Saanich will be placing a new communications tower at the PKOLS (Mount Douglas Park) summit. The current tower must be replaced due to aging infrastructure and new federal regulatory standards that came into effect in 2025. The tower is a critical component of public safety and cell phone communications in the region.
January 26, 2026 update
The lower parking lot at Churchill Drive (in front of the gate) will be closed in the evening on Monday, January 26th, and remain closed all day on Tuesday, January 27th.
The lower parking lot is expected to reopen once this portion of the construction is completed and will remain open for the public to use, unless otherwise advised by the project contractor.
Geotechnical exploratory work was completed to confirm the replacement telecommunications tower location, adjacent to the current tower.
Construction by TEP Canada is expected to begin on January 19, 2026 and end late spring of 2026 and includes a new foundation, monopole, raceway cable path, and carrier equipment installation. The second phase of removing the current tower is anticipated to begin in the fall of this year.
During these periods, for safety reasons, the PKOLS (Mount Douglas Park) will experience restricted access and closures. Security measures will be in place around the summit area. Signs will also be located throughout the park on trails leading to the summit advising of restricted access.
Starting January 19, 2026, the gate to Churchill Drive will remain closed at all times, unless otherwise noted, for approximately three months while the building phase of the new tower is underway. The parking lot in front of the gate will still be open and available to use, unless otherwise advised by the project contractor.
While Churchill Drive remains closed, other trails and parking lots within the park will remain open. Trails leading to the summit will have restricted access at the summit. A map with closures will be provided.
The District thanks everyone for their patience and understanding while this much needed project progresses.
Replacement Process
An RFP was issued for replacement of the tower, which will be required to be heavier and larger, but still fall within current zoning bylaws and requirements for height.
While the specific location of the replacement tower has not yet been finalized, we are exploring an area within the vicinity of the existing tower location. In addition to logistical, installation, future maintenance safety, and cost considerations, a key component of selecting the location of the replacement tower will be minimizing environmental impacts that would be necessary for construction such as blasting, tree removal and importation of non-native material. The Request for Proposal (RFP) award is for design and build of the tower, and additional technical work is required through the design phase to confirm the best location.