Support Community Access
Theme: Building Digital Skills
Idea Status: +104 | Total Votes: 112 | Comments: 17
Canada currently has a national network of 3,500 community technology centers that help more than 100,000 people per day to incorporate new technologies into their lives. This network was built under the Industry Canada Community Access Program (CAP) and its companion Youth Initiative Program (CAP–YI). These sites and their young facilitators, along with a legion of volunteers, provide job search and software training, technology literacy programs, access to community services, and cultural integration opportunities. They partner with the local private and public sector to provide services and experienced personnel in many different areas — from film editing to website building. Along the way, thousands of youth gain valuable job experience. Both internal and external evaluators have agreed that this very cost–effective program has been a success story for years.*
Support for existing centres needs to be expanded and a program to restart funding for new centres needs to be established. This investment will boost local economies by encouraging the uses of technology for community development and by offering collaborative tools that promote the effectiveness of the community sector.
* (See, for example: Ekos Research Associates. (2004). Evaluation Study of the Community Access Program (CAP). Industry Canada. Audit and Evaluation Branch, January 16. and Coleman, Ronald. (2002). "Economic value of CAP sites as investments in social capital" and "Impact of CAP sites on volunteerism." GPI Atlantic. Economic Value of CAP Sites as Investments in Social Capital).Comments
dthompson — 2010–07–06 12:29:08 EDT wrote
The CAP program is essential to sustainable development in Canada. By raising people's knowledge about the importance of the internet and utilization of same, they will be able to participate in today's knowledge–based economy.
Izabela — 2010–07–06 13:36:47 EDT wrote
Vancouver Community Network is the administrator for 102 Community Access Program (CAP) sites in the Lower Mainland Vancouver region.
We know CAP sites are effective and functional in helping users (especially those who face barriers to computer and Internet access) learn, utilize and adopt Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). Many CAP sites are located within distinct communities, each serving clientele with its own needs and priorities. By being part of the community and understanding its identity, CAP sites alongside the support of CAPYI interns have the irreplaceable ability to improve the social and economic well being of the clientele by engaging them in ICTs while addressing the specific needs of those individuals within safe, non–judgmental and non–intimidating environments.
Below are just a few highlights of how CAP sites are connecting individuals with the effective utilization of ICTs. We invite you to read the stories, which are featured in our online magazine, The CAPYI 2009.
marita — 2010–07–06 13:54:37 EDT wrote
The political support CAP receives each time it has hit the 'endangered' list shows how deeply it is valued by the communities it serves. Other countries consider such public access and education programs as investments in their communities and economies(the new U.S. digital strategy has set aside considerable funds for public access and education). A Canadian digital economy strategy that does not include such a program would be very incomplete indeed.
CLeader — 2010–07–06 16:40:32 EDT wrote
CAP serves a very important role in connecting the strengths of people and communities across our country. It provides Canadians with easy and effective access to Internet facilities, training and services. It also provides Canadians with a wide range of government and community–based information and services in convenient "front door" neighbourhood locations such as libraries, schools, and community health and training centres. It also serves to accelerate the pace of technology adoption and reinforces the widespread use of ICTs by promoting, facilitating and supporting public access to integrated public and private networks of information products and services which are essential to the Canadian way of life.
Haul — 2010–07–06 17:25:14 EDT wrote
CAP Site is an essential program in the community as it provides much needed supports through free internet access. Using the internet people can search for jobs, communicate with relatives, look for referrals, and find much needed resources available for them. The site is also a valuable learning tool for seniors and youth who don't have internet access at home.
Bev Collins — 2010–07–06 17:28:30 EDT wrote
Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is changing our society. A national strategy is needed in order to ensure that our communities benefit from the opportunities of digital technology. The effective use of ICT by Canadian businesses, citizens, and government departments increases productivity, enhances social well–being, and improves efficiency.
Canada already has this infrastructure. It is the result of government investment in the Community Access Program (CAP), which has placed community technology resources in the hands of over 3,000 rural and urban communities. However, this infrastructure remains underutilized and has suffered through continued reductions in funding.
