Growing with you. 2017 annual report Contents.
Access our story 5
A message from our Chair 6
Access your Board 8
A message from our CEO 11
Access the best technology 12
Access the best service 14
Access your community 17
Access in your words 19
Access cares 23
Access our financial strength 24
Access tomorrow 31
3 Access our Our Mission We are a community-owned We invest co-operative dedicated to providing story. exceptional communications and When Saskatchewan people come entertainment services and unique opportunities for local expression. together, there’s nothing we can’t do! Our Vision Charities can be nourished. Communities can be built. 100% of our The impossible becomes possible. Together, we make this Delivering unrivalled communications province work. and entertainment services.
Access Communications is one of Saskatchewan’s Our Values largest telecommunications companies, but we do so much more than provide reliable, affordable Internet, Integrity: We live by our belief earnings right television, telephone and security monitoring. We provide in honesty, respect and trust a point of access between the people of Saskatchewan in everything we do. and the world around us. A sense of community and Innovation: We create and endless opportunity! embrace change that enhances customer service, the community As a not-for-profit co-operative, we invest 100% of our and our organization. back into the earnings right back into the more than 230 communities and rural areas where we live and do business. Employee-centered: We enable everyone’s involvement, growth We’re not just working to grow our business — we’re and contribution in a challenging, working to grow Saskatchewan. For us, that means safe and fun environment. investing in our communities, putting millions of dollars Customer-focused: We deliver communities into local economies, creating careers, sponsoring extraordinary value, reliably, community initiatives, helping local food banks and dependably and consistently. supporting children at risk and in need. Our community channels, Access7, is a platform for individuals, groups Community-Oriented: We are an and neighbours all across Saskatchewan to share integral part of the communities their stories. Our stories. Together with the people of we serve, contributing to their we serve. Saskatchewan, we can do anything! energy and progress.
Awards are nice, but our greatest reward will always be you, our customers, employees, volunteers and communities!
4 5 A message from our Chair. As Chair of Access operations of Eston Cable TV Co-op. we’re providing governance using Communications We also expanded this year through best practices as well as information Co-operative, I feel the acquisitions of the Southey and sessions that help the Board in that nothing reflects Rouleau cable systems. Preserving guiding our Co-operative through local community ownership is top the rapid changes in technology our purpose more than of mind. All of our earnings are and the Canadian the phrase “growing re-invested in our province by telecommunications industry. with you.” The spirit improving services, ensuring the of collaboration latest technology, the lowest Telling our story is key. As we play among our members, possible prices and broadening true an important role in growing our employees, volunteers local community TV programming. province, the Board has prioritized and our board makes its advocacy efforts to ensure Access a community My sincerest thanks go out to that the Access Communications of its own, well-suited Access staff, who work diligently ‘voice’ is heard. I am proud that 24/7 to provide best-in-class our commitment to being a to working with and customer service and unique local community investment role model giving back to the programming in Saskatchewan was rewarded with this year’s communities we serve. communities. We wouldn’t be where official designation as a “Caring Our community-owned, not-for- we are today without the talent Company” by Imagine Canada. profit co-operative business model and contributions of our volunteers and community producers who Lastly, I’d like to thank departing allows us to deliver leading-edge Board members Ken Shaw and telecommunications products and provide the informative and colourful local programming David MacLeod for their investment services in a unique and ethical in our co-operative over the years. way. At Access Communications, that keeps viewers tuned in to Access7 community channels in Your commitment to our collective “better together” means better success has been significant, and for every contributor. over 90 communities. I’d also like to thank our management team. we are grateful for your effort Our members, both individuals and Your vision and leadership make and your passion. Be assured organizations, are more engaged our Co-operative what it is. This is that our board will carry on your than ever. Their commitment reflected in again being named one dedication in the years to come. to supporting our business by of Saskatchewan’s Top Employers Yours in co-operation, getting involved and electing and one of North America’s a board of directors that truly Most Engaged Workplaces. cares about Saskatchewan is critical to our ongoing success. Our Board of Directors continues to demonstrate its commitment Dale Ripplinger Fiscal 2017 was a year of to integrity and innovation. Chair of the Access exceptional growth. Access This past year, Access directors Board of Directors Communications gained over 200 participated in a number of new members by assuming the development programs that ensure
