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 ................................................................................................... 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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