Assisting Northeastern Ontario to implement technology to become more innovative

ANNUAL REPORT 2018

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Table of Contents

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR ...................................................................................................................... 2

CORPORATE PROFILE ................................................................................................................................ 3

NEONET OPERATIONAL CHART ................................................................................................................ 4

PROJECTS ..................................................................................................................................................... 5

BROADBAND INTERNET EXPANSION (INFRASTRUCTURE)................................................................................................ 5 BEAM (BROADBAND FOR E-BUSINESS AND MARKETING) ........................................................................................ 6 STAMP (SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT AND PLANNING) ............................................................... 6 EMPLOYEE SHARING TOOL (WEB PORTAL) ............................................................................................................... 6 TECHSOCIAL FOR OLDER ADULTS (SENIORS TECHNOLOGY TRAINING) ................................................................... 7 EDUCATION & AWARENESS......................................................................................................................................... 7

Communications ................................................................................................................................................... 8 PARTNERS ................................................................................................................................................................... 8 NEONET PARTICIPATION IN 2018 .............................................................................................................................. 8

RECOGNITION ............................................................................................................................................... 9

Our 2018 Members ............................................................................................................................................. 9

LOOKING FORWARD, 2019 ........................................................................................................................10

2018 AUDITORS REPORT ...........................................................................................................................11

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Message from the Chair

It is with great pleasure that I present to you the North Eastern Ontario Communications Network Inc. (NEOnet) 2018 Annual Report on behalf of the Board of Directors. This report highlights the projects and programs that NEOnet has managed or participated in during 2018.

NEOnet's BEAM Program (Broadband for E-Business and Marketing) has assisted over 500 regional businesses since its inception in 2011. During the final phases of BEAM IV, NEOnet has assisted more than 50 businesses with over $200,000 in funding. Similarly, the STAMP (Small Business Technology Assessment, Monitoring and Planning) program, provided more than $60,000 in funding to an additional 14 companies across Northern Ontario. Both BEAM and STAMP have assisted our regional businesses acquire and adopt new technology and infrastructure. True to our mandate, NEOnet ensures that business owners and their staff have the training and support required to fully leverage the new technology.

NEOnet achieved continued success with the Digital Literacy Program for Older Adult – TechSocial, which aims to reduce the social isolation through the use of mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets and apps. TechSocial, supported by the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the Venture Centre, Ministry of Seniors and Accessibility and many regional partners, provides monthly workshops, personal training, and online resources throughout the NEOnet catchment. NEOnet said farewell to TechSocial coordinators Marie-Josée Lapierre and Josh Veilleux during 2018 and welcomed their successors Cassandra Battiston and Kade Taylor to the team. NEOnet has nurtured and grown its partnerships with the economic development organizations throughout northeastern Ontario. Joint workshops, seminars, and sponsorships lead to better service for our clients. By supporting Community Future Development Corporations, Chambers of Commerce, Economic Development Corporations and technology-based entrepreneurs, NEOnet helps build stronger communities for us all. As we mark 2018 as another successful year, we are excited to be developing new, enhanced programs for 2019 through which we will continue to strengthen our services to northeastern Ontario. The NEOnet team strives to deliver first-class programs and services to assist in developing technology-informed business leaders. The future is bright and belongs to those that prepare for it.

Gérard Bruneau, Chair

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Corporate Profile

Communities marked with (*) indicate recognized First Nation Communities

Attawapiskat * Cobalt Gauthier Iroquois Falls Moonbeam Swastika

Barbers' Bay Cochrane Gogama Jogues Moose Factory * Temagami

Bear Island Connaught Hallébourg Kapuskasing Moosonee * Temiskaming

Shores

Beaverhouse * Constance Lake * Harley Kashechewan * Opasatika Thornloe

Belle Vallée Earlton Harris Kenogami Peawanuck * Timmins

Black River-

Matheson

Elk Lake Harty Kerns Porquis Tunis

Brethour Englehart Hearst Kirkland Lake Ramore Val Gagné

Calstock Evanturel Hilliard Larger Lake Sessikinika Val Rita

Chamberlain Fauquier/Strickland Holtyre Latchford Shining Tree Virginiatown

Chaput Hughes Foleyet Hoyle Matachewan * Smooth Rock Falls Wahgoshig *

NEOnet is a non-profit regional development organisation, established in 1999 and acts as the region’s Information & Communications Technologies (ICT) champion. NEOnet is part of a network of companies in Northern Ontario (BlueSky Networks and Parry Sound, Muskoka Community Network,Sault Ste Marie Innovation Centre (SSMIC), Northwestern Ontario Innovation Centre) and they focus on telecommunication and technology. NEOnet assists in Technology adoption for businesses to implement and improve on their technologies. Our mandate is to:

