A cell tower proposal on Hornby Island awaits a vote while a 75-year-old resident battles to shoot the project down.
Resident William Thomas has been fighting the proposed Rogers tower for 13 months, four days a week, he told the Record. A vote may come in March, at the next meeting of the island’s Local Trust Committee.
“We are not going to give up this fight until we win,” said Thomas. “Every time we turn around, someone’s trying to make a buck on our backs. And we’re really tired of it.”
Thomas waits anxiously along with a group of peers that calls itself the Concerned Residents of Hornby Island. In the last year, the group hired a lawyer, led a petition and wrote to Rogers as well as local leaders.
Thomas said he is concerned about protecting Hornby’s way of life.
“This would change our island forever,” he said. “Imagine a 206-foot tower with all kinds of flashing lights on it in the middle of a quiet, rural island.”
Needs more research
Thomas also asserts that too little research has been done to ensure the tower’s radiation is safe for humans and wildlife. Wildlife like bees are not covered in Health Canada’s associated health code, however the agency declares such towers safe for humans.
“Based on current scientific data,” reads a Health Canada release, “we have concluded that you will not experience adverse health effects from exposure to radio-frequency EMFs (electromagnetic fields) at the levels permitted by Safety Code 6.
“This means that if someone, even a small child, had continuous exposure to multiple sources of radio-frequency EMF within the Safety Code 6 limits, they would not experience adverse health effects.”
Health Canada said links to cancer should be further investigated.
RELATED: Residents opposed to cell tower in Dove Creek as 2024 vote looms
A report from Rogers in 2022 explained the company’s reasons for proposing the tower.
“In order to provide dependable wireless service for residents and businesses on Hornby Island Rogers Communications is proposing to build a 63-metre tall self-supported tower,” reads the report.
Rogers wrote that wireless helps people to “enhance their personal security and safety, enjoy more frequent contact with family, friends and business associates, and to make more productive use of their personal and professional time.
The company also commented on the value of cell service to react to emergencies.
“Cellular coverage improves public safety, with more than 80 per cent of all calls to 911 now placed through wireless devices.”
Thomas said the increased coverage is not necessary on Hornby Island.
In his time petitioning and communicating with residents, he said he learned many believe the island is OK as it is. He cited that Starlink now provides wireless coverage and residents pick up coverage from other nearby towers, more so than in the past.
“We’re served,” he said. “We don’t need this tower.”
Arbour has heard concerns
Area Director Daniel Arbour said he has heard similar concerns.
“People really question whether the cell tower is for the benefit of Hornby residents or for the network,” he told the Record. When attending meetings he has heard this concern along with questions about safety.
“There’s definitely a good amount of residents that have serious concerns around cell towers and the impacts,” he said. “It’s not everybody that’s against a cell tower. But there’s a big group that is. And they are very opposed to it.”
He agreed with Thomas’s finding that coverage on the island has improved in recent years without a tower.
“The centre of Hornby Island doesn’t have great cell reception… But it’s definitely not as horrible as it used to be.”
Thomas emphasized that fibre optic internet is nearly finished being installed on the island. This allows many residents to get internet without the need of a wireless tower.
The plan for fibre optic connection came after the island voted down a previous tower in 2016. The new tower proposal stretching into 2024 and possibly beyond is in the hands of the local trust committee.
The committee will vote at an unknown date whether to approve or discourage the proposal.
Thomas said he is tired, but he and the concerned residents group see it as their duty to fight against the tower.
As they await the next meeting of the Hornby Island Local Trust Committee, where a vote could take place, more than a year of advocacy rests in the balance.
“We’re hanging up in the air,” said Thomas.
The next committee event is on March 22, for a special meeting. The next regular meeting is on April 26.
The vote could take place if leaders decide to, however, there is no deadline forcing the “letter of concurrence” decision. Arbour commented that the process is hard to predict.
“I think there’s hope for some that it will come back in March,” said Arbour. “But I wouldn’t be surprised if it drags on.”
Thomas said he’s ready for a long fight.
“They’ll tire us out for sure,” said Thomas. “But we will never give up. We will never give up this fight. Ever.”
Thomas added that he is in contact with other communities that wish to block towers, such as in Dove Creek. He said others are watching closely — because if Hornby wins this fight, other communities would be inspired to fight things like towers as well.
To him, that’s a responsibility.
“Communities really have to be on guard,” he said. “We should all be concerned residents. Wherever we live. We should be active in our communities.”
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