Westman Communications Group

Westman Communications Group
Consumer cooperative
Founded 1977 (1977)
Headquarters Brandon, Manitoba, Canada
Area served
 Southwestern Manitoba
Key people

  • David Baxter, CEO & President
  • Shep Kaastra, Chief Financial Officer
  • John Quail, Chief Marketing Officer
Products Digital & Cable Television, High Speed Internet, Telephone service provider, and local radio broadcaster
+ $20 million
Number of employees
 150
Subsidiaries Riding Mountain Broadcasting
Website westmancom.com

Westman Communications Group (WCG) is the operating name of Westman Media Co-operative. Formerly referred to as Westman Cable, it is the main cable television company for the city of Brandon, Manitoba and the surrounding towns and villages of southwestern Manitoba.

WCG was established in 1977 and originally provided cable television to the city of Brandon. In 1978, WCG expanded its coverage to include Carberry. Today, WCG provides

Digital Television (and analog), Home Phone, and High Speed Internet services to the following communities: Brandon, Carberry, Dauphin, Minnedosa, Neepawa, Rivers, Shilo, Souris, Virden, Boissevain, Killarney, Ste. Rose, Swan River.

Digital Television (and analog): Benito, Binscarth, Birch River, Birtle, Bowsman, Deloraine, Elkhorn, Erickson, Gilbert Plains, Gladstone, Glenboro, Grandview, Hamiota, McCreary, Melita, Minitonas, Roblin, Rossburn, Russell, Sandy Lake, Shoal Lake, St. Lazare, Strathclair.

As a consumer co-operative, WCG is one of the few cable companies where the customer earns equity (by being a Co-op), which can be cashed in if they move out of the service area. WCG is a member of the Manitoba Cooperative Association.

Governance

WCG, as cooperative, is a business owned and controlled by its members. Membership in WCG is open to anyone wishing to purchase services. Members, through a board of directors, determine how the co-operative will be run and allocation of any profits. The elected Board of Directors carries the ultimate responsibility for the policies for Westman and for giving direction to management. Westman's Board of Directors for 2015: Doug Smallwood(Chair),Dave Mahoney (1st Vice Chair), Rick Borotsik (2nd Vice Chair), Gail Janz (Secretary), Susan Brechmann (Treasurer), Barry Delmage, Debbie Brown, Dave Hughes, Brian McVicar, Barrie Brooking, and Leo Boivin.

Other Company Growth

In 2003, WCG purchased Riding Mountain Broadcasting Ltd. With the purchase, WCG now owns and operates two Brandon-based radio stations, CKLF 94.7 ("94.7 Star FM"), and CKLQ 880 ("Q-Country").

May 1, 2007, WCG purchased the naming rights to the Keystone Centre's main arena (Westman Place) and the associated viewing lounge(s) (880 CKLQ Hall & 94.7 Star FM Viewing Lounge). It is a ten-year deal with an option to renew. As part of the deal, WCG will install HD televisions in the concourse and two electronic reader boards.

March 15, 2008, WCG was listed by Industry Canada as a participant in the upcoming auction for spectrum licenses for advanced wireless services.[1] December 15, 2008, WCG was certified as a Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC) and began providing landline home phone service in competition with MTS.

Commenced offering Hosted PBX voice services for small and medium businesses.

First in Canada to provide a full home (phone, Internet, video) solution off of a single device.

Launched highest residential Internet speeds in Manitoba.

Selected as one the Top 25 Employers in Manitoba. Introduced PRI voice services for medium and large businesses.

References

  1. ↑ Industry Canada (March 14, 2008), http://www.ic.gc.ca/epic/site/smt-gst.nsf/en/sf08900e.html

External links

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