We encourage the Canadian Government to resume it's position as a leader in promoting the effective use of ICT by ALL sectors of society by supporting the existing CAP infrastructure. The job is not done. The divide has not been narrowed.
Pacific Community Networks Association
copaguy — 2010–07–07 10:52:02 EDT wrote
As a low income senior I cannot justify the monthly cost of commercial hi–speed internet at home, and have our Vancouver Community 'free–net' dial–up. These days, government agencies increasingly put their information, services, and questionaires 'online' to help folks like me with chronic health problems. Similarly with the volunteer services we support and wish to be active in, . Those living in room & board… New immigrants, Native Aboriginees, Elder Canadians, and the like, find it difficult or too expensive to access the internet at home, and thus the CAP and wifi program provides access to modern social,service, and government interface for these people.
Even those with dial–up access are dismayed to discover that most friends, relatives or service associations send beautiful images, posters, illustrated newsletters of large pixel size, 4, 6, 10 or more Megabites. Our dial–up systems either time–out, or take hours to download this stuff. …This same frustrating problem occours when attempting research on the web.
CAP sites allow these aformentioned Canadians to access these valuable services via hi–speed like everyone else, and so allow us to participate more fully and better benefit from todays digital society.
picman — 2010–07–07 13:09:48 EDT wrote
Over the last 5 years I have observed the increasing "computerization" of both government services and the process of applying for jobs.
As someone who works with people from a low income area of the city I have watched these changes and how they affect the people I work with. Two years ago you could fax a resume to the majority of jobs. Now this is the exception. Email and online applications is more common. Government services are increasingly only available on line or on the phone. Both of these assume several common middle class tools: a computer, a word processor, and to access government services a phone you can wait on for up to 20 minutes.
If you live in an insecure single room occupancy hotel and pay for a phone on a phone card these are not assumables. If we are not going to change the government and societie's use of electronic media, then it is important to make sure that there is universal access to the technology and the training to use the technology. CAP is one vehicle for that and needs to be supported. CAP is one vehicle for that and for that reason needs to be supported.
Tate — 2010–07–07 15:02:11 EDT wrote
The productivity and competitiveness of Canada's digital economy will continue to increase in significance as a measure of national economic strength. While this is an area in which private enterprise can and will thrive, government must build on past efforts in order to ensure that it creates the conditions for increased success into the future. Government must ensure that its citizens are prepared to capitalize upon the opportunities and challenges of Web 3.0 concepts and technology in particular. If Web 3.0 lives up to its promise of being the convergence of physical and virtual worlds, the costs (expenses, inefficiencies, and lost opportunity costs) of a digitally impoverished population will skyrocket. In short, a Digital Economy Strategy is vital in laying the groundwork for Canada's engagement with Web 3.0. It will define how our fellow citizens relate to digital technology in the short, middle, and long term.
Any genuine Digital Economy Strategy requires an infrastructure that delivers access, training, and awareness in an inclusive (socially, economically, culturally, geographically, physically, linguistically, etc.) and forward–thinking manner.
CAP delivers that. It has the potential to deliver much more if fully used by government. Government should not only support CAP, but explore how further investment in program development and delivery could improve its ROI, especially as related to Web 3.0 opportunities. It is an important (and often the only) delivery vehicle for providing services to the most vulnerable subpopulations, all in a manner that is remarkably efficient and cost effective.
Maximize this resource. In the "totally integrated world" of the very near future, CAP is a key tool for ensuring that we are all integrated in a way that respects values and, in turn, creates value.
Government's past and present support for CAP should also be acknowledged. It is a tremendously successful program and government's support, while not always at the desired level, has allowed it to persist. Strategic investment in program design and delivery will enable the CAP infrastructure to embrace the challenges and opportunities of Web 3.0 and deliver that directly to communities.
nsardy — 2010–07–07 17:05:18 EDT wrote
I have hosted a CAP site for close to 10 years and I cant count the number of times people have applauded the facility and availability of access to the net by all. This program should not only be supported but expanded to help those who need the access at either no or little cost.
