ATTN NANOOSE BAY COMMUNITY AND SURROUNDING AREAS

1800 Serenity Place has given Rogers permission to install a 174 ft cell tower at the front of their property. For this, they stand to be paid quite handsomely for decades to come. Meanwhile, the surrounding homeowners face a myriad of health risks (more below), huge property value losses, and the nuisance of living beside an unsightly cell tower.

One property gets a huge payday while all of the neighbours are left to decide whether they want to brave the health risks of 24/7 radiation exposure or sell their homes at a loss of up to 20% and relocate. Mine is one if the homes within 500 meters of the proposed site. This tower would be about 160m from my front door. 

I'm writing this petition of behalf of the nine families who all live in close proximity to the tower site. 

OUR GOAL IS TO RELOCATE THIS CELL TOWER TO A MORE APPROPRITE LOCATION AWAY FROM HOMES AND FAMILIES.

 

***Health Risks***

The health risks are vast, especially in women, and children (many more health links to follow below)

Anyone who is in constant proximity has a very significant chance of serious health implications. This radiation increases the likelihood of cancer and neurological disorders and can even change your body on a cellular level.

Please consider the young children that live within this 500 meter radius. The effects are more profound on their growing bodies. Stop for a second and imagine. What if they were your kids, your grand kids, or your nieces/nephews?

I, for one, am not willing to let my children serve as guinea pigs to test the validity of the numerous of studies linking RF radiation from mobile pone base stations to compromised health.

If the concern over the health risks of this constant radiation exposure is so unfounded, as Rogers may suggest, then why is there so much controversy surrounding the issue? Why are the most knowledgeable experts on this subject calling for more research and more cautionary measures? If this sounds a little "out there" please, spend a little time exploring the links below. Dr. Joel Moskowitz of U C Berkeley is a global leader on this subject. Please take a little time to hear what he has to say.

Links, links, and more links:

• A quick, light understanding
• Moskowitz webinar from Nov 2021: (he speaks as of 5:15) 
• Here's a recent short and sweet Moskowitz article
• A local example? See page 16 of this PDF. It's a letter form Dr. Stephen Faulkner (Cowichan Valley) to the Mayor and Council of Qualicum Beach in 2020.
• This Review by B. Blake Levitt and Henry Lai is lengthy but it's a fantastic collection of global studies on cell tower radiation.
• Want to dive deep? Here's a summary of 30 years of studies last updated in October, 2024:
   

***Property Values***

Property values will decrease, period. That's a simple fact. The area will be permanently less desirable to new homeowners as this tower will be visible for miles around. A 53 meter tower is no small thing. It's the height of a 17 storey hotel! It's about 75ft taller than the tallest tree around.  It would stick out like an eye sore in our quaint little rural community. Nanoose is a peaceful escape for those who want a more rural lifestyle surrounded by nature. The sign by the highway even reads "Nurtured by Nature". How can we allow such a stain on our charming piece of Island Paradise?

 

***Alternate Sites***

There are many other feasible sites that will provide the cell service that most of us want without risking anyone’s health. In fact, this location is geographically perfect as provides a centrally located high ground in the area. It's a large parcel of undeveloped crown land. What's more, there are no houses within a 500m radius of the center of this property. Perfect!

We approached Rogers with this site and but they quickly dismissed the proposal siting that this land may soon be re-appropriated to the local Snaw-naw-as First Nation. Does Rogers not want to support our First Nations? Land owners are usually paid thousands, sometimes even tens of thousands per month for these towers. Shouldn't that money go to a larger community such as the Sna-naw-as, the RDN, or even the province of BC? Wouldn't that be more beneficial than lining the pockets of one individual (1800 Serenity Pl) while all of the neighbouring properties take a huge loss in property value (can be 20%) and face never ending health risks?

 

***Wildlife***

Our neighborhood is home to a diverse range of birds. Studies show towers increase the amount of deaths in bird life due to crashes, etc. Local to our neighborhood are; eagles, hawks, herons, ducks, Canadian geese, white Canadian geese, rare Western Tanager, owls, kestrels, and many others.

*Don't forget the bats! We have a maternal bat colony in the our forest. One endangered bat species has even been spotted within 200m of the proposed tower site. Cell towers disrupt the echolocation bats use to hunt and navigate.

 

***Cons***

*A veritable onslaught of long term detrimental health effects.

*Visible for miles. A 174ft tower in our tranquil, rural community is an unwelcome sight. Imagine a 17 story hotel in Moorecroft!? Same idea.

*Noise pollution 24/7 (Dirty electricity buzz, anyone sensitive to this will understand)

*Limited coverage. The site proposed by Rogers will only serve North Nanoose Bay and Northwest Bay Rd. toward Parksvile.

*It will much taller than any tree around and five or more times the height of any nearby building. (local zoning is 9m, this is 53m!) This is not an industrial park, and it’s not an industrial area. The tower will stick out like a sore thumb, especially this close to the stunning parks and beaches of Nanoose Bay.

 

***The Sad Truth***

Rogers will never admit that the health risks are real. They don't care. They assume the little guy will eventually just hush up and go away. The ugly fact is that people will suffer, children will be forever affected, property values will take a hit, and local wildlife will suffer. They will hide behind the outdated and inadequate Safety Code 6 (page 16 of this PDF) and dismiss any concerns as unfounded. That said, there are numerous studies from around of the globe that warn of the risks. 

Personally, I believe this is much like when Health Canada told us smoking was safe for decades until all of a sudden, it wasn't. Or remember when asbestos was the latest and greatest thing? Let's not allow Nanoose Bay families to serve as guinea pigs.

We can’t stop progress, nor do we want to. There is a need for better cell service, that is clear. BUT! Let’s force Rogers to put safer distances between residences and cell towers and keep our children safe! Find another site!

PLEASE  SIGN AND SHARE   AND COME VOICE YOUR OPINION AT THE INFO MEETING FEBRUARY 5TH 5:00 TO 7:00 PM. NANOOSE BAY ELEMENTARY GYM