Infrastructure

Application

Education & Awareness

2011 Annual Report

2011 Annual Report

Table of Contents

Message From Our Chair..............................................................................................1Corporate Profile...........................................................................................................2Project Management......................................................................................................3

Infrastructure Projects........................................................................................3Application Projects............................................................................................4Education & Awareness Projects........................................................................5

Committees...................................................................................................................6Marketing and Regional Profile....................................................................................7Operations.....................................................................................................................8Vision For 2012.............................................................................................................9Auditor’s Report..........................................................................................................10Members......................................................................................................................19Partners........................................................................................................................21Board of Directors.......................................................................................................23NEOnet Staff in 2011..................................................................................................24NEOnet Thank You ....................................................................................................26

2011 Annual Report

1. Message from the Chair

On behalf of the Board of Directors of NEOnet, it is

my pleasure to present the 2011 Annual Report to you, our members, partners and stakeholders. This report highlights NEOnet’s work to enhance Information and Communications

Technology (ICT) infrastructure and services to our region. In 2011 NEOnet, along with its partners, successfully completed the construction phase of 10 new cellular towers that will reduce the cellular service gaps along highways (11, 144, 65, 63, 101 and Moosonee), as well as on some secondary highways (560 and 583). NEOnet also launched its well-received Broadband for E-Business and Marketing (BEAM) initiative, financially supported by FedNor, which assists small and medium sized businesses in developing or enhancing a web presence. Over 100 businesses have benefitted from this initiative, as well as web developers throughout the region. NEOnet continued to deliver educational opportunities for seniors, small and medium sized businesses and the general public.

NEOnet acknowledges the generous support and assistance of our public sector partners, the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation, FedNor and the Community Futures Development Corporations in our catchment area. Without the support of the aforementioned and the enthusiasm of our private sector project partners, NorthernTel and Ontera, the technological infrastructure gap would be debilitating for northeastern Ontario residents and businesses.

Thank you to the staff of NEOnet. The team is responsible for moving these projects forward on a daily basis by working with the funders, partners and stakeholders. Its wealth of knowledge and skill assist the organization in implementing its vision.

Finally, I thank the Board of Directors. You have brought your varied experience and expertise to the team and contributed to improving our region’s economic and community development opportunities through information and communications technology.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, I’d like to thank you all for another productive and successful year, and I look forward to working with you in 2012.

Sincerely,

Denis BérubéNEOnet Chair

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2011 Annual Report

2. Corporate Profile

NEOnet is a non-profit regional development organization that focuses on telecommunications and technology. Its mandate is to:

• facilitate partnerships to enhance ICT (Information & Communications Technologies) services & infrastructure.

• increase awareness & adoption of ICT in northeastern Ontario.

• support organizations in their use and integration of ICT.

Sample projects in 2011 include:• Cellular Tower Expansion• Wireless Hotspots• Seniors Computer Training • Broadband for E-Business and Marketing (BEAM)• Tech Break Time information sessions

NEOnet is governed by a board of directors that represents the region’s education, health, industry, economic development, and human and social services organizations. It is staffed by three full-time employees, and project-specific contract personnel as needed.

NEOnet’s founding premise is that ICT business cases are most sustainable when they are founded on market-driven principles, even when public sector funding is required to offset capital expenditures. Research has shown that the “build it and they will come” model is not effective for community and regional ICT development. NEOnet builds demand by facilitating partnerships, aggregating multiple user needs, and increasing awareness among stakeholders.

Corporation staff work very closely with all private sector telecommunications carriers and service providers, and maintain a policy of open and transparent request for

proposals process when project funding is made available.

NEOnet’s catchment area is approximately the size of Great Britain. It covers 60 communities in 200,000 km2, and has a population density of 0.5 persons per km2. This combination of distance and low population density presents a significant challenge to improving the telecommunications landscape in our area. NEOnet has discovered that public-private sector partnerships and business cases built on aggregation models are most successful.

Since inception NEOnet and its partners have invested over $110 million dollars in information and communications technology infrastructure throughout the catchment area.

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2011 Annual Report

3. Project Management

3. Project Management

In determining which projects and activities the corporation will pursue, the Board of Directors’ decisions are based on the three pillars of community ICT capacity building: infrastructure; education and awareness; and applications. The following chart summarizes the major projects in 2011, and indicates the balanced approach NEOnet strives for in carrying out its mandate.