Nick Sardy — Computer Access Center CAP site,
Williams lake, BC 250–392–6640
aclay1 — 2010–07–07 17:52:52 EDT wrote
Our community has had a CAPsite for about 15 years now. Over the years it has helped countless clients learn internet skills, application skills, or just sending emails or chats to friends from away. It has integrated with other organizations including seniors, youth, our community center, and our RCMP community policing office. The computers are maintained, supervised, and in some cases funded entirely by volunteers. We often provide summer jobs experience for students returning to university in the fall. Many have said their capsite summer job was a valuable experience in their training.
As a businessman/engineer, I am often away from the office during the field season. Capsites have been a valuable resource for keeping in touch with the office and clients. On many occasions, I have sent clients from remote fishing communities to their local capsite to transfer data and information to me at my office. No doubt, other means could be found but the capsites have been there and they always seem to be someone that wants to help out.
It is a healthy exercise to review project funding from time to time. I think however, that projects that attract this much volunteer support and fill voids such as those filled by the capsites are important to maintain.
Allen Clay, Beaver Bank Capsite, Nova Scotia
Ray — 2010–07–07 18:13:14 EDT wrote
Kennedy Seniors Recreation Centre is operated by volunteer seniors. CAP support allows seniors access to email and the internet. It has also allowed us to aid the seniors in other uses of computers. They can learn how to talk face to face with over–seas relatives. They learn how to utilize those photos that were accumulating on their digital cameras. Email and info searching on the internet are important, but it is the fun things that make life enjoyable.
Thank you, C.A.P., keep it up!
Ray
KeeganM — 2010–07–07 20:33:57 EDT wrote
This is my third summer employed as a student intern in one of the Halifax Regional C@P sites. However, even if I were not employed there, I would still volunteer to maintain and assist with my local C@P site. It has proven itself time and time again to be a service of great value within our community, and I feel proud to be a member of the C@P team.
thoyt — 2010–07–07 21:50:27 EDT wrote
Without the support of CAP in our small remote Northern community, access to the Internet and email, learning basic computer skills, and participation in social networking would not be possible for the majority of our population.
diane lambert — 2010–07–08 10:58:55 EDT wrote
Il est essentiel d'offrir un support à l'accès à l'information en ligne. Ce support doit passer par l'accès aux ordinateurs branchés et par le soutien à l'appropriation de l'information. La formation et l'accompagnement sont essentiels. La population peu scolarisée doit également obtenir un soutien adapté en raison de l'inaccessibilité des interfaces et du contenu. Les centres d'accès internet communautaire sont implantés dans le milieu et connaissent bien les besoins de la population qui les fréquentent. Ces centres d'accès doivent donc pouvoir compter sur un financement qui leur permettent de se maintenir, de se développer donc ce financement doit permettre l'entretien, le renouvellement des ordinateurs, la connexion et très important la présence régulière d'animateurs et d'animatrices formées aux besoins de la population peu scolarisée et défavorisée.
gallerygachet — 2010–07–09 16:29:42 EDT wrote
The CAP program is essential to our mission, mandate and community here in the DTES community in Vancouver. Without this program we will struggle with providing support to the public. And the people who come into Gachet, some for years, will be challenged to find similar computer support.
joanmc — 2010–07–12 21:47:58 EDT wrote
I am fortunate in having my own computer(s) and, thanks mainly to our local PC User Group, Big Blue & Cousins, I have considerable computer skills. Many others in my age group and/or financial situation (senior with small pension) are not so lucky. It has now become necessary for most Canadians to have access to a computer and the Internet to do basic things such as access government services and/or information, find out retail specials and, in some cases, to make purchases.
Thankfully, Big Blue & Cousins is a CAP site so we are able to give access to those in our community who aren't necessarily members of our User Group. At the same time, they have access to knowledgeable people who can help them out with whatever task they need to do from printing a grandchild's photo to applying for financial assistance to browsing the web to viewing a program that they missed on HGTV or some other channel.
It is absolutely essential for our community to continue to have this access at no cost and with help available to function fully in today's digital world. Please seriously consider establishing the Community Access Program (CAP) on a permanent basis as part of a long term digital policy for Canada.
