ANNUAL REPORT 2019

Table of Contents Message from the Chair ...... 2 Corporate Profile ...... 3 Projects...... 5 Broadband Expansion ...... 5 TechSocial (Reducing social isolation in older adults with the help of mobile technology) ...... 5 BEAM (Broadband for E-commerce and Marketing) ...... 6 STAMP (Small Business Technology Assessment, Monitoring and Planning) ...... 6 Digital Services Squad...... 6 Outreach and Education ...... Error! Bookmark not defined. Communications ...... 7 Partners ...... 9 NEOnet Participation in 2019 ...... 9 Recognition ...... 10 2019 Auditors Report ...... 10

Message from the Chair Corporate Profile NEOnet is a non-profit regional development organisation, established in 1999 and acts as the region’s Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) champion. NEOnet is part of a network of companies in Northern Ontario (Blue Sky Networks, Perry Sound Muskoka Community Network, Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre (SSMIC) and Northwestern Ontario Innovation Centre) and they focus on telecommunication and technology. NEOnet assist 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 are constitutes over sixty communities in a 200,000 square kilometer region. The distance combind with the population density of 0.5 persons per square kilometre presents a significant challenge in improving the telecommunication landscape in our area. NEOnet as helped reduce the digital divide in rural and remote communities over the past 20 years in operation and these initiatives have stimulated in over 120-million dollars in ICT infrastructure development within the region.

Attawapiskat * Connaught Harris Kirkland Lake Shining Tree Barbers' Bay Constance Lake * Harty Larger Lake Smooth Rock Falls Bear Island Earlton Hearst Latchford Swastika Beaverhouse * Elk Lake Hilliard Matachewan * Temagami Belle Vallée Englehart Holtyre Moonbeam Temiskaming Shores Black River-Matheson Evanturel Hoyle Moose Factory * Thornloe Brethour Fauquier/Strickland Iroquois Falls Moosonee * Timmins Calstock Foleyet Jogues Opasatika Tunis Chamberlain Gauthier Kapuskasing Peawanuck * Val Gagné Chaput Hughes Gogama Kashechewan * Porquis Val Rita Cobalt Hallébourg Kenogami Ramore Virginiatown Cochrane Harley Kerns Sessikinika Wahgoshig *

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 Board of Directors organization. The Board of Directors brings diverse expertise to the NEOnet, including economic development, education, health, social services and industry within our catchment.

Executive Committee 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.

Paul Ouimette Director of Operations 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 Sharon Jones Project Facilitator member of this committee also attends performance appraisals and disciplinary meetings.

The team is responsible for leading Information & Communication

Technologies (ICT) projects with direction from its Board of Directors. Laura Imhoff NEOnet would like to thank its Board Members for their Project Coordinator In 2019, NEOnet operated with 8 team members. contribution to the success of the projects

Executive Committee Kait-Lynn Gooch GERARD́ Bruneau, Chairperson, NorthernTel *** Bilingual Regional Outreach Coordinator STEVE Kidd, Vice Chairperson, Royal Lapage PAULA Mangotich, Treasurer, Kirkland and District Community Development Corporation GILLES Matko, Director-At-Large, Nord-Aski Regional Economic Phil Barton Development Corporation E-Business Specilist

Board of Directors GUY Guindon, Director, Timmins and District Hospital Marie-Josee Lapierre JOHN Bernstein, Director, South Temiskaming Community Futures Program Coordinator Development Corporation LINDA Semczyszyn, Director, North Claybelt Community Futures Development Corporation SALLY Braun, Director, Western James Bay Telecom Network Kade Taylor STEVE Robert, Director, Okimaw Technology Consulting Program Coordinator STEPHEN Cameron, Director, Great White North

Cassandra Battiston * Committees are also formed or organized as required for Program Coordinator the various projects NEOnet undertakes, to ensure the staff have guidance from a regional perspective

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 Expansion

TechSocial (Reducing social isolation in older adults with the help of mobile technology)

This project aimed to reduce social isolation in older adults in the region, through the use of ICT. During the duration of the program the coordinators Josh Veilleux (2017-2018), Marie-Josée Filo (2017-2019) provided educational workshops and training on Smartphones and Tablets to the older adults in our region. In 2019, and the final stages of the program Cassandra Battiston and Kade Taylor organized additional workshops in various communities, strengthened the partnerships with various community organizations to continue the legacy of the program. While the program ended from our end, it continues to be a popular topic amongst our aging population and resources are available on our website, YouTube Page and through our community partners.

