Confirmed Speakers

Allen, Ian D.
Barry, Thomas W.
Burnett, Ron
Clarke, Chuck C.
Connell, Bev
de Jager, Peter
Donnelly, Lisa K.
Gerrard, Honourable Jon M.
Gillespie, Michael
Gordon, Bob
Graham, Garth
Gross, Keith
Guy, Neil K.
Hall, Jon
Halpenny, Heather
Henry, Shawn
Hetherington, Dr. Richard G.
Humphries, Carol
Kemp, Philip Andrew
Kenyon, Alan
Kurata, Ed
McKee, Penelope
Mueller, John H.
Niedermayer, Daryle P.
Odasz, Frank
Padsha, Dr. S.M.
Schrader, Alvin
Schuler, Douglas
Simpson, Gwen
Stokins, Susan
Sutherland, Hazel
Trueman, David
Wheeler, Susan
Yeats, Greg G.
Zazulak, Eleanor

Honourable Jon M. Gerrard

<gerrardj@freenet.mb.ca>
The Honourable Jon M. Gerrard, PC, MP, was elected to the House of Commons in October 1993 as the Member of Parliament for Portage-Interlake. In November 1993, he was appointed to Secretary of State (Science, Research and Development).

In his role of Secretary of State, Dr. Gerrard has dedicated himself to strengthening Canada's commitment to Research and Development, encouraging Canadians to embrace a Science Culture, and promoting the information highway. He has played an important role in the success of a number of initiatives, including the Technology Partnership Program, the Canadian Technology Network, the Information Highway Advisory Committee and the Networks of Centres of Excellence.

Prior to his election, Dr. Gerrard was head of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at the Children's Hospital of Winnipeg and a professor with the University of Manitoba's medicine faculty. Internationally known for his research work on blood cells, particularly blood platelets, he is one of Manitoba's most outstanding physicians. Honoured many times by national and international medical institutes, Dr. Gerrard's expertise is regularly sought.

In 1993, Dr. Gerrard was honoured with a Teddy Award from the Children's Hospital of Winnipeg Research Foundation (presented annually to honour an outstanding contribution by a Manitoba researcher in pediatric medical research), and in 1995, he received a Medical Research Council Scientist award. A former member of the Hematology Study Section of the National Institute of Health (USA), he also sat on the Cell Physiology Committee of the Medical Research Council of Canada. He is also dedicated to the clinical care of young patients with cancer and blood disorders.

Born in October 1947, and raised in Saskatoon, he obtained a BA in economics from the University of Saskatchewan (1967); his MD from McGill University (1971); Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota (1978); Certificate of Pediatrics from the American Association of Pediatrics (1976); and became a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canadian (Pediatrics) in 1982.

Peter de Jager

<pdejager@hookup.net>
Peter de Jager's involvement with personal computers began in 1978. His experience with computers and their effect on corporations and people, has led him to the conclusion that there are no technological problems, only people problems. These problems manifest themselves as resistance to change, office politics and general techno-phobia. His opinions on technology and its impact, are published monthly in InfoCanada Magazine. Mr. de Jager is an accomplished speaker in the areas of Creativity & Change (including Technological Change). Comfortable with groups from 10 to 1000 in size, he enjoys bringing his ideas to audiences in talks both energetic and entertaining. Humour is central to his style, stemming from a belief that if people are laughing, they must be listening. He provides the listener with thought provoking ideas and concepts drawn from real life situations.

His credentials include a monthly column in InfoCanada covering personal computers and related technology issues, focusing on how people are affected by technology. Peter has published in dozens of magazines, publications and newspapers including: Information Centre Magazine; Speakout; Business Exchange Computing; Managing End User; Professional Speaker; Corporate Computing; Direct Access; and The Brampton Guardian. His articles have been re-printed in Russian and Polish. Peter de Jager's non-literary credits include creating the 1993 Educator's Conference, chairing the 1993 Canadian PC World Expo, serving on the Advisory Board to the U of T's School for Continuing Studies, and ongoing involvement as both a speaker and an advisor to several major computer conferences.

Garth Graham

<aa127@freenet.carleton.ca>
Garth Graham is a Canadian consultant in electronic community networking. He has extensive experience in enabling community and governments to apply interactive computer mediated communications in community development. Those involved with seeking social change through community networking recognize him as someone who generates food for thought about the purposes of community nets. He coordinated the first two national community networking conferences and successfully advocated for the establishment of Telecommunities Canada (TC), the national voice for the community networking movements. He is now serving a two year term as an elected member of the TC Board of Directors, with specific responsibilities for research.

In addition to Telecommunities Canada, he is active in citizens' organizations concerned with public policy debate on the information highway and the public interest in Canada's communications and information infrastructure including: National Capital Freenet, the Coalition for Public Information, the Electronic Democracy Conferences, the InfoLink Community Access Conferences, and the Alliance for Connecting Canada.

Prior to 1989, he spent six years based in Nairobi with the International Development Research Centre, as Regional Program Officer in Information Science for East and Southern Africa. In his early career, he worked for the Government of Yukon, based in Whitehorse. He established and managed the Department of Heritage and Cultural Resources, the first explicit recognition of cultural development responsibilities by Yukon government. This included programs for records management, archives, public information, school and public libraries, fine art, museums, historic sites and research regulation.

Douglas Schuler

<comnets@u.washington.edu>
Douglas Schuler is a software professional and an information and communication activist. As an activist with Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility (CPSR), he has been writing and speaking about social issues and computing for over ten years. One of his primary goals has been bringing issues into public prominence and discussion. In 1987, he instituted the Directions and Implications of Advanced Symposium, a biannual conference devoted to computing and society. Schuler is recognized as a pioneer and important proponent of the community networking movement. He is one of the founders of the Seattle Community Network (SCN) which, after two years, has nearly 10,000 users. His book New Community Networks: Wired for Change, published in 1996 by Addison-Wesley is a unique combination of social activism and technology development. In the book, Schuler analyses why the geographical community is important and endangered, and systematically discusses how community networks can help.

For over 15 year, Schuler was with the Boeing Company. For the last 10 years, he was and advanced computing technologist with the Research and Development Center at Boeing Computer Services. There he concentrated on groupware, hypermedia, CGI/Web programming, among many projects. Schuler has master's degrees in software engineering and computer science and is now an independent consultant on civic and community computing.

Schuler has worked with a number of community organizations and institutions including the League of Women voters, the Seattle Public Library and the City of Seattle (serving on their Telecommunications and Computer Committee) to help them use technology more effectively. Schuler is the national chair of CPSR, serves on the advisory board of the Loka Institute, an organization working to democratize technology, and is on the editorial board of the Information Society Journal. In addition to his book on community network, Schuler has co-edited several books including participatory Design: Principles and Practice (1993) and Reinventing Technology, Rediscovering Community (1996).

Ian D. Allen

<xx610@freenet.carleton.ca>
Ian Allen is an independent consultant currently providing technical direction to the National Capital Freenet in Ottawa. He has been using shared on-line communication services since 1976 and the Internet since 1981. Ian has fifteen years' experience as System Administrator of academic and community on-line systems, where responsiveness and a keen ability to listen are key job requirements. Ian has an honors B.A. in Psychology and a Masters degree in Computer Science, both from the University of Waterloo.

Thomas W.. Barry

Thomas Barry is the Marketing Director for the Missouri Institute for Information Technology (MIIT) at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He is responsible for all phases of project development with MIIT and its client constituency which includes a variety of public and private organizations. MIIT is one of Missouri's Centers for Advanced Technology, which focuses on projects that impact on the ability of Missouri to compete globally. Prior to joining MIIT, Mr. Barry worked for twelve years within state government serving as the Director of Technology Programs for the Missouri Department of Economic Development. Mr. Barry has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis on Human Resource Management, from Central Missouri State University. In addition, he has completed a three-year course of study in Economic Development at the University of Oklahoma at Norman, and a course of study in Economic Development at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana.

Dr. Ron Burnett

<czbu@musica.mcgill.ca>
Dr. Ron Burnett, President of the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design, is the former Director of the Graduate Program in Communications at McGill University. He recently published Cultures of Vision: Images, Media and the Imaginary with Indiana University Press. His present research looks at the relationship between community media such as radio and television, and their evolution into networked environments. He is co-authoring a new book with Charles Levin, entitled The Digitization of Culture.

Chuck C. Clarke

Chuck Clarke is one of the Provinces' foremost trainers in Fundraising. He is known by the moniker: Alberta's Fundraising Guru, which the Jasper Booster newspaper gave him in 1995, on the occasion of his 50th workshop on Fundraising. Since then he has gone on to deliver 15 more to local, provincial and national organizations. Chuck is a facilitator with Alberta Community Development. He is also the Skills Program Master Trainer in Resource Generation.

Bev Connell

Bev Connell is the Operations Coordinator for the Niagara Peninsula Freenet. Educated at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario, with a Bachelor of Administration degree, majoring in Systems Analysis. Bev oversees the volunteer base, help desk services, and membership support. Bev's vast front line experience over the past few years have helped recognize user needs.

Lisa K. Donnelly

<xx412@freenet.carleton.ca>
Lisa Donnelly is the Executive Director of the National Capital Freenet in Ottawa. She is the organization's first manager and has been working at NCF for over two years. Ms. Donnelly holds an MBA in Not-for-profit Administration and has been working with computers since 1984. For the last two and a half years she has also worked as a volunteer consultant and facilitator for BOARDwalk, a United Way subsidiary which offers volunteer leadership and management assistance to non-profit and charitable Boards in the National Capital region. Additional responsibilities include sitting on the Board of Telecommunities Canada, and being the Treasurer of the Business and Professional Women's Association of Ottawa.

Michael Gillespie

Michael Gillespie has been involved in the broadcast, communications and computer industries for over 25 years. A strong leader, Mr. Gillespie was founder of many community groups in Canada including: Montessorie Learning Centres Inc.; Alternative Education Association of Manitoba; Blue Sky Community Networks of Manitoba; and Telecommunities Canada. As President of Telecommunities Canada, Mr. Gillespie represents community network groups across the country. He strongly believes that community networks have an important role to play as a literacy tool across the nation. As Project Manager for Blue Sky Community Networks, Mr. Gillespie is currently assisting 27 rural Manitoba groups to establish local area community networks with access to the Internet. Among his other credits, Mr. Gillespie was recently nominated for an award of excellence for sustainable development by the Province of Manitoba. In his spare time, Mr. Gillespie is an avid pilot and the President of The Gray Research Group, which develops computer hardware and software.

Bob Gordon

<gordonr@magi.com>
Bob Gordon is Director of the CanWorkNet Project and senior executive with human resources Development Canada. He has had some 30 years of experience in the field of human resource information. He is one of the founders of the Labor Market Information Service and spent many years as a senior economist and analyst in Employment and Immigration Canada and Labour Canada, where he served as Director General of Central Analytical Services and Executive Director of the Bureau of Labor Information. Bob has represented Canada abroad on expert committees dealing with industrial relations information, technological unemployment and trends in white collar employment at the International Labour Office (ILO) in Geneva and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris. By profession, Bob is an economist and a graduate of the University of Alberta.

Keith E. W. Gross

<kgross@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca>
Keith Gross grew up in Hamilton Ontario and moved to Western Canada in 1969 and to Edmonton in 1973. He has used his studies in English, Philosophy, Theology, Education and Psychology to work in a variety of community and educational settings. Keith has been involved in major projects promoting educational curricula and publishing music resources. In May of 1995, he began as Executive Director of Edmonton Freenet and has worked with the staff and volunteers to bring it to over 11,000 members offering an ever expanding variety of electronic services.

Neil K. Guy

Neil K. Guy is the vice-president of and Webmeister for the Vancouver Community Network Association. He has been a volunteer since 1993, serving on a variety of committees including system design, community content and public relations. Neil has recently completed an MA in Geography at Simon Fraser University and his thesis, entitled Community Networks: Building Real Communities in a Virtual Space? is available on-line. He is the owner of tela design, a Vancouver-based Web design firm.

Jon Hall

Jon Hall owns and operates an association management company in Edmonton with outreach activities in Yellowknife NWT. He describes himself as a freelance Executive Director and provides services to associations, volunteer agencies and not-for-profit groups. He is a Certified Association Manager and has two decades experience in association management. Formerly with the executive staff of Scouts Canada, Jon worked at the regional and provincial levels of the organization. Since forming his own company, Jon has worked with such organizations as the NTnet Society (in Yellowknife), Edmonton FreeNet, the City of Edmonton, Canadian Society of Association Executives, International Reading Association, Scouts Canada, Alberta Real Estate Association, Home Economists in Business, Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association, Alberta Restaurant and Food Services Association, and Alberta Optometrists Association. As a trainer, Jon uses an interactive style with lots of hands-on self-discovery methods. He has ten years of experience in writing and producing for television, which he uses to enliven and support his presentations. Jon has held numerous positions as a volunteer, including president of the Alberta Hostelling Association, vice-president of the Canadian Hostelling Association, chairman of the Diocese of Edmonton's Program Committee, and chairman of many Scouts Canada committees.

Heather Halpenny

Heather Halpenny is currently a Community Development Officer with the Board Development Program of Alberta Community Development. As a volunteer, she has been an instructor with the Board Development Program, as well as a member of the Board of Directors for a health center, a social justice organization, a community out-of-school care program, an arts organization and a community labor cooperative. Her employment experience is varied; she has been a teacher, a community educator, a business consultant and an executive director of a human services organization in Edmonton.

Shawn Henry

<henry@freenet.calgary.ab.ca>
Shawn Henry is the former Project Director for the Calgary Freenet Association, a Research Associate for the Canada West Foundation and a Ph.D. student at the University of Calgary. He has a BA in Sociology from the University of Lethbridge and an MA from the University of Calgary. His primary research areas include: statistics, research methodology, political sociology, and new technology. As a founding member of the Freenet Association, Mr. Henry has served on numerous committees and made many presentations for the Freenet Association.

Dr. Richard G. Hetherington

Dr. Richard G. Hetherington is the Director of Computer Science Telecommunications (CST) at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Dr. Hetherington joined UMKC in 1984 and, with financial support from Sprint Canada, developed, designed and implemented the Computer Science Telecommunications Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Masters and Doctoral degree programs. Dr. Hetherington conceptualized and developed the Center of Telecomputing Research, a state-supported applied research center. A developmental research arm of the CST, the Center is currently engaged in designing multimedia networking tools for applications in distance learning. As a charter member of the Board of Directors , he helped create the Special Interest Group in Applied Computing within the Association of Computing Machinery. He hosted and chaired the 1992 ACM-sponsored Computer Science Conference. In 1994, Dr. Hetherington spearheaded the creation of the Missouri Institute for Information Technology (MIIT), which facilitates development and dissemination of expertise in the applications of information technology to businesses, communities, academia and government so that the State of Missouri can compete globally in the 21st century Dr. Hetherington received a BA in Mathematics from Brothers College, Drew University in 1955, attended the University of Wisconsin where he received his M.S. in Mathematics in 1956 and his Ph.D. in Mathematics in 1961.

Carol Humphries

<carol@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca>
Carol Humphries is the executive director of the Learning Link, an association which connects individuals and organizations in the pursuit of excellence in learning. Carol currently chairs the board of Edmonton FreeNet.

Philip Andrew Kemp

<philkemp@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca>
Philip Kemp has worked in the computer field for over 30 years, after graduating in 1962 from the University of Southampton, England, with a B.Sc. in Mathematics. Starting as an engineer and programmer in the aerospace industry, he worked for such companies as Hawker Siddelely Dynamics, British Aircraft Corporation, and Canadair Ltd. He later worked with the Alberta Government in Government Services and Public Works, as an analyst, trainer, author and manager. Phil has written for Canadian computer magazines and created a widely-used shareware terminal program. He currently operates Wight Enterprises, a company which offers a wide range of services related to computers and the Internet These services include consulting, training, writing and presentation, research, software installation, and Internet Web Page preparation. He has recently led workshops and seminars on topics such as: Exploiting the Internet; Creating World Wide Web Pages; Use of Microsoft Office Software; and Use of WINDOWS and WINDOWS 95.

