CityWest News Feed

Analog TV Channels To Be Converted to Digital TV

moderator — Thu, 10 May 2012 11:12:01 -0700

Latest News Detail:

CityWest will be converting many of our analog TV channels to digital this summer.

Why?

Analog TV channels take up more “space” on our cable television system than digital channels. Therefore, in order to provide our customers with more choices and better quality television service, we will be converting many of our analog TV channels to digital. In order for our analog TV customers to continue to receive these channels, they will need to switch from analog television service to digital television service. We intend to make this upgrade as smooth and easy as possible for these customers.

Customers switching from analog to digital will not pay more for the same channels they are currently receiving, and they will not need to buy a new television set.

Note: This conversion will not affect our analog customers who subscribe to Basic Cable only.

What’s Next?

The week of May 14, analog TV customers affected will receive a letter which will give them their options regarding their package, as well as their options for digital receivers.

CityWest will then be contacting customers by phone to make the arrangements for their switch from analog to digital. If you are one of those analog customers affected, we will call you when we are ready to transition the area in which you live to digital.

In the meantime, if you have any questions, please visit our office or call us at 250-624-2111.

Latest News Excerpt:

This summer, CityWest will be converting many of our analog TV channels to digital TV.

Release Date:

May 10, 2012

Internet Maintenance Outage – Tuesday April 10, 2012.

moderator — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 14:19:41 -0700

Latest News Detail:

Customer Advisory Notice.

April 5, 2012

Subject: Internet Maintenance Outage – Tuesday April 10, 2012.

Please be advised: We will be performing network maintenance and upgrades on Tuesday April 10 between 4-6am. The upgrades will result in brief service outages for some of our Internet subscribers during this period.

Latest News Excerpt:

We will be performing network maintenance and upgrades on Tuesday April 10 between 4-6am...

Release Date:

April 5, 2012

CityWest and Federal Mediator have agreed to bargaining dates

moderator — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 13:41:13 -0700

Latest News Detail:

In an effort to reach an agreement with IBEW local 337, CityWest and a Federal Mediator have agreed to scheduled dates to resume negotiations.

We have the highest hopes that local 337 will choose to join us at the bargaining table. We will only find a resolution by coming together for constructive discussions.

Latest News Excerpt:

CityWest and a Federal Mediator have agreed to scheduled dates to resume negotiations...

Release Date:

April 3, 2012

CIRB Ruling on Local 337 Strike Notice

moderator — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 16:56:37 -0700

Latest News Detail:

The CIRB has informed us today that IBEW 337 is not in a position to legally strike unless there is an agreement to maintain lifeline services for the citizens of Prince Rupert. According to CIRB “CityWest provides services that are essential to the safety and health of the public.” Both CityWest and local 337 have a duty to make sure essential services, such as 911 are maintained throughout Prince Rupert.

This ruling provides both parties with a moment to now reflect. We hope that local 337 will choose to join us at the bargaining table for constructive negotiations. CityWest is ever willing to continue to find a resolution that benefits all.

Latest News Excerpt:

According to CIRB “CityWest provides services that are essential to the safety and health of the public.”...This ruling provides both parties with a moment to now reflect. We hope that local 337 will choose to join us at the bargaining table for constructive negotiations.

Release Date:

March 30, 2012

Potential Strike - Monday April 2, 2012.

moderator — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 12:17:45 -0700

Latest News Detail:

CityWest today has received notice from IBEW 337 of their intention to go on strike effective Monday, April 2nd, 2012, starting at noon. IBEW 337 represents all administration, and customer service staff in the Prince Rupert office, as well as Telephone technical personnel working out of Prince Rupert.

We are surprised that IBEW 337 has taken this step. April 2nd, is the earliest possible date that the union could go on strike. However, we did not feel that the union would take this extraordinary measure at this point in time.

Strikes create a situation that benefits nobody. The company, the employees, and particularly the customers are all negatively affected. We urge local 337, to allow this deadline to pass without incident, and without taking this extreme step to go on strike and return to the bargaining table in a constructive way.

CityWest is committed to providing continued service to our customers. In the event of a strike, we will communicate further details via the media and through the latest news section of our website.

Latest News Excerpt:

CityWest is committed to providing continued service to our customers. In the event of a strike, we will communicate further details via the media and through the latest news section of our website.

