PRINCE RUPERT – On Monday, municipally owned network operator CityWest officially transferred its annual distribution payment of $400,000 to its sole shareholder, the City of Prince Rupert.
“In spite of the increased competitive pressure we faced this year, we remain a profitable company, and we are once again able to give our distribution payment to our shareholder,” said Chris Marett, CEO of CityWest, in the press release. “This is all thanks to our amazing staff, who have worked hard all year to provide a superior customer experience in all our markets.”
(In the photo provided by the company, Corinne Bomben, Prince Rupert’s CFO, accepts the $400,000 distribution payment from Marett.)
This year, CityWest said in the release it has worked to improve its customers’ experience by:
- Improving the culture of the organization by empowering employees to make decisions in alignment with corporate values;
- Announcing a $10 million investment into fibre-to-the-home services for Prince Rupert, with the first customers being installed early in 2018;
- Expanding deeper into the Bulkley Valley, with the new communities of Houston and Lake Kathlyn coming online throughout the year;
- Reaching out directly to customers, with more events held throughout the year, as well as the implementation of a regular customer feedback survey.
“For us, the customer experience is the top priority,” added Marett, in the release. “We continue to hear from our customers that they keep coming back to us because of our superior customer service. We’re proud to keep providing that to all our valued customers in the North.”
“This payment means a portion of the telecommunication services paid for by Rupertites will now be recirculated back into the City’s operational budget, supporting both municipal services and the local economy,” said Robert Long, city manager and CityWest board chair.
Since it spun out into a corporation in 2005, CityWest has provided the Prince Rupert with $7.1 million in dividends and distribution payments, as well as over $1.8 million in local taxes and levies, added the release. The company employs 80 people and provides internet, phone and television to more than 15,000 business and residential customers.