6 7 2017 Board Executive Committee Governance Audit Alan Bachynski Dale Ripplinger (Chair) Alan Bachynski (Chair) Brenda Watson (Chair) David Dekker Dick DeRyk (Vice Chair) Patrick Kelly Alan Bachynski Access your Dick DeRyk Brenda Watson (Secretary) David Macleod Dick DeRyk Patrick Kelly Hiedi Pearson Bernadette McIntyre David Macleod David Macleod Ken Shaw Doreen Polischuk Bernadette McIntyre Bernadette McIntyre Doreen Polischuk Hiedi Pearson Board. Doreen Polischuk Member Relations Advocacy Human Resources Dale Ripplinger Hiedi Pearson (Chair) Dick DeRyk (Chair) David MacLeod (Chair) At Access, our reason for being is you: the communities of Saskatchewan. Ken Shaw David Dekker Alan Bachynski David Dekker So you can probably guess where our board members come from! Twila Walkeden Bernadette McIntyre Patrick Kelly Hiedi Pearson Brenda Watson Access Communications is a community-owned not-for-profit co-operative. Every penny we earn goes right back Twila Walkeden Ken Shaw Ken Shaw into the communities we serve and call home — your communities! Our members from all over Saskatchewan elect Twila Walkeden dedicated directors to guide Access into the future. Representative to Children’s Fund This is your board and we are your co-operative! Bernadette McIntyre
Left to Right: Brenda Watson, Patrick Kelly, Doreen Polischuk, David MacLeod, Twila Walkeden, David Dekker, Dale Ripplinger, Ken Shaw, Hiedi Pearson, Dick DeRyk, Bernadette McIntyre, Alan Bachynski 8 9 A message from our CEO. From an operations perspective, We have taken the important steps Our community channels continue “growing with you” speaks to to make our broadband and Wi-Fi to be a very effective and powerful everything we do at Access products even stronger. This includes broadcast medium. In the past year Communications. From growing improving the availability of the alone Access7 helped to raise over our service areas and offering best possible speeds at the best $700,000 in support of charitable leading-edge services to producing possible prices right across our organizations including the United thousands of hours of local, unique province. In 2017, we launched faster Way, Regina Humane Society and community television and investing broadband Internet service to 34 Ignite Adult Learning Corporation. in our province. All of it which more rural communities and now makes Access Communications have more than 130 tower access The Access team is a dynamic group a significant contributor to points across Saskatchewan within I’m honoured to lead. Our staff and Saskatchewan’s growth. our rural Wireless Internet division. volunteers across the province make significant contributions every Our commitment to the unique Our investment in new and upgraded day to our co-operative and our and vibrant communities across infrastructure has been substantial, communities. We will continue to Saskatchewan has allowed us to with a price tag of more than provide our staff with a respectful continue to grow throughout the $27 million in 2017 as part of a environment that allows them province. Along with our community five-year $120 million investment room for personal and professional expansions, in 2017 Access plan. Access Communications’ growth, expression and success. Communications began a major investment in Saskatchewan, and upgrade of our distribution systems our commitment to our customers, We value your feedback and will across Saskatchewan. These is sincere and ongoing. always listen. Together, by staying upgrades include increased capacity true to ourselves and key to offer exciting new technology such Through our unique co-operative principles, we will as more high-definition channels, business model and continue to grow and serve our great faster broadband Internet and our commitment to province. We look forward to affordable telephone service. To core values, we will celebrating our 40 years of excellence date we have upgraded our signal continue to offer the best in 2018 with your support well into delivery in over 70 communities, products and services the future! with further communities to be reliably and affordably. Sincerely, completed in fiscal 2018 and 2019. We will always remind The telecommunications industry ourselves that we would is changing quickly and our be nowhere without Co-operative understands this. you, our customers. Jim Deane We are driven to ensure that our President & CEO customers and our communities can embrace and accelerate change in this always-on, always-connected environment, whether by growing a small business or staying in touch with friends and family.
