The Regional District of Nanaimo won't hinder progress of a proposed cell tower in the French Creek subdivision, after public consultation revealed sizeable support for the project. (Dreamstime)

By Alex Rawnsley

can you hear me now?

Proposed French Creek cell tower to boost coverage and avoid ‘devastating outcomes’

Jun 27, 2023 | 4:47 PM

NANAIMO — The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) will not stand in the way of a cell tower in French Creek proposed to address a long-standing coverage issues.

RDN directors voted near unanimously on Tuesday, June 27 to support the project and clear the joint Telus/Rogers proposal to proceed unencumbered to the federal government’s ministry of innovation, science and economic development.

Telus’ Doug Anastos said the location, in a forested lot near the south edge of Qualicum Beach Airport, was carefully selected to provide good coverage while being as unobtrusive to area residents as possible.

“I’ve been at Telus for over 10 years and this area has been one of the most important areas to based on impacts to the community that I’ve seen, in terms of requests for service. This area is certainly lacking in coverage and there’s been a major impact to community members based on that.”

A triangular lot in French Creek, between Parksville and Qualicum Beach, is set to be the location for a new cell tower in the community, providing better and more reliable coverage for some 8,000 residents. (Google Earth)

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Anastos noted the plan for the cell tower sets the structure back from most homes, which he said was unusual.

He added during their lengthy consultation process with area residents, support wasn’t difficult to find which was, again, different from the norm.

“There certainly was a lot of interest in this proposal, the community was engaged. There was over 200 members of the community that responded which is a high number and of those there were a great deal that were in support of our proposal, which is in our line of work quite unusual.”

The importance of the project extends well beyond social media scrolling or texting friends and family for French Creek residents.

Many of those who spoke in support of the tower during Tuesday’s board meeting said their ability to call 911 either already has been, or could be, restricted due to available cell service.

Coverage is notoriously spotty in the Oceanside region, with the new tower poised to address nearly all outages for French Creek residents. (Telus/Rogers)

Christie Drewbrook was one of four local community members speaking as a group in support. She said improved access to 911 wasn’t as simple as just getting a landline phone.

An extended power outage several years ago proved to her a landline isn’t the solution they’re after.

“Many landlines do not work in a power outage. My husband and I discovered this during a lengthy power outage in December 2018. We found our old landline phone plugged directly into a wall outlet did not work. After speaking with both Shaw and Telus, they have confirmed our fibre optic telephone wiring system relies on power.”

She added there were times during the outage where her cell phone didn’t have any signal, leaving them cut off from emergency services while her husband recovered from a heart attack months prior.

Drewbrook also said the French Creek area has grown to a point where providing reliable cell service was pivotal.

“For a community of over 8,000 residents with 54 per cent over the age of 60, failure to provide adequate cellular communication to fire, police or ambulance services, has the potential to result in devastating outcomes. This is risk management 101, not a risk I or a great majority of my neighbours are comfortable with.”

Thirteen people addressed the Board as delegations, a majority in support of the project.

Opponents cited mainly health-related concerns around EMF, or electro-magnetic frequencies, emanating from the tower.

The concerns however were forced to fall unaddressed as RDN board chair Vanessa Craig spoke repeatedly on the RDN’s authority and scope, which was limited to site and consultation not health.

Gina Adair said she was concerned over the engagement process, saying some of her neighbours who spoke Tuesday in support, never asked for her opinion.

However a majority of her address focused on potential health impacts.

“This whole issue has concerned me so much because we all have EMF in our workplaces, we’re sitting in front of EMF in our laptops. Our children who are now carrying cell phones and receiving EMF every time they wear a phone. People are wearing EMF in their earbuds.”

Adair conceded she was not a scientist and others would be more qualified to speak on the topic.

Her delegation to the Board ended by telling directors cell phones “are not your only way to reach 911”, pointing to service outages such as Rogers’ nationwide issues in July 2022, as an example.

Again attempting to speak to health impacts, Dr. Stephen Malthouse said 4G and 5G radiation was detrimental to those in vicinity of a tower.

“There are studies out there showing that the towers have negative effects on people, they may not feel it right away but in the areas people do get sick.”

He was reminded, and admitted he knew, the RDN couldn’t weigh in on health matters related to the tower however said issues around the site are directly linked to health of surrounding residents.

Malthouse remains suspended from practicing medicine by the College of Physicians and Surgeons, stemming from a March 2022 decision, after allegedly signing vaccine and mask exemption forms which reasons he knew to be false.

The College also accused Malthouse of presenting medical conclusions without “objective medical evidence”.

Directors made little comment after all delegations wrapped with only Area G director Lehann Wallace, who represents the area in question, saying she respects those in opposition but many of their concerns were not the RDN’s to address.

Neighbouring Area F director Leanne Salter was the only vote against the cell tower proposal.

The RDN will now indicate concurrence with the proposal as Telus and Rogers make their pitch to the federal government which has final say on on the matter.

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alex@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley