Letter to Telus regarding use of herbicide on Gabriola Island

Extracted text (beginning)

Bowen  Denman  Hornby  Gabriola  Galiano  Gambier  Lasqueti  Mayne  North Pender  Salt Spring  Saturna  South Pender  Thetis 
 
 
700 North Road, Gabriola Island, BC  V0R 1X3 
Telephone  250-247-2063    Fax  250-247-7514 
Toll Free via Enquiry BC in Vancouver 604.660.2421  Elsewhere in BC 1.800.663.7867 
Email  northinfo@islandstrust.bc.ca 
Web  www.islandstrust.bc.ca 
 
 
August 23, 2022 File No. GB-6410-03; 0110-20-LTC Chairs; 11-5390-30 
 
 
Via email: sustainability@telus.com  
 
Geoff Pegg 
Director – Sustainability & Environment 
Telus Garden 
510 West Georgia Street 
Vancouver, BC, V6B 0M3 
 
Dear Geoff Pegg: 
 
Re:  Use of Herbicide on Gabriola Island 
 
I am writing as the Chair of the Gabriola Island Local Trust Committee (“Gabriola Island LTC”) pursuant to 
a motion passed by the LTC at its regular meeting of July 28
th
, 2022.  The Gabriola Island LTC is part of the 
Islands Trust which is a special purpose government established by the Provincial Government of British 
Columbia pursuant to the terms of the Islands Trust Act.  The Trust has a regulatory mandate to preserve 
and protect the Trust Area and its environment, through land use planning, working in cooperation with 
other agencies to encourage them to support the preserve and protect mandate, and land conservation. 
 
I  am  writing  today  to  request cooperation.  At  the  meeting, concerns were  raised  regarding  the  use  of 
herbicides on vegetation surrounding a Telus facility on North Road just uphill from the ferry terminal on 
Gabriola Island, likely during the week of July 25
th
.  From signage, this appears to be work done on behalf 
of Telus.  According to signage on the property, the herbicides used included the herbicide “Roundup”. 
 
While  the  use  of  this  substance  anywhere  is  of  concern
1
,  there  is  a  community  drinking  water  well 
immediately adjacent to the Telus facility that services a number of downhill users including a pub and 
the ferry terminal. 
 
I am writing to request the following: 
a) That Telus and any of its contractors cease use of herbicides such as Roundup that may be harmful 
to  humans  and  ecosystems.   We  ask  that  you  confirm  to  us  publicly  that  such  use  will cease 
everywhere on Gabriola.
                                                
1
 In 2015, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) identified glyphosate, 
the world’s most commonly used herbicide, as a probable human carcinogen. Source: https://www.iarc.who.int/wp-
content/uploads/2018/07/MonographVolume112-1.pdf  

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Bowen  Denman  Hornby  Gabriola  Galiano  Gambier  Lasqueti  Mayne  North Pender  Salt Spring  Saturna  South Pender  Thetis 
b) That  Telus  make  arrangements  with  the  property  owner  where  the  adjacent  well  is  located  to 
perform testing of the well to ensure that the quality of the water is unaffected by the herbicide 
use.  If testing does show negative impacts, then Tel

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