Community Access Program

The Community Access Program (CAP) helps Canadians, wherever they live, take advantage of emerging opportunities in the new global knowledge-based economy. Under CAP, public locations like schools, libraries and community centres act as "on-ramps" to the Information Highway, and provide computer support and training.

CAP provides funds and resources to public locations to purchase computers as well as other electronic equipment and services, such as Internet access so that the public has affordable (and oftentimes free) access to the Internet and the World Wide Web.

As part of CAP, Industry Canada also funds the Community Access Program - Youth Initiative (CAP-YI), commonly referred to as the Youth Initiative. Participants (youth aged 15-30) work as interns at CAP Centre's throughout Canada, helping individuals, community organizations and small businesses improve their knowledge and effective use of the Internet and related information technologies. Specific activities include:

Delivering Internet training sessions
Researching and developing Web sites
Drafting publicity materials
Organizing information fairs and special events
Providing technical support to the CAP site.

Origins of CAP
Starting in 1994, Industry Canada started a program called the Community Access Program (CAP) in an effort to make Canada the leader in the global "Internet race." Initially, Industry Canada focused on rural communities, where Internet access was less available. Libraries, municipal offices and schools could apply for funding to purchase computers and computer equipment for their places of business to set up CAP CENTRES. Once the rural communities were equipped with computers and Internet access, Industry Canada focused on what is referred to as the "Digital Divide." This divide consists of people who do not normally have Internet access, i.e. First Nations people, seniors, second-language citizens, etc. CAP Centres in urban areas were then opened to help reach these people.

Who is Who and What is What
To attain a better understanding of the Youth Initiative, read the following brief descriptions of the various roles for the contributors/participants of the program:

Industry Canada
The CAP Youth Initiative is funded as an initiative by Industry Canada. The program's youth funding is distributed provincially. In some provinces, the provincial government administers the program; in others, third-party organizations administer CAP. In Ontario, CAP is administered through one of these third-parties: the Ontario Library Association.
Ontario Library Association (OLA)
As Ontario's CAP Youth Initiative Contractor, the OLA is the point of contact for all Site Administrators and Youth Workers across Ontario. The OLA sends out notices of application, processes applications and contracts, distributes and approves funding, and performs the day-to-day transactions necessary to administer CAP. To aid in the successful administration of the program, the OLA employs Central & Regional Co-Ordinators.
Central Co-Ordinators
The OLA typically employs one to two Central Co-Ordinators to administer Ontario CAP. Most of the official paperwork between the OLA and Site Administrators is funneled through the Central Co-Ordinator.
Regional Co-Ordinators
Regional Co-Ordinators in Ontario are the point of contact between the OLA and the Site Administrator/Youth Workers. Regional Co-Ordinators report to the Central Co-Ordinator and are responsible for reporting on the details and activities of their regions on a weekly basis. Regional Co-Ordinators act as a resource to both the Administrators and the Youth Workers, and aid the Central Co-Ordinator in monitoring the activities of the province.
Site Administrator
Site Administrators apply for funding to hire CAP Youth Workers to train residents in computer and Internet technology. CAP sites are often located in libraries, municipal offices and schools. In return for the funding granted through CAP, Site Administrators agree to submit regular reports to and maintain regular contact with the OLA through their Regional Co-Ordinator.
Youth Workers
CAP Youth Workers are the backbone of the entire program. They train the public in basic computer and Internet use, hold CyberCamps (workshops), provide technical support to CAP sites, develop web pages for non-profit organizations and CAP sites, promote and create awareness of the CAP Centre, and perform the daily administration of the CAP Centre.

