Growth and investment continued to be part of the picture for Access Communications Co-operative, delegates and members heard at their annual meeting held on Jan. 23 simultaneously in studios across the province.
Access announced that the co-operative now serves over 235 communities with conventional cable systems, and many more with its rural wireless Internet service.
In 2017, Access invested over $27 million into cutting-edge technologies and services as part of a five-year $120 million investment plan. With continued growth, Access remains a strong local co-operative.
“The co-operative is in great shape, there is great momentum in the organization,” said Dale Ripplinger, outgoing chair of the board of directors.
“The spirit of collaboration among our members, employees, volunteers and our board makes Access Communications a community of its own, well-suited to working with and giving back to the communities we serve,” he added.
The new chairman of the board is Dick DeRyk, a business owner from Yorkton and a former city councillor, and is a past chair of Tourism Saskatchewan. Two new members were elected to the board of directors, including James Lainton of Estevan, and Kama Leier.
Lainton is the general manager of Estevan Web Printing, is a director of Southern Plains Co-op and is a former president of the Estevan United Way. Leier is the corporate auditor for SaskGaming, and is chair of the board of governors for the Regina Symphony Orchestra.
