U of G Hosts Digital Ontario Symposium
February 28, 2008 - News Release
Incorporating high-speed Internet into the lives of Ontarians is the focus of the Digital Ontario symposium running March 5 and 6.
Hosted by the University of Guelph's Snowden Program in Communications for Social and Environmental Change in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Government and Consumer Services, the two-day event is aimed at developing strategies to improve how the province uses high-speed Internet access.
"The goal is to bring together academics, practitioners and policy professionals to explore our collective capacity to contribute to Ontario's digital future and realize the benefits of broadband," said Prof. Helen Hambly, School of Environmental Design and Rural Development, who works with the Snowden Program. "We need to develop new broadband strategies that look at access in rural areas as well as ways of using broadband for community engagement and economic competitiveness."
On March 5, academics from universities across North America as well as representatives from the province, the Information Technology Association of Canada, the Canadian Urban Institute, and the Ontario Rural Council will give talks and participate in panel discussions at the Delta Guelph Hotel and Conference Centre.
Topics include "A Snapshot of Broadband in Canada," "Looking Ahead at Broad-Based Efforts for Broadband Strategies," "Action and Approaches for the Digital Future," "Rethinking Remoteness for the Future of Governance, Leadership and Strategic Partnerships" and "Civic Intelligence and Social Entrepreneurship for the Digital Future."
On March 6, participants will gather at the University of Guelph's Arboretum Centre to discuss future strategies and action plans for local, provincial, national and international initiatives.
For more information and to register for Digital Ontario.
For media questions, contact Communications and Public Affairs: Lori Bona Hunt, 519-824-4120, Ext. 53338, l.hunt@exec.uoguelph.ca or Deirdre Healey, Ext. 56982, d.healey@exec.uoguelph.ca