Alan Kenyon

<73764.1151@compuserve.com>
Alan Kenyon is the Executive Director for the Nevada, Missouri Economic Development Commission and founder of the Nevada Telecommunity Development Corporation. Alan has served four communities as either a President, a Director of the Chamber of Commerce, or the Economic Development Officer. He holds a B.A. from Ft. Hays Kansas State University, a M.A. in Modern American History from Georgetown University and a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Kansas. He has recently received the Missouri Industrial Development Council's annual award for Outstanding Professionalism in Economic Development.

Ed Kurata

<ekurata@Telebit.COM>
Ed Kurata has worked in the computing field for over 18 years, and has held positions at NCR, Digital Equipment Corporation, ITT Information Systems, and LANQuest, a nationally recognized local area network testing company. He holds a bachelor's degree in computer science from the University of California, San Diego. As a systems engineer with Telebit Corporation, Mr. Kurata consults with leading companies for their remote access/telecommuting/ WAN-LAN strategies and implementation plans. Mr. Kurata is based out of Telebit's West Coast office in San Jose, California.

Penelope McKee

Penelope McKee's career goal is to contribute to the survival of the public library as an essential service in the 21st century, making it a vibrant flourishing system which supports the democratic foundation of our society, enhancing life-long learning, preserving our cultural heritage and ensuring access to information for everyone. For 15 years, she has been the Chief Executive Officer/Director of the Edmonton Public Library, responsible for a budget of $19.5 million and a staff of 450. Prior to this, Penny was the Chief Executive Officer for the Peterborough Public Library and the Aurora Public Library. She is also an adjunct Associate Professor at the School of Library and Information Studies at the University of Alberta. Penny was the founder and first President of the Edmonton Freenet, and Co-Chair of the Alberta Public Libraries Marketing Implementation Team. Penny was named the ITV Woman of Vision in 1995 and the American Biographical Institute Woman of the Year in 1995. She received her Master of Library Science from the University of Toronto in 1980.

John H. Mueller

Professor Mueller has taught, conducted, and published research on human information processing for over 25 years. He has used computers extensively in his research, and in the past decade has taught courses on technology and learning, specializing in accessing and using the global Internet as an educational resource. He is the President of the Calgary Freenet Association. He has developed and taught coursed on the Internet for Continuing Education at the University of Calgary, for the Calgary Freenet and for other organizations, and he has served as an Internet consultant to various businesses and schools.

Daryle P. Niedermayer

<daryle@gpfn.sk.ca>
Daryle Niedermayer completed a B.A. in Sociology at the University of Saskatchewan, and a Masters of Divinity at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Saskatoon. Daryle first became involved in community Bulletin Boards in Thunder Bay in 1992. Upon moving to Regina, he became a founding director of the Great Plains Freenet the following year. The Great Plains Freenet was one of the few Freenets to conduct a survey as part of developing its business plan. Daryle headed the Needs Assessment Committee and oversaw the survey development and production of a final report entitled A Community Response to Freenets: Implications for the Community-Based Telecomputing Movement in Regina. Daryle is the owner of Gale Force Graphics, a publishing and research company, and a part-time Lutheran minister.

Frank Odasz

Originally from Cody, Wyoming, Frank received a B.A. in Psychology from the University of California, Davis, in 1974, then worked in Wyoming as an oilfield roughneck, independent carpenter, and dude ranch manager until receiving a Master of Science in Instructional Technology from the University of Wyoming in 1984. Frank has been an assistant professor of computer education at Western Montana College since 1985, where in 1988 he founded Big Sky Telegraph, an online educational community network.

Dr. S. M. Padsha

<padsha@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca>
Dr. Padsha is a charter member of the Edmonton Freenet. He actively participates in the Edmonton FreeNet's organizing committees and is involved in the development of the training program for Information Providers. He is currently training new Information Providers to write Web pages using HTML. By profession, Dr. Padsha is a retired professor of physiology.

