IT Firm Leaving

Just when you think we you are getting ahead in the downtown this happens. I feel terrible for the families. These people who work there are really well trained and I know they will land on their feet. I know there is a team working really hard to find IT companies to go into the Holmans Building so we will see what other opportunities will come to Summerside.

IT firm pulls out of city
About 40 high-paying jobs moving to Israel
SUMMERSIDE
COLIN MACLEAN AND STEPHEN BRUN
The Journal Pioneer


Summerside is losing more than 40 jobs based out of the Holman Building in the city's downtown.
Carestream Health Inc., which is owned by the Onex Corporation, develops a range of health-related information technology services. The company branch has been located in Summerside for 10 years and is a high paying employer in the community.
But yesterday the company's head office announced they would be relocating its Summerside branch to the Middle East at the end of December.
"We're moving forward with plans to consolidate development of one of our key software platforms to one group, operating out of our facility in Ra'anana, Israel," said Robert Salmon, director of corporate communications, from the company’s head office in Rochester, New York.
"We've been very, very happy in Prince Edward Island. This is simply a business decision based on the fact that we're going to be able to produce a product that will satisfy more customers if we do more of the work under one roof."
Salmon stated that some – he wasn't sure how many – local employees would be offered the chance to transfer with the company to Israel or another location within the corporation.
The Journal Pioneer was in contact with an employee who wished to remain anonymous in hopes of retaining some form of employment with the company.
"What's done is done. People are mad, very mad," the employee said. "This isn't the first time this office has been on the chopping block. In the 10 years the office has been on existence on P.E.I., this is the third time we've been on the chopping block, and I guess the third times the charm.
"Nobody wants to go to Israel, there's very few people who want to go to Rochester, New York,” the worker said. “These people are from here and they want to stay. Why would they want to go to Israel?"
Summerside Mayor Basil Stewart had heard rumours on Tuesday that Carestream here was closing, but didn't receive confirmation until late in the evening.
"Very, very disappointed. There's no question about that, but we get hit with these things and we have to deal with them. We'll deal with it the best way we can," the mayor said. "We feel bad for the employees, but we will certainly do whatever we can to get other employment in here for the employees."