Julia Magsombol

Lakeside Leader

The Slave Lake Communications Ltd., a telecommunication service, is celebrating its 50 years of serving the town since 1976.

The telecommunication service is a local and family-owned business.

Scott Brownlee, owns and manages the business in Slave Lake.

“We want to continue to stay on top of the ever changing telecommunication industry retaining our current customer while gaining the trust of new clients.” Scott says.

The business includes different services such as sales, installation, and maintenance of two-way radios, towers, and fiber infrastructures.

Slave Lake Communications Ltd. operated in 1976 as High Level TV Ltd in High Level, Alberta.

Scott’s parents, Bill and Darlene Brownlee, started the family business. Darlene was a telephone operator, and Bill was a technician.

“Watching, working, and learning from my parents over the years was priceless and something I’ll never take for granted,” Scott says.

In 1989, the couple moved to Slave Lake, thus changing the name of their business to Slave Lake Communications Ltd.

In 1993, their business expanded and opened Whitecourt Communications in Whitecourt, Alberta.

As time passed, the couple retired and their two sons managed their business. Scott manages the Slave Lake area, and Curtis Brownlee manages the Whitecourt area. Scott and his brother have continued their parents’ business.

When asked about the secret to keeping the family business for years, Scott says, “no real secret sauce here, it’s hard work, long hours, blood, sweat, and tears. You should never lose your focus. Deliver on your promises, treat every customer just as you would expect to be treated.”

Slave Lake Communication Ltd., has been awarded a government UBF (Universal Broadband Fund), program that provides funding to a range of high-speed Internet projects across the country.

The award is for the Slave Lake area: Canyon Creek, Widewater, Bayer RD, Marten Beach, Mitsue, Widewater, and Sawridge First Nations.

When asked about keeping the customers loyal, Scott adds their ways are simply, “competitive pricing, workmanship, supporting the products they sell, and supporting others within the community.”

In their 50 years, Slave Lake Communications Ltd., offers a special $50 credit on internet services for both new and existing customers.

For more information, visit their website: slavelakecommunication.com/main/services/