Payphones are becoming a thing of the past and in Sooke, the town’s remaining payphone is set to be disconnected for good next month.
In its letter to Mayor Maja Tait, WiMacTel Canada Inc., on behalf of Telus, says the payphone beside Pharmasave at Cedar Grove Shopping Centre will be removed on or after April 5th due to a decline in usage.
But Coun. Jeff Bateman is voicing concerns, especially for vulnerable people in the area who rely on public phones, including payphones.
“Our homeless population are one of the target groups for payphones, and the Shelter Society tells me that their clients often rely on free phones wherever they can find them,” said Bateman.
At Monday’s council meeting, Bateman told town council that around 1,800 payphones remain in BC, many in Metro Vancouver.
Victoria has just three remaining payphones, a WiMacTel spokesperson told Bateman. On Vancouver Island, payphones can also be found in Jordan River and Port Renfrew.
“According to a recent Statistics Canada report, 93% of BC households have a cellular phone. And that still leaves 7% who do not, and in a small town with a big heart, this concerns me a little,” explained Bateman.
However, he does say payphones have become a target for vandalism. In some cases, they’ve been stolen and used for scrap aluminum, with illegal calls also prompting removal, according to Bateman.
And while it’s noted free phones are available for use around Sooke, including within the public library, Bateman’s advocating for another payphone to be installed elsewhere.
“But it seems like, in this new millennium, the payphone may have had its day as a more useful sort of thing,” said Coun. Tony St-Pierre.
St-Pierre echos comments that there are local facilities offering free phone use, even though they may not be accessible overnight.
Still, Bateman plans to reach out to Telus for more information on the process of getting a payphone installed.
“I’ve touched base with the Hope Centre and also the Thrift Store because that might be a good spot for a payphone,” he added.
“But of course, it’s up to the landlords of the Thrift Store. And I guess the Hope Centre, the Shelter Society and BC Housing would be the landlord in that case.”
