The Cowichan Valley Regional District is seeking public input to improve internet and cellular connectivity for four of the region’s most under-served communities.
The four under-served communities prioritized for the development of connectivity roadmaps include: Thetis and Penelakut Islands, Cowichan Station, Ditidaht First Nation and the Cowichan Lake region. The roadmaps will outline the challenges that each community faces and recommendations for addressing those challenges to achieve improved connectivity.
Earlier this year, the CVRD’s Economic Development Cowichan launched the Cowichan Internet and Cellular Connectivity Strategy project to determine regional connectivity needs and steps for addressing them. The project team undertook a review of the current state of infrastructure and services available in Cowichan and engaged with the community to uncover a collective vision for the future of connectivity for the region.
A series of in-person events will be held from Sept. 13 to 17, one in each of the priority communities. Residents, business leaders and other impacted parties are invited to attend.
Participants will explore ways that connectivity can enhance their community and discuss barriers that need to be overcome to achieve their digital aspirations. Feedback will help the project team understand the community’s desired digital future and how it might be achieved.
“We’re excited to discover how connectivity and technology can protect and augment what people love about these communities,” said Brittany Taylor, acting manager of Economic Development Cowichan. “One community might be interested in using agricultural technology to improve the livelihoods of farmers, while another may want to enable home-based businesses to reach customers around the world. Tourism, emergency response, remote healthcare and education are some other topics that might come up.”
Visit planyourcowichan.ca/connect to learn more and register for one of the events. Registration may also be done by calling Economic Development Cowichan at 250-746-7880.
