Community Access Program (CAP) & Technology Report

Community Access Program (CAP)
Network North 1

Network North 1 is one of several networks funded by Industry Canada, through its Community Access Program (CAP). The project’s goal is to lessen the digital divide by providing Internet access and training to targeted groups such as Aboriginals, the Francophone population, youth, new immigrants, seniors, low-income residents, people with disabilities and residents of remote communities. It aims to assist with information that helps individuals to make informed decisions about social, community, health and government issues. Network North 1, a consortium of 29 organizations (10 local and 19 regional), continues to provide clients with the information and knowledge to effectively use the Internet and computers in general, to obtain online services and to participate more fully in the knowledge of economy. As host of Network North 1, Lakehead Social Planning Council manages and administers the functions of the project. For the 2005-2006 fiscal year, a total of $136,400 was allocated to Network North 1. Industry Canada recently announced a 6-month extension for the CAP. As a result, an additional amount of $58,823 was allocated to Network North 1. We look forward to another successful year in partnership with Industry Canada.Respectfully submitted,
Lorrie Dundas, Coordinator

Information Technology Committee Report

In the past few years the LSPC has been adopting new technologies to stay in the forefront of the information age.

Some of the innovations we have utilized include:

• providing the public an up to date and current website
• online registration systems and order forms
• an email list to keep the community up to date on social issues and events
• a staff and board portal to manage internal events and information
• expanding and developing the Human Services community information database

As the staff is now comfortable with CIOC (Community Information Online Consortium – an online database system), we will be starting trials that will allow those organizations in the database to update their information via the Internet. This process will simplify the update procedure and allow us to keep our data up to date with minimal expenditures of staff and volunteer time.

As the LSPC continues to grow and diversify, so does the need to have adequate technology. It’s been a pleasure and a challenge working with the LSPC to meet these needs and I look forward to helping the LSPC with their technology requirements in the future.

Respectfully submitted,

Mark Walther
Manager of Information Technology

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