B.C. funds improved internet service for Haida Gwaii, Texada Island
Faster and more reliable internet service is coming to Haida Gwaii and Texada Island due in part to a B.C. government grant program.
The province says it will provide more than $200,000 to the Gillies Bay Internet Society on Texada Island to improve internet speeds and reliability. The society is a non-profit internet provider run by local volunteers to bring wireless internet access to Texada Island.
"People in Gillies Bay on Texada Island will see improved internet speeds, thanks to the work of volunteers in their own community," said Lisa Beare, Minister of Citizens’ Services, in a statement Thursday.
"This project, supported by a grant from the Connecting British Columbia program, is a wonderful example of what can be achieved when communities, service providers, the province and people volunteering their time are all driven and working together to improve people’s lives," Beare added.
Society chairman Brian Seymour says the island has become popular with people looking to move out of cities.
"However, people only want to move to locations with fast, reliable internet, so that they can work from home or start an online business," Seymour said. "The ability to function online is also essential for remote schooling, shopping and for staying connected with family and friends."
The Texada Island internet improvement project is expected to be completed this fall with faster, more reliable connectivity by the end of October.
Two projects on Haida Gwaii will received more than $850,000 combined to improve internet connections in the communities of Tow Hill, Tlell, Nadu and Dead Tree Point.
"When you improve internet services in a community, you also improve the lives of the people who live there," said Stefan Woloszyn, CEO of internet provider CityWest, which is leading both projects. "The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of solid and reliable internet services, especially in rural and remote communities, and we’re looking forward to serving customers on Haida Gwaii."
This funding for the Connecting British Columbia program is part of the province's $10-billion COVID-19 response.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Auston Matthews skates ahead of Game 7, status unclear with season on the line
Centre Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs hasn't been ruled out of tonight's Game 7 against the Boston Bruins.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.