10 11 Access the best technology. Access Communications has been AccessInternet AccessPhone growing with Saskatchewan for 40 years and today we’re proud to AccessInternet boasts speeds AccessPhone is our secure and employ nearly 300 Saskatchewan of up to 120 Mbps, so whether reliable residential phone service people, with offices in Regina, you’re looking for Internet for your made for the digital world with new Estevan, North Battleford, Weyburn, business, home office or family, features like call and voicemail Yorkton, La Ronge, Humboldt, we’ve got your web! We’ve been forwarding to mobile phones. Melfort and Saskatoon. Keeping expanding our AccessHyperSpeed On the business side, pace with the rapid development services so more customers across AccessBusiness Hosted Voice of exciting new technologies, Saskatchewan can watch, play, work allows businesses to customize their we offer Internet, Television, and shop with lightning fast speed. phone lines, make instant changes Phone and Security Monitoring AccessFibre is taking businesses and work remotely with minimal for your home and business. of all sizes to the next level of upfront costs. With this service, we performance with dedicated Internet deliver secure voice services over Customers are our connections and high-speed our reliable network. Plus, our team #1 priority, and we’re bandwidth options. of dedicated relationship managers devoted to making sure ensure our customers receive you have access to the white-glove customer service. Our Access is a newest products and WirelessInternet valued extension of our network with AccessSecureHome services and the absolute more than 130 access points in rural best in customer care. Saskatchewan and more to be With AccessSecureHome, your added in 2018. family or business is always safe and sound. We’re committed to AccessTV your safety and peace of mind 24/7, offering alarm options for Made for the TV lover, AccessTV burglary, fire, carbon monoxide, is available in 230 communities low temperature, rising water and across Saskatchewan. Depending more. We’re also investing in a new on the community, we offer smart home service that will give customizable packages and add- customers an interactive platform ons, including HD services and for home monitoring and security. premium sports packages. As the AccessSmartHome includes TV viewing experience rapidly automation, energy monitoring, evolves, AccessTV ToGo is making remote monitoring and more. it easier for our customers to watch anywhere, anytime. And to enhance our commitment to choice and value, we’ve introduced pick-and- pay channels and AccessMicro, our basic television service.
12 13 Our friendly, Access the knowledgeable best service. technicians are our We could have all the technological As we head into a future full of know-how in the world (and we do!) exciting advances, we’re out to (carefully covered) and we could be the hardest keep prices low and happiness working crew on any job (and we high! As part of that commitment, are!) but we still couldn’t get Access is investing in a major boots on the ground. anywhere without our customers. upgrade of our infrastructure across The input we get from you, our staff, rural Saskatchewan. Get ready In 2017 our technicians upgraded equipment in more than our members and our volunteers is for High Definition and Digital what keeps Access ahead in such a TV, Broadband Internet and the 100,000 homes and businesses, providing leading–edge technology, competitive marketplace. roll-out of AccessPhone Basic while keeping customers smiling and carpets clean! service! Launches are scheduled for So, thank you! One of our core customers in 15 rural communities values is giving our customers the in the early months of 2018 — and absolute best: the best technology, we’re just as excited as you are! the best service, the best price. And every time we hear from you, you Providing Saskatchewan people help us do that even better! with the very best technology means investing in the very best Extraordinary value, infrastructure. In 2017, we devoted $27 million to new and upgraded delivered reliably, infrastructure, part of our five-year dependably and $120 million investment plan. consistently. That’s Perhaps just as important, we’ve our promise to you. invested in our technicians, making sure that as our infrastructure grows, so does their skill and understanding.
