British Columbia Telephone Company, later known as BC Tel, was the telephone company operating throughout the province of British Columbia, Canada. For most of its history, BC Tel was one of several regional monopolies in Canada. In 1985, the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) restored competition in long-distance telephone service.[1] In 1998, BC Tel merged with Telus to become the second largest telecommunications company in Canada.
Early decades
In 1904, the Victoria & Esquimalt Telephone Company and the New Westminster & Burrard Inlet Telephone Company were taken over by The Vernon & Nelson Telephone Company. That year, the name of the company was changed to the British Columbia Telephone Company Limited. In 1916, the company obtained a federal charter and dropped the word Limited from its name.
Theodore Gary & Company bought a substantial interest in BC Telephone in December 1926 (held in Canada under the Anglo-Canadian Telephone Company). Other Gary companies at the time included International Automatic Telephone Company and British Insulated Cables. Mr G H Halse remained as president and general manager of BC Telephone. In July 1927, the company participated in Canada's first coast to coast radio broadcast for Canada's Diamond Jubilee.