A Local Hero

Not every rural town had a telephone exchange in the early part of the 20th century, but for those that did, the switchboard operator often became a central character in the community. She was always the first to know what was happening and she felt a keen sense of dedication and loyalty to the people she served. Irene Slotzer started her career as a switchboard operator in a very small town in Saskatchewan and worked for the telephone company for 35 years.