37. Cisco
Systems - Thom Wolstencroft, Account Manager (July 22)
"...
our visit to your community in the latter part of June, the
time spent discussing with you the need for improved communications
into the proposed sites, the subsequent design that has come
out of the process, and our willingness to extend ourselves
to assist you both now and in the future, illustrates our commitment
to your project. Additionally, I believe that we have not even
begun to scratch the surface of what we can expect to see in
features, benefits, and applications for these communities.
The network you are proposing is a highway for a great deal
of applications (integrated voice, video, data, E- Comm, Web
ennoblement) that can profoundly change life in these communities
for the better."
38. The
EDEN Project - Luke McWatters, CEO (July 29)
"The
EDEN Project (Electronic Distributed Education Network) is the
first and only service of its kind in Canada that delivers accredited
high school courses online, delivered by qualified teaching
professionals. ... We have observed the exciting work that you
and your team have been doing and applaud you for the vision
you have developed thus far. We would be privileged to be part
of that vision."
39. Virtual
Professionals Inc. - John Eberhard, President (July 29)
"The
early work, which you have done in connection with the K-Net
Services program, is an excellent precursor to the expectations
of the Federal Department in connection with this new visionary
plan. Building on the existing partnerships and introducing
new resources and partners will provide opportunities in Northwestern
Ontario which might be replicated in the future in many other
remote interconnected communities ..."
40. Aboriginal
Business Canada, NADF - Mike Belliveau (July 13)
"...
in reference to your Statement of Intent to Aboriginal Business
Canada to carry out a business plan to verify the viability
of establishing a business(es) that will provide community wide
access to advanced telecommunication services that include Internet
and Video conferencing."
41. 807
Northwest Network - Les Mayes, Chair (July 29)
"807 Northwest
Network has a large member base that includes: Lakehead University,
Confederation College, Thunder Bay Regional Hospital, St.
Joseph's Care Group, the Northwestern Ontario Cancer Clinic,
the thirteen regional hospitals, most of the school boards
in the region, Contact North, the City of Thunder Bay and
most of the cities and towns in Northwestern Ontario. The
SMART Communities' initiative will assist 807 Northwest Network
members to implement, test and deploy broadband applications,
with a view of making Northwestern Ontario a large, virtual,
Smart Community."
42. Ministry
of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation - Vera Kameda, Community
Development Consultant (Aug 5)
"This is a
letter of support for your K-Net project developing a business/information
technology centre in each of the Keewaytinook Okimakanak First
Nations communities. The developmental and operational strategies
for the variety of broadband telecommunication applications
and services that your organization is proposing will help
these remote communities make huge strides in narrowing the
information and communication gaps they presently endure.
... As you are working through particular phases of this,
you may find that our Special Projects and Services Grant
program - organizational and economic development categories
useful for some further support. Also our Volunteer Action
On Line program is still open for eligible applications ...”
43. Human
Resources Development Canada - Jack O’Dowda, Consultant (August
19)
"I have reviewed the material at The Smart
Communities Program website. Clearly the goal of the program
to facilitate the development and use of information and communication
technologies for economic, social and cultural development
is what your organization has been championing for some time.
Your success in providing direction and in forming partnerships
with HRDC and other agencies has been instrumental in the
progress that has been made to improve communications on all
levels for the communities you serve. Keewaytinook Okimakanak
has provided a roadmap that other remote communities can follow
to further their own development of communication technologies.
HRDC Kenora supports your efforts to make further progress
under the Smart Communities Program and looks forward to working
with you in the near future.”