Release Date:

March 30, 2012.

CityWest Home Phone Now Available In Port Edward

moderator — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 11:14:39 -0800

Latest News Detail:

Here is the news release on the launch of Home Phone in Port Edward.

Latest News Excerpt:

CityWest announced today that it has begun offering local residential phone services to Port Edward.

Release Date:

January 19, 2012

Cellular Update

moderator — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 09:29:11 -0700

Latest News Detail:

Here is an update regarding our move towards HSPA cellular service:

We are in active contract negotiations with a major national provider that, once concluded, would greatly enhance CityWest’s mobile services in the region.

The negotiations include the latest devices (iphones, ipads, android, and BB), and services.

The goal is to provide wider, more complete offering in our local area from Prince Rupert to Houston.

We will keep you posted as more news develops.

Latest News Excerpt:

Many customers have been inquiring about the direction that CityWest will be taking with regards to our cellular service.

Release Date:

October 18, 2011

Letter from CEO Regarding Outages

moderator — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 08:15:21 -0700

Latest News Detail:

Please click here for a letter from Bill Craig, our CEO, regarding the service outages that CityWest experienced the week of September 26 to September 30.

Latest News Excerpt:

CityWest's CEO Bill Craig addresses the service outages that CityWest experienced the week of September 26 to September 30.

Release Date:

September 30, 2011

Update: Internet Disruption

moderator — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 10:07:12 -0700

Latest News Detail:

CityWest has been advised by our bandwidth provider that the fibre break was much worse than expected. Technicians are continuing to repair the fibre, and we have have been told that Internet service should be back to normal by 3pm today.

Thank you.

Latest News Excerpt:

Release Date:

July 1, 2011

Slower Internet Speeds Due to Fibre Break in Lower Mainland

moderator — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 18:49:07 -0700

Latest News Detail:

Due to a fibre break in the Lower Mainland, CityWest Internet customers have been experiencing slower Internet speeds.

Technicians are working on repairing the fibre break and CityWest has been advised that regular Internet service should be restored soon.

Thank you.

Latest News Excerpt:

Due to a fibre break in the Lower Mainland, CityWest customers will be experiencing slower Internet speeds.

Release Date:

June 30, 2011

Potential Canada Post Strike-What This Means For You

moderator — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 08:42:02 -0700

Latest News Detail:

Yesterday the Canadian Union of Postal Workers gave notice of its intent to strike, if there is no settlement flowing from its final offer. In the case there is no settlement, the strike would begin at 11:59pm on Thursday, June 2nd.

We would like to advise our customers that because of the possibility of a Canada Post strike, now may be a good time to sign up for “My Account”. Using “My Account” on our website www.citywest.ca allows you to view your current and past statements, view your account details, pay your account by credit card, and more. You can also opt for paperless billing, plus receive an email notification when your statement is ready for viewing. To sign up, please contact CityWest to arrange for a password.

To view all of the payment options that CityWest has available, please go to http://www.citywest.ca/company_info/payment_options.

Latest News Excerpt:

Release Date:

June 1, 2011

Nathan Cullen Corrects Statements Made About CityWest

moderator — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 14:10:28 -0700

Latest News Detail:

Nathan Cullen Corrects Statements Made About CityWest

While speaking at Prince Rupert City Council on April 26, Member of Parliament Nathan Cullen took the opportunity to correct previous statements made concerning CityWest and Internet billing changes CityWest has proposed. “I made some misstatements in the press about the reading I got from the CRTC and the effect on CityWest. I want to correct those. I think the company is in the right on this one. I think what they’re trying to do is correct. I think there’s other companies, Internet companies that are not trying to the do what’s right.”

Rob Brown, CEO of CityWest responded to Mr. Cullen’s correction, “Nathan came to see us in person to give us the opportunity to clarify our position and our plans. We are very appreciative that he not only took the time to hear our side of the story but also that he corrected his previous statement. Politicians unfortunately have a negative stereotype these days, but it is truly refreshing to come across someone like Nathan who is genuine, and who listens and responds the way he did on this issue.”

