We're proud of our past workshops and use the experience gained from these events to inform our future digital literacy work. Thanks to the funders who have made this work possible!
Many of us use free online services for communication, work and fun. In the wake of scores of recent data breeches and the Cambridge Analytica scandal, where the personal data of more than 87 million Facebook users was secretly searched and used for targeted political ads, this panel discussion will explain what you signed up for when you clicked accept on an agreement that was too long and complicated to read. This panel was supported by a grant from the City of Ottawa's Community Economic Developing Program.
Date: Wednesday, June 26, 2019 6:30-8:30pm
Location: Auditorium of Main Branch, Ottawa Public Library
Panelists:
Jane Bailey is a Full Professor of Law at the University of Ottawa where she researches and teaches about the intersections of law, technology and equality. She co-leads The eQuality Project, a SSHRC funded partnership of researchers, educators, advocates, civil society groups, and policymakers who are interested in examining the impact of online commercial profiling on young people's identities and social relationships. Jane leads the Project stream focused on tech-facilitated violence and youth from marginalized communities. She acted as co-counsel for CIPPIC on the Jarvis voyeurism case in the Supreme Court of Canada in spring 2018. Jane is currently co-editing a new collection on tech-facilitated violence and abuse with colleagues from Monash University and RMIT.
Daphne Guerrero led engagement and outreach efforts for Canada’s privacy commissioner for eight years. More recently, she led innovation projects at a human-centred design lab in the federal government and outreach and engagement initiatives at the government’s strategic foresight organization. She recently joined Treasury Board Secretariat, working on digital government. Prior to joining the federal public service, Daphne was a press secretary to two federal cabinet ministers and worked on digital and media literacy initiatives with the nonprofit MediaSmarts.
Tamir Israel works for the Centre for Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic (CIPPIC), leading its privacy, net neutrality, electronic surveillance and telecommunications regulation activities. His research regularly includes issues raised by trade agreements, intermediary liability, national security and cybersecurity. He has participated in a range of technology-impacting policy processes, including regulatory proceedings, Internet governance processes, intervening in appellate courts, and appearing before parliamentary committees. Tamir is a member of the Advisory Board of Privacy International and Canadian Journalists for Free Expression’s Digital Issues Committee.
Tracey P. Lauriault is Assistant Professor, Critical Media and Big Data, Cross Appointed to the MA in Digital Humanities and Faculty of the Institute for Data Science at Carleton University. Lauriault is one of the founders of critical data studies and of open data in Canada and founded Open Smart Cities with OpenNorth, a data and technology governance approach shaping how Canadian cities roll out their ‘smart’ programs. She works with the makers, governors and stakeholders of these data, processes and infrastructures, not only to better understand them but also to ensure that these do not cause harm and that they are governed in an ethical, accountable and transparent way so as to balance economic development, social progress and environmental responsibility.
Moderated by John Lawford, Executive Director and General Counsel of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre.
This one speaks for itself: save money online by comparing prices, finding coupons for things you already buy, and sniffing out other online deals. No scissors required! There's always time for one-on-one digital support after the workshop so please bring your questions and feel free to also bring a connected device if you want specific help. This workshop was supported by a grant from the City of Ottawa's Community Economic Developing Program.
Date: Wednesday, December 5th, 2018 at 6:30pm
OPL Event Links: Event Page | Register| Location
Location: Ottawa Public Library, Carlingwood, 281 Woodroffe
At Open Source options, learn about free robust operating systems and free software that can work on your existing system. For those of you looking for free Windows alternatives. Or maybe you want to be able to edit photos, or audio, or video without breaking the bank. We show you options. There's always time for one-on-one digital support after the workshop so please bring your questions and feel free to also bring a connected device if you want specific help. This workshop was supported by a grant from the City of Ottawa's Community Economic Developing Program.
Date: Wednesday, November 28th, 2018 at 6:30pm
Location: Ottawa Public Library, Orleans, 1705 Orléans
Cut the cord and diversify your media diet! We help you find safe and free online video, audio, e-books and gaming content that don't break the law. There's always time for one-on-one digital support after the workshop so please bring your questions and feel free to also bring a connected device if you want specific help. This workshop was supported by a grant from the City of Ottawa's Community Economic Developing Program.
Date: Wednesday, November 14th, 2018 at 6:30pm
Location: Ottawa Public Library, Elmvale Acres, 1910 St-Laurent
Technology has made the world feel smaller: use the internet to connect with friends and family around Canada and the world for free or a fraction of traditional long distance rates! There's always time for one-on-one digital support after the workshop so please bring your questions and feel free to also bring a connected device if you want specific help. This workshop was supported by a grant from the City of Ottawa's Community Economic Developing Program.
