Ontario Library Association Super Conference

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Ontario Library Association Super Conference

• January 29, 2004
• Toronto, Ontario

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Community Access Network Ontario (CANO)
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CANO History

• Conceived at Provincial CAP Conference in March
  2001
• Group from conference continued to work on the
  project
• Not any organizations mandate
• Met in Guelph June 2002
• Applied to Province Industry Canada for funding
  to establish organization and develop business
  plan

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CANO - Background

• Group from Guelph form Steering Committee
• Representation from remote, rural, urban,
  schools, libraries, First Nations
• Member based umbrella organization provincial
  network of networks
• Aggressively Inclusive mandate

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CANO Project Partners

• Contract with Ontario Municipal Affairs and
  Housing Industry Canada
• Blue Sky Region Community Network
• Technology Alliance Group for Kawartha Lakes
• WIL Employment Connections

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CANO Current Status

• Successful in obtaining matching funds from
  Province Industry Canada
• Project currently underway
• Have received confirmation of Incorporation
• Will create by-laws, elect Board of Directors,
  write business plan for next 18 months
• Develop communications links
• Meeting with stakeholders Dec 1st

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CANO Vision

• "CANO, as the voice of community access sites,
  envisions a diverse and accessible technological
  base through which all Ontarians will have the
  opportunity to benefit from the Internet.

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CANO - Mission

• CANO is a member-led, provincial association of
  not-for-profit public Internet access providers.
  It supports, promotes and facilitates continued
  advancement of a diverse group of public Internet
  access sites, assisting them in their role of
  influencing information technology awareness,
  training and fluency in their communities.

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CANO Benefits of Membership

• Professional development
• Information exchange
• Communication vehicle
• Service quality enhancement
• Sustainability
• Advocacy
• Research and publications
• Linkages
• Policy development

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CANO - Communication

• Newsletters.
• Chat rooms.
• Broad distribution bulletins.
• Regional meetings on-line and in-person.
• Website
• Comprehensive province-wide database of public
  Internet access sites categorized by region and
  by user groups

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CANO Next Steps

• Secure funding for Phase II of Implementation of
  Business Plan
• Hire staff
• Membership Drive
• First AGM spring of 2004
• Pursue relationships with Private Sector Partners
  through Advisory Committee

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CANO - Summary

• Liaison between member organizations and
  provincial and federal government departments
• Advisory committee from private sector, private
  sector partnerships
• Economies of scale/increased buying power
• Primary goal sustainability of CAP in the
  Province of Ontario

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CANO Contact Us

• For more information, or to have your name added
  to the CANO database and mailing list, contact
• Lisa Rusal Project Lead
• WIL Employment Connections
• lisar_at_wil.ca
• Telephone [phone]
• Fax [phone]