WESTERN CANADA PHONE COMPANIES MERGE
By Adnews Staff
B.C. Telecom of Vancouver and Telus Corp. of Calgary announced this week that the two companies are merging. For the time being, the newly formed company will be called BCT.Telus Communications Inc. The head offices will continue to be in Vancouver and Calgary. BC Telecom media relations manager Doug Strachan told Adnews yesterday that it was too early to say how advertising for the new company will be handled. Cossette Communication-Marketing's Vancouver office handles advertising for BC Telecom, while Ogilvy & Mather's Calgary office creates ads for Telus. Both companies have said the merger is the first step toward becoming a national telecommunications provider. Under the deal, B.C. Telecom chairman Brian Canfield will become chairman of BCT.Telus. Telus president and CEO George Petty will hold the same position in the new company. The senior executive team for the new company will be named by early November and is expected to be an equal blend of executives from BC Telecom and Telus.