Here's the press release that describes the Council for an Ontario Information Infrastructure. Rory O'Brien, Council Member robrien@web.apc.org (Rory O'Brien) ======== Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Trade Ministre du Developpement Economique et du Commerce News Release Communique' May 28, 1993 Release: Immediate TELECOMMUNICATIONS COUNCIL HOLDS INAUGURAL MEETING QUEENS PARK -- Economic Development and Trade Minister Frances Lankin announced the appointment of 11 additional members to the Council for an Ontario Information Infrastructure, which held its first meeting here today. "Our mandate is to lead the campaign for an Ontario information infrastructure under the provincial telecommunications strategy," said Chair Jim Coombs. "On an ongoing basis, we will review progress in achieving the goals of the strategy and recommend further action. We will also provide advice to the government on telecommunications and information infrastructure and sectoral concerns. I'm pleased with these additions to the Council. The wealth of knowledge, experience and interest that they bring will contribute greatly to the Council's efforts." In a letter to members of the Council, Frances Lankin, Minister of Economic Development and Trade, said that she is "committed to seeing the Council play a vital role in advancing the growth of the infrastructure and the sector, necessary to keep the province competitive in the information age. "We expect that the Council will be active in advancing the telecommunications strategy and the campaign for an Ontario information infrastructure as an expression of partnership between business, labour, communities and goverrunent," said Ms. Lankin. An advisory body to the provincial government, the Council was set up on the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on a Telecommunications Strategy for the Province of Ontario. The first meeting was spent discussing the role of the Council in advancing Ontario's telecommunications sector and information and network infrastructure, and reviewing priorities and procedures for the Telecommunications Sector Framework and the Ontario Network Infrastructure Program (ONIP). Vice Chair Sheelagh Whittaker said that she was impressed with the interest in the strategy and its programs that has been shown by Ontario business and communities. "We've had calls from hundreds of people, all with innovative ideas," she said. "One of our first priorities will be to speed these proposals through the review and development process," said Vice Chair Don Tapscott. The Council's next meeting will be held June 22, 1993. The Telecommunications Strategy for Ontario is a long-term vision and action plan for telecommunications in the province over the next decade. It deals with telecommunications both as a critical infrastructure for economic growth and social and cultural activity and as a key sector of the economy. The strategy is a blueprint for action not only by government but by all interested in telecommunications. -30- Bios of new members are attached. Contact: Anna Larson Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (416) 325-6685 COUNCIL FOR AN ONTARIO INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF THE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIRS CHAIR: James (Jim) Coombs Jim Coombs served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Saskatchewan Telecommunications (SaskTel) from 1986 to 1991. He started his career at Bell Canada in 1952 and worked in a variety of areas in the company. Jim went to New Brunswick Telephone Company (NBTel) in 1976 as Vice President Finance. In 1982 he became Vice President Operations of NBTel. He is currently a Consulting Associate with Deloitte&Touche in Ottawa. VICE CHAIR: Sheelagh Whittaker Sheelagh Whittaker became President and Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Satellite Communications Inc. (Cancom) in 1989. She began her career as a Combines Investigation Officer with the Federal Department of Consumer and Corporate Affairs. Ms. Whittaker then worked for Canada Consulting Group where she became a Director and Partner. In 1986 Ms. Whittaker went to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation to be the Vice President, Planning and Corporate Affairs. In 1988 she joined Cancom as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. VICE CHAIR: Don Tapscott Don Tapscott is Vice-President, Technology, for DMR Group Inc. a Canadian based intemational information systems consulting firm. During the 1970's, Don managed the "office of the future" efforts of Bell Nonhem Research. In 1981, he established, Trigon Systems Group which DMR Inc. acquired in 1986. Don then began to head up DMR's Emerging Technologies Consulting Group. In 1992 he co-authered, with Ait Caston, his third book entitled "Paradigm Shift: The Promise of Information Technology". Don was Chair of the former Advisory Committee on a Telecommunications Strategy for the Province of Ontario. MEMBER: Andrew K Bjerring Andrew K Bjerring, BASC, MASC, PhD, is Director of Computing and Communications Services at the University of Westem Ontario. He has been Treasurer of CA'net Networking Inc. since 1990, is a member of the CANARIE Steering Committee, was chair of the ONet regional network from 1988-91, and is currently chair of the Association of Computing Services Directors of Ontario Universities. During 1989-90 he was a member of NSERC's ad hoc Committee on Research Computation and chair of that Conunittee's networking subcommittee. He was a member of the Management Board for the Ontario Centre for Large Scale Computation, and of the Ministry of Education and Training's recent Advisory Conu-nittee on High Performance Computing. Prior to his current appointment, at the University, he spent six years as Assistant Vice President (Academic Planning and Budgeting). MEMBER: Dr. Barbara Cameron Dr. Barbara Cameron is Assistant Professor of Political Science at Atkinson College in York University. She holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of Toronto. She served as Research Director, United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of Canada from 1987 to 1990. Dr. Cameron is a member of the Management Committee, Technology Adjustment Research Projects, Ontario Federation of Labour. She is also a member of the Women's Reference Group, Canadian Labour Force Development Board. MEMBER: Kim Cameron Kim