Project Name

Infra

stru

ctur

e

App

licat

ion

Awar

enes

s

Regional Cellular Expansion •

First Nations Broadband Expansion •

Public Wireless Hotspots •

Technology Solutions Directory •

Broadband for eBusiness and Marketing (BEAM)

•

Seniors’ Computer Training •

Tech Break Times •

Stakeholder Updates •

Newsletters (Wired News) •

3.1 INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

Regional Cellular ExpansionFunders: NOHFC, Ontera and NorthernTel Mobility

NEOnet’s $7.2M Cellular Expansion project was

successfully completed at the end of 2011. The project was NEOnet’s second cellular expansion project designed to reduce the cellular service gaps along the King’s Highways throughout its catchment area. The project experienced a number of revisions since its inception in 2007, primarily with respect to tower location, technology deployment and the sustainability of proposed towers. The end result was the construction of ten towers.

Tower Locations:

• Moosonee• hwy 11 near Mattice in the Halfway Lake park area• hwy 144 just north of Halway Lake Provincial Park• hwy 65/11B near Dawson Point• hwy 65 near McCool• Kamiskotia• hwy 101W Godon Lake• hwy 101W Nat River• hwy 101W Foleyet

NEOnet along with its partners have established one of the most extensive cellular coverage networks in rural North America. This would not be possible without the financial support of the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation.

NEOnet recognizes that a number of cellular coverage gaps still remain within its catchment area. NEOnet will continue to work with its private and public sector partners to identify those gaps and pursue opportunities to develop additional serivce areas.

First Nations Broadband Expansion

NEOnet continued to provide support and resources for First Nations Broadband Expansion initiatives. NEOnet was called upon to help facilitate discussions between the First Nations Communities and two private sector vendors. NEOnet also researched potential public sector support for broadband infrastructure and local distribution development within the First Nations communities.

Infrastructure Projects

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2011 Annual Report

Application-Based Projects

NEOnet continues to observe the progress of the initiatives and monitor potential public funding opportunities.

Public Wireless HotspotsFunders: NOHFC, Community Futures Development Corporations, Ontera and NorthernTel

Residents of fourteen northeastern Ontario communities can now enjoy free Internet access in several public facilities and venues. Using existing DSL infrastructure the Wireless Hotspots Project saw the deployment of over 80 wireless high-speed Internet access points across the fourteen participating communities - Mattice-Val Rita, Moonbeam, Larder Lake, Temiskaming Shores, Kirkland Lake, McGarry, Cobalt, Timmins, Kapuskasing, Hearst, Englehart, Iroquois Falls, Smooth Rock Falls, Black River- Matheson, Gogama, Temagami, Marten River and Latchford.

2011 was the first full year of service provided by NorthernTel and Ontera. As part of the two-year initiative the private sector partners assumed the costs associated with the installation, maintenance, network hosting and monitoring, as well as the necessary bandwidth. NEOnet is working with the participating communities and the private sector partners to determine the sustainability of the access points after February 2013.

Businesses, business travelers, tourists, players, coaches, officials, community workers, parents, and students are now utilizing the access points. The hotspots provide each of these “clients” with an opportunity to access professional, educational and recreational information – making better use of their time. It is expected that the hotspots will result in extended business and leisure travel in the region, since both professionals and tourists can keep on top of what is happening at home as well as what is available to them in the area.In today’s digital world Internet access means opportunity, these wireless hotspots will encourage new economic development opportunities for the participating communities. The hotspots will also provide our youth

similar opportunities to remain engaged and connected as those in more urban areas. Having wireless Internet access points in public facilities will encourage the adoption and application of the available communications technology.

3.2 APPLICATION-BASED PROJECTS

Technology Solutions Directory

NEOnet’s Technology Solutions Directory was developed to provide an easily searchable directory of products, services and local providers to help small businesses find what they need. The directory is designed so that regional providers can display their corporate profile and service offerings in a self-serve fashion. NEOnet’s ICT Coordinator reviewed and updated the directory in July 2011. The directory currently has 44 listings from businesses in NEOnet’s catchment area.

