North Bay will host the inaugural Canada’s Rural & Remote Broadband Conference, slated to take place Nov. 12-14.
Featuring keynote speakers, panel discussions and networking opportunities, the event aims to bring together stakeholders to examine the challenges and realities of creating a sustainable digital economy for the rural and remote regions of the country.
The initiative is being organized by Amedeo Bernardi, a registered project management professional and president at Amedeo Bernardi Consulting.
Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli, minister of economic development, job creation and trade, will deliver the keynote lunch address on Wednesday, while Chris Seidl, executive director at Telecommunications for the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), will speak during the Wednesday gala dinner.
Additional keynote speakers include:
- John G. Jung, chairman and co-founder of the Intelligent Community Forum, who will speak to how rural and remote communities can maximize their urban planning models;
- Victoria Smith, manager of strategic initiatives with Strathcona Regional District, who will speak about the rural digital divide and how investment in broadband is a key factor in addressing economic development, rural outmigration and community well-being; and
- Matt Stein, CEO at Distributel and president and chairman of the Canadian Network Operators Consortium (CNOC). Stein was named the Top Canadian Telecom CEO Award for 2019, which recognizes leadership in communications, innovation and social responsibility.
A complete agenda, along with registration information, is available at www.bridgingthedigitaldivide.ca. For more information, email amedeo@amedeobernardi.ca.
