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The "Ontario's Far North Study: Broadband Best Practices in Fort Severn and Big Trout Lake" report is the third in a series of cross Canada case studies, commissioned by Industry Canada's Broadband Office, examining the benefits of broadband. This report is a collaborative effort between the Connect Ontario: Broadband Regional Access (COBRA) and the Broadband Office.

The "Ontario's Far North Study: Broadband Best Practices in Fort Severn and Big Trout Lake" is a comparative study that examines the best practices and benefits associated with the planning and implementation of broadband infrastructure in Fort Severn and Big Trout Lake. New jobs and new spending, improvements in health care, young people acquiring skills more easily, e-Banking, video conferencing for training and increases in the effectiveness of band management are only some of the benefits realized in the two broadband-served communities which this study documents.  You may access this study directly through the following link:
http://www.broadband.ic.gc.ca/pub/program/case_studies/ontario/index.html

Click here to read the entire report (PDF - 234KB)

Executive Summary

Fort Severn and Big Trout Lake have gained experience in broadband that other communities can benefit from. Best practices identified include the following:

1. Clear and far-reaching vision
2. Strategic planning
3. Effective leadership
4. Community engagement
5. Local control
6. Cost-effective infrastructure
7. Technical innovation
8. Creation of informed users
9. On-line services
10. Performance measurement and sustainability.

Both communities developed a clear and far-reaching vision and engaged in the planning and execution of effective implementation strategies. Residents of both communities were fully engaged in the planning and execution of their broadband systems and these systems are now owned locally and provide reliable service. Users are well-informed about the capabilities.

These and the other best practices identified, have led to significant benefits for each community. The benefits include advances in health care for residents, the availability of videoconferencing, better access to research, improved training opportunities and reductions in outlays for air travel.

The Guinness World Records Ltd issued a Certificate stating:

The 'Wapusk Trail" road
(752 km (467 miles) in length)
constructed each year between
Gillam, Manitoba, and Peawanuk,
Ontario, Canada,
is thought to be the longest
seasonal winter road
in the world

signed by: Keeper of the Records, GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS LTD

Industry Canada's National Satellite Initiative recently announced the List of Selected Applicants for the Round 1 allocation of the second Telesat C-Band public benefit transponder. See http://smart.knet.ca/satellite for additional information about the first transponder that included a 12.5 mhz allocation for Keewaytinook Okimakanak.

Over the past couple of years KO staff worked with a number of different partners, in particular FedNor, to support the development of the C-Band satellite infrastructure that supports communities required to use this type of connection. The Kativik Regional Government in Northern Quebec and the Keewatin Tribal Council in Northern Manitoba are partnering with KO to deliver these connectivity solutions in their member communities.

The following pages from the Industry Canada web site provide details about each of the selected applicants for the first round of transponder space allocation by the National Satellite Initiative program. It includes contact names and numbers of  the successful applicant. In addition, a map of the general area of the proposal is provided. The shaded area encompasses communities that are suggested in the proposal along with immediately surrounding regions, and is meant as a general guide only. Click on a dot to view more details about that community.

British Columbia: British Columbia Satellite Network

Manitoba: Sustainable Northern Connectivity Strategy

Ontario: Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishnabek Broadband

Quebec: Kativik Regional Government

The final report of the National Selection Committee, an arm's-length advisory group for the Broadband for Rural and Northern Development Pilot Program (BRAND), was submitted to the Minister of Industry for consideration on March 31, 2004.  

Click here to read the Final Report PDF version (379 KB)

RECOMMENDATION 1: Making Broadband a National Priority

Deploying broadband networks, developing broadband services, and achieving affordable broadband access for all Canadians should be national priorities.

As of  April 20, 2004,  we have had a lot of visitors check out our website.  The website has been up and running since April 5, 2004 when a bunch of Eabamet Lakers were involved in a website development training workshop. Thanks to our trainer, J. F. and K-Net.  

I will be updating  the website on a regular basis with the help of some computer experts in the community.

Come and check out our website anytime you're browsing the internet! Check it out at http://eabametoong.firstnation.ca

On Sunday evening, Maori leaders from across New Zealand met to discuss among other things how video conferencing can be utilized to support training and economic development opportunities for their communities. The following message was sent from New Zealand following the meeting ...

---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: Re: A big fat THANKS!!
From:    "Tom Winitana"
Date:    Sun, April 18, 2004 9:33 pm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello again Brian,  :-)

I would like to once again express on behalf of our organisation and  our Marae Based Studies office, many many thanks for the giving of your  weekend and precious family time to speak to our people via video conferencing.  They will have seen a small example of an application in  action.  It will also give them some  appreciation of the technology  available when our team travel to these marae for engaging and consulting with the kaumatua (elders) and whanau (families) of the  marae.  Well Brian, the mind "boggles" just thinking about how far our  people and your people have come in terms of ICT.

Until we meet (VC) again, may your summer be a warm one and hopefully  any grass that you have left after the snow has melted will turn "Green"  :-D  

Cheers for now

Tom

Slate Falls, Muskrat Dam and Koocheching First Nations, working with the Windigo First Nations Council, learned last week that they have been approved to develop a broadband connectivity solution in each of their communities. Under Industry Canada's Broadband for Rural and Northern Development (BRAND)program and FedNor, Slate Falls will be expanding their telephone system to network all the buildings in the community. Muskrat Dam will be constructing a satellite earth station to provide broadband connections throughout their community. Koocheching is planning to construct a broadband radio connection over to Sandy Lake to deliver broadband connections and services in their community.

Click here to read the announcement on the BRAND web site.

OTTAWA - Expanding use of high-speed internet connections helped e-commerce sales grow by 40 per cent last year, but web sales still accounted for only about 1 per cent of private sector operating revenues, Statistics Canada said Friday. ...

"A major factor in rising e-commerce, particularly in the private sector, is the adoption of high-speed access to the Internet," Statistics Canada said. "In 2003, two-thirds of all private companies used broadband to connect to the internet, up from 58 per cent the year before, and only 48 per cent in 2001." ...

Last year, about 34 per cent of firms had a website, up three percentage points from 2002. ...

Click here to read the entire story on CBC's web site

Click here to read the Executive Summary of the Needs Survey 2003 (in PDF only)

Click here to read the full document of the Needs Survey 2003 (in PDF only)

Click here to read the Contact North, April 5 press release.

A wonderful message being distributed by a friend called a"PARADOX OF OUR TIME" ... Please Note: I usually do not even read these chain e-mail messages but I happened to see this one and thought it should be shared with everyone ... Brian

++++++++++++++++++++++

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness. We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things. We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.

Remember, spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak, and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind. Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

HOW TO STAY YOUNG

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctor worry about them. That is why you pay him/her.

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. " An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, to the next county, to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.