Project Management

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NEOnet’s ICT Coordinator - Melanie Fortieraccesses the Internet at Gillies Lake

2011 Annual Report

Awareness Projects

3.3 AWARENESS-BASED PROJECTS

Broadband for E-Business and Marketing (BEAM)Funders: FedNor

In today’s digital marketplace to remain competitive businesses must be using the Internet to their advantage. To fully leverage the economic benefit of broadband ac-cess, businesses must not only use broadband; they must transform their business. The Broadband for E-Business and Marketing Program (BEAM) helps alleviate some of the associated costs of establishing your business online or for the costs associated with implementing or upgrad-ing E-business applications.

NEOnet launched its BEAM project, in April 2011, which provides a framework to help business owners define their business objectives and ensure that the right technol-ogy is implemented to achieve the desired outcomes. The program provides a rebate for 75% of eligible costs, up to a maximum of $5,000. In conjunction with the program NEOnet has encouraged applicants to participate in E-Business workshops and training opportunities to ensure they are adequately equipped to utilize the E-business applications.

NEOnet along with the help of local web developers de-livered six BEAM workshops throughout the catchment area, with over 100 participants in attendance. Covering topics such as Search Engine Optimization, Website Se-curity, Web Accessibility, Social Media, Website Visibil-ity and Thinking Outside the Monitor (Creative Content).

The BEAM project assisted over 90 small and medium enterprises in 2011, resulting in over $200,000 of web de-velopment investment in the catchment area. NEOnet will continue to promote and administer the BEAM project in 2012.

Seniors’ Computer Training

In 2008 NEOnet handed off seniors computer training to 16 training centres established during the previous two years with financial support from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. Teaching our regions seniors how to use computers is important since all levels of government have implemented information technology solutions to provide better service to their constituents and eliminate barriers caused by dispersed population bases and natural physical obstacles.

NEOnet revived its involvement in the training of seniors in 2010, with an Introduction to Computers sessions at the Cochrane and Iroquois Falls Public Libraries. In 2011, NEOnet followed up the introduction sessions with intermediate computer skills sessions in Cochrane and Iroquois Falls. All of the sessions were well attended, demonstrating the need for additional sessions. NEOnet will continue to lead sessions when personnel resources permit in 2012. Presently, NEOnet’s training resources are available to the public and organizations that are looking to aid seniors in becoming more acclimated to computers.

Tech Break TimesFunders and Partners: Various public and private sector organizations, FedNor

NEOnet continued to host Tech Break Time luncheons in

Project Management

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BEAM Seminar - TEDC Boardroom

2011 Annual Report

2011, including sessions on Search Engine Optimization, How To Get Your Business Online, Untangling Your Information Web, and Virtual Tradeshow Webinars.

NEOnet will continue to deliver Tech Break Time sessions in 2012 and is seeking input on topics of interest. NEOnet will be revamping the intiative and will put a greater focus on sessions in smaller communities throughout the catchment area.

Stakeholder UpdatesFunders and Partners: NEOnet, FedNor

NEOnet distributed written stakeholder updates quarterly during 2011, to over 410 organizations, businesses, communities and government officials. The stakeholder updates highlight the progress of projects initiated by NEOnet. Newsletters (Wired News)Funders and Partners: NEOnet, FedNor

NEOnet prepared and distributed twelve editions of Wired News, our monthly newsletter to our members throughout the region. The newsletters highlight what is new in the world of technology with particular interest to products, services and applications which can be adopted by residents, businesses and organizations in Northeastern Ontario.

NEOnet Informational BrochureFunders and Partners: NEOnet, FedNor

NEOnet designed a new bilingual informational brochure that highlights its mandate, vision and past sucesses.

4. Management Committees

NEOnet’s success would not be possible without the assistance of a dedicated Board of directors and community stakeholders. Several commit-

tees of the Board help guide and implement projects, and

make recommendations on issues of policy, finance, and contractual obligations.

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee advises the Board on matters of finance, policy, human resources, and mandated activities. It helps establish Board meeting agendas and proposes to the Board new project concepts for staff.

It normally meets prior to Board meetings, unless circum-stances warrant special meetings.

Members:• Denis Bérubé, Chair• Gerry Talbot, Vice Chair• Phil Barton, Treasurer• Gary Marriott, Director-at-Large• Dan Martel, Director-at-Large

Personnel/Human Resources Committee

This sub-committee of the Executive Committee is comprised of two or more members and handles the human resource issues of the organization. They review job descriptions, contracts, job postings and performance appraisal materials. Job interview panels always have at least one member of this committee, in addition to the Director of Operations. A member of the Committee also attends performance appraisals and disciplinary meetings.