Dr. Alvin Schrader

Dr Schrader is a professor in the School of Library and Information Studies at the University of Alberta. He joined the School in 1982 while completing doctoral studies at Indiana University in Bloomington. His teaching and research interests include intellectual freedom and censorship, disciplinary and educational foundations of library and information studies, research methodology, library reference services, and information resources in the social sciences. A long-standing opponent of state censorship, he has written several articles about freedom of expression issues involving libraries, and his latest research was published as Fear of Words: Censorship and the Public Libraries of Canada (Canadian Library Association, 1995).

Gwen Simpson

<gsimpson@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca>
Gwen Simpson has been the Administrative Assistant for the Edmonton Freenet since May 1995. Prior to that, she was a recruiter, a coordinator, and a trainer of volunteers for three other non-profit organizations.

Susan G. Stokins

Susan Stokins has been a Board Development Program volunteer trainer for the Board Development Program of Alberta Community Development for the past four years. She has extensive experience working with a diversity of not-for-profit organizations through out the province. You can expect the workshop to be lively and interactive. Susan has developed training manuals and orientation programs for not-for-profit boards. She is currently a volunteer for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Alberta and Network for Employment Resources in Sherwood Park.

Hazel Sutherland

<sutherlandh@admin.gmcc.ab.ca>
Hazel Sutherland is the Chair and Instructor of the Voluntary Sector Management Certificate Program at Grant MacEwan Community College in Edmonton. Prior to work at the College, Hazel worked as an Executive Director of a charitable organization. As an educator and training consultant, Hazel has worked at the local, national and international levels. Her specialty is issue and skill development for employees and volunteers working within the non-profit and public sector. Hazel is a Past President of the Family Center in Edmonton, holds a Master degree in Educational Administration from the University of Alberta. She is the author of several publications including: Developing Fundraising Volunteers; Conducting Effective Meetings; Enhancing Community Volunteer Programs; Working with Boards and Committees; and Making the Most of What You Have: A Practical Guide to Developing Volunteers.

David Trueman

<david@cs.dal.ca>
David Trueman is the Systems Manager for the Department of Mathematics, Statistics and Computing Science at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He has served as Co-Chair of the Board of Directors of Chebucto Community Net and is now Chair of the Technical Committee. In 1995, he won the Canadian Internet Award for "Internet Person of the Year", for his contribution to Chebucto Community Net and for Chebucto Suite which is distributed to other communities in Canada and elsewhere.

Susan Wheeler

<susan@freenet.npiec.on.ca>
Susan Wheeler is the Information and Training Specialist for the Niagara Peninsula Freenet. Susan's academic qualifications include a degree in German from Brock University in St. Catherine's, Ontario, and an honours equivalency in Psychology from St. Mary's University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Susan helps to keep the membership informed on Freenet and Internet happenings through TV shows, setting up special projects and leading training classes.

Greg G. Yeats

<ggyeats@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca>
Greg Yeats has been a member of the Edmonton Freenet since it first began selling memberships, prior to its formal startup. During the first summer of operation, Greg worked as a volunteer at the Fringe Festival and later became an Information Provider. When the idea of the Helpdesk was initially passed around, he was one of the first to sign up. The Helpdesk now has a Captain for each evening and one for the daytime period. Greg is currently the Thursday evening Helpdesk Captain. Additional areas within the Freenet where Greg has been involved include the Training sessions for new members and with the Membership Committee. Greg has also provided training to the disabled, particularly the blind, and has assisted several disabled people with the Freenet. Greg has a 20 year history of volunteering.

Eleanor Zazulak

<eleanor.zazulak@tbs-cts.gc.ca>
Eleanor Zazulak is a Senior policy officer in the Treasury Board Secretariat of the Government of Canada. During her six years at the Board, Eleanor has been responsible for developing government-wide information management policy. Her work includes the successful negotiation of a government-wide license agreement for photocopying and the publishing of guidelines for managing government-wide information. Eleanor is chair of an interdepartmental Internet Advisory Committee which consists of nine Working Groups and provides advice and guidance to the Treasury Board Secretariat on government-wide Internet strategy and management issues related to the use of the Internet within the federal government. The newest edition of the Government of Canada Internet Guide will be published in the summer of 1996.


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Last updated November 11, 1996