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Getting_Smart_in_LOL

Feature Article January 30

Feature Article January 30, 2002

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Getting smart in The Land O Lakes - An interview with Jim MacPhersonby David BrisonJim MacPherson grew up in Sharbot Lake, and, after a brief stint away at the University of Waterloo (math) and the University of Toronto (education), has remained here ever since. He joined the staff at Sharbot Lake High School in 1975, and eventually became Head of business, mathematics, and computers.

He has always been troubled that todays youth will not have the same opportunities to work in this area that he had, because our local economy has not provided enough jobs for them. In 1999, with that in mind, he sought out a partnership between the Limestone Board, and North and Central Frontenac Townships in order to study the economic development needs of the area. Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) funded a 12-week project, and in February of 1999, Jim was hired as coordinator.

In late February of 1999, Jim, in conjunction with Annette Gray-Jackson, then a local insurance agent, organized and hosted a seminar on Changes, Challenges, and Opportunities. One of the outcomes of this seminar was the identification of the need for an improved telecommunications infrastructure in the area. Jim noted at that time that, In the future, the information highway will be more important than the roads in the economic development of the region.

An organization known as the Land O Lakes Communication Network (LOLCN), based on the very successful Lanark Communications Network, was spawned then, and in the intervening three years has taken steps to bring advanced communications technology to the area. Jim has become the full-time co-ordinator of the LOLCN.

In the fall of 2000, the LOLCN received an $89,000 grant from Industry Canada to establish six community access program (CAP) Internet sites. The idea behind CAP was to provide free Internet access for Canadians in rural regions. The six sites were set up in Tichborne (Goodfellows Post Office), Snow Road (D & M General Store), Northbrook (Ontario Works Office), Verona (Verona Computer and Satellite), Godfrey (McGowans General Store), and Sharbot Lake (Northern Frontenac Literacy). The Sharbot Lake and Northbrook sites are enhanced; that is, they are equipped with a scanner, a number of networked computers, a digital camera, and a projector which can display the computer screen.

The CAPs are used by individuals - often seniors - who dont have computers at home and are interested in getting to know how to use them. CAP site use goes up in the summer because travelers who dont have their computers with them stop in, Jim said. He went on to say, Industry Canada is looking to the CAP sites to provide access to the increased amount of information that the government is putting on line.

Another major initiative of the LOLCN is the Community Technology Development Centre. LOLCN was the lead funding partner in the Centre which refurbishes computers and sends them out to the schools in the area. Industry Canadas Computers for Schools program provides the used computers. The Limestone Board of Education offers computer courses, and related co-op education credits at the centre, under the direction of Mark Elliott, a SHLS teacher, who is also the on-site director of the program. HRDC is another partner they fund programs for six youth in the community who have difficulty finding jobs, and in addition, fund eight adult employees who are currently unemployed. Two of the adult employees have already found work. One, Dave Trudell, has been hired by the Limestone Board as the computer technician for the Sharbot Lake family of schools.

We have been very pleased with the program. Initially, Computers for Schools thought that we might refurbish 200 - 300 computers, but as of January 18, 600 computers have been refurbished. We have been able to address an environmental issue what to do with discarded computers. All of the computers have gone back into the school in this area, Jim said.

Another major initiative, the provincial governments Connect Ontario, has been slow getting off the ground. The LOLCN applied for funding in the winter of 2000, and has just received a $50,000 grant, shared by their Kingston counterpart, to prepare a business plan for large scale funding to create Smart Communities across Ontario.

The LOLCN has applied for another HRDC grant to provide assistance to groups in the community, such as not-for-profit organization, small businesses, and artisans who need help using the available technology. Jim expects to receive this grant in the near future.

Jim MacPherson is a man with a mission. The mission is to improve the economy in the area through intelligent applications of new technology. He wants to make sure that rural areas will be able to take part in the expanding opportunities that the new technology opens up.

With the participation of the Government of Canada