Members:• Denis Bérubé• Gerry Talbot• Phil Barton• Gary Marriott

Project Committees

Project committees are struck on an ad hoc basis to ensure that NEOnet staff have guidance from a regional

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4. Management Committees

2011 Annual Report

perspective. NEOnet thanks the following Board mem-bers for their assistance on the following projects.

BEAM Committee• Gerry Talbot• Guy Guindon• Linda Côté• Dennis Higgs• Denis Bérubé• Paul Ouimette

Wireless Hotspot Committee• Paul Ouimette• Denis Bérubé• Phil Barton• Gary Marriott

Cellular Tower Expansion Committee• Denis Bérubé• Phil Barton• Gary Marriott

5. Marketing and Regional Profile

Marketing and brand awareness continues to be a priority for NEOnet as it establishes itself publicly as a credible and successful organization. Its marketing efforts are important in raising awareness of technology to address digital divide issues.

NEOnet’s 2011 marketing strategy built on that of previ-ous years to continue to enhance the organization’s profile throughout the region by attending local promotional events, community speaking engagements, deputations to town councils, publication of newsletters and stakeholder updates, business outreach meetings and partnership development.

NEOnet also launched an aggressive marketing initiative for the BEAM project utilizing all forms of media - TV, Radio, Print, and Internet. Thank you to our television partner CTV for its partial sponsorhsip in the production and airing of our television advertisements.

Media

NEOnet continues to have a good working relationship with regional media. The media’s assistance promoted the continued recognition of NEOnet by the communities as an organization dedicated to improving information and communications technology infrastructure, applica-tions and awareness in Northeastern Ontario.

Memberships

Memberships remained steady with 47 organizations making financial and in-kind contributions to NEOnet in 2011. Municipalities and not-for-profit organizations still form the bulk of the membership. NEOnet recognizes that there is a limited pool of organizations that are fis-cally able to acknowledge NEOnet’s contribution to the economic well-being of the region.

While memberships and financial contributions from organizations played a significant role in NEOnet early operations, the need for substantial contributions has been diminished over the years due to FedNor’s financial sup-port of NEOnet’s projects and operations.

Regional Profile

Signs that our regional profile is expanding include:• NEOnet’s deputation to the CRTC in 2010 proved

impactful, as the CRTC changed its “highspeed Inter-net” baseline speed from 1.5 Mbps to 5Mbps.

• NEOnet’s pilot projects have been expanded and adopted by other Technology Development Organi-zations and Community Based Networks

• NEOnet received calls from residents and businesses outside its catchment area, asking for assistance with ICT development issues.

• NEOnet was a keynote speaker at the Women’s Information Network conference in November 2011.

• NEOnet’s BEAM program has garnered interest from other not-for-profit development organizations

• The NEOnet website continues to grow and add content in English and French in response to requests from stakeholders and inquiries by the general public.

5. Marketing and Regional Profile

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2011 Annual Report

6. Operations

NEOnet’s approach to improving the information and communications technology infrastructure of the region has not followed that of other community-based networks in Ontario. Rather than competing with existing ser-vice providers by owning its own network, NEOnet has worked to foster private investment in the region. Since its incorporation as a non-profit organization in 1999, its mission was to support a stable, yet competitive environ-ment for the private telecommunications service provid-ers already in the region. This strategy has led to the investment of over $110 million into the region’s broad-band and cellular infrastructure by public and private sector partners.

In the early stages of NEOnet’s development extensive research was conducted on the impact of community-based networks and the market-driven development model. NEOnet derived its mission and mandate from the studies’ results, as they revealed organizations that promote education and community capacity building in conjunction with infrastructure development are more successful and are more sustainable over the long term

than those espousing the “build it and they will come” model.

NEOnet’s operating model stands out as an example of how building adoption rates and promoting the develop-ment of applications – in conjunction with infrastructure development – can reduce aspects of the digital divide in rural and remote communities.

Communities, organizations and private sector stakehold-ers recognize the necessity and significance of NEOnet’s involvement in the advancement of ICT infrastructure in northeastern Ontario, acknowledging it with financial and in-kind contributions. These contributions along with project management fees, government funding, and to a limited extent membership fees, support NEOnet’s daily operations.

NEOnet’s core staff consists of 3 positions including a Director of Operations, an ICT Project Manager, and a Project Facilitator. Additional staff members are hired on a project-by-project basis.

