NEWS RELEASE- April 4, 2023
The community of Port Renfrew now has access to five free Wi-Fi hotspots for locals and visitors to access the internet.
PORT RENFREW, BC- Port Renfrew Economic Development Task Force today announced the implementation of five free Wi-Fi hotspots in the community of Port Renfrew with coverage from the Government Dock to Pacheedaht Campground. The installation of these Wi-Fi hotspots will bring relief to locals and visitors looking to access the internet. The community of Port Renfrew currently has extremely limited cell phone coverage which makes it difficult for visitors and locals to connect to vital emergency services. This project was initiated in late July 2022 with contributions from the Port Renfrew Economic Development Task Force and Daxtech IT Solutions. Daxtech IT Solutions donated all of the labor and consultation charges, completing work at no cost to ensure free access to the internet is available for locals and visitors.
Members of the community worked closely to identify the significant needs and requirements of the community from the perspective of a growing tourism community. Free Wi-Fi hotspots were pinpointed as a project that would improve the visitor experience.
All five of the Wi-Fi locations are closely connected to allow those traveling from different areas uninterrupted access to the internet. Detailed information can be found on the Port Renfrew Visitor Information Center website – www.myportrenfrew.ca, which identifies all Wi-Fi hotspots with the Wi-Fi symbol. In case of power outages in the area, Wi-Fi will be available for an additional two hours after power loss.
Access to the Wi-Fi hotspots was made possible through funding from the Province of British Columbia On-Time Community Grant and the Community Economic Recovery Infrastructure Grant. The Port Renfrew Economic Development Task Force and WorkLink Employment Society worked closely with Dan Quigley (President, Port Renfrew Dock Society), Kristine Pearson (Referral Manager, Pacheedaht First Nations), Mike Hann and Chris Welham (Beach View property managers), Karl Ablack (property developer) and Josh McKamey (General Manager, Mill Bay Marine Group) to access the various locations where Wi-Fi coverage is available.