WALDHEIM, Sask. — The rural Saskatchewan community of Waldheim (pop. 1,000) will soon enjoy the benefits of improved Internet service after local businesses successfully reached an agreement with Redbird Communications to bring fibre service to the small town 55 kilometres north of Saskatoon.
One of the local businesses behind the initiative is My Mutual Insurance, which was faced with the decision of whether or not to move the expanding company’s headquarters to a larger centre in the province, it said in a press release. Having served the Waldheim community for more than 100 years, My Mutual says it decided to remain in the town and build its new building there.
With the approval of its board of directors, the company banded together with other local businesses and approached Redbird Communications about bringing a fibre network to Waldheim. After an agreement was reached, the project began in August 2019 and the installation of the main fibre service line was completed in April 2020. With the main line established, access to the fibre network will now be made available to the town’s residents and businesses, who will still have provincial Crown corporation SaskTel as another option.
“My Mutual’s roots are rural. We have a strong contingent of people that have chosen to live in rural Saskatchewan. Having access to fibre ensures that we can continue to be viable, competitive and relevant,” said Valerie Fehr, CEO of My Mutual Insurance, in the news release.