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NEOnet Organizational Chart

6. Operations

2011 Annual Report

7. Vision for 2012

With the completion of the Cellular Expansion project and the success of past broadband infrastructure proj-ects, NEOnet recognizes that while a need for continued expansion of broadband internet access and cellular phone service throughout the region remains, NEOnet must also address the region’s knowledge gap with respect to information and communications technology. NEOnet will also continue to assist small and medium sized enterprises in the adoption of ICT applications and help remote com-munities achieve their ICT objectives. We plan to work to-wards this by increasing our awareness building activities in the region, expanding our newsletter distribution list and working more closely with businesses and communities.

NEOnet’s Board of Directors will participate in a vision-ing session, with the goal of identifying ICT objectives throughout the region that will form the foundation for NEOnet’s future.

NEOnet staff has always successfully transformed the board’s vision into tangible projects which have garnered recognition from communities, funding agencies, and regional media outlets. The Board has developed the fol-lowing criteria to prioritize which information and commu-nications technology projects to champion:

• They are regional and/or aggregated.• There is both the political and community will to make

the project happen.• There is an opportunity for revenue generation for NEOnet. • The project does not compete with the private sector.

Our continued success in developing regional ICT projects will undoubtedly further NEOnet’s existence.

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7. Vision

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8. Auditor’s Report

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9. NEOnet Members 2011

9. NEOnet Members

NEOnet takes its direction from community and regional stakeholders, and in particular, its membership. NEOnet could not have achieved

the level of success that it has without the constant and encouraging support of its members.

Canadian Mental Health Association Child and Family Services (Timmins & District) City of Temiskaming ShoresCity of Timmins Collège Boréal Davidson de Laplante Insurance Brokers Ltd.District of Cochrane Social Services Administration Board District School Board Ontario North East Gogama Local Services BoardGoldcorp - Porcupine Gold MinesInvestors GroupKirkland & District Community Development CorporationLe Conseil scolaire catholique de district des Grandes Rivières Leo Alarie & Sons Construction Ltd. (An Aecon Company)Logikal CodeLucid Networks CorporationM-Tel Consulting ServiceMunicipality of TemagamiNord-Aski Regional Economic Development CorporationNorth Claybelt Community Futures Development CorporationNorthern College of Applied Arts & TechnologyNorthernTel LimitedOntera

Ross, Pope and Company LLPServices CanadaSouth Temiskaming Community Futures Development CorporationThe Venture Centre/Le Centre de développement Timmins and District HospitalTimmins Chamber of CommerceTimmins Economic Development Corporation Town of EnglehartTown of CochraneTown of HearstTown of Iroquois FallsTown of Kapuskasing Town of Kirkland LakeTown of Moosonee Township of Black-River MathesonTownship of ChapleauTownship of EvanturelTownship of JamesTownship of Larder LakeTownship of MatachewanTownship of Mattice-Val CôtéTownship of McGarryTownship of MoonbeamTownship of Opasatika

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2011 Annual Report

10. NEOnet Partners

10. NEOnet Partners

NEOnet gratefully acknowledges the support, participation and cooperation of more than 150 public and private sector partners.

Their input and involvement helps ensure that NEOnet remains an organization that is truly community-based.

ACFO Iroquois Falls CAP siteAdnetAteliers des Pionniers et Pionnières Du NordBell CanadaBeyond Wireless Bibliothèque de Hearst Public LibraryBibliothèque municipale de Val Rita-Harty Bibliothèque municipale Fauquier-Strickland Bibliothèque publique Canton ArmstrongBibliothèque publique de Mattice-Val Côté Bibliothèque publique de Moonbeam Black River Matheson Library and CAP sitesBlue Sky NetworkCameron GraphicsC & G ComputersChapleau Public LibraryChapleau Regional Development CorporationChâteau Georgian Retirement ResidenceCity of Temiskaming ShoresCity of TimminsCobalt Public Library and CAP siteCochrane Public LibraryCollège BoréalCompanion RestaurantComputers for SchoolsConnaught CAP site cor consultingCTVDistrict of Cochrane Social Services Administration BoardDistrict of Timiskaming Social Services Administration BoardDistrict School Board Ontario North EastEarlton Public Library

