The Connected Coast project is set to deploy a subsea fibre-optic cable network from Prince Rupert to Vancouver, extending around Vancouver Island. This ambitious initiative is poised to enhance the lives of approximately 175,000 British Columbians across 90,000 households. The transformative power of reliable high-speed internet will unlock unprecedented access to online education, healthcare services, emergency alerts, and digital communication for these communities. Additionally, it can catalyze economic growth by enabling remote work capabilities and expanding e-commerce and online business opportunities. The potential benefits of this project are immense, aiming to significantly boost connectivity and economic prospects for involved communities. The Project Partners The project is managed and implemented by CityWest and the Strathcona Regional District (SRD), who together form the Connected Coast Partnership. The two organizations initially submitted individual projects but realized improved services for both areas could be attained by connecting the two networks. By providing links from Northern BC, and around Vancouver Island to the internet exchange in Vancouver, the infrastructure will increase service reliability for residents on the mainland, on the island and in rural and remote coastal communities by providing an alternate route for service, known as a redundancy. The Connected Coast Partnership is actively working to engage and consult with local communities, regional districts, First Nations and local internet service providers (ISPs) to ensure the project meets the needs of communities now and in the future. The Connected Coast Partnership will also work with local ISPs, communities and anchor institutions that are interested in upgrading their local networks to allow for last-mile connections to the infrastructure. Project Funding Overall, the project will cost an estimated $45.4 million to provide 136 landing sites. The SRD will receive $32.5 million and CityWest will receive $12.9 million to construct the required high-speed infrastructure along the BC coast from north of Prince Rupert, to Haida Gwaii, south to Vancouver, and around Vancouver Island. Funding for the project is provided by the Government of Canada’s Connect to Innovate (CTI) program, Indigenous Services Canada, and the Province of BC through the Connecting British Columbia program administered by Northern Development Initiative Trust. About the Connected Coast Logo The logo artwork was designed by Roy Henry Vickers, an award-winning First Nations artist and a Member of the Order of Canada, who was born and raised in Northwest B.C. The eight handprints around the face represent the circle of community, and symbolize how the Connected Coast project will help uplift the communities it serves. The handprints also represent the directional points of a compass. The face in the middle signifies the importance of social connection, and the circular shape is similar to the physical fibre-optic internet cable. The deep blue colour was chosen to reflect the ocean, and to acknowledge that it must be respected through the highest environmental standards when the subsea fibre cable is placed underwater. The font was chosen because the letterforms “connect” to one another, much like the literal and metaphoric purpose of the Connected Coast project. The letters are slightly slanted to represent the speed of the bandwidth, and the stylized multi-coloured ‘S’ suggests the light running through a fibre-optic cable. The concept for the lettering was provided by From the Treehouse, a design company based in Prince Rupert. B.C.
