Alward shows off Bathurst call centre

Premier David Alward used a Thursday news conference in Bathurst to show off the provincial governments investment in a northern call centre.

Thing5, which has been operating for almost a year, has 51 employees in the northern city.

The company has received $275,000 in a payroll rebate through Invest NB and another $77,000 for improvements from the provincial government.

Thing5 started out as Virtual Agent Services, a call centre company that's been operating in rural New Brunswick communities for about a decade.

Alward said the company is creating important jobs in the region.

"It's not sucking jobs away from other places in New Brunswick. The company has lived up to its requirements in the past. They are an outstanding company," Alward said.

"The jobs in Bathurst make sense for this region. We have full confidence in the quality of the company and the quality of the jobs created that they will still continue to grow as well."

Thing5 started in 1999 and operates 15 centres around the province.

"Thing5 has been a proud business partner with the people and the province of New Brunswick since 1999," said company vice-president Robert Campbell in a statement.

"The Bathurst community provides a wonderful opportunity and we are very excited about our expansion here. We look forward to continued success in this location."