• Increase awareness and adoption of ICT in Northeastern Ontario

• Support organisations in their use and integration of ICT

• Facilitate partnerships to enhance ICT

The NEOnet catchment area constitutes over sixty communities in a 200,000 square kilometre region. The distance combined with the population density of 0.5 persons per square kilometre presents a significant challenge to improving the telecommunication landscape in our area. NEOnet has helped reduce the digital divide in rural and remote communities. Its initiatives have stimulated over 120-million dollars in ICT infrastructure development within the region.

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NEOnet Operational Chart NEOnet would like to extend its sincere appreciation and gratitude to its dedicated Board of Directors for their service and contributions in 2017. The Board of Directors provides governance and direction to the organization. The Board of Directors brings diverse expertise to the NEOnet, including; economic development, education, health, social services and industry within our catchment.

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

The Human Resources Committee is a subcommittee of the Board which manages personnel-related issues of the organization. They review job descriptions, contracts, job postings, and performance appraisal materials. Job interview panels always include a member of this committee in addition to the Director of Operations in addition one member of this committee also attends performance appraisals and disciplinary meetings. * Committees are also formed or organized as required for the various projects NEOnet undertakes, to ensure the staff have guidance from a regional perspective.

NEOnet would like to thank its Board Members

for their contribution to the success of the projects Executive Committee

GERARD BRUNEAU, Chairperson, NorthernTel STEVE KIDD, Vice Chairperson, Northern Industrial Services Group Inc. PAULA MANGOTICH, Treasurer, Kirkland and District Community Development Corporation GILLES MATKO, Director-At-Large, Nord-Aski Regional Economic Development Corporation

Board of Directors

GERRY TALBOT, Director, Gogama Local Services Board GUY GUINDON, Director, Timmins and District Hospital JOHN BERNSTEIN, Director, South Temiskaming Community Futures Development Corporation LINDA SEMCZYSZYN, Director, North Claybelt Community Futures Development Corporation MONIQUE KOSKI, Director, Millson Forestry Service SALLY BRAUN, Director, Western James Bay Telecom Network STEVE ROBERT, Director, Okimaw Technology Consulting

Staff

The team is responsible for leading Information &

Communication Technologies (ICT)

projects with direction from its Board of

Directors. In 2018 NEOnet operated with

7 team members.

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Projects

NEONET WORKS DILIGENTLY ON ICT PROJECTS AND ENCOURAGES PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WILL RESULT IN BETTER TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE

AND ICT-RELATED SERVICES IN THE REGION

We are thankful for our funders and sponsors that have helped NEOnet achieve its goals and visions across the Northeastern Ontario Catchment.

Seniors Grant

Broadband Internet Expansion (Infrastructure) Since 1999, NEOnet and its partners have improved the access to broadband internet across Northeastern Ontario. This has been a major goal and accomplishment since the beginning of NEOnet, and continues to be an objective, as the need for higher speeds is continually increasing. NEOnet in 2018 has worked with several communities in the catchment and assisted in negotiations to increase connectivity in rural northern Ontario municipalities. In 2018, NEOnet collaborated with communities on ideas of an Industrial Park and Smart Cities, and acted as a liaison with an ISP (Xplorenet) for their newly fixed services to homes. Additionally in 2018, NEOnet also communicated, participated and contributed solution ideas with the community of Foleyet for their Cellular tower, and the proprietor of the infrastructure. Since its launch, NEOnet has supported an initiative with our sister ICT organization Blue Sky Network headquartered in North Bay. The Connected North initiative is designed to discover who provides high-speed internet services to their home and offices across the North. This online data portal and website connectednorth.ca also features speed measurements which measures real time upload and download speeds. This information is also shared with ISPs to ensure their advertised speeds are being delivered to customers. You can request information that will be directed to NEOnet if it originates from within our catchment. Connectednorth.ca was created to help you and others find internet services in Northern Ontario. For more information visit http://connectednorth.ca/ Additionally, the CRTC has set new standards of 50Mbps downloads and 10Mbps upload speeds for Canadian homes and businesses which should result in 90% of connected Canadians by 2021. NEOnet is relaying information regarding this, and keeping our partner communities informed of possible solutions that are arising to achieve these speeds, especially in our unserved/underserved parts of the region.

