New Towers Construction, Upgrade single tower & New Fibre Installation

New (Multiple) Tower Construction

Saskatchewan Telecommunications is proposing the construction of one telecommunication tower to provide high-speed Internet access to the Thunderchild First Nation. The tower will be 30 meters tall. Antennas will be mounted at the top of this tower. These antennas will operate in the 5 GHz frequency bands. All of the equipment necessary to operate this facility will be housed in a small equipment cabinet located on site. This tower may undergo future modifications or the addition/replacement of antennas.

Upgrade (Single) Tower

Saskatchewan Telecommunications is proposing the addition of eight (8) antennas of 0.487 meter, in the 5 GHz frequency band, mounted at the top of an existing 61 meters tower which is located on Big Island Lake Cree Nation. The antennas will be installed to improve network access to high-speed Internet. In the future, the existing tower may have other antennas and other radiocommunication equipment added or replaced.

New Fibre Installation

Saskatchewan Telecommunications plans to install underground fiber optic cabling, for Internet purposes, to all residential homes of Sweetgrass,Big Island Lake Cree Nation, Stanley No. 157 (Lac La Ronge), Thunderchild First Nation, Southend Indian Reserve No. 200 (Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation), Kinistin Saulteaux Nation, and Grandmother's Bay No.219 (Lac La Ronge).

The project involves the installation of approximately 85 km of underground and aerial fiber optic cable along the roads of Sweetgrass,Big Island Lake Cree Nation, Stanley No. 157 (Lac La Ronge), Thunderchild First Nation, Southend Indian Reserve No. 200 (Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation), Kinistin Saulteaux Nation, and Grandmother's Bay No.219 (Lac La Ronge).

The cable will be buried by directional drilling, trenching, or using existing conduits, or a combination of these methods in existing roadway alignments, but will be suspended on support structures to connect to residential homes and businesses.

More

Latest update

Notice of Determination

May 27, 2025 - Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada has determined that the proposed project is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

This determination was based on a consideration of the following factors:

  • relevant potential environmental effects;
  • comments received from the public; and
  • technically and economically feasible mitigation measures.

Mitigation and monitoring measures taken into account for this determination included active and adaptive management measures that would be implemented for the protection of the local environment. Based on the consideration of these measures, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada is satisfied that that the carrying out of the project is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

Therefore, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada may carry out the project, exercise any power, perform any duty or function, or provide financial assistance to enable the project to be carried out in whole or in part.

Participate

Key documents

Key documents
Document number Document title File Date
2 Notice of Determination - May 27, 2025
1 Notice of Intent to Make a Determination - Start of Public Comment Period - April 24, 2025

Contacts

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
Lynda Mama, Program Officer
235 Queen St
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H5
Email: get-connected-branchez-vous@ised-isde.gc.ca


Disclaimer

This map is for illustrative purposes. The markers represent the approximate locations based on available data. More than one marker may be identified for a given assessment.

  • Location

    • Project Site 1: West Central region - Sweetgrass (Saskatchewan)
    • Project Site 2: West Central region - Big Island Lake (Saskatchewan)
    • Project Site 3: West Central region - Thunderchild (Saskatchewan)
    • Project Site 4: West Central region - Southend & Reindeer (Saskatchewan)
    • Project Site 5: West Central region - Grandmother's Bay (Saskatchewan)
    • Project Site 6: West Central region - Stanley Mission (Saskatchewan)
    • Project Site 7: West Central region - Thunderchild Fixed Wireless Tower (Saskatchewan)

  • Nature of Activity

    • Other, not otherwise specified

  • Assessment Status

    Completed

  • Start Date

    2025-04-24

  • Proponent

    Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corporation

  • Authorities

    • Innovation, Science and Economic Development

  • Assessment Type

    Project on federal lands

  • Reference Number

    89475

Nearby assessments

...within 200 kilometres
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