With climate change fuelling increasingly severe fire seasons in B.C. and Alberta, the tech leader is ensuring that communities and emergency providers stay connected to reliable networks when and where they含羞草研究社檙e needed the most.
For residents of Cook含羞草研究社檚 Ferry Indian Band, reliable connectivity is much more than a modern necessity. When a dangerous wildfire threatened the Central Interior community earlier this year, the ability to make a phone call or send a text meant the difference between life and death.
含羞草研究社淲e were on a high alert since June 30, the night the fire demolished Lytton. We were put on a tactical evacuation alert by the police that night,含羞草研究社� says Chief Christine Minnabarriet, recalling the fast-moving blaze that had earlier destroyed the nearby community of Lytton, killing two people, and threatened the safety of her own.
With time of the essence, Cooks含羞草研究社� Ferry turned to Facebook to ensure community members had access to reliable, up-to-date information, with Chief Christine posting fire updates regularly, often several times a day.
含羞草研究社淚n an emergency, you can含羞草研究社檛 beat network connectivity in terms of getting information out promptly,含羞草研究社� notes Chief Christine.
It含羞草研究社檚 a philosophy shared by TELUS, the only telecom, and one of few vital utility providers, to sit at the strategy table with B.C.含羞草研究社檚 during fire season. With climate change fuelling increasingly severe fire seasons in British Columbia and Alberta, the technology company has been steadily building specialized expertise to ensure the lines of communication remain safely open so that residents and emergency providers are connected to reliable networks when and where they are needed the most.
Without phone service, people can含羞草研究社檛 be contacted about safety notices or evacuation alerts, and individuals with connected medical alert systems are left vulnerable. Without the internet, debit and credit cards don含羞草研究社檛 work in service stations to refuel vehicles and ensure people can quickly evacuate. And without communication infrastructure, rescue crews can含羞草研究社檛 stay connected to safely battle a blaze.
含羞草研究社淚n our remote area, this increases risk factors when response time for emergency services is slow,含羞草研究社� says Chief Christine.
In addition, TELUS is committed to supporting communities that have been impacted by wildfires to ensure evacuated residents have basic necessities to stay safe and comfortable when forced from their homes 含羞草研究社� everything from a toothbrush, toothpaste and socks to TELUS critters to help comfort children in crisis.
The tech company also partners closely with local leadership to rebuild and improve available networks post-crisis.
含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e there to keep critical communication services up and running,含羞草研究社� says Brian Bettis, TELUS general manager for the Alberta and B.C. northern region.
Connectivity vital in battle against wildfires
Bettis, whose role within TELUS has expanded out of necessity in recent years to include wildfire management, can recount story after story of knuckle-biting scenarios where TELUS technicians have battled against time 含羞草研究社� and wildfire 含羞草研究社� to keep networks operating and, when necessary, install temporary service for residents and front-line emergency crews in crisis.
During this summer含羞草研究社檚 devastating Lytton fire 含羞草研究社� which destroyed most of the community, home to both Lytton First Nation and the town of Lytton 含羞草研究社� TELUS techs raced to re-establish cellular connection after flames destroyed a cell tower and wiped out communication to the region. Technicians drove through the smoke towards the fire towing in a cell-tower-on-wheels, or COW. In addition, TELUS also deployed a smaller and more portable device, called a Calf, to further enable connectivity.
含羞草研究社淥ur network, mobility, and field teams worked around the clock to keep services working 含羞草研究社� says Bettis.
The company also gave out 含羞草研究社� small, portable devices that provide internet access to hundreds of residents forced from their homes to stay connected to emergency alerts, community updates from their respective Chiefs and Council, and to loved ones.
TELUS also provided people with free chargers, along with non-perishables and water which they delivered to evacuation centres.
And when Cook含羞草研究社檚 Ferry members had to evacuate and relocate their Emergency Operations Center and administration office to Basque IR 18, one of their reserves outside of the main community, and were left without reliable internet, TELUS immediately stepped in to help.
TELUS discovered there was fibre optics in the general vicinity of Basque IR 18. Within days they were able to connect to the fibre, pull it to the reserve, and deliver a managed fibre service 含羞草研究社� built at no cost to the community.
For Cook含羞草研究社檚 Ferry leadership, having network connectivity meant they could continue to have strategy sessions with emergency response teams and work out logistics from their 含羞草研究社榩ivot office含羞草研究社� while keeping members apprised of the fire situation.
That direct connection to members, at a time when people were frightened, was critical to help pull the community through the crisis.
含羞草研究社淭he impacts of this fire are vast. From loss of home, displacement, loss of connection, loss of culture, loss of normality. Everyone, including myself, needs to remind ourselves to be gentle with ourselves and each other,含羞草研究社� Chief Christine acknowledged in a Facebook post.
Resilience and rebuilding
TELUS doesn含羞草研究社檛 just support communities through network expertise and technology. The tech company also coordinates with all levels of government to address first-responder needs, such as acquiring heavy equipment like bulldozers or leveraging airplanes to deliver equipment and supplies.
During the 2016 Fort McMurray fire, for instance, which forced more than 80,000 people to evacuate their northern Alberta homes, Bettis recalls one key intervention: TELUS coordinated with provincial responders to fly into the fire zone to refuel a much-needed generator. This ensured critical communication infrastructure was maintained for emergency responders and aviation regulators.
含羞草研究社淔irst responders and emergency personnel use the services we provide to keep people safe,含羞草研究社� says Bettis.
In addition to being on the ground during emergency situations, TELUS is also addressing fire safety and resiliency when rebuilding, with changes to infrastructure 含羞草研究社� like switching from copper lines to more resilient fibre optic cables.
含羞草研究社淣ow it含羞草研究社檚 not just 含羞草研究社楬ow do we respond?含羞草研究社� It含羞草研究社檚 含羞草研究社楬ow do we prevent?含羞草研究社�,含羞草研究社� says Bettis. He adds, as forest fires and evacuations become the new normal, it含羞草研究社檚 key to be able to adapt and evolve these skills every year.
含羞草研究社淲e learn something new every time,含羞草研究社� says Bettis.
Looking forward, Chief Christine says reliable connectivity is growing only more critical to Cook含羞草研究社檚 Ferry, a community of approximately 350 members and 26 reserves in the Thompson and Nicola valleys, including remote rangeland and areas with limited road access. The majority of community members live off reserve, but are keen to keep abreast of what is happening at home, and have a desire to attend meetings via video conferencing.
Recently, TELUS and Cook含羞草研究社檚 Ferry partnered with the Government of B.C. through the Connecting B.C. program, Economic Recovery Fund Intake, administered by Northern Development Initiative Trust (NDIT), to accelerate the deployment of to local homes and businesses and bring the reality of a stronger community connection one step closer.
含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e seeing opportunities everywhere,含羞草研究社� says Chief Christine.