Elk Lake Public LibraryEncore Club Kirkland LakeEnglehart Public Library and CAP siteExtendicare Kirkland LakeFedNorFoleyet Local Services BoardFoleyet Metis Pathfinders CAP site Francine J. Wesley Secondary SchoolFrank RochGogama CAP site Gogama Local Services BoardGreen TomatoIroquois Falls Adult Learning CentreIroquois Falls Community Development TeamIroquois Falls Public Library and CAP siteJ.R. Nakogee SchoolKap Information Technology ServicesKapuskasing Career InfoKapuskasing Public LibraryKevin VincentKirkland and District Community Development CorporationKirkland Lake CAP sitesKrazy Krazy AudiotronicLe Conseil scolaire catholique de district des Grandes RivièresLa Boîte à lettres Larder Lake Public LibraryLatchford Public LibraryLogikal CodeLucid Networks CompanyMarc SoucieMatachewan Community CentreMatachewan First NationMattagami First NationMattagami First Nation CAP siteMattice Public LibraryMcGarry Community Internet Access Centre McGarry Public Library and CAP siteMichael ByrnesMoose Factory Education AuthorityMoosonee Native Friendship CentreM-Tel Consulting Services

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NEOnet Partners

Municipality of JoguesMunicipality of Mattice Val CôtéMunicipality of TemagamiMuskoka Community NetworkNational Research Council (IRAP)Neal McNairNetCentralNord-Aski Regional Economic Development CorporationNorth Claybelt Community Futures Development CorporationNorth Centennial ManorNorthdale ManorNortheastern Catholic District School BoardNorthern College of Applied Arts and TechnologyNorthern Lights Library NetworkNorthern Ontario Heritage Fund CorporationNorthern Swing Golf CentreNorthernTelNorthernTel MobilityOntario Library Services NorthOntario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural AffairsOntario Ministry of CultureOntario Ministry of Northern Development and MinesOnteraOpasatika Public LibraryRamore Public Library CAP site Ross, Pope & Company LLPSchumacher CAP siteSmooth Rock Falls Public LibrarySmooth Rock Falls Resource CentreSouth Porcupine CAP site South Temiskaming Community Futures Development CorporationSouthern Ontario Library ServicesSpacek’s AudiotronicSpruce Hill Lodge Retirement HomeSultan CAP Site Teck Centennial Library Teck Pioneer ResidenceTemagami Public LibraryTemiskaming Shores Chamber of CommerceTemiskaming Shores Public Library- Haileybury Branch Temiskaming Shores Public Library - New Liskeard BranchThe Venture Centre/Le Centre de développement

Timmins Chamber of CommerceTimmins & District HospitalTimmins Economic Development CorporationTimmins Native Friendship Centre CAP siteTimmins Public Library CAP siteTown of CobaltTown of CochraneTown of EnglehartTown of HearstTown of Iroquois FallsTown of KapuskasingTown of Kirkland LakeTown of Larder LakeTown of LatchfordTown of MatachewanTown of MoosoneeTown of TemagamiTownship of ArmstrongTownship of Black River MathesonTownship of CaseyTownship of ChamberlainTownship of ColemanTownship of EvanturelTownship of GauthierTownship of HarleyTownship of HilliardTownship of HudsonTownship of JamesTownship of KernsTownship of Lebel (King Kirkland)Township of McGarryTownship of OpasatikaVezina Secondary SchoolVillage of GowgandaVillage of KenogamiVillage of SesekinikaVillage of Shining TreeVillage of ThornloeVillage of WestreeYuZhu Web Development

Continued...

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2011 Board of Directors

Denis Bérubé, ChairNorth Claybelt CFDC

Gerry Talbot, Vice ChairGogama Local Services Brd.

Phil Barton, TreasurerLucid Networks Corporation

Gary Marriott, Director-at-LargeM-Tel Consulting Services

Dan Martel,Director-at-LargeOntera

Dennis Higgs,DirectorOntera

Paul Ouimette, DirectorLeo Alarie & Sons Constructions Ltd.

Steve Kidd, DirectorInvestors Group

Tony Senyuk, DirectorNorthern College of Applied Arts and Technology

Linda Côté, Director South Temiskaming Community Futures Development Corp.

Claude Vezina, DirectorTimmins and District Hospital

Guy Guindon, DirectorTimmins and District Hospital

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Gerard Bruneau, DirectorNorthernTel

Andy Yu, DirectorCity of Timmins

Jason Perratt, DirectorLogikal Code

2011 Annual Report

NEOnet Staff

NEOnet operates with a core staff of three people: the Director of Operations, the ICT Project Manager, and the Project Facilita-

tor. In order to manage the many projects the organiza-tion has taken on, NEOnet often hires contract-based staff to develop, manage and implement specific ICT projects. In 2011 NEOnet’s staffing underwent some transition with the retirement of its Director of Op-erations - David McGirr and the departure of its ICT Project Manager - Alexandra Spence.