BEAM (Broadband for E-commerce and Marketing)

STAMP (Small Business Technology Assessment, Monitoring and Planning)

Digital Services Squad Digital Main Street

In 2019, NEOnet was asked by the Downtown Timmins BIA and the Black-River Matheson Chamber of Commerce to undertake the position of Digital Service Squad, for the Digital Main Street Program launched by the Ontario Business Improvement Area Association. The Digital Main Street Program was a $2 500 grant offered by the OBIAA for Small and Medium Sized Businesses in the BIA or Communities to adopt new technology to bring their business online and to strengthen their online and digital marketing. The funds, once approved to the businesses were used for updating their website, assistance with their digital marketing (Social Media, Website) or software such as Social Media Managing software to help their businesses compete online.

Education and Awareness

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

28 Outreach Presentations 4 Regional Events

6 Communities for In-Person presentation

11 Online Workshops with 60 regional participants

592 Total participants

Outreach

Outreach is an integral part of our activities. The Monthly WIRED Newsletter, 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 (x) organizations across out catchment for Education, Awareness and to promote Technology Adoption in 2019

➢ Strategy First Marketing ➢ North Claybelt Community Futures Development Corporation ➢ Leadership Training Network ➢ Youth Wellness Hub ➢ Kapuskasing and District Chamber of Commerce ➢ Business Enterprise Centre ➢ Downtown Timmins BIA ➢ Timmins Economic Development Centre ➢ South Temiskaming Community Futures Development Corporation ➢ Temiskaming Shores District Chamber of Commerce ➢ Productivity and Innovation Centre ➢ Far North East Training Board ➢ Northern College ➢ Iroquois Falls and District Chamber of Commerce ➢ Community of Black River Matheson ➢ The Chamber ➢ Near North Video

NEOnet Participation in 2019

A list of events that NEOnet hosted, participated and partnered with throughout 2019

✓ Start Up North – Northern College ✓ Small Business Week – Iroquois Falls and District Chamber of Commerce ✓ Working Together Conference – Far North East Training Board ✓ Cybersecurity presentation with Kathy McDonald – Productivity and Innovation Centre, Business Enterprise Centre, Timmins Economic Development Centre ✓ The NOVA Awards – Timmins Chamber of Commerce ✓ Member of the Productivity and Innovation Centre Steering Committee ✓ Member of the Timmins Age Friendly Steering Committee

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.

➢ Canton d’Armstrong ➢ The Town of Kapuskasing ➢ MNP LLP Township ➢ The Venture Centre ➢ The Town of Cochrane ➢ Northern Tel ➢ The Corporation of the ➢ Township of Casey ➢ Child and Family Services Town of Moosonee ➢ Township of Harley of Timmins and District ➢ Gogama Local Services ➢ Township of Hudson (NEOfacs) Board ➢ Township of Kerns ➢ PBL Insurance ➢ Municipalite de Val Rita- ➢ Township of Coleman ➢ Timmins and District Hardy Municipality ➢ Township of Brethour Hospital ➢ Timmins Chamber of ➢ Eastlink Communications ➢ Northern College of Commerce Inc Applied Arts & Technology ➢ The Township of James ➢ Town of Smooth Rock Falls ➢ College Boreal ➢ Township of Mattice-Val ➢ Bercel Integrated ➢ District School Board Cote Technologies Ontario North East ➢ The Municipality of ➢ Ontario North Consulting ➢ City of Timmins Temagami ➢ Clear Logic Professionals ➢ Cochrane and District ➢ The Township of ➢ Nord-Aski Regional Social Services Matachewan Economic Development Administration Board ➢ Township of Eventurel Corp. ➢ La corporation de la ville ➢ North Claybelt Community ➢ Great White North de Hearst Futures Development ➢ Detail Media ➢ The Township of Larder Corporation ➢ Kapuskasing & District Lake ➢ The Corporation of the Chamber of Commerce ➢ The Township of McGarry Town of Iroquois Falls ➢ The Township of ➢ The Township of Opasatika Moonbeam

NEOnet relies on annual membership and supports us to help improve telecommunications services in our area, provide educational support to others through workshops to apply technology into their businesses and personal lives, additionally your memberships assists NEOnet increase the awareness of newer technology to adapt into our every day lives.

2019 Auditors Report