This year we are funding 21 projects<\/a> spread out across Canada – including our first-ever projects in New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador, and several more from Western Canada.<\/p>\n At CIRA, we have staff driven by purpose and with a lot of hometown pride. So we asked a few CIRA staff with roots from coast to coast:<\/p>\n Which project from your hometown region inspires you? <\/strong><\/p>\n Our Holly Story is on the business development team and grew up in rural Newfoundland and has seen first-hand the issues of internet access.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you live on an island, there\u2019s no where else to go but other rural communities. In Labrador today, you have to bring a satellite phone with you in case of an emergency because of the lack of cell and internet service.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n That\u2019s why Holly was especially excited when we announced our first ever Newfoundland and Labrador projects being funded through the Community Investment Program this year.<\/p>\n SimpleCell<\/a> is an infrastructure project that will allow residents currently without high-speed internet to access it from their cell phones and mobile devices. It will improve communication within the entire historical Francophone region of the Port au Port Peninsula in Newfoundland.<\/p>\n Every single day Holly works with schools and research institutions to ensure their users are safe and secure online using CIRA\u2019s cybersecurity services. She finds it very motivating that \u201cpart of the money we bring in from our cybersecurity services and .CA domains supports these incredible projects improving Canada\u2019s internet.\u201d <\/p>\n Julia Hickey works in human resources at CIRA and part of what drew her to CIRA is her belief that \u201call Canadians should have good access to the internet.\u201d The Orillia Christian Centre\u2019s project providing internet access and digital literacy to the homeless really stood out for her in this year\u2019s funding round.<\/p>\n There are social barriers to internet access for the homeless, vulnerable and those with limited income. This Orillia Christian Centre project will create a friendly, supportive environment for learning internet skills within a new computer setting, open to all facing barriers to accessing the internet.<\/p>\n \u201cThis project will be hugely beneficial to the lives of residents and the whole community because it creates opportunities for internet access and breaks down barriers\u201d said Julia. \u201cIt\u2019s inspiring to work at CIRA and be part of helping groups like this do their important work. Every little bit helps in building a better online Canada.\u201d<\/p>\n Chris Migneault works in product support at CIRA, and is from Val-d’Or Quebec, where he wasn\u2019t taught about digital literacy and the importance of being cybersecure. He sees this as an alarming gap for today\u2019s youth.
\nNewfoundland and Labrador<\/h2>\n
\nOntario<\/h2>\n
\nQuebec<\/h2>\n
\n <\/p>\n
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