The Rural Development Institute at Brandon University is conducting a survey in the RM of LaBroquerie to access the impact of digital technologies in rural areas.

The study will consist of two focus groups, one being the fire department and the other being residents who have experienced emergency situations where the use of technology was required, for example, cell phones.

Louis Tetrault, LaBroquerie's emergency coordinator says based on what he's seen in other surveys like these throughout the province, the results really plot where the municipality's strengths and weaknesses are in terms of technology as well as push the senior levels of government for the necessary change.

"Well, I think it's a well-known fact that once you get about four miles south of LaBroquerie, cell service is pretty well non-existent. I think in terms of emergency measures, that's actually vital, crucial and the big, big priority."  

Tetrault adds results from this survey will be a helpful tool to convince higher levels of government that there are deficiencies in the municipality and they need to be resolved especially in the rare case of a severe emergency. 

"It wouldn't be in our big priorities to plan for an earthquake but we are looking at planning and being well prepared for an eventual, say, CN derailment because the main line goes right through the RM. That would be our most eminent and probable situation so we'd like to be as prepared as we can be."

Tetrault explains why they were one of the municipalities chosen for this survey.

"The Marchand area of the RM of LaBroquerie had some emergency measure issues with the Sandilands forest fires a few years back. We're going to try and access some citizens, some families, some people from the RM that had that experience." 

Tetrault notes the groups will meet sometime next week with researchers from Brandon University and he expects to see the results come back by the end of March at the latest.