At a news conference in Summerside today, Watts Communications Inc. announced another PEI Call Centre. The company, which employs over 200 people in the Charlottetown centre and another 210 employees at the Toronto Call Centre, will be opening up its third centre in Summerside.
Watts needed to open a new call centre due to the recent success of the company and a need to expand the Charlottetown centre to provide room for new customers and more growth. The Charlottetown Centre is currently answering calls for AST Research Inc., Canon Canada, Reader's Digest, Pepsi Canada, and Cebra Inc.
"Today's announcement will lead to 240 more jobs for Islanders," said Pat Binns, Premier of Prince Edward Island. "This is a great day for Summerside and Prince Edward Island."
"It was easy to make the decision to build the new call centre in Prince Edward Island, " said Colin Taylor, President of Watts Communications. "With a world-class telecommunications system that has proven it can handle our needs, an educational institution that can provide the training programs, and a dedicated and loyal work force, PEI has demonstrated they can get the job done."
"Island tel is pleased to be able to provide the infrastructure for the Watts Summerside Centre," said Fred Morash, President and CEO, Island Tel. "This is another example of how cooperation between the Province and Island Tel has resulted in the creation of more jobs for the Island."
The Charlottetown call centre, located on Watts Avenue in the West Royalty Industrial Park, was opened with 76 agent work stations with capacity for 150 plus supervisory and management positions. The March 4, 1997 announcement of the Cebra Inc contract and the June 17,1997 launch of AST Research Inc will require the immediate completion of the centre to its 150 station capacity, well ahead of the original schedule.
The Summerside centre is expected to open by the end of this year.