For more information about the CAP program please visit the Industry Canada website at http://cap.ic.gc.ca/pub/index.html?iin.lang=en

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Library Resources Services Special Needs Services Teen Zone Kids Corner News & Events Our Organization Support Your Library Hours & Locations Friends of the Library Community Access Program		Community Access Program The Community Access Program (CAP) helps Canadians, wherever they live, take advantage of emerging opportunities in the new global knowledge-based economy. Under CAP, public locations like schools, libraries and community centres act as "on-ramps" to the Information Highway, and provide computer support and training. CAP provides funds and resources to public locations to purchase computers as well as other electronic equipment and services, such as Internet access so that the public has affordable (and oftentimes free) access to the Internet and the World Wide Web. As part of CAP, Industry Canada also funds the Community Access Program - Youth Initiative (CAP-YI), commonly referred to as the Youth Initiative. Participants (youth aged 15-30) work as interns at CAP Centre's throughout Canada, helping individuals, community organizations and small businesses improve their knowledge and effective use of the Internet and related information technologies. Specific activities include: Delivering Internet training sessions Researching and developing Web sites Drafting publicity materials Organizing information fairs and special events Providing technical support to the CAP site. Origins of CAP Starting in 1994, Industry Canada started a program called the Community Access Program (CAP) in an effort to make Canada the leader in the global "Internet race." Initially, Industry Canada focused on rural communities, where Internet access was less available. Libraries, municipal offices and schools could apply for funding to purchase computers and computer equipment for their places of business to set up CAP CENTRES. Once the rural communities were equipped with computers and Internet access, Industry Canada focused on what is referred to as the "Digital Divide." This divide consists of people who do not normally have Internet access, i.e. First Nations people, seniors, second-language citizens, etc. CAP Centres in urban areas were then opened to help reach these people. Who is Who and What is What To attain a better understanding of the Youth Initiative, read the following brief descriptions of the various roles for the contributors/participants of the program: Industry Canada The CAP Youth Initiative is funded as an initiative by Industry Canada. The program's youth funding is distributed provincially. In some provinces, the provincial government administers the program; in others, third-party organizations administer CAP. In Ontario, CAP is administered through one of these third-parties: the Ontario Library Association. Ontario Library Association (OLA) As Ontario's CAP Youth Initiative Contractor, the OLA is the point of contact for all Site Administrators and Youth Workers across Ontario. The OLA sends out notices of application, processes applications and contracts, distributes and approves funding, and performs the day-to-day transactions necessary to administer CAP. To aid in the successful administration of the program, the OLA employs Central & Regional Co-Ordinators. Central Co-Ordinators The OLA typically employs one to two Central Co-Ordinators to administer Ontario CAP. Most of the official paperwork between the OLA and Site Administrators is funneled through the Central Co-Ordinator. Regional Co-Ordinators Regional Co-Ordinators in Ontario are the point of contact between the OLA and the Site Administrator/Youth Workers. Regional Co-Ordinators report to the Central Co-Ordinator and are responsible for reporting on the details and activities of their regions on a weekly basis. Regional Co-Ordinators act as a resource to both the Administrators and the Youth Workers, and aid the Central Co-Ordinator in monitoring the activities of the province. Site Administrator Site Administrators apply for funding to hire CAP Youth Workers to train residents in computer and Internet technology. CAP sites are often located in libraries, municipal offices and schools. In return for the funding granted through CAP, Site Administrators agree to submit regular reports to and maintain regular contact with the OLA through their Regional Co-Ordinator. Youth Workers CAP Youth Workers are the backbone of the entire program. They train the public in basic computer and Internet use, hold CyberCamps (workshops), provide technical support to CAP sites, develop web pages for non-profit organizations and CAP sites, promote and create awareness of the CAP Centre, and perform the daily administration of the CAP Centre. For more information about the CAP program please visit the Industry Canada website at http://cap.ic.gc.ca/pub/index.html?iin.lang=en Home \| Library Resources \| Services \| Special Needs Services \| Teen Zone \| Kids Corner \| News & Events \| Our Organization \| Support Your Library \| Hours & Locations \| Friends of the Library Community Access Programs \| Site Map Copyright © 2010 Sault Ste. Marie Public Library. All Rights Reserved.