Citizens in Egmont are hoping to get some answers from Telus about the possibility and costs of having high-speed Internet in the community. A Telus representative has agreed to meet with community members on Oct. 19 at 5 p.m. at the Egmont Community Club.
Resident Elizabeth Schleimer said community members have been told there may not be a large enough population base for Telus to provide services; however, she wants to hear that from the company itself.
“We don’t have access to any of their products, high speed or fibre optics or cell service. All we have is satellite,” Schleimer said. “We want this to be a town meeting so Telus will start providing us with the service they say all jurisdictions deserve.”
Schleimer is a volunteer firefighter and first responder with the Egmont and District Volunteer Fire Department and said the lack of cell service is a detriment to locals and visitors alike. She said many of the full-time residents of Egmont are senior citizens who become isolated in the winter months because some service providers will not come to isolated communities without cell service.
Schleimer said cell service would increase safety in Skookumchuck Narrows Provincial Park. “If someone is hurt they have to walk back to the bakery [located at the start of the trail] to get to a land-line to call for help,” she said.
Antje Unger, Telus business development manager for the Sunshine Coast, said Telus agreed to the informal meeting to answer questions and gather information to pass along to Telus management.
“We want to show the community we’re interested, but we can’t make the decisions,” Unger said.
