NIMBYs are causing worry and hardship in French Creek.
My concern is prompted by a notice from Island Health that the current heart monitoring system is to be terminated in December.
I have an ICD. This is a sophisticated pacemaker, among other things, and it makes regular reports of my heart function to the ICD clinic at Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria via a telephone link from my bedside.
I have been notified that this method will be shut down in December and upgraded to a digital system. The options offered are via a fully reliable cell service or by providing an Ethernet connection in my bedroom.
French Creek is renowned for its lack of cell service and two recent attempts by Telus and Rogers to remedy this situation with a new tower have been thwarted by a few NIMBYs in the area.
A reliable cell/mobile phone service is an important asset to a community in medical, fire and other emergency situations, so why should so few hold us to ransom?
A recent door-to-door canvas was conducted in French Creek to counter past objectors and request a new tower and device in the area. I wonder if these same objectors would remain so if a family member was to suffer or die as a direct consequence of their selfishness?
Tom ThorntonFrench Creek