ask the same as you ask. 'How are you?  Are you OK?'" he said.

He said when he first left Newfoundland he was worried about settling into a new community in a different province.  But everything's fine now. Best of all, he and the others have money to send to families back home. 

In the meantime he hopes Quinlan Brothers carries through with its promise to rebuild the plant in Bay de Verde. 

"Everything's okay but for sure I miss Newfoundland. I want to say to hi to all my Newfie friends … I miss you guys."

With files from the St. John's Morning Show.