Drake’s Call for Better Internet in Pickering is Answered

As a result of the City of Pickering’s advocacy on broadband investment and Bell Canada’s recent expansion of pure fibre Internet in Pickering’s hamlets and rural areas, Grammy award-winning producer, Boi1da, can now collaborate with top music artists like Drake, Eminem, Rihanna, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, and Jack Harlow directly from his home studio in north Pickering.

Two and a half years ago, global hip-hop and entertainment icon, Drake, took to social media to call on the ‘Mayor of Pickering’ to fix the Internet issues where his regular producer, Boi1da, lives and works. In turn, the City of Pickering issued a clever, tongue-in-cheek response referencing a myriad of Drake’s song titles and lyrics to address the connectivity issue, while also communicating some of the City’s key accomplishments and priorities.

The story went viral and was picked up by traditional and digital media outlets in Canada and around the world. Seemingly overnight, Pickering attracted the undivided attention of the entire broadband industry.  And as such, many Internet Service Providers (ISP) reached out to the City to discuss broadband enhancement and expansion in its hamlets and rural areas. Ultimately, Bell Canada was the first ISP to deploy a significant fibre Internet project in Pickering’s underserviced areas.

In 2022, Bell Canada will have installed high-speed Internet in Pickering’s hamlets of Kinsale, Whitevale, Claremont, and Green River. In addition, Pickering’s filming backlot, which is the largest backlot in Canada, will be connected later this summer - further strengthening the City’s film and television industry. Bell Canada looks to bring all-fibre broadband access to approximately 21,000 additional Pickering locations over the next three years.

Quotes:

“To be called out by a superstar like Drake over social media is not an everyday occurrence.  However, it did shine a light on the digital divide for many of our residents and businesses in our hamlets and rural areas.  I’m thrilled that Bell Canada answered the call and will be servicing 21,000 additional locations in Pickering over the next three years.  In addition to our residents, we also want to see high-speed broadband installed in our Innovation Corridor so that we can attract even more world class companies like Kubota Canada and FGF Brands to Pickering.  We’re working ‘Non-Stop’.”

~ Mayor Dave Ryan

“I want to thank Mayor Ryan, the City of Pickering, and of course Bell Canada for providing this new high speed Internet connection.  I work with international artists from all over the world, and it’s important to be able to do so right here from my home studio in Pickering in order to maximize our artistic and creative energies.”

~ Matt Samuels aka Boi1da