People in Van Anda on Texada Island will benefit from faster internet, through $4.6 million in joint federal and provincial funding that will connect more than 1,200 households on BC islands and remote communities.
qathet Regional District Electoral Area D (qRD) director Sandy McCormick said internet on Texada is hit and miss.
“It depends where you live and sometimes it can depend on the weather as well,” said McCormick. “If you live in an area like mine, for example, I don’t have access to either Gillies Bay or Van Anda. I have to use a smart hub, which works for me, but there are so many locations where you don’t even get a cell signal, so people in those areas can’t get a Telus hub or something like that.
“It’s really difficult for a lot of people. Access to high speed levels the playing field so everyone can have access to the marketplace, to the world of knowledge, to medical advice, job opportunities – to everything.”
McCormick said it’s critical for the internet to be universal throughout the island so everyone can have comparable service.
Gillies Bay has also been working at getting high speed connectivity. She said anything that can move forward the agenda of providing high speed internet to everyone on the island is great news.
“High-speed internet provides our residents access to emergency services, educational opportunities, employment and basic goods and services,” stated qRD chief administrative officer Al Radke in a media release from the province. “qathet Regional District is thrilled for this grant funding to address the connectivity divide in Van Anda on Texada Island. Participation in the digital world is critical for ensuring community resilience. Improved internet accessibility will support improved economic sustainability for our rural communities.”
The media release stated that the province has invested as much as $1.3 million through the Connecting British Columbia program, alongside a $3.3-million investment from the Government of Canada’s universal broadband fund.
“We all know that the internet is no longer a luxury in this day and age – it’s a necessity,” stated Gudie Hutchings, federal minister of rural economic development. “Access to fast, reliable internet helps rural Canadians by levelling the playing field to access essential services, like health care and education, participate in the digital economy, or simply connect with loved ones.
“Today’s announcement to connect places like Telegraph Cove, Holberg, Winter Harbour, Texada Island, Galiano Island and Saturna Island, reinforces our federal government’s commitment to getting British Columbians connected, no matter where they live, by 2030. What’s more, I am happy to report that we’ve already connected 96 per cent of the province and are well on our way to reaching our target.”
