Execulink Telecom
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| Privately held | |
| Industry | Telecommunications |
| Founded | 1904 |
| Headquarters | , Ontario, Canada |
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Key people
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Keith Stevens, Chairman Ian Stevens, CEO Jonathan E. Scott, CFO, Vice President of Operations & Privacy Officer |
| Products | Landline and mobile telephony, Internet services, digital television, cable TV |
| Parent | None |
| Website | www.execulink.com |
Execulink Telecom Inc. is a Canadian telecommunications company headquartered in . Execulink Telecom was founded in 1904 as The Burgessville Telephone Company. After a number of mergers and renamings, Execulink is now one of the largest telecommunications providers in Ontario. Execulink provides telecommunications services including data, internet, television, mobility and advanced voice features. These services are now available to all levels of industry, including 50,000 business, enterprise, government, and residential customers.
The Burgessville Telephone Company was founded in 1904 by Dr. Service, a local medical practitioner, the first line connected the doctor’s office to Wm. Kirkpatrick’s general store in Holbrook, two miles down the road. Prior to this, there was only one phone in Burgessville - a Bell long distance outlet. The doctor believed that a local system would be of great benefit to the community, so he began circulating the idea among his neighbours. Initially, the idea was greeted with less than overwhelming approval. In spite of these doubts, a small group of enthusiasts offered to help him get started; one man donated poles from his wood lot, another volunteered to cut and haul them to the village, and others helped dig post-holes and string wire.
The initial construction was organized by Thomas Orum. From Kirkpatrick’s in Holbrook it connected a line to the New Lawson Cheese Factory, another two miles west of Holbrook. With the line up and running, the doctor was literally swamped with requests for this new and exciting service. All that was necessary to be connected was to build a personal spur-line to connect to the original circuit and purchase a phone. “The farmers quite often would dig the holes and even furnish the poles if they had them, so it didn’t cost much to build a line.”The first central switchboard was installed with six lines in 1905 in Burgessville. In a short time 200 phones were in operation. The decision was made to incorporate a limited company. Those with a phone were given stock in the company and agreed to pay eight dollars a year for maintenance of the system.
Rivalry among the independent companies, Bell and even between themselves was intense, often resulting in agitation for government ownership of the telephone business. While a 1905 parliamentary committee failed to produce any recommendations, the ensuing publicity did change Bell’s attitude to some degree. Instead of a reluctance to connect with the independents, Bell began encouraging and completing toll traffic agreements with them. In 1910 the Telephone Act brought all independent systems under regulation of the Ontario Railway and Municipal Board.
As the Burgessville business grew, so did the need for larger premises. So in 1907 the company bought the Temperance Hall, located 300 yards east of Burgessville’s main concern. The building was moved just south of the Burgess residence and was used for an office, switchboard room and also included living quarters for the lineman while the back room was used as a storage and supply room.
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Wikipedia