Abandonment Issues: Sifto Salt

The Sifto salt warehousing and baggage facility in Montreal was shut down by its parent company, IMC Global Inc. in November 1998. Rising costs, seasonal production, and years of unprofitable performance at the site were cited as key factors. The plant packaged edible salts, as well as road salts for both industry and individual consumers. 20 full-time and 20 part-time jobs were lost in the closure.

From what I've gathered online, after being explored and documented, the majority of the plant was destroyed in 2007.

The concrete shell of the main building is still standing to this day. The front offices and what was likely the salt bagging production and shipping area are all that remain, stripped to the bare grey concrete, and speckled with colourful graffiti. There are no signs left indicating that this was once a massive Sifto salt complex. No bags or boxes, nothing. I likely wouldn't have known where i was if not for a single picture that my brother Shwa picked up and passed to me.





































Montreal is becoming a second home to us, with my brother Shwa living in Anjou, and this is just the beginning of our adventures here. Stay tuned.

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Abandonment Issues: Paros Island Restaurant

From outside, there are no obvious signs that fire and smoke damage have ravaged The Paros Island Restaurant in Perth, Ontario. According to an AGCO document, the restaurant had its license revoked and was shut down between November 1, 2006 and July 31, 2007. The infraction stated in the document was "Not financially responsible in conducting its business due to Retail Sales Tax Act – did not contest."

I have not been able to ascertain when exactly the fire happened.

After the usual circumference sweep, my wife ninja IX was silently motioning with hand gestures that a driver was asleep in the front seat of the truck parked out back, right beside the ladder we had to climb.

Once inside, another truck pulled up just outside the front doors and parked. The driver talking on his phone; F-bombs and laughter bellowing from his truck, the odd snort and spit. We felt slightly claustrophobic and sealed in with these truckers having us covered from all sides like a SWAT team. Silence is mandatory in these moments. The crunch of broken glass beneath an explorers feet, or something as simple as a burp, could be detrimental to the success of the mission.

The fake plants and pink patterned love seat are still in decent condition in the front lobby. But directly ahead, the severely burnt coat check area leads back to the hostess and server's station and the buffet, which appears to be the point of origin of the fire. Smoke damage was severe in the kitchen and in some dining areas. After an hour of exploring in utter silence, we simply stepped outside, holding hands, camera's 'round our necks, shot the driver a pair of crooked smiles and walked away.





































I ordered the special. It was burnt.

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Abandonment Issues: Land O' Lakes Motel (Under Destruction)

Urban Exploration Travel, that's what we've been doing lately. It's hit and miss. For example, you can drive for countless hours out to a prospective destination, your heart-rate rising as you get close, exuberant nervousness, excitement, and then nothing. It's gone. You can drive seven hours to Montreal to a classic spot like Malt, and not get in. It's sealed. You need to regroup, internet hawk, GPS navigate, check your notes and keep your eyes peeled.

Abandonment hunters, strapped with cameras and untamed curiosity.



Last weeks adventure took us from Toronto to Montreal, with perspective exploration or scouting stops in Perth, Smiths Falls, Ottawa, Anjou, Sorel-Tracy, Kingston, Belleville, Port Hope and Oshawa. A common theme emerged: it was the moment, the right now. Certain places that have been accessed easily by others for long periods of time, were sealed tight upon our arrival. At other locations we seemed to stumble upon a "small window" of opportunity that wouldn't exist in the moments before and after. A restaurant in the aftermath of fire. A handful of gas stations, with prices reading well below the cost of gas for this trip. A giant factory complex, that has clearly been a club for illegal rave parties. A hospital that we had to scale and a prison that ain't nobody getting into. But nothing was more timely than our approach to our first planned explore early last Wednesday morning. If not for GPS, we would likely have driven right passed it, as only three rooms were remaining of the Land O' Lakes Motel at the moment we stopped by in mid April of 2011.






































As the excavator pulled up mattresses and televisions amongst the rubble and dropped it into the dump truck, workers stood around their pick-up trucks like a herd of sloth’s, in full protective gear. White plastic, respirators hanging from necks or resting on the hood.

I had to try, I thought, and I did.

I slammed the car door and walked straight up to what remained of the building, camera in hand. They just looked at me, silently. My wife ninja IX walked about the property, a beautiful blonde diversion. Like deer in headlights they watched me climb the pile of rubble and enter the lopsided unstable building full of asbestos, or they watched her. Flabbergasted by the fact that no one stopped me, it took a second to snap out of it, lift up the camera and start shooting. I didn't want to press my luck or get injured in the remnants that were already very unstable floors before the rest of the building was torn off the side, so I made quick work of what was left of the inside, and exited.











Upon exiting, they smiled at me, all of them, with those 'what the fuck is this idiot doing' grins stuck on their muted faces. But none of them spoke, not until I asked when they started tearing her down. Monday. How long has she been abandoned? Over ten years. By Friday, she'll be gone, one of them added.











And we pulled over again at the end of June of that same year.





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