Internet Archives

Study finds Rural Connectivity Benefits People, Economy

The Kootenay Connectivity Benefits Study, released by BC Stats, finds high-speed internet connectivity expansions in rural, remote and Indigenous communities positively impacts both local and provincial economies in the short and long term. Read the Full Report Here: Kootenay Connectivity Report 2022 BC Stats conducted a study of the Kootenay Economic Region to examine the…

A Digital Divide Persists Between Rural and Urban Canadians

Are you getting the internet speeds you’re paying for? A digital divide persists between rural and urban Canadians. CIRA is mapping this divide through their Internet Performance Test (IPT) platform so they can help communities understand how best to tackle internet access issues in their area—but they need your help! Run an IPT today! It’s…

Connecting Kaslo

High-speed internet is a luxury — or non-existent — in many rural, remote, and First Nations communities across BC. In this video produced by Connected Communities BC, the experience of the remote West Kootenay village of Kaslo, home to less than 1,000 inhabitants, and possibly the world’s smallest community-controlled, fibre-enabled internet network, the Kaslo InfoNet…

$50M available from B.C. government to improve rural Internet

The Province is now ready to accept applications from rural communities wishing to access some of the $50 million earmarked in the spring of 2019 to be used to connect rural, remote, and indigenous communities to high-speed internet, as highlighted in this post from CBC. It’s easy to forget the internet isn’t everywhere, yet…

Canada’s Rural Economic Development Minister Invites Public Ideas On Ways to Expand Rural Opportunity — News Release

Ottawa, Ontario, March 25, 2019 – Canadians living in rural and northern communities have unique needs. Access to better and more modern infrastructure, affordable housing, and faster, more reliable Internet Service can make a big difference in the quality of life for rural Canadians. The Honourable Bernadette Jordan, Canada’s newly-appointed Minister of Rural Economic Development, is…

Internet Expands in Rural BC & First Nations

The B.C. government has shared details on funding to bring high-speed internet connections to more rural and Indigenous communities. The province announced more than $11 million in funding through the Connecting British Columbia program, which will reach 33 communities. The main areas to receive fibre-optic internet cable will be Haida Gwaii, the areas between Whistler…

Haida Gwaii homes to get high-speed fibre optic internet

A $4.9-million project will connect hundreds more Haida Gwaii homes to affordable high-speed internet, reports Andrew Hudson of the Haida Gwai Observer. Thanks to funding announced Tuesday by the Canadian and B.C. governments as well as Gwaii Trust, local internet provider Gwaii Communications will soon start extending the islands’ fibre-optic internet network and offering free…

Olds, Alberta Goes High Tech

Olds, Alberta agrees with the following statement: “It’s difficult to argue against the observation that the 21st economy is increasingly dominated by new and emerging technologies. Cities and towns that fail to acknowledge and act upon this are destined to become — or remain — economic backwaters.” Olds (pop. 9,200) has become a leading example…

Digital Nomads Are Redefining Work in the Kootenays

A year ago, the Revelstoke Mountaineer noted that the workplace is changing beyond recognition, thanks to new technologies like web collaboration tools, smartphones, and next generation internet connectivity, freeing folks to work from wherever they want. We have entered the Age of Digital Nomads. Henning Schipper is amongst the new class of digital nomads freed…

Ontario’s Rural Broadband Challenge

Ontario’s rural broadband challenge is highlighted in this article by Dave Reevely, originally published in the Ottawa Citizen. Running subsidized Internet lines to rural Ontario has an important thing in common with the provincial government’s plan to pay for new natural-gas pipes to the same places: There’s private money to be made. We can’t…