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There are many crews from across Ontario installing the fibre-optics
that will offer improved communications for smaller communities
They seemed to have descended on Saugeen Shores like a swarm of bees
- almost every street shows evidence that they are there, have been
there or are about to arrive with multi-coloured utility flags on
every property.
They are the EASTLINK crews and they are installing the latest in
fibre-optics communication transmission lines throughout the area.
EASTLINK, based in Halifax, bought out Persona, the regular cable
television provider, in Ontario and Quebec in 2007 and all existing
customers will now receive their communications and entertainment
under the EASTLINK brand name. EASTLINK grows its customer base to
approximately 420,000 subscribers with the rebranding of Persona in
Ontario and Quebec. Throughout the western provinces however, the
Persona name will continue.
Who is EASTLINK? EASTLINK in the Maritimes was purchased by the
parent company of Bragg Communications, owned by the Bragg family.
Operating from its headquarters in Halifax, Nova Scotia, EASTLINK
has the distinction of having been the first cable company in Canada
to enter the telephone market, and the first communications and
entertainment company in North America to combine cable, Internet
and telephone service in a communications and entertainment bundle.
At EASTLINK, "creativity, ingenuity and innovation are the driving
forces behind our great products and services". More than 1,150
employees provide a range of communications, entertainment,
television and advertising services to residential, business and
public sector customers in Atlantic Canada, Ontario and Quebec.
EASTLINK has been recognized as one of Canada's 50 Best Managed
Companies for the past three years.
According to project supervisor, Andy Courdemanche, from Sudbury,
"One of EASTLINK's philosophies, going into an area, is to use as
many local contractors and services, while getting the job done as
efficiently as possible. We are employing ten local people from
Saugeen Shores with more coming on board and have also pulled in
contractors from as far away as Belleville and Sudbury. By employing
local people, we can then use their networking to find out where to
access things like soil, gravel and equipment mechanics. We try to
stay as local as possible in our support."
One of the local companies being used is Tom Stewart's Contracting
in Southampton. Stewart has provided gravel and top-soil to the
crews for their extensive clean-up work and also provides space to
park their equipment. "They are a great bunch of men to work with,"
says Stewart, who has also shown area's hospitality to some of the
crews by taking some of the men fishing. (next column)
30/06/2009 08:57 PM
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New equipment called the 'Y-block' helps eliminate the need to
pull the fibres through the conduit opting instead for pressure
shooting them for long distances
Reels of cable and equipment have been a familiar site on the streets
in Saugeen Shores
The crews have not only rented out motel rooms but also local homes.
Supervisor Ben Bird of K.G. Reid Trenching & Construction Ltd. from
Belleville, is one of those who has a rented a home with his men. "We
are staying in Southampton and our 'landlady, Betty' has been
phenomenal. She makes sure everything is clean and is almost like a
mother to the guys. Staying in a house, we are also able to do our own
cooking so we also support the local grocery stores."
EASTLINK is continually working to upgrade its digital network to
deliver a range of enhanced products and services including EASTLINK
Telephone, High Definition and Digital Programming, and faster Internet
speeds. The company also has the distinction of being the first
communications and entertainment company in North America to bundle its
services on one bill for one price.
Having installed conduit on both sides of the river, the EASTLINK crews
will be linking the two areas across the bridge within the next couple
of days.
According to Courdemanche, the crews expect to be completely finished by
early August, when they will then move on to Northern Ontario linking
communities such as Timmins, Kirkland Lake and others.
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