Denman Island High-Speed Internet: Time for Clarity, Transparency, and Accountability
by Stephen Hawkins
For more than four years, Denman Islanders have been told that high-speed fibre-optic internet is coming. In that time, millions of dollars in public funding have been committed, yet residents continue to face unclear timelines, shifting explanations, and limited transparency from CityWest
—the company contracted to bring world-class connectivity to our island.
It’s important to understand just how much public money is at stake. The current build-out is not a new initiative; it is a continuation of the earlier $5.6-million publicly funded project, which also included approximately $760,000 from the CVRD. That first phase was intended to complete the job—and didn’t. When it became clear that the project had come up short, it was Denman residents—who asked questions, pushed for answers, and drew attention to the unfinished work.
These community efforts helped bring about the most recent round of provincial funding, delivered through the Northern Development Initiative Trust on behalf of the Ministry of Citizens’ Services. That additional funding is now supporting CityWest’s renewed effort to finish the network.
Over the past year, I have been working alongside several other Denman residents to press for clarity. Together, we have approached elected officials, asked detailed questions, and sought reliable public updates. We have been grateful for the responsiveness of Director Daniel Arbour and the Ministry of Citizens’ Services, who have provided helpful information when able.
CityWest, however, continues to provide incomplete, vague, or evasive responses to key questions—questions about service coverage, outstanding gaps, completion timelines, and what still needs funding. If residents are to have confidence in the process, that must change.
Denman Islanders cannot advocate for what we don’t fully understand. And when millions in public dollars are being spent—our dollars—we deserve clear communication from the company delivering the service and from the public bodies funding it.
We need timely, accessible, public updates, ideally through community forums such as DIRA, so that all Islanders—not just a handful of people persistent enough to chase answers—can understand where things stand. Transparent information will make us better advocates for the final rounds of funding required to ensure every Denman Island household is served.
We all want this project to succeed. Fibre-optic connectivity is essential for modern work, education, health care, and economic security on Denman. But success requires openness. It requires accountability. And it requires the public to be treated as partners—not as an afterthought.
About the Author
Stephen Hawkins is a former media worker and current freelance video producer. A relatively new Denman Island resident, he has longstanding family ties to the island and has spent decades involved in labour and community advocacy.