For reference, the following article contains the original statements that Mr. Cullen wanted to correct:

http://www.bclocalnews.com/bc_north/thenorthernview/news/116261629.html

Latest News Excerpt:

Release Date:

April 28, 2011

CityWest Donates to Prince Rupert Wildlife Rehab Shelter

moderator — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 15:32:26 -0700

Latest News Detail:

CityWest recently donated $2500 to the Prince Rupert Wildlife Shelter.

Pictured above is Gunther Golinia accepting the donation from Nikki Morse of CityWest.

Prince Rupert's Wildlife Rehab Shelter is a volunteer service operated 24 hours a day by Gunther and Nancy Golinia, two long term residents of Prince Rupert. They have been operating the facility for over 20 years and have rescued, rehabilitated and released thousands of birds and animals.

CityWest has been a supporter of the Wildlife Shelter over the years, and is happy to help this worthwhile cause.

Latest News Excerpt:

As a long time supporter, CityWest recently donated $2500 to the Prince Rupert Wildlife Shelter.

Release Date:

April 21, 2011

New CEO for CityWest Cable and Telephone

moderator — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 08:52:16 -0700

Latest News Detail:

Here is the press release announcing CityWest's new CEO.

Latest News Excerpt:

The Board of Directors of City West Cable and Telephone are pleased to announce that they have selected a new CEO to replace Rob Brown, who is retiring after nearly 37 years of service to CityWest. The new CEO, William R. Craig, will start on April 18th.

Release Date:

April 11, 2011

Proposed Internet Billing Changes

moderator — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 15:23:25 -0800

Latest News Detail:

In November, we sent letters to our customers to point out that there are usage limits on our Internet plans, and that we planned to begin charging for over usage in March.

Since then we have decided to delay billing for over usage so that we can provide better information to our customers. CityWest customers will not be billed for any usage over their plan limits until further notice.

As we work towards this transition, we will be providing more information to our customers.

Please click here to see frequently asked questions from our customers regarding our proposed Internet billing changes.

Have your say!

We want to hear from our customers on this issue. Please direct all comments to ubbinfo@cwct.ca. We will respond to all comments submitted.

Latest News Excerpt:

In November, we sent letters to our customers to point out that there are usage limits on our Internet plans, and that we planned to begin charging for over usage in March. Since then we have decided to delay billing for over usage so that we can provide better information to our customers. CityWest customers will not be billed for any usage over their plan limits until further notice.

Release Date:

March 10, 2011

School District 52 and CityWest Announce New Private Gigabit Network for School District

moderator — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 14:56:41 -0700

Latest News Detail:

SCHOOL DISTRICT 52 AND CITYWEST ANNOUNCE NEW PRIVATE GIGABIT NETWORK FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT

September 14, 2010. Prince Rupert, BC. CityWest Cable and Telephone Corp. and School District 52 today announced the activation of a private gigabit network that CityWest built for School District 52. The network, will serve as a pilot project for other organizations for a service that CityWest is calling its Northwest Gigabit Network.

“At CityWest we believe that technology has the power to create positive social and economic change in our community.” said Rob Brown CEO of CityWest Cable and Telephone Corp. “By bringing technology into our schools and into the lives of our students we're investing in the future of Prince Rupert.”

“High speed interconnects between Schools and Support Offices has been something envisioned for several years” says Tim Dressel Director of Information Technology at School District 52. “The educational leadership shown by Citywest and the School District Trustees in making this key infrastructure component a reality in Prince Rupert has made us a classroom technology leader the Province of BC. The Northwest Gigabit Network as well as Citywest’s other networks are the key to enabling us to deliver leading edge technology at lowest cost while providing teachers timely and efficient support both in the classroom, and at home.”

“We feel that the Northwest Gigabit Network could be a service that would benefit a number of organizations in the Northwest. But it’s so important to have a forward-thinking customer like SD52 to take the first step with us,” said Chad Cunningham Marketing Manager of CityWest Cable and Telephone Corp

Latest News Excerpt:

CityWest Cable and Telephone Corp. and School District 52 today announced the activation of a private gigabit network that CityWest built for School District 52.

Release Date:

September 14, 2010

New Area Code and Local Numbers for Terrace/Kitimat

moderator — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:58:09 -0700

Latest News Detail:

Bulletin – New Area Code and Local Numbers for Terrace/Kitimat

September 3, 2010, Terrace, BC – Today CityWest issued a bulletin to inform Terrace and Kitimat residents about a new range of local numbers that will start to be issued in Terrace and Kitimat.

