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From Kenora Daily Miner and News archives ...

World of high-speed Internet opened to 15 local rural communities

By Mike Aiken, Miner and News, February 01, 2007

Rural communities in Northwestern Ontario are gaining access to economic, educational and social opportunities, thanks to a multi-million dollar broadband technology project.

“It’s a world-class project in the works,” said the mayor of Sioux Narrows Nestor Falls, Bill Thompson.

“It’s a huge advantage to us,” he said, noting it has helped saved the community’s school by providing a connection to resources across the country and around the world.

In all, 15 communities surrounding Lake of the Woods, including First Nations and municipalities, will have high-speed Internet access with the completion of the four-year project.

“This initiative demonstrates our government’s commitment to work with community partners for the benefit of the people in Northwestern Ontario, providing them with the tools they need to compete in today’s global market,” said the minister responsible for health and FedNor, Tony Clement, in a press release.

“I think this is critical for us in the Northwest,” said Ryan Reynard, chief executive officer of the Lake of the Woods Business Incentive Corporation. “(Lake of the Woods Business Incentive Corporation) is proud to have brought together the partners necessary to build the required infrastructure to help businesses and local residents reap the benefits of technology.”

The business incentive corporation initiated the Greater Lake of the Woods Broadband Project, with funding from public and private sector partners. The project received $563,000 from Industry Canada’s Broadband for Rural and Northern Development Pilot Program, $575,000 from the province’s Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation, $710,000 from the Connect Ontario Broadband Rural Access program, as well as $310,000 from FedNor. KMTS and Bell, the project’s private sector partners, provided approximately $2.5 million in capital funding.

Jodi Gibson, vice-chairman of the corporation’s board, who also sells recreational properties in the area, said the project will definitely help both the community, as well as her job selling real estate, because it will allow seasonal residents more access to internet technologies.

Kenora Mayor Len Compton said access to high speed technologies was necessary for economic development in any community in the area, given the challenges presented by the area’s remote geography and low population density.

The 15 areas and communities connected through the Greater Lake of the Woods Broadband Project include: Sioux Narrows, Whitefish Bay First Nation, Storm Bay (Heenan Point/Longbow Lake), Laclu, Pellatt, Kendall Inlet, Kenora East, Washagamis Bay First Nation, Poplar Bay, Shoal Lake 39 First Nation, Shoal Lake 40 First Nation, Wabaseemoong First Nation, Clearwater Bay, Angle Inlet 33 First Nation and Windigo Island 37 First Nation.