Indigenous business keeps TELUS customers connected in northern B.C.

When the TELUS network goes down – due to weather, a car accident or theft – disrupting power and connectivity in northern British Columbia, TELUS calls on Complete Communications Works (CCW) as one of our trusted suppliers to restore our network with limited downtime.

As a partly Indigenous owned and operated company based out of Fort St. John in northeastern B.C., CCW is dedicated to responding to every call as quickly and safely as possible, playing a key role in the reliability of TELUS’ network infrastructure.

“We know that when we show up to fix a pole that we are representing TELUS, so we do everything we can to address issues efficiently while ensuring the safety of our team,” said Shaun Furmanek, CEO of CCW.

While CCW is committed to responding to all callouts received, even in inclement weather in the remote areas they serve, their dedication to safety is a priority. Their staff are equipped with extensive training and reliable equipment to complete each call without worrying about their wellbeing.

Furmenak credits their high retention rate to their commitment to safety. He said new hires have been attracted by CCW’s reputation as a reliable and responsible employer and have relocated to northern B.C. for full-time employment with their team because of it.

Another key priority for CCW is relationship building. Similar to how Furmanek and his co-founder, Colin Bordeleau, prioritized building relationships with the TELUS team over the last eight years, they are also committed to finding ways to collaborate with local businesses in the communities they serve.

Northern lights in beautiful British Columbia

Experienced line crews and Copper splicer

“As an Indigenous business ourselves, whenever we get the opportunity to work with local Indigenous businesses, we make it a priority,” Furmanek said.

Starting as a three-person operation in 2018 to now having 16 full-time field technicians, Furmanek and Bordeleau are proud of their company’s growth. While they have recently added some additional services to their portfolio like copper splicing, they are focused on being the go-to pole service provider for utilities companies in northeastern B.C. between Fort St. John and Williams Lake, serving over 600km of the region.

Currently, CCW responds to 5-10 callouts per month that maintain TELUS services in the region, along with the roughly 1,250 pole transfers and removals they are committed to assess in 2025.

TELUS is proud to partner with a dedicated and diligent company like CCW, ensuring that customers can stay connected to TELUS services with minimal interruption.

TELUS’ commitment to artistic integrity

We are committed to supporting the artistic practices of Indigenous Peoples while being mindful of the historic role organizations have played in the misappropriation of Indigenous art and culture. We have an obligation and responsibility to ensure that TELUS’ use of Indigenous art in our digital and physical spaces is respectful of Indigenous artists.

In 2024, expanding on our commitment to artistic integrity, we declared that we will not use AI technology to create or replicate the art of or imagery of Indigenous Peoples.