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TBayTel Enters Into Agreement to Purchase Superior Wireless Inc. - August 21, 2006

TBayTel, Canada’s largest independent telecommunications company announced that it has signed a letter of agreement to purchase Superior Wireless Inc., a local and regional cellular and broadband Internet provider. This purchase significantly expands TBayTel’s regional services package across Northern Ontario. ... Click here to READ the entire press release ...

From Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal at

TBayTel rings up big deal
By WARD HOLLAND, THE CHRONICLE-JOURNAL - Aug 22, 2006

TBayTel’s acquisition of Superior Wireless will improve cellular telephone reception in Northwestern Ontario, but isn’t expected to generate additional revenue for the City of Thunder Bay.

Gary Armstrong, the chief financial officer of TBayTel, said Monday cellphone users won’t get coverage in areas where it wasn’t available before, but existing reception will be better.

“If you’re driving from Kenora to the Sault, you will get improved coverage along that corridor,” Armstrong said.

“It won’t be continual, but it will be greatly improved.”

TBayTel announced Monday that it has purchased Superior Wireless, a company owned by a group of eight business people for an undisclosed amount.

The deal makes TBayTel the primary cellphone provider in Northwestern Ontario and expands the company’s coverage by 11,000 customers.

TBayTel has continual cellphone coverage from Nipigon to Rainy River, and localized coverage in small towns like Marathon, Schreiber, Terrace Bay and Upsala.

The deal gives TBayTel access to towns like Wawa, White River and Manitouwadge, and First Nations communities.

“This fills in a lot of gaps,” Armstrong said.

Thunder Bay city council approved the deal after talking about it in a behind-closed-doors meeting Monday.

Mayor Lynn Peterson praised the deal.

“I’m pleased to represent the City of Thunder Bay as TBayTel takes a decisive step in evolving as a leading-edge local and regional telecommunications provider,” she said.

TBayTel generates a dividend of $16.5 million a year for the city, which is its sole shareholder.

TBayTel chairman Donald Paterson said the utility has committed to giving the city that amount annually for the next three years.

Paterson said city council will expect the board to look at increasing the dividend now. “We’ll be looking at that,” he said.

Ken Esau, acting president and chief executive of TBayTel, said the deal could provide savings for customers in the region who want “bundled” wireless packages.

Don Wing, president of Superior Wireless, said his company has provided cellular and Internet access across the region for five years.

“TBayTel’s telecommunications strength combined with Superior Wireless’s solid regional network significantly improves cellular and broadband services for residents for the Northwest as well as parts of the Northeast,” he said.

Esau said negotiations were held over the past few weeks while discussions began in November 2004.

Discussions continued last November when Wing indicated he was thinking about selling Superior Wireless.

“Don, being a person from Thunder Bay, thought that he would like to talk with TBayTel and we had a long discussion about it,” Esau said.

Wing said it was important to have one “strong, seamless network for everybody” in the region. “With us competing against each other, it wasn’t the best use of funds,” he said.

The deal comes into effect Sept. 8 at which point Superior Wireless will be absorbed by TBayTel.

© Copyright by Chronicle Journal.com

From INAC Press Release at http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/nr/prs/m-a2006/2-02783_e.html

INAC Supports First Ever First Nation Economic Development Officers Conference in Ontario
 
TORONTO (August 18, 2006) - The Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, today announced that the first annual Ontario Region First Nation Economic Development Officers Conference is scheduled to take place in London, Ontario, from August 22-24, 2006.

"Canada's new government is committed to supporting economic development in First Nation communities," said Minister Prentice. "Working with our aboriginal and non-aboriginal partners, our goal is to foster long-term, sustainable growth and to create self-reliant communities."

This year's conference is being hosted by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) in partnership with the Southern First Nations Secretariat, and the Community Economic Advisory Team Ontario. INAC is working with the conference organizers to enable representatives from all of Ontario's 127 First Nation communities to take part in this event. Persons working in the field of First Nation economic development are also invited to participate.

The theme for this year's conference is Planning for Sustainable Community Economies. The conference is designed to provide First Nation Economic Development Officers with the tools, skills, and networking opportunities they need to effectively deliver economic development programs and services. This is a key commitment of INAC's Community Economic Development Program.

The Southern First Nations Secretariat is a service delivery organization addressing a wide variety of needs related to its seven member First Nation communities which include Caldwell, Chippewas of the Thames, Delaware, Kettle and Stony Point, Oneida Nation of the Thames, Chippewas of Sarnia, and Muncey Delaware.

The Community Economic Advisory Team Ontario is a committee of 10 First Nation Economic Development Officers from across Ontario who provide advice to the INAC Ontario Region regarding the management of the department's economic development programming and services.

For more information, please contact:

Peter Sero
Communications Officer
INAC Ontario Region
25 St. Clair Avenue E. 8th Floor
Toronto ON
(416) 973-6222

The 2006 gathering in Moose Factory that took place from August 14 to 18 successfully wrapped up with a strong sense of Cree pride and cultural awareness.

From http://www.nationalcreegathering.ca/indexnew.php

The 11th Annual National Cree Gathering 2006 - Moose Factory, August 14 - 18

The purpose of this gathering is to provide an opportunity for our people in our area, especially our youth to observe, learn and to gain a better understanding of their own distinct Cree heritage. In conjunction with other Cree Nations on a national level, it is our hope to promote and preserve our unique traditional ceremonial practices, language and ways of our people that was eroded and slowly phased out over the years.

It is imperative that we all make an effort to understand and help maintain our traditional knowledge, language and practices of our ancestors for the benefit of our children, grandchildren and future generations yet unborn. It is important and incumbent upon us today to ensure that they be provided with an opportunity to connect with who they are, where they come from and to be proud of who they are as Cree people. This is the cornerstone of how we may be able to heal and to regain our strength and unity as a proud and strong people, and to stand again as a strong Cree Nation.

"As Crees we have a very rich history. We have an abundance of ceremonies, customs, values and beliefs as a people. The Creator has blessed our people with many gifts- beautiful gifts of creation such as the land and animals to live together in harmony. Our people have been misunderstood, our history has been distorted, but we must come together to remind our people of our original instruction as a people- the original instruction we have from our creator. We must reflect on the past, the many hardships of our people have endured in order to survive as a people. Where we stand today and where we are going in the future."

Check out the stories about this gathering in the Timmins Daily Press:

•  Youth travel from Manitoba to see National Cree Gathering - Scott Paradis, August 21, 2006 - There's no destination too far for a group of Manitoba youths.
   
  The group of 10 arrived in Moose Factory from their Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, Man., home after a more than a 30-hour drive, a four-hour train ride, a 20-minute boat taxi and a three-minute land cab. .... READ MORE ...
   
• Cree Gathering wraps up in Moose Factory - Scott Paradis, August 19, 2006 - Flames from the sacred fire began to fizzle shortly into the noon hour Friday.
   
  The fire, prepared for the 2006 National Cree Gathering in Moose Factory, kept burning throughout the entire celebration, which began Monday. Nighttime showers, high winds and events diverting attention elsewhere did little to threaten the symbolic flames. READ MORE ...
    
• Cree Gathering underway in Moose Factory - Scott Paradis, August 16, 2006 - Cree people of the James Bay Coast should take a cultural lesson from the West, a First Nation Chief said.
   
  Moosonee First Nation Chief Patricia Faries-Akiwenzie said she hopes the 2006 National Cree Gathering will be the first portion of that lesson. .... READ MORE ...
   
• Gathering participants remember tougher times - http://www.timminspress.com/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?contentID=158270&catname=Local+News