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BEAM (Broadband for E-Business and Marketing)

STAMP

(Small Business Technology Assessment and Planning)

Employee Sharing Tool (Web Portal) NEOnet staff provided their expertise to help The Timmins Chamber of Commerce, Northern College and the Far North East Training Board (FNETB) develop the Employee Sharing Tool (EST). This tool is an internet-based database used to match employers requiring a similar skill set and looking to share a non-full-time employee. With the matched employers, a tailored arrangement is created to satisfy the individual labour needs and those of the employee. The EST database resides online with the popular FNETB JobsIn platform. This project reflects NEOnet's mandate of providing education regarding technology for the benefit of Northeastern Ontario.

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TechSocial for Older Adults (Seniors Technology Training) This project aims to reduce social isolation in older adults in the region, through the use of ICT. The TechSocial Team was comprised of Josh Veilleux, and Marie-Josée Filo who provided a total of 128 workshops, that gained the interest of 1018 participants (new and returning). In 2019 we welcomed 2 new coordinators for this initiative: Cassandra Battiston and Kade Taylor who seamlessly finished workshops in certain communities and took on the partnerships made by the predictors. The team has taken an active role with the City of Timmins Senior Advisory Committee, which in 2018 was the recipient of the 2018 Ontario Age Friendly Community Recognition Award.

Education & Awareness Part of the NEOnet mandate is to increase awareness and adoption of information technology, thereby increasing demand for services and fostering a more competitive ICT environment.

Presentations by Community

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Communications Outreach is an integral part of our activities. The Monthly WIRED Newsletters, various Press Releases, Stakeholder updates and Program updates are some of the communications that NEOnet has undertaken throughout the year. In addition, regular communications across several Social Media platforms were managed, as well as attending various community events across Northeastern Ontario.

Partners NEOnet has collaborated with the following 51 organization across our catchment for Education, Awareness

and to promote Technology Adoption in 2018

Outreach and Education - 19 (Workshops, Presentations, Funders Forums, Participation as Mentors/Judges) Business Enterprise Centre Collège Boréal Delores D Echum Composite School Employment Options Emploi Enterprise Temiskaming Far North East Training Board Iroquois Falls Secondary School

Kirkland and District Community Futures Corporation Literacy Training Network NearNorth Video Nord-Aski Regional Economic Development Corporation North Claybelt Community Futures Development Corporation

Northern College of Applied Arts and Technology Product and Innovation Centre (PIC) Science Timmins Strategy First Marketing Temiskaming Futures Development Corporation Timmins Chamber of Commerce Timmins Economic Development Corporation

Small Business Week 2018 – 12 (and Technology Trade Show) Bercell Eastlink Great White North Kathy McDonald

Timmins Tablets/Chris’ Web Design The Business Enterprise Centre Media Done Easy NEOtech

NorthernTel Ontario North Consulting PAIB Insurance Productivity and Innovation Centre (PIC)

Seniors Technology Training – 22 (TechSocial) Cadence Residence Cochrane Public Library Elk Lake Public Library Englehart Public Library Gogama Community Centre La Clef Larder Lake Public Library Matachewan First Nation Matheson Public Library

Mattagami First Nation Community Centre North Centennial Manor North Dale Manor Porcupine Health Unit Smooth Rock Falls Public Library St. Mary’s Gardens Tech Pioneer Residence

Temagami Public Library Temiskaming Shores Public Library The Encore Club Timmins Age Friendly Steering Committee Timmins Public Library Timmins Senior Centre

