Canadian Check In with phones

Hi Mark B.

I travel in Georgian Bay and the North Channel quite a bit and can provide the following observations on cell coverage:

Tobermory to Killarney:  

Reliable coverage within 8 -10 miles of Tobermory and Killarney.  In between it is likely to be spotty although it's amazing how far cell signals can travel from Manitoulin Island over open water.  The problem is the eastern shore of Manitoulin Island is sparsely populated so cell ocoverage isn't great.

North Channel Killarney to Detour Village:

Coverage varies widely primarily depending on the geography of the area.  Cell signals don't go through rock very well so some places you visit will not have coverage.  

Coverage is very good near population centres like Killarney, Little Current, Kagawong, Gore Bay, Spanish, Blind River, Meldrum Bay and Detour Village and is generally adequate in many, but not all other locations.  Examples where I've had no coverage are McGregor Bay (most of it), Baie Fine (there is an island there affectionately known by cruisers as cell phone island where a signal can be had), and portions along the north shore including parts of Hotham Island.

If I really need a signal to send or receive a message or to pick up a weather forecast, I dinghy to a high island and climb to the top where I'm usually able to get enough of a signal to do what I need to do.  

Other than near population centres, don't count on a signal good enough for streaming.

Here is the coverage map for Bell 

Here is the coverage map for Rogers. 

Here is the coverage map for Telus. 

You'll need to zoom in to the North Channel and fiddle with the speed filters on each website

I don't know who Verizon links with.  

Don't expect to be connected all the time but there's no need to worry about being out of touch for days on end unless you stay nicely tucked away in a beautiful anchorage in Baie Fine or other areas with poor coverage.

Dave Spencer

We did not clear Cutoms after arriving in Canada in 2025 but when we did in 2024 the wait after calling 888-CAN-PASS was, unlike prior years, very short.