Mount Helmcken telecommunications tower replacement

The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) is planning to replace the existing 61-meter guyed tower with a similarly sized self-supporting tower. This project is planned for August 2026 and will be conducted in four phases.

In Phase 1, CCG crews will arrive on site and remove the antennas and salvageable equipment from the small tower located sixteen meters southwest of the 61-meter tall guyed tower. The salvaged equipment will then be installed on the existing radar tower situated south of the main building. Once this work is complete, the CCG crews will dismantle the small tower.

Phase 2 involves the construction of the concrete base for the new tower. This base will be built by the tower contractor adjacent to the main building on the north side, between the building and the existing 61-meter tower. The work will include rock drilling, some vegetation grubbing, and surface soil removal, followed by the construction of formwork and the pouring of concrete. The exact location, size and spacing of the tower base will be determined based on CCG deliverables specifications and the Contractors tower plan specifications.

In Phase 3, a tower installation company will be contracted to design and build the new tower according to specifications provided by the CCG. The contractor will arrive on site and construct the tower on the newly built base. The new self-supporting tower will be of similar height to the existing tower, though the actual height will be determined by the contractors based on design and structural requirements.

Finally, in Phase 4, the CCG rigging crew will return to the site to transfer all communications equipment from the existing tower onto the new tower. The method of dismantling will be established based on the contractor's proposed methodology.

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Latest update

February 27, 2026 – The public comment period on the project is closed. The Canadian Coast Guard is considering comments received to help inform its determination on whether the carrying out of the project is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

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Key documents

Key documents
Document number Document title File Date
1 Mount Helmcken telecommunications tower replacement DOCX (21 KB) January 27, 2026

Contacts

Fisheries and Oceans Canada - Canadian Coast Guard
Jordan Grootendorst, Environmental Technologist
25 Huron Street
Victoria, British Columbia V8V 4V9
Telephone: 236-464-3649
Email: jordan.grootendorst@dfo-mpo.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

    • Mount Helmcken (British Columbia)

  • Nature of Activity

    • Other, not otherwise specified

  • Assessment Status

    In progress

  • Start Date

    2026-01-27

  • Proponent

    Canadian Coast Guard

  • Authorities

    • Fisheries and Oceans Canada

  • Assessment Type

    Project on federal lands

  • Reference Number

    90189

Nearby assessments

...within 200 kilometres
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