Rare surviving rural cheese factory building in Eastern Ontario recognized with new provincial plaque

THE NATION MUNICIPALITY — The Ontario Heritage Trust, in partnership with The Nation Municipality and its Heritage and Culture Steering Committee, has unveiled a new provincial plaque commemorating the Proulx Cheese Factory. Built in 1890 and moved to Proulx Corner in 1918, the former Proulx Cheese Factory building is a rare surviving Ontario example of the small rural cheese factories that once numbered over 1,200 provincewide and anchored local farm economies.

The Trust’s provincial plaques mark milestones in the story of Ontario, sharing how people, communities, events and places have helped shape the province. Beginning in the mid-1860s, cheesemaking moved from family farms to small rural factories like this one, where milk could be easily sourced from surrounding farms. The factory sold cheese into provincial and international markets, while cheese curds remained a familiar local product.

Over its years of operation, the factory was associated with French- and English-speaking owners and cheesemakers, including the Frasers when the building was located at Fraser Ridge, then Alexander McDonald, William Lalonde, Josephus Lalonde and Arthur Régnier after the building was relocated to Proulx. Their stories reflect the bilingual heritage of rural Eastern Ontario and the families and farm communities that sustained the region’s tradition of cheesemaking excellence. Laurent Régnier, who worked at the factory for a time under his father, earned international recognition for his cheddar in 1969.

As dairy processing consolidated into larger plants serving urban markets, small factories like Proulx declined. It closed in 1957, but the building was later rescued from demolition, designated under the Ontario Heritage Act in 1989 and restored.

“As one of the few remaining buildings of its kind, it stands as a rare and tangible link to Ontario’s cheesemaking legacy. Protecting sites like this ensures that the everyday stories of Ontario’s past are not forgotten. Its survival speaks to the resilience of our rural heritage and the communities that built it.” — John Ecker, Chair, Ontario Heritage Trust

“The Proulx Cheese Factory is an important reminder of how rural communities have helped shape Ontario’s agricultural success. By recognizing this rare surviving building, we honour the long line of cheesemakers whose work supported local economies and strengthened our province. I salute the Ontario Heritage Trust and The Nation Municipality for ensuring that this history continues to inspire pride in our shared heritage.” — Graham McGregor, Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism

“For generations, small cheese factories like the Proulx Cheese Factory were at the heart of rural life, supporting farm families and contributing to the growth of our communities. The preservation of this historic building helps ensure that an important chapter of our region’s history will continue to be shared with residents and visitors alike. I am proud to see this local landmark recognized through the Ontario Heritage Trust’s Provincial Plaque Program.”  — Stéphane Sarrazin, MPP for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell

“The recently created Heritage and Culture Steering Committee is pleased to join the Ontario Heritage Trust today in unveiling a plaque for the Proulx Cheese Factory. From the beginning, committee members recognized how fitting it was that the first official plaque of this kind in The Nation Municipality would honour such a modest building with such deep significance. Today’s celebration pays tribute to generations of people who, for more than 150 years, helped shape the region’s agricultural identity — a legacy that continues today with the St. Albert Cheese Factory.” — Tim Stewart, municipal councillor and president of the Heritage and Culture Steering Committee of The Nation Municipality.

The plaque text reads as follows:

PROULX CHEESE FACTORY

Built in 1890, the Proulx Cheese Factory is one of the few remaining buildings of its kind in Ontario. It reflects the importance of locally run rural enterprises to the province’s agricultural development and the central role that cheesemaking had in the region. In the mid-1860s, cheesemaking moved from family farms to small rural factories where milk was easily sourced from surrounding farms. These factories once totalled over 1,200 in Ontario, largely manufacturing for export — including the growing cheddar trade with the United Kingdom. The industry began to decrease by the 1930s with significant change in the dairy industry. Closed in 1957, the Proulx Cheese Factory was rescued from demolition in the 1980s, earned a heritage designation in 1989, and was then carefully restored. In 1991, it became the Caledonia Art Centre and then privately owned. The building stands as a silent witness to an era when agriculture and its subset of cheesemaking were vital to the community. It is a symbol of the importance of local farm economies to the legacy of cheesemaking excellence.

Learn more

Find out more about the Ontario Heritage Trust and the Provincial Plaque Program.

Contact

For more information about the Ontario Heritage Trust, contact David Leonard, Senior Marketing and Communications Specialist, at 437-246-9065 or media@heritagetrust.on.ca.

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About the Ontario Heritage Trust

The Trust is committed to preserving Ontario’s cultural and natural heritage and ensuring its continued relevance for future generations. We are working towards an Ontario where heritage is not only preserved and valued, but is celebrated, enjoyed and used as a source of inspiration. The Trust will be a beacon in an Ontario where heritage is preserved, protected and promoted in ways that are sources of pride for all Ontarians.

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