As PomeGran continues building one of the most ambitious fibre networks in Northern Ontario, community engagement has become essential to bringing residents, municipalities, and businesses along on this transformational journey. At the centre of this work is Robert Peace, PomeGran’s Community Engagement and Operational Marketing Manager for Ontario, and a key representative for NIVO, the new internet service provider on the network.
Robert brings a deep understanding of northern communities, shaped by years of involvement in social, cultural, and economic initiatives across the region. His background spans volunteer leadership, community development, strategic planning, and work with First Nations, all of which inform his approach to connecting with residents authentically and respectfully.
Over the past several months, Robert has been on the ground hosting events, answering questions, addressing concerns, and showing communities what PomeGran and NIVO are bringing to the North: a true fibre network designed for reliability, long term growth, and local economic impact.
Supporting Residents Through Each Stage of the Build
At major community meetings across St. Joseph Island, Bruce Mines, Johnson Township, and Gore Bay, Robert has been the point person guiding residents through what to expect as the fibre build moves toward completion. With communities eager to finally access reliable high speed internet, he has used these sessions to answer questions, clarify timelines, and explain the remaining steps needed before service goes live.
Introducing NIVO, the New ISP on the Network
At every event, Robert introduced NIVO, PomeGran’s new service provider that will offer internet, TV, and home phone services over the network. Residents learned that NIVO will deliver symmetrical speeds up to 3 gigabits on a dedicated fibre-to-the-home connection supported by a 25-gigabit backbone. This means stable performance unaffected by neighbourhood traffic and reliable service even during peak hours. Robert highlighted that service options will be competitively priced and designed to meet the needs of families, remote workers, local businesses, and seasonal residents.
Building Trust Through Transparency
Robert’s open and conversational style made it easy for residents to ask about fibre drops, outages, and service differences. He also guided them through consent forms, the address checker, and update signups, helping everyone feel informed and confident.
A Strong Local Presence Across the Region
Beyond the meetings on St. Joseph Island and in Bruce Mines, Robert has also been active in Gore Bay, Johnson Township, and other communities throughout the project area. In each location, he adapts the conversation to local needs, whether speaking with business owners, farmers, seasonal residents, or town officials. His consistent message is simple: PomeGran is here to build long term, and NIVO is here to serve long term.
As the SooToday feature on his appointment highlighted, Robert’s experience across community organizations and his work with First Nations give him a strong foundation for this role. He understands that broadband is not just infrastructure, it is essential to local economic development, access to education, healthcare, and the overall vitality of the North.
A Key Liaison with Municipal and Community Leadership
In addition to his work with residents, Robert serves as a primary point of contact for municipal leaders, council members, mayors, CAOs, clerks, and senior staff across the build area. He works closely with local governments to ensure they understand the scope of the project, timing of construction, and the long term benefits of fibre connectivity for their communities.
By maintaining open lines of communication with municipal offices and elected officials, Robert helps align expectations, resolve local concerns early, and ensure communities are fully informed partners in the rollout. His role bridges technical infrastructure delivery with on-the-ground governance, helping PomeGran and NIVO build strong, collaborative relationships at the community leadership level.
Why Robert's Work Matters to NIVO Customers
As PomeGran completes construction and NIVO prepares for service launch, residents want clarity, reliability, and someone they can trust. Robert is that connection point between the build and the community. He helps ensure that every question is addressed, every home has the information it needs, and every municipality understands the path forward.
For NIVO customers, Robert’s work means faster updates, transparent communication, and a network built with the guidance of someone who truly understands the region’s needs.
Looking Ahead
With the network build continuing and activation windows for some areas approaching, PomeGran and NIVO are entering an exciting new phase in Northern Ontario. Robert will continue leading community outreach, supporting residents through installation and service launch, and helping build the strong, local customer experience that NIVO is known for.
His work embodies what the PomeGran group stands for: community-driven impact, investment in rural and northern regions, and a future where every household and business has access to the reliable fibre connectivity they deserve.