FYI the Open Internet Town Hall at 1:30pm PST will be streamed online at: http://multivsp.com/saveournet

-if you can't make it out be sure to sign in and participate online! Just log in as a guest, and turn on your webcam or participate via text

Also join us at the Internet Dance Party!
http://saveournet.ca/danceparty

An open town hall event giving local citizens the chance to shape Canada's broadband future. As Canada falls behind other OECD countries on Internet speed, cost, and openness this session will feature a lively discussion guided by a panel of web innovators, social change leaders, and public policy gurus. Citizen testimony will be used to develop the SaveOurNet.ca presentation to the CRTC and the “Open Internet Declaration” which will be put before MPs and policy makers.

Vancouver's Open Internet Town Hall is part of Change Camp Vancouver. Find out more and register here:
http://vanchangecamp.eventbrite.com/

WHAT IS VANCHANGECAMP: A participatory, web-enabled event to imagine and build new ways to collaborate for social change in the digital age.

WHEN: June 20th 2009 At 1:30pm PST

WHERE: BCIT Downtown Campus
555 Seymour St
Vancouver, BC V5L

Featured speakers for the Town Hall include:

*Jacob Glick – Canada Policy Counsel, Google Canada

*Rocky Gaudrault (CEO, Teksavvy Solutions Inc.)

*Libby Davies – Member of Parliament (NDP)

*Steve Anderson (Co-founder, SaveOurNet.ca)

*Jason Lamarche - Host & Producer, LiberalMinute.ca

The discussion will be facilitated by Reilly Yeo from the SFU Centre for Dialogue


Vancouver's Live & Interactive Internet Town Hall Meeting is being presented LIVE by Matrika Media and Reel Rising Productions; young professionals divisions of Heart In Action Enterprise, a new media social enterprise and a subsidiary of Asita Informatica Inc.


Until now, Canada’s Internet has been an open network and a level playing field for free speech, innovation, and consumer choice. All that is now under threat.

We want to engage in a discussion on what the future of the Internet should look like by addressing the following questions:

* How can we ensure Internet services for everyone in Canada?
* How do we expand consumer choice and lower costs for Internet services?
* How can the Internet be a catalyst for economic growth, jobs, and prosperity?
* How do we preserve the Internet’s level playing field so everyone can access the content, applications, and services of their choice?
* What roles should the federal government, local governments, private industry, and everyday citizens play to build a better Internet?
* What can and should citizens do right now?

Some Speaker Bios:

Jacob Glick
Jacob Glick is Google's Canada Policy Counsel. He is part of a
global policy team, working with academics, civil society, industry
and government to keep the Internet open and super. Jacob studied
Political Science and Law at the University of Toronto. Prior to
joining Google he was General Counsel and Director of Policy
Development at the Canadian Internet Registration Authority. Jacob
enjoys Mel Brooks movies and biking along the Ottawa River Parkway. As
of April, he is a first-time dad

Rocky Gaudrault:
Rocky Gaudrault is CEO of TekSavvy Solutions Inc. - based in Chatham, Ontario. Rocky is consider a hero to many who believe in the importance of the open Internet both for his open Internet offerings, and for Rocky's weigh in on telecom policy issues and evening taking on the biggest telecom carriers in the country. In May 2008 Rocky even went so far as to bus most of his employees to Parliament hill to rally for Net Neutrality.

Steve Anderson:
Steve Anderson is the current National Coordinator of the Campaign For Democratic Media and co-founder of the SaveOurNet.ca coalition. Steve is an active writer, video producer, and social media consultant, and has worked for The Real News, FreePress, The Center For Media and Democracy, and Free Speech TV. Steve’s writing has appeared in numerous local and national print and online publications such as TheTyee, The Toronto Star, Epoch Times, Adbusters, Canadian Dimension, Rabble.ca, Common Ground, Vue Weekly, and Social Policy Magazine. Steve is a contributing author to Censored 2008: The Top 25 Censored Stories, and Battleground: The Media. Steve also writes a monthly syndicated column called “Media Links”.

Libby Davies

Libby was first elected as Member of Parliament for Vancouver East in 1997. Re-elected in 2000, again in June 2004, 2006, and most recently in 2008, she is the Deputy Leader of the NDP, and has served as NDP House Leader since 2003. Libby is also the federal NDP Spokesperson for Drug Policy Reform and Solicitation Laws. 

Her history as a strong community activist for Vancouver East began over 30 years ago. She and her late partner, Bruce Eriksen, were key figures in the formation of the Downtown Eastside Residents' Association (DERA) in 1973. In 10 years of community organizing, Libby developed her strong grassroots approach to working with people and diverse communities.

Jason Lamarche
Jason Lamarche is the producer and host of the popular online video series “Liberal Minute”. Jason’s tech background dates back to 1998 when he first started blogging and building HTML websites. Since then he has become a prolific social networker and has used his online profiles to promote network neutrality. Jason is also a community organizer and has successfully used the web to produce various offline events and campaigns. Jason studies business and political science at UBC.

Also join us at the Internet Dance Party!

http://saveournet.ca/danceparty