We think the best customers deserve the best technology — and the best service, too.
14 15 There’s no place Access your like home. community. A few Access7 local programming highlights Part of what makes Access As a co-operative, Access Canada Pow Wow and broadcast the Communications unlike most Communications has a special Queen City Pride Parade, in addition from 2017: licensed distributors is our connection with our volunteers. to many other series and events. enthusiastic support for community We are humbled by their enthusiasm • The very first broadcast from the new Mosaic Stadium (University programming. It’s important to us and their commitment to the people We’re truly honored to be able to of Regina Rams vs University of Saskatchewan Huskies football). that we provide not just a service, of Saskatchewan, and we consider it support the fundraising efforts of • Coverage of Waskimo – the last time this festival of ice but a medium for Saskatchewan an honour to work with them to give local organizations by airing happened in Regina was 2003! communities to share their voices. back to the communities we all hold productions like the Regina Rotary • Provincial broadcast of the Saskatchewan Country With our talented team and our so dear. In an effort to celebrate our Carol Festival, the Regina Humane Music Awards. co-operative roots, we’re truly a volunteers and let them know how Society Telethon, the United Way • Rebuilding the Regina production control room to produce all HD piece of the Saskatchewan puzzle, much they mean to us, Access hosted Telethons in Estevan and Weyburn, content. Investing in equipment such as launching new Tricaster and nothing means more to us than appreciation events in our major and the Ignite Adult Learning production gear in all regions. lifting up the people who live in centres across the province during Corporation TV auction. It’s also a • Access Communications’ Saskatchewanderer 2016 took home the communities we’re honoured National Volunteer Week in April. real joy for us to air local sporting the national award for Best Community Television Production at to serve. events. We’re proud to have brought the Yorkton Film Festival 2017. One of our favourite Access7 the WHL to Western Canadian hock- Our unique Access7 offerings is the Community ey fans for over 25 years – this year programming connects Producer Program. This program we drew a record number of viewers families, friends and provides individual volunteers and to watch the Regina Pats’ thrilling neighbours, providing community groups the opportunity finish in the 2017 WHL Playoffs! many communities we to produce their own high-quality, serve with a platform to engaging TV shows that will deliver The kind of truly local programming their message to audiences across we’re proud to offer would simply not share their way of life, the province. Today, more than be possible without the creativity and their successes and their 55% of Access7 programming is effort of hundreds of volunteers who challenges, their dreams produced by local volunteer pour thousands of hours into and their stories. Community Producers. The unique producing unforgettable content! and vibrant content produced by It’s truly a privilege to work with folks Keeping Access Communications community members helps Access7 from all four corners of this province to the community-minded company expand, allowing us to attract new create programming that genuinely we are takes the efforts of our staff, viewers, new volunteers, and reflects the people and places of our members and our volunteers. plenty of compliments on our Saskatchewan. The more Access7 Access7 owes its more than 2,500 exciting programs! expands its programs and its hours of local first-run programming community involvement, the further we to the brilliant efforts of 235 At Access Communications, we will can reach, until every last person in volunteers and staff members never stop investing in programming Saskatchewan has the opportunity to who donated more than 600 hours that reflects the growing diversity of add their voice to our collective song. each month. Thanks to them, more our province. In 2017, we premiered than 90 communities across the fourth season of our one-of-a-kind Saskatchewan get the local Indigenous Lifestyle show The Four, programming they deserve to aired the First Nations University of share the stories they need to tell. 16 17 Proudly serving Access in 230 communities your words. and rural areas “We can’t do what we do on our own. It across Saskatchewan. is always a collective effort with the community, and I a Ronge think our relationship with Access reflects that completely. It’s a company that cares. They’re always there