In 2008, an additional area code – 778 – was introduced in the geographical territory served by the 250 code in British Columbia. This measure was the result of a ruling by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) and was intended to meet the continuously growing demand for new telephone numbers, particularly for wireless devices.

The two area codes now coexist within the same geographic territory. The new 778 code will provide additional telephone numbers in this area with no impact on existing 250 telephone numbers and customers.

With the launch of CityWest Home Phone, the 778 area code has now come into use in Terrace and Kitimat and new numbers in the region will be assigned by CityWest from the new area code. Local calls will continue to be dialled using ten digits--the area code followed by the seven-digit number.

“Anyone who already has a number in the 250 code who switches to CityWest Home Phone will keep the same number they have now. But customers requiring a new number for their CityWest Home Phone will be assigned a number from the new 778 code,” said Rob Brown CEO of CityWest.

New CityWest numbers for Terrace will be from the 778-634-XXXX number range, while numbers for Kitimat will be assigned from the 778-631-XXXX number range. These number ranges will be treated as local numbers within the communities they are assigned to.

“The introduction of a new area code in a region does not affect the local calling areas or the way long distance calls are dialled. Special numbers like 9-1-1 will still be dialled using only three digits,” said Glenn Pilley, Director of the Canadian Numbering Administration. “Introducing new area codes is part of today’s reality throughout North America. This measure demonstrates the flexibility and growth potential of the Canadian telecommunications network.”

Chad Cunningham, Marketing Manager for CityWest reported that the new numbers are generating some questions, and pointed out the company was going to begin an awareness campaign to educate the public on the new numbers. “The goal of the campaign is to let people know that 778 numbers are starting to be assigned in the region, and that the numbers CityWest is assigning may look different but they are local numbers for Terrace and Kitimat. Businesses, government organizations, and residential users may also need to update some of their telephone systems or equipment to allow for calls to this new range of local numbers,” said Cunningham.

For more information, customers can visit www.citywest.ca/778info or contact CityWest by dialling 778-634-2111 (from Terrace) or 778-631-2111 (from Kitimat).

Latest News Excerpt:

Today CityWest issued a bulletin to inform Terrace and Kitimat residents about a new range of local numbers that will start to be issued in Terrace and Kitimat.

Release Date:

Sept 2, 2010

CityWest Digital Cable Launches Turner Classic Movies and Headline News to Digital TV

moderator — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 09:14:52 -0700

Latest News Detail:

CityWest Cable and Telephone Corp., the largest television provider in the northwest, today announced the addition of TCM & HLN, to its Digital Basic Package. TCM HD and HLN HD were also added to Digital Basic.

Headline News (HLN) – the sister station of CNN, offers abridged summaries of daily news stories that refresh every 30-minutes.

Turner Classic Movies (TCM) – presents classic films from one of the largest movie libraries in the world, uncut, and commercial-free.

“It’s our goal to continue to strengthen our Digital line-up particularly on the HD-side, and we’re thrilled to be adding two major brands from Turner Networks on our line-up in both standard and High-Definition.” said Rob Brown CEO of CityWest Cable and Telephone Corp. “We are continuing to work on more additions and will communicate those additions when appropriate.”

TCM HD is on channel 276, and the SD feed is on 157. HLN HD is on channel 278 and the SD feed is on 75.

Latest News Excerpt:

CityWest has added Turner Classic Movies and Headline News to its Digital Basic package.

Release Date:

August 10, 2010

Saturday Installation Appointments In Terrace

moderator — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 11:48:15 -0700

Latest News Detail:

CityWest is now offering installation appointments on Saturdays.

It is important for CityWest to be available for when it’s convenient for customers, and this is an important step in that direction.

Saturday appointments are available right now in Terrace but we expect to expand this to other communities in the near future.

Latest News Excerpt:

Effective immediately, CityWest is offering installation appointments on Saturdays in Terrace.

Release Date:

July 15, 2010

CityWest's 100th Birthday Party

moderator — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 14:48:43 -0700

Latest News Detail:

Latest News Excerpt:

On Thursday, June 17th from 2pm to 4pm CityWest is throwing our 100th birthday party ... and you're invited!

Release Date:

June 9, 2010