Better cellphone coverage? Not in my backyard.

That's the message from a mother of two in Winnipeg's River Heights neighbourhood.

"Unless they tell us there's absolutely no other place to put this tower, why put it where kids are sleeping?" asked Abigail Mickelthwate, one of a few residents to receive official word of Manitoba Telecom Services' plan to build a cell tower in River Heights.

Last month, Mickelthwate's home was one of 19 to receive a letter from Evolve Surface Strategies Inc., writing on behalf of its client MTS. The letter laid out the plan to build an 18-metre-tall cellphone tower at the company's property at 413 Niagra St., in the heart of a residential neighbourhood.

The circle on this map shows the homes closest to a proposed MTS cell tower. The map was part of information packages sent to 19 families by Evolve Surface Strategies on behalf of MTS.

A map of the area included a red circle, highlighting 19 homes closest to the structure, and Mickelthwate's family home is in it.

"I don't want a question mark in my life. I don't want to know that my children down the road get some horrible — and I know this is being dramatic, but this is what a mother thinks — gets something and there's a question mark. Could it have been the cell radiation?" said Mickelthwate, adding that potential health risks associated with the tower are her biggest concern.

Mickelthwate brought her concerns to a town hall meeting hosted by MP Jim Carr at the Asper Jewish Community Campus on Wednesday evening. Mickelthwate and a few of her neighbours used the meeting to spread the word about the cellphone tower project.

Complies with Health Canada Codes

The letter from Evolve Surface Strategies includes diagrams and rationale for the project, as well as an explanation of its compliance with Health Canada safety codes.

"MTS attests that this system will comply with Health Canada's Safety Code 6 limits, as may be amended from time to time, including the combined effects of additional carriers or co-locations that may be added," the letter from Evolve Surface Strategies states.

"That means, 'We're putting it up. Rules may change. We hope you're OK,'" said Mickelthwate.

The letter also states that residents have until June 8 to submit questions or concerns about the project. MTS will hold a public consultation session on June 1 from 6-8 p.m. at the Corydon Community Centre on Grosvenor.

With the deadline looming, Mickelthwate is looking for support from her political representatives. A call to her city councillor's office was poorly received, said Mickelthwate, who was told John Orlikow would not attend the public consultation.

In an email to CBC, Orlikow said he is publicly opposed to the MTS tower going up in a residential area, but confirmed he won't be at the consultation session.

"This is a federal matter and city approval is not required. I will be submitting a letter in opposition," said Orlikow.

Mickelthwate wants the project shut down and moved to a commercial area. She is appealing to her neighbours for support.

"Which house would you rather sleep in? The one in the red square, or the one outside?" asked Mickelthwate.