NEOnet Participation in 2018 Here is a list of events that NEOnet hosted, participated and partnered with in 2018:

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NOVA Awards – Timmins Chamber of Commerce Biz Battle – Northern College Entrepreneur Centre Social Think Tank – Northern College Entrepreneur Centre Volunteer Week – Timmins Chamber of Commerce Small Business Week Member of the Productivity and Innovation Centre Steering Committee Member of the Timmins Age Friendly Steering Committee Member of the Northern College Innovation Centre Steering Committee Skills Ontario for their Career Exploration Summer Camp – College Boreal Funder Forums within our Catchment

Recognition NEOnet recognizes that the work undertaken this year could not be done without the supports of our funders

and members. Which contribute to the success of our projects, events and workshops.

Our 2018 MembersBercell Integrated Technologies Cameron Graphics’ City of Temiksaming Shores City of Timmins Clear Logic Professionals Cochrane District Social Services Administration Board Collège Boréal Conseil scolaire catholique de district des grandes riviéres District School Board Ontario North East Gogama Local Services Board Great White North INKit design & Print MNP LLP Nord-Aski Regional Economic Development Corporation North Claybelt Community Futures Development Corporation

Northeastern Catholic District School Board PBL Insurance The Corporation of the Town of Hearst The Municipality of Temagami The Town of Kapuskasing The Town of Kirkland Lake The Township of James The Township of Larder Lake The Township of Matachewan The Township of McGarry The Township of Moonbeam Timmins and District Hospital Timmins Chamber of Commerce Timmins Economic Development Corporation Township of Hudson Town of Cochrane Town of Moosonee

Township of Armstrong Township of Brethour Township of Cassey Township of Coleman Township of Harley Township of Kerns NorthernTel Northern Industrial Services Group Kirkland and District Community Development Corporation Okimaw Technology Consulting Millson Forestry South Temiskaming Community Futures Development Corporation Western James Bay Telecom Network

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Looking Forward, 2019 At the heart of all NEOnet projects is the goal to increase the competitiveness of our Northeastern Ontario communities, making them desirable locations to establish new businesses and enhance investments and growth of existing operations, all the while leveraging information and communication technologies for improved operational efficiencies. Our educational content and programs are created to help the people and businesses in our catchment to use technology to become more innovative. Our partnership with FedNor is longstanding. NEOnet expects to continue this relationship and play a role in the Prosperity and Growth Strategy for Northern Ontario. We are looking forward to soon announce a successor to the BEAM and STAMP programs that will come in aid of companies with technology adoption and the goal of scaling up and growing their business. We will continue to research and

develop project proposals to Provincial and Federal funding agencies and deliver as regional ICT Champion. NEOnet continues to work on Education, Application, and Infrastructure opportunities. While communications infrastructure investments by private investors has not kept up with demand, we remain hopeful that new public initiatives and funding opportunities will increase in order to begin bridging the gap with our southern neighbors and achieve within a decade the ubiquitous access to Internet at the speeds specified by the CRTC. NEOnet is also mindful of its long term sustainability and need to continue being relevant to the needs of people and businesses throughout the North.

Paul Ouimette

Director of Operations

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2018 Auditors Report

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Gerard Bruneau (Chairperson)

Steve Kidd (Vice-Chairperson)

Monique Koski (Director)

Gerry Talbot (Director)

John Bernstein (Director)

Sally Braun (Director)

Gilles Matko (Director-at-Large)

Paula Mangotich (Treasurer)

Guy Guindon (Director)

Linda Semczyszyn (Director)

Steve Robert (Director)

Kait-Lynn Gooch (Bilingual Regional

Outreach Coordinator)

Paul Ouimette (Director of Operations)

Laura Imhoff (Project Coordinator)

Phil Barton (E-Business Specialist)

Sharon Jones (Project Facilitator)

Josh Veilleux (Program

Coordinator – TechSocial)

Marie-Josée Filo (Program

Coordinator – TechSocial)

Kade Taylor (Program

Coordinator – TechSocial)

Cassandra Battiston (Program Coordinator

– TechSocial)