Gitxaala Nation and CityWest to team up in Connected Coast venture

The Gitxaala Nation will
soon be part of the 
Connected Coast initiative

Prince Rupert based CityWest has added one new community to its list of partners in delivering improved internet connectivity along the North Coast, announcing on Wednesday that the communication company and the Gitxaala Nation have formed a unique partnership.

The latest addition to the CityWest listings is the creation of a new company Gitxaala CityWest Communication Corporation, which will operate a new fibre to the home network in the community of Lach Klan - Kitkatla. 

As part of the agreement, a share of the new company's profits will be sent to the Gixaala Nation, which will bring a direct financial benefit to the members of that community.

“When the Connected Coast ship, CanPac Valour, made its appearance in the waters off Lach Klan in late January, it heralded a new area high-speed, fibre communication for Gitxaala. With the cable now brought to the community and this partnership with CityWest, we are ready to construct our own fibre-to-home network. Virtually every opportunity for growth in the future relies on a reliable digital network. With this new partnership, Gitxaala Nation continues along the path of taking our future in our own hands.” -- Linda Innes, Chief Councillor of Gitxaala Nation. 

Lach Klan will join 139 communities to be connected through the Connected Coast network, an ongoing project led by CityWest and the Strathcona Regional District that will provide backbone bandwidth to rural and remote communities along the coast as well as on Vancouver Island.

Stefan Woloszyn, CEO of CityWest outlined how the Prince Rupert company is looking forward to the new partnership.

“The leadership at Gitxaala Nation have realized that a strong and reliable Internet connection, powered by a subsea fibre backbone, is the key to opening the door to countless opportunities for their community. We’re very excited to work together, in partnership, with such a forward-thinking team. In the next few months we will be bringing individuals and businesses on Lach Klan the services that will enable the community to excel in today’s digital world.”

The first phase of the project will start with building of what CityWest calls a "drop"  which takes the fibre connection from road to home, a process set to start in the community over the next few months.

A look at the latest progress of the Connected Coast project can be viewed here.

More on Wednesday's announcement can be reviewed here.

Updates on the Connected Coast project can be examined here.

An overview of some of the past announcements from the City of Prince Rupert owned communication company can be reviewed here.