John Bragg heralded for pioneering contribution to Canada's
telecommunications industry

HALIFAX, Nov. 18 /CNW/ - Year over year, Canada's Telecommunications Hall of Fame heralds individual Canadians and organizations from coast to coast that have made enormous, pioneering contribution to our nation's achievements in the field of telecommunications.  

At an Awards Gala in Ottawa, celebrating the Canadian telecommunications industry, John Bragg was officially inducted into the Telecommunications Hall of Fame, in the Icons of Business category.

In his acceptance speech, Mr. Bragg made a point of thanking all members of the EastLink team for their tremendous contribution to the growth and success of EastLink.

Mr. Bragg was recognized for his efforts over the past 35 years in nurturing EastLink to become:

• the first cable company in Canada to offer telephone service;
• the first telecommunication company in North America to combine video, internet and telephone in a bundle; and
• the largest, privately-held cable telecommunications company - from his first cable license granted in 1969 in Amherst NS (a town  with a population of about 9,500)

"Now, more than ever, when policy makers are looking to increase our country's productivity, Canadians need to hear the inspirational stories of our own telecom pioneers: to learn from them, be inspired by them and emulate their success so that we might enjoy future decades of global communications leadership," Lorne Abugov, Founder of Canada's Telecommunications Hall of Fame.

John Bragg is Chairman of EastLink Cable Systems and Bragg Communications Inc., as well as Chairman, President and Co-CEO of Oxford Frozen Foods Ltd.

About EastLink
At EastLink, creativity, ingenuity and innovation are the driving forces behind our great products and services. With more than 1,500 employees, EastLink provides a range of communications, entertainment, television and advertising services to residential, business and public sector customers in Atlantic Canada, Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Manitoba and British Columbia.

EastLink has the distinction of being the first cable company in Canada to enter the telephone market, and the first communications and entertainment company in North America to combine cable, Internet and telephone service in a communications and entertainment bundle. EastLink is one of the fastest internet providers in North America.

EastLink has been recognized as one of Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies for the past four years, and its parent company, the Bragg Group, was named Canada's Family Enterprise of the Year for 2009. For more information on EastLink, please visit eastlink.ca.

Media contact:
Jill Laing | Manager - Public and Media Relations | EastLink
[email protected] | T: 902.446.1939 | M: 902.488.5283
www.eastlink.ca