2015 07 telephone

To celebrate the end of an era, former MTS operators will gather together this fall in Brandon.

The position was eliminated earlier this year by the company as a result of technology revolution.

Reunion organizer Kathy MacFarlane began working as an operator in 1970.

"We didn't have cord boards then, we had gone on to another kind of board," explained MacFarlane.  "I wasn't lucky enough to work on the cord boards.  In a lot of places it was just bascially putting through calls.  A lot of long distance calls could not be made from your home at that time.  They would come into the operator and we would connect them.  We handled some radio calls, we handled mobile calls, we handled directory assistance at that time."

MacFarlane noted it was sad to see this position go after making so many friendships over the years.

She shared a few memories of working for MTS.

"We were across the street from McKenzie Seeds and it caught fire so that was kind of interesting," said MacFarlane.  "We were still at our positions.  We had hoses up and down the hallways and there were sparks coming down the street.   What I do remember the most is the friendships that have lasted right through to today."

MacFarlane added the change in technology was been the biggest change during her time with MTS.

The reunion is open to all former Westman, Parkland and Northern region operators and will be held on September 19th.