Date: Monday, November 5th, 2018 at 6:30pm
Location: Ottawa Public Library, Alta Vista, 2516 Alta Vista
At Internet Security Basics learn about using public wifi and other ways to feel safe online without spending a bundle. You're at a cafe or a public space and the free wifi login pops up: learn how to make sure your private information is safe, and other online security precautions you can take. There's always time for one-on-one digital support after the workshop so please bring your questions and feel free to also bring a connected device if you want specific help. This workshop was supported by a grant from the City of Ottawa's Community Economic Developing Program.
Date: Monday, October 29th, 2018 at 6:30pm
Location: Ottawa Public Library, Centennial Branch, 3870 Old Richmond
Saving money online can mean using unfamiliar websites, signing up for email newsletters offering discounts, and entering contests. When is it real and when is it too good to be true? We'll teach you how to tell the difference. There's always time for one-on-one digital support after the workshop so please bring your questions and feel free to also bring a connected device if you want specific help. This workshop was supported by a grant from the City of Ottawa's Community Economic Developing Program.
Date: Tuesday, October 23rd, 2018 at 6:30pm
Location: Ottawa Public Library, Centennial Branch , 3870 Old Richmond
You don't need to buy a pricey software program to be safe, learn what's available and how best to use it.
Date: Wednesday, October 17th, 2018 at 6:30pm
Location: Ottawa Public Library, Centennial Branch , 3870 Old Richmond
Date: Monday, September 10th, 2018 at 6:30pm
Saving money online starts with your internet connection and the computer or mobile device you want to connect. Megs vs gigs? Cable vs DSL? Ram vs processor? Desktop vs tablet? How do you buy what you need without getting oversold? Join us as we help you understand the basics. There's always time for one-on-one digital support after the workshop so please bring your questions and feel free to also bring a connected device if you want specific help. This workshop was supported by a grant from the City of Ottawa's Community Economic Developing Program.
Location: Ottawa Public Library, Nepean Centrepointe Branch, 101 Centrepointe
We believe the internet helps address serious social and economic needs. But too often, the digital divide mirrors existing inequities.
The first-annual Digital Access Day is bringing together thought-leaders from NGOs, the tech sector, government, universities, and those most affected by the digital divide to talk about good work already underway, identify what else can be done, and measure progress.
This year we will be focusing on addressing access for rural, remote and Indigenous communities, affordability, and digital literacy.
Digital Access Day is a project of National Capital FreeNet, CompuCorps Mentoring, and the Internet Society Canada Chapter and was funded by CIRA, the Canadian Internet Registration Authority. It was sponsored by the Internet Society, Intuit, and Shopify.
Date: Tuesday, June 19th, 2018
Location: Ottawa City Hall, Jean Pigott Place
9:00-9:30am
Welcome: Catherine Clark
Opening Remarks: Franca Palazzo, Zeina Osman, Shelley Robinson
Keynote: Byron Holland, CIRA
9:30-10:00am
DAD talks and Q&A: Indigenous Connectivity
DAD talks are like TED talks, consisting of two ten-minute presentations that give information and context on a specific element of digital access, followed by a moderated question and answer period.
Indigenous communities are finding ways to connect themselves to the internet on their own terms. What are some of those models? What are the challenges they’re facing? And how are they harnessing the internet to further empower their communities?
Ken Sanderson, Broadband Communications North
Mark Buell, Internet Society
Moderator: Terry Ansari, Digital Strategist
10:00-10:15am
Break
10:15-10:45am
DAD talks and Q&A: Digital Access Research
There are a number of different ways to measure digital access, digital adoption, connectivity, and digital literacy. Here we dig into some of that work. How do you blend relevant qualitative and quantitative data? How do you measure change? And is data capturing the whole story?
Nisa Malli, Brookfield Institute
Marina Pavlovic, Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa
Mary Cavanaugh, Associate Professor, University of Ottawa
Moderator: Lena Trudeau, Nuage Strategies
10:45-12:00pm
Panel Discussion: Digital Literacy — In a world of smart technology, how smart are we really?
Connectivity is meaningless if people don’t understand how to use it. As such, digital literacy is one of the central challenges to digital access. And there is a spectrum of digital literacy, from people learning to use a mouse for the first time and accessing basic online services, to projects that teach kids how to code or seniors how to become digital animators, to citizens learning to participate in the multi-stakeholder model of International internet governance.
