Petition to Oppose the Erection of an unsightly and undesirable Bell/MTS Cell Tower in the front yard of Grace Communion Church at 50 Barnes Street, Winnipeg, adjacent to a high-traffic corridor that serves as the main entrance to Fairfield Park, a densely populated residential community.

We, the undersigned, petition to oppose the construction of a new, stand-alone 27-metre Bell/MTS cell tower on the grounds of 50 Barnes Street (Grace Communion Church), immediately adjacent to a densely populated residential community.

The plan for this cell tower is a virtual “repeat” of a former proposal, put forward by Rogers Communications in 2016, which was overwhelmingly opposed by the residents of Fairfield Park, Waverley Heights, Fort Richmond, Richmond West, Waverley West and Bridgewater (Forest/Lakes/Center/Trails). Rogers Communications reacted to the wave of public pressure and, acting as a good community partner, withdrew their proposal. It would appear that Bell/MTS currently has no such an intent.

The tower, although proposed to initially be 27-metres in height, can be increased to in excess of 33-metres after only one year. Plus, other telecommunications carriers would be allowed to share space on the tower with their antennas, thus increasing the radiated power of the tower and increasing its overall unsightliness.

In a baffling move, the City of Winnipeg’s Urban Planning Department has chosen to waive all normal modes of public notice. There was no requirement mandated for Bell/MTS to host a public meeting so that local residents could be apprised of the details of the tower. In addition, no public notice in local newspapers was imposed either. Even more baffling, the City has apparently waived the Federal Government’s “minimum” requirement to inform tenants residing within three times the height of the tower. To this day, those tenants are still completely unaware. It truly makes one wonder what the City’s vested interest is in this project, especially given the overwhelming public opposition to the 2016 proposal.

In addition to concerns over an industrial style tower being erected in a residential area, the tower would be situated right across the street from a major entrance/exit to the Real Canadian Superstore on Bison Drive, and thus, shoppers will have to look at this eyesore every time they enter or exit the store onto Barnes Street.

Located within the immediate proximity of the proposed tower are the following residential properties:

1.) The Fairfield Apartments = 68 units

2.) The Aura and Lumen Towers = 209 units

3.) The Annex Condominiums = 86 units

4.) The Ville Rose Condominiums – 36 units

A total of 399 residential units with approximately 900 to 1,000 residents

In addition, the Southeast Personal Care Home, an 80 bed First Nation owned and operated long term care facility is located within a mere 225 metres of the proposed tower. Adjacent to the Care Home is Southeast Collegiate. Both facilities are owned and operated under the Southeast Resource Development Council Corp. Questions have been raised as to what effect the electromagnetic radiation from the tower might have on critical life-saving medical equipment but, so far, no satisfactory answers have been furnished to dispel these concerns. In addition, other medical equipment used on a daily basis, such as pace makers, hearing aids or vital sign monitors may well encounter electrical interference from the tower.

What is most disturbing however is Bell/MTS’s huge rush to push this through by camouflaging the proposal from the public. A lame public notice sign was erected in a location guaranteed to ensure that few would be able to read it. Also, it was up for the absolute minimum number of days required and then quickly taken back down. Nearly all of the local residents spoken to had no idea of its very temporary presence.

While we can see why the consulting broker for Bell/MTS might do everything possible to keep the public in the dark, there is no rhyme or reason for the City of Winnipeg’s Urban Planning Department to supress proper public notice. Questions remain as to why public notice would be minimized, especially in light of the opposition that was expressed eight years earlier.

Please join with us in our opposition to the placement of an industrial cell tower in the heart of a residential community. If Bell/MTS’s proposal carries through, it may well be the first of many more such towers located in residential areas, as opposed to commercial, industrial, institutional or agricultural areas where they truly belong.