David McGirr joined the NEOnet team as the Director of Operations in September 2009. He was responsible for the overall management of the organization, support and assistance of staff, and the development and implemen-tation of ICT projects.

David was instrumental in moving forward NEOnet’s Cellular Expansion Project, which was completed in 2011. David retired in September 2011.

We wish David all the best.

Chris McLaughlin returned to NEOnet in November 2011 as the new Director of Operations. Chris had previ-ously been with the organiza-tion from September 2005 to February 2010 when he held the position of ICT Project Manager.

Chris brings a wealth of project and personnel manage-ment experience to the position and previously was NEOnet’s lead on the Timiskaming District and Goga-ma-Foleyet Area Broadband Expansion project, Wire-less Public Hotspots project, Virtual Town Square portal project, Seniors’ Computer Centres, and Tech Break

Time Events. Chris holds a Bachelor’s degree - Honours Political Science and General Economics and a Gradu-ate Certificate in Project Management.

Sharon Jones joined NEOnet as Project Facilitator in July, 2002. Sharon provides critical support to NEOnet’s project managers and coordinators: she ensures that all claims are prepared according to the fund-ing agencies’ requirements; and provides weekly budget snapshots for each project. Sharon maintains all of the records and financial accounts of the Corporation. Sha-ron holds a Payroll Compliance Practitioner designation and holds a certificate in Business Studies.

Alexandra Spence joined the NEOnet team in June 2009 as the Regional Outreach Coordinator, a FedNor Youth Internship Position. On March 1, 2010, Alexandra became NEOnet’s ICT Project Manager. Alexandra was responsible for the management of current and development of new NEOnet projects, marketing and outreach initiatives and educational workshops and presentations. In addition, Alexandra supported the development of the individuals in the internship positions.

Alexandra held the position until June 2011 when she moved to Southern Ontario take on new career challenges.

We wish Alexandra all the best.

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Steven R. L. Vachon joined the NEOnet team in May 2011 as the new ICT Project Manager. Steven brings over 5 years of business experience and 9 years of experience as an educator to the position. This experience will aid Steven in the management of current and development of new NEOnet projects, marketing and outreach, and educational workshops and presentations.

Amber Hamilton joined the NEOnet team in June 2010 as the ICT Coordinator, a NOHFC Youth Internship position. Amber was hired on full-time as NEOnet’s Project Coordinator in June 2011. Amber was responsible for the coordination of the Broad-band for E-Business and Marketing (BEAM) Program, education sessions, and the planning and management of NEOnet’s website. Amber also assisted with several other NEOnet projects and the promotion of greater awareness and adoption of technology.

Early in 2012 Amber was chosen to be the Regional Coordinator for the Cochrane District Social Planning Council.

We wish Amber all the best. Melanie Fortier joined NEOnet in July 2011 as the ICT Coordinator, a NOHFC Youth Internship position. Melanie was tasked with researching and producing the Wired and industry specific newsletters, coordination of the Wireless Hotspots project, and NEOnet’s social networking sites.

Melanie secured full-time employment with Detour Gold early in 2012. We wish Melanie all the best.

Shannon Delage joined the NEOnet team in June 2010 as the Regional Outreach Coordinator under a one-year FedNor Youth Internship. Shannon was responsible for community outreach throughout the catchment area. Outreach initiatives included but were not limited to presentations at various town council meetings, organization of Tech Break Time luncheons, and the monthly editions of Wired News. Shannon was also responsible for the revival of the Seniors Computer Training Program.

We wish Shannon all the best.

2011 Annual Report

NEOnet Staff

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NEOnet Funders

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Thank you to our 2011 project funders

FAR NORTH EAST Community Futures Development Corporations

Nord-Aski Regional Economic Development CorporationNorth Claybelt Community Futures Development Corporation

The Venture Centre/ Le Centre de développementKirkland Lake & District Community Development Corporation

South Temiskaming Community Futures Development Corporation

Northeastern Ontario Communications Network Inc. (NEOnet Inc.) 2011 Annual Report.www.neonet.on.ca