A downed communications line have severed many services on Gabriola Island including home phone, internet, television and reliable cell service. (submitted photo/Tyler Gray)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

work progressing

Power outage scheduled for Gabriola Island to fix downed communications lines

Dec 4, 2022 | 5:51 AM

GABRIOLA ISLAND — Crews are getting ready to make repairs to severed communications lines.

Residents on Gabriola Island have largely been without reliable communications through landline or cell phones since a winter storm pounded the region Tuesday, Nov. 29.

BC Hydro have advised residents of a planned power outage starting around 11 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 4, lasting for about two hours to create a window of safe working conditions for crews in the area.

“This outage will allow TELUS crews to install a new line to restore wireless and phone services to Gabriola Island,” the outage notification from BC Hydro read.

It’s not clear whether the extent of the work is a substantial fix, or a stop-gap measure to restore basic service.

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Early estimates suggested a temporary fix for some services by the weekend, however a return to normal could take until early next year.

Access to 911 was among a long list of issues which began Tuesday night when a connection between Gabriola and Mudge Islands, to Vancouver Island was severed.

Those with landlines have been able to call on-Island to numbers belonging to the same company, however calls off Island don’t get through.

Home internet and television are also affected.

Cell service was also cut, however crews were able to partially restore it to some areas of the Island through reconfiguring cell towers in the Nanaimo area.

To continue operating and provide some access to 911, Gabriola Volunteer Fire Department installed a temporary cell tower.

First responders have been left frustrated with communication from TELUS on the matter, with Gabriola fire chief Will Sprogis telling NanaimoNewsNOW on Friday, Dec. 1 he’d heard very little from the company on the next steps.

The latest update from TELUS on their service status website on Saturday, Dec. 3 said “service restoration efforts continue. There is currently no estimated time of restoration.”

TELUS provided no information in a prepared media statement via email to NanaimoNewsNOW on Friday and were unable to facilitate an interview request to answer questions on communication with first responders and community leaders.

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