For this panel we’ll bring together a range of experts who can speak to who has been left behind, as well as practitioners on the frontlines of ensuring everyone has an opportunity to learn how to understand and use the internet in the way that best suits them.
Candice Blackwood, Ottawa Public Library
Eric Craven, Atwater Library
Lena Trudeau, Nuage Strategies
Nisa Malli, Brookfield Institute
Moderator: Shelley Robinson, National Capital FreeNet
12:00-1:00pm
Lunch
1:00-1:15pm
Keynote: Florencia Herra-Vega, Peerio
1:15-2:30pm
Safety, Surveillance and Privacy Panel
Part of true digital access is feeling safe online. What does digital access mean in an age of mass data breaches, the threat of ransomware, online harassment and trading personal data for free online services? Are some communities more affected than others? How do people protect themselves without losing access?
Alex MacEachern, ICTC
Florencia Herra-Vega, Peerio
Ret. Lt. General S.A Stuart Beare, Accenture
Faud Khan, TwelveDot
Moderator: David Fewer, CIPPIC
2:30-2:45pm
Break
2:45-3:35pm
Facilitated Table Talk & Discussion: Catherine Clark
3:35-3:45pm
Keynote: Brian Hall, NYC Mesh
3:45-5:00pm
Panel: Affordability — what’s the cost if you can’t connect?
Prices for internet keep going up. And studies have shown that some people are scrimping on food in order to pay for their connections. Others struggle to cram their online lives into the confines of cellphone screens and limited data plans as a way to keep costs down, using free (but insecure) wifi at coffeeshops or at the library when they’re open. This limits digital access. This panel will talk about the Canadian internet marketplace and what could be done better, as well as featuring people who are working to making internet more affordable for everyone.
Zeina Osman, CompCorps
Chris Hickey, CNOC
Michael Geist, Canada Research Chair
Blaine Cameron, ACORN
Moderator: Rodney Macdonald, Intuit
5:00-5:30pm
Closing Remarks: Catherine Clark
5:30pm
Reception
Are you living on a low income and pay your own hydro? You might be eligible for a rebate up to $75 a month! Do you live on a low to moderate income and have children? You might be eligible for up to $2000 per child for their post-secondary education! Find out more about these programs and apply online, with hands-on help. You'll need your latest Notice of Assessment from your taxes, your hydro bill, and the Social Insurance Numbers of everyone in your household.
This was a series of six hands-on workshops in 2017 and 2018 offered in partnership with Ottawa ACORN, who advocate on behalf of those living on low incomes. It was supported by a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
We first started offering workshops in partnership with the Ottawa PC Users' Group in 2015. They continue to offer many of these workshops at Ottawa Public Library locations around the city, check them out!
Then in 2016 and 2017, thanks to funding from the New Horizons for Seniors Program from Economic and Social Development Canada, we ran "WiseNet" a hands-on 16-workshop series targeting those 55 years and older. Thanks to Pinecrest-Queensway Employment Services Centre for use of their space.
We also offer occasional workshops by NCF staff and volunteers on areas of interest to NCF members, including copyright and maximizing wifi.
Some examples of past workshops include:
Windows 10 — the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Windows 10 represents a considerable change from Windows 7 and an evolutionary refinement from Windows 8.1. Chris Taylor, President of the Ottawa PC Users™ Group, will talk about some of the important changes both visible and under the hood. If you find Windows 10 confusing, or just want to know more about what's hidden, this session is for you.
Computer Basics
This workshop includes content on the basics of your computer, from connecting your mouse and keyboard, to types of memory, installing a new program, creating short-cuts, to how to turn on your wi-fi, use a USB port and more!
Office suites/word processing
This workshop includes the basics on different office suites (MS Office vs. LibreOffice), how to start a document, save it, and retrieve it. As well as different file types, and how to change font size, page alignment, numbering, margins etc.
Basic internet/web browsing
This workshop includes an overview of different browsers, bookmarking, how to optimize your search results, and some basics on safe web-surfing.
Basics of computer and internet security
This workshop digs into malware, how to create strong passwords, how to set-up secure wi-fi, and anti-virus programs.
This workshop covers browser-based email vs using a mail client, IMAP vs POP, attaching documents and images, and a detailed exploration of spam/spoofing/phishing and how to avoid them.
Communications
This workshop includes an overview of Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) telephone services, as well as Skype and similar programs.