Cameron is a co-founder and the Vice President of Technology of ZOOMIT Corporation and BCH Information Systems Inc. of Toronto. ZOOMIT Corporation, founded in 1988, develops and markets interoperability software based on intemational OSI and CCITT Standards. BCH Information Systems was established in 1983 to provide system software design, development, integration and implementation services. Mr. Cameron's teaching career and research in metaprogramming and software economics led to management positions in academic computing after which he entered the private sector. MEMBER: Desmond Cunningham Desmond Cunningham, Chairman of Gandalf Technologies Inc., cofounded Gandalf Data Communications Limited in 1971. Today known as Gandalf Technologies Inc, this publicly held multinational corporation has subsidiaries in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Holland, France, Belgium and Australia. He is also one of the founders and a past Chairman of the Canadian Advanced Technology Association (CATA) and is Past President of the Ottawa Section of the Canadian Information Processing Society (CIPS). Mr. Cunningham was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Ottawa. He is past Chairman of the Ottawa Carleton Research Institute and a Board member of the Telecommunication Research Institute of Ontario, in addition to holding several directorships in private industry. MEMBER: Douglas Cunningham Douglas Cunningham, a Senior Vice-President of BBN James Capel Inc., is responsible for analysing the regulated sector as well as teleconununications equipment manufacturers. He is also President and controlling shareholder of Dufferin Communications Inc. Mr. Cunningham has been an investment analyst since 1972 and was the top-ranked utilities analyst in surveys of Canadian institutions in four of the five years prior to taking a corporate finance sabbatical in 1990. Mr. Cunningham has also testified before numerous regulatory tribunals as a capital markets witness. He has HBA and MBA degrees from the University of Westem Ontario. MEMBER: John D. MacDonald John D. MacDonald's 34-year career in the information technology arena included positions at the VIP level with Bell Nonhem Research, Nonhem Telecom Canada Ltd and NT Limited. He retired this past March. He has a Bachelor in Science and Education from St-Francis-Xavier University and a Bachelor in Engineering from the Technical University of Nova Scotia. He has also a Masters in Engineering from Carleton University. Mr. MacDonald served as Session Lecturer at Carleton University, and Chairman of both the Chamber of Commerce R&D Committee and the University of Waterloo Industrial Advisory Committee. He was also a member of the Boards of the University of Waterloo and the Canadian Exporters Association. Mr. MacDonald is member of IEEE, APEO and the Telephone Pioneers of America. MEMBER: Janice M. Moyer Janice M. Moyer is president and chief executive officer of the Information Technology Association of Canada, the country's leading association for the computer and telecommunications industry. Before taking this position in 1990, she was president of McCormack and Dodge Systems Canada Limited. From 1974 to 1987, she was with IBM danida Limited where she undertook a progression of positions at the company, including executive assistant to the Chairman of the Board and manager of IBM's largest branch office. Ms. Moyer is a graduate of McMaster University. She has contributed numerous articles and presentations to organisations on the role and importance of information technology. MEMBER: Rory O'Brien Rory O'Brien is Web Programme Coordinator at Nirv Community Resource Centre in Toronto. For the past five years he has been responsible for strategic planning for system growth and development, marketing and promotion, and project management for this nonprofit computer network. He holds a B.A Communications from Simon Fraser University, and a Masters in Environmental Studies from York University. Mr. O'Brien has served as Chair of the Electronic Networking Advisory Group of the Premier's Council on Health, Well-being and Social Justice, and was a member of the Quality of Life Subcommittee of the Advisory Committee on a Telecommunications Strategy for Ontario. He is also the current past president of the Social Investment Organization. MEMBER: Fred Pomeroy Fred Pomeroy is Executive Vice President of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada (CEP). Prior to being elected to that position in November of 1992 he was president of the Communications and Electrical Workers of Canada for eight years and president of the Communications Workers of Canada for twelve years. From January of 1970 to April of 1972 he was a National Representative for the Canadian Communications Workers Council. Mr. Pomeroy is also a member of such organisations as the Canadian Labour Market and Productivity Centre, the Telecommunications and Computer Services SAGIT, the Ontario Premier's Council on Economic Renewal and he is a member of the Board and Executive Conunittee of the Public Policy Forum. MEMBER: Kirk Reiser Kirk Reiser has been at the University of Westem Ontario for the past ten years as the manager of the Computer Braille Facility. During that time, he has developed a computer based translator for braille book production. Mr. Reiser is a partner in a London company, Intelligent Access Microware, dedicated to producing, servicing and selling access technology for persons with visual impairments. He provides advice and consultation on technical accommodation to people with disabilities throughout Ontario. He has also been active on many committees such as the CNIB Advisory board on technology. Before coming to U.W.O., Mr. Reiser worked at the National Aeronautic and Space Administration's Lewis Research Centre. MEMBER: Hardet Velazquez Harriet Velazquez has had a varied career in the information technology field. She is currently Vice-President, Information Technology at Thomson Newspapers Corporation. Before that she was Executive Director, Information Technology at the Ontario Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations. She has also had senior marketing and sales positions at Southam Business Communications and GEAC Computers Corporation. -- Garth Graham aa127@freenet.carleton.ca <<< NGL/CANIS (Community Access Network Information Services) >>> Box 86, Ashton, Ont., K0A 1B0 613-253-3497