Heritage

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There's a year of celebration planned in honour of Bruce Telecom's 100th anniversary.

Kincardine's telephone company played host to its employees, the media, and municipal officials at a kick-off Wednesday morning at the Kincardine Legion.

Many employees were dressed in period costumes, borrowed from the Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre in Southampton.

President and chief executive officer Eric Dobson welcomed everyone and thanked those who had dressed up in outfits that could date back 100 years.

Huron-Bruce MP Ben Lobb congratulated Bruce Telecom on its 100 years of service to the public. "This is really something to celebrate," he said. "In this business, you have to redesign yourself continually. You've done that by moving ahead with new products and new innovations.

"You have been successful because your focus is on the customer. There are great things ahead for Bruce Telecom."

Dobson said management and staff had a town hall meeting Wednesday morning to discuss all the changes taking place at the company. Besides the major infrastructure upgrade, Bruce Telecom is improving its computer system, redecorating its stores and painting its trucks.

"It's all being done to better serve our customers," said Dobson. "This company has been here 100 years. I've been here a year - that's only one per cent of that time span. We have some employees who have been here 10 years, 20 years, 25 years, and one who just retired had worked for Bruce Telecom for 40 years. I'm privileged to be part of all this."

Kincardine mayor Larry Kraemer also congratulated the company on its 100th anniversary and noted that it is the largest single asset the municipality owns.

"Bruce Telecom serves the area well," he said. "It's helped the entire region stay on the cutting edge of technology. We're trying to get our taxpayers to realize the benefits of Bruce Telecom. Without the annual dividend we receive from the company, we would see an 18-per-cent tax hike for the average taxpayer."

Ray Majury, vice-president of marketing, outlined what's in store for this year of celebration.

"We're taking our story on the road," he said, "setting up at the Port Elgin Home Show in April and the Kincardine Home Show in May, as well as Port Elgin Pumpkinfest in October."

Bruce Telecom will launch its first phase web presence in February, and in April it is partnering with the Walker House Heritage Centre in Kincardine for a Bruce Telecom cash calendar and an exhibit at the Walker House in the summer.

The company is holding an open house at the Tiverton administration office in June and expects thousands to attend. There will be retiree recognition, an art exhibition, food, prizes, and a Time Capsule ceremony.

In December, the company will install a brass commemorative plaque in Underwood, weather permitting.

Rick Clarke of the Walker House Heritage Centre, said the centre plans to mount a major exhibit, featuring memorabilia, pictures, and more, of the 100 years of history of Bruce Telecom.

"We plan to sit down with many long-term employees and record their stories of working at the company," said Clarke. "We have checked the archival collection at the Bruce County Museum and are checking with the Bruce Township Historical Society for more items to put on display."

Renee Renaud (L), Brenda Beckingham and Kerri Brooks sport outfits from a long-ago era

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Thursday, January 27, 2011