Construction Progress The Connected Coast construction team has been busy this spring! We are excited to share the construction progress of the Connected Coast Network, more than 500 km of cable has been laid so far in 2022! Follow the construction journey by viewing the Build Status map (updated often) on our website. See More Maps Photo Gallery Are you curious to know what landing sites looks like? How is the cable laid? See photos that capture the construction in action on the project website photo gallery. See More Photos Connected Coast Project Arrives at Hartley Bay The Connected Coast project reached the remote village of Hartley Bay in May 2022 with over 250 kilometres of subsea fibre laid, a project made possible with funding from the provincial and federal governments. Last November, CityWest and the Gitga’at Development Corporation jointly announced a partnership agreement, creating a new company, Gitga’at Communications Corp. The company will jointly manage a leg of the Connected Coast project between Hartley Bay and Kitamaat Village, as well as provide last mile fibre-to-the-home services in the community of Hartley Bay. This unique partnership structure will see the company re-invest a portion of its profits into Gitga’at communities, while also giving community members more influence over their connectivity needs. “It’s great to see the project progressing. It’s also great to be able to directly contribute to the Connected Coast project through the use of the Gitga’at Transporter and the Ocean Destiny in laying the submerged fibre for a number of sections,” said Paul Paterson, CEO of Gitga’at Management. “The very real and very positive impacts of the Connected Coast project to the remote Indigenous communities of B.C. will be measured in decades, not just years, and will impact the lives of thousands of people.” Read More How Do I Get Fibre-Optic High-Speed Internet? The Connected Coast Project will provide sub-sea high speed fibre-optic cable to communities along the BC Coast and around Vancouver Island. Once this ‘Backbone’ fibre reaches a community, an Internet Service Provider (ISP) will connect to the fibre cable and offer internet service directly to residential and commercial properties, providing a ‘Last Mile’ connection. Whether property owners choose to purchase internet service or not, it’s a good idea to at least connect the fibre to your house, as it will save you money over having it done at a later date. Having access to high-speed internet has many advantages, recognized by renters and homeowners alike. Fibre to the home last-mile construction is occurring in many communities. Cortes Island build out is close to 80% complete and CityWest crews are moving on to Denman and Hornby Islands next. Find out more about connectivity last-mile solutions and fibre-to-home initiatives at www.connectedcoast.ca/connect-my-home Register for your home or business for a FREE Fibre Drop Installation Project Member – Spotlight David Leitch, Strathcona Connected Coast Network Corporation Board Member, and Connected Coast Project Partner Manager David Leitch has been involved in the Connected Coast Project since its early planning stages. He believes improved connectivity is crucial to the future of remote First Nations and rural communities that have for too long been underserved by the telecommunications industry. As the CAO of the Strathcona Regional District, David held a key role in initiating and moving the project forward with funding proposals, project partnerships, and agreements. He continues to lead and navigate this complex project. David shares that the Connected Coast Network will offer rural areas connectivity speeds equal to those of major urban centres. This will offer endless opportunities for growth and a means for rural communities to redevelop themselves. He looks forward to seeing communities take advantage of and thrive with the opportunities that come with unlimited access to the digital world. David and his family live in the Comox Valley. ______________________________________________________________________________________ David Leitch and Stefan Woloszyn were recently interviewed about Connecting B.C.’s Coast, featured in EXCHANGE – a quarterly magazine published by the Local Government Management Association (LGMA) of British Columbia. Read More about Connecting B.C.’s Coast – Connectivity Case Studies Follow Us To Keep Up To Date On The Project! Announcements, photos, videos, updates, fun internet and connectivity tid bits are now being posted on our Connected Coast social media channels. Follow or like our pages to to join us on this adventure. 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