Hollie Latulippe, North Shore News
Published: Friday, September 12, 2008
Edgemont locals packed an information meeting hosted by Bell Canada Wednesday to protest plans for a cellphone tower in their area.
Many attendees left voicing their dissatisfaction with the meeting's structure.
More than 100 local residents attended the open house, held at Saint Catherine's Church in Edgemont Village.
The main room of the church was set up with poster boards holding images and information about the planned 180-foot tower planned for the intersection of Edgemont Boulevard and Hwy. 1. Several Bell representatives stood around the room, which was set up as a circular walk-through.
Many who attended said they weren't satisfied with the format of the information session, which they expected to be more of a group discussion.
"This meeting insults people's intelligence. You could get this information on the Internet," said Edgemont resident Avrille Hewett. "It's pure propaganda put on by Bell Canada."
"The meeting is not at all what I expected," said fellow Edgemont resident Joan Southern, adding, "I'm opposed 100 per cent that they should stick something this ugly in a residential area."
For Dave White, the tower's presence would lead to a more pressing concern. White suffered a brain aneurysm last August after a biking accident, and had metal placed in the middle of his head. He is worried radioactivity from the tower placed next to his Edgemont home would effect his recovery.
"It's a legitimate concern," he said, adding he was not satisfied with the meeting either.
Bell Canada communications representative Allison Johnson said she understands the public is concerned about the health effects of the tower, but there is nothing to fear.
"Health Canada sets regulations and Bell follows them to a tee," she said at the meeting. "The amount of radio frequency is well below the limit set."
Attendants of the open house were invited to fill out a feedback form, and Johnson said this information would be looked at when planning the tower's construction.
"We are still in the consultation process. Any feedback received will be shared with the municipality and Industry Canada. It's important to point out as the demand for wireless service increases, there is a need to install towers for consumers, businesses, and emergency services," she added. "I understand Edgemont is the optimum site to meet the needs of the area."
Shortly after the open house started at 7 p.m., an impromptu meeting was called outside the church by Edgemont resident Matthew Wild and cellphone tower critic Milt Bowling.
Around 40 people gathered as Bowling shared his knowledge of cellphone towers erected in cities. He has lectured on the risks of these towers at seminars around the world, and has talked to many scientists about the heath effects, he said.
"The Health Canada regulations do not protect you one iota," he told the crowd, explaining their measuring system only takes into account thermal radiation while other kinds can be harmful as well. Bowling said he has found numerous health effects from cellphone towers in his research, including nosebleeds, an increase in blood pressure, fatigue and insomnia.
Evening's format 'insults' Edgemont locals
Hollie Latulippe, North Shore News
Published: Friday, September 12, 2008
For Carl Katz, this information rings more than true: the concerned Kerrisdale resident came to the meeting to share his experience living next to cellphone towers in Vancouver. "I lived around three buildings with multiple transmitters on them," he said outside the church. "I wasn't sleeping, my ears were ringing all the time, and my short and long-term memory was effected."
North Vancouver MP Don Bell, who recently suffered a heart attack, was unable to attend the meeting, but sent his executive assistant Roger Bassan.
"When I described what happened to Don, his big concern was there was no public feedback in the form of a dialogue or an open microphone," said Bassan.
MP Bell will support Edgemont residents in getting a "proper consultation," optimally in a district council or community meeting, he added.
True to their promise at Monday night's District of North Vancouver council meeting, Couns. Robin Hicks, Alan Nixon and Doug MacKay-Dunn also attended the open house.
According to Wild, a community consultation meeting is being organized.