Canada’s digital divide is widening the social divide — and it’s time to bridge the gap

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The coronavirus pandemic has illuminated the alarming digital divide in Canada. Many in low-income, northern, rural, remote, and Indigenous communities lack reliable access to high-speed internet, making access to services, programs, education, work, and even friends and family impossible in times of physical distancing. Access to laptops and smartphones, too, is limited in low-income homes. And gaps in digital literacy and skills represent a newly urgent problem. 

What needs to change? What type of funding will it take, and how can the philanthropic sector, business, and leaders in our communities, step up to close the digital divide? 

Future of Good is proud to announce a multi-format content partnership with the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA). Over the fall, through plenary talks, webinars, and digital stories, we’ll explore systemic barriers to digital access, illuminate promising initiatives, and dive into how the philanthropic sector can lead the charge on addressing Canada’s digital divide. 

We kick off with a #BuildBackBetter digital conversation on September 8th to explore the dramatic changes communities will experience in the next 12 months in which digital “have-nots” are being further separated from digital “haves”. RSVP for it here.

 

Register for our 2020 digital-first Future of Good Summit. Super early bird tickets are now on sale at 50% off regular rate, and also includes a 1 year Future of Good membership.