The Lucknow Sentinel, 2014-01-29, Page 3Bruce Telecom sold
for $26.5 million
Steve Goetz
OMI Agency
Kincardine council has sold Bruce
Telecom to Eastlink for $26.5 million.
Mayor Larry Kraemer made the sur-
prise announcement as an addition to
the agenda at Wednesday's regularly
scheduled council meeting (Jan. 23).
The sale comes after council ordered
an assessment last summer of threats
and opportunities for the 103 -year-old,
municipally owned utility.
"Given the advances and competi-
tion in the industry, it no longer made
sense for the municipality to operate a
telecom company," said Mayor Larry
Kraemer.
Council was advised it would cost
millions of dollars in debt financing to
keep Bruce Telecom competitive in the
face of rapidly evolving technology and
stiff competition, Kraemer said. And
there was no guarantee the company
would hold its present value or remain
profitable, he said, citing the example of
mobile giant Blackberry's recent turn of
fortune.
"I personally fought this for years,"
Kraemer said. "It was a very hard deci-
sion for all of council, but it came down
to what was best for the ratepayer."
The deal is expected to take effect
later this year and will see Bruce Tele-
com's assets and operations handed
over to Eastlink, a family-owned and
operated telecommunications com-
pany with services offered in Atlantic
Canada, Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Brit-
ish Columbia and Bermuda. Locally,
the company serves customers in Port
Elgin and Paisley.
The new owners were selected after
much research, consideration and a
comprehensive competitive -purchaser
research process, Mayor Kraemer said.
"Eastlink put the superior offer on the
table and they had the most attractive
plan, which calls to save the jobs of all
80 employees," the mayor said.
A press release handed out at the
council meeting says "customers and
suppliers should not expect to see any
immediate changes," and existing col-
lective agreements with the Canadian
Union of Public Employees will be
honoured.
"We will work very hard to ensure a
smooth transition for both employees
and customers," the release quotes
Eastlink CEO Lee Bragg.
Councillor Randy Roppel was the
lone voice opposing the sale, voting
against two motions formally accepting
the offer and clearing the way for land
and assets to be handed over.
"We have a company right now that
shows a profit. I don't see how this is
the responsible thing to do," Roppel
said. "I think it is a sad day for the town
of Kincardine and the people of Bruce
Township."
Bruce Telecom's history looms large
in local lore, its beginnings traced back
to a small public gathering of petition-
ers held in the village of Underwood on
Feb. 19, 1910. The residents called for
telephone services connecting Under-
wood and Tiverton. The first lines were
made through a magneto telephone
system consisting of wooden poles, iron
wire, crank telephones and dry cell
batteries.
Today the company provides televi-
sion, internet, and mobile services to
customers in Kincardine, Port Elgin,
Paisley, Tiverton, Southampton, Owen
Sound and surrounding areas.
Flu shots drop in Grey and Bruce
Troy Patterson
OMI Agency
Healthcare workers across the region
have been getting their influenza immu-
nization, however rates are down
slightly according to media release
issued last Monday by the Grey Bruce
Health Unit.
Local retirement home vaccination
rates averaged 70%, down slightly from
75% reported in December 2012. Local
nursing homes averaged 72%, down
from 74% in 2012.
The vaccination rate in for staff local
hospitals varied from 42-65% for an
over-all average of 61%. This is down
from the 2012 average of 66%.
Facilities that reported 100% of resident
immunization including the retirement
home portion of Trillium Court Lodge
in Kincardine (Staff 49%) and Nine Mile
Villa in Lucknow (Staff 85%). Other rates
included: Malcolm Place - Residents
76% Staff 41%, RVilla Retirement Living
- Residents 96% Staff 77%, Sepoy Manor
Lucknow - Residents 86% Staff 69% and
Tiverton Park Manor - Residents 90%
Staff 85%.
Nursing Homes/Homes for the Aged
Rates: Brucelea Haven Walkerton - Resi-
dents 91% Staff 56%, Pinecrest Manor
Lucknow - Residents 95% Staff 72% and
Trillium Court - Residents 89% Staff
69%.
Local hospitals: South Bruce Grey
Health Centre - Kincardine 57%, Walk-
erton 51%, Chesley 52%, Durham 82%.
Grey Bruce Health Unit staff had an
81% vaccination rates.
The Health United noted that reported
rates are all as of Dec.15, 2013 and cur-
rent rates "may be higher as staff and
residents continue to be immunized!'
Wednesday, January 29, 2014 • Lucknow Sentinel 3
Laura MacDuff
Giving back to the
community she loves
Laura MacDuff
Editor
Life-long resident of Lucknow, Elizabeth Irvin,
recently received the Lucknow and District Cham-
ber of Commerce Community Service Award.
"I help wherever I can. I do it because I want to
do it. I want to see things in the community for my
children and my grandchildren. That's what I do it
for," she said. "If people didn't volunteer, there
would be nothing in Lucknow."
Among her long list of volunteer jobs, she
includes her thirty plus years of service to the agri-
cultural society where she currently serves as
treasurer. She also volunteered with the horticul-
tural society, and the Canadian Girls in Training in
Dungannon, and helped with the Music in The
Fields event. But the list goes on and on.
But ask her what she enjoys most about her role
as volunteer in the community, and she says,
ft, recycle this paper
NMKryziojtairm
1/2-67 Ximos
Chad Mann
519-357-3015
www.kruzinmannlimos.com
A Division of Lloyd Collins Construction Ltd.
"Watching young people grow. I've worked with
them in fall fair junior directors. Started that for a
few years. Junior directors, and some of them are
still helping with it now. It went off to school and
coming back to help. I help them out in the fair
programs for the young people. There's a per -teen
dance that they have every fall fair night. You get to
see them and see how they've changed and how
they've matured."
She said it was "quite an honour" to receive the
award, and believes there's many other individu-
als in the community that deserve it just as much.
"I'm sure there were many other people who
were very worthy of it too that were nominated. It
was very nice," she said. "I love Lucknow. It's my
home. People are friendly and your neighbour's
always willing to help you if you need anything. If
somebody needs something, you're not afraid to
go knock on their door and ask them. You know
they'll help you."
HAWK THEATRE
is casting its next show
,--"THE PERILS PERSEPHONE"-N
by Dan Needles
Audition Dates:
Thursday, January 30
7-8:30 p.m.
Sunday, February 2
2 - 4 p.m.
Needed:
6 adult actors (ages 20 - 60)
1 teenage female actress
and
Production Crew
At the Lucknow Town Hall Theatre
or call Maureen at
519-528-3242