GEO Forum 2024

Check out the recap here!

GEO FORUM 2024 is a free, virtual conference happening on October 9, 2024, focused on Digital Inclusion in Nova Scotia – making sure everyone has the access, tools, and skills to be online.

Hosted by GEO Nova Scotia, this event is all about bringing together people from government, industry, and community to talk about how we are closing the digital divide, together.

The forum will feature opening remarks from Colton Leblanc, Minister of Cyber-Security and Digital Solutions, and a plenary session with an all-Scottish panel including the founders of the Mhor Collective who deliver Digital Champions programming across the country, and representatives from the Scottish Council of Voluntary Organizations (SCVO), which is responsible for a number of innovative digital inclusion initiatives like Connecting Scotland and Connecting to Care.

Spotlight sessions with Community Services Minister Brendan Maguire and Labour, Skills and Immigration Minister Jill Balser will explore how digital inclusion is impacting government programs and services.

The day includes breakout sessions on important topics like education, mental health, seniors, and gender-based violence. Attendees can also participate in a Digital Champions training session to gain tips, tools, and insights into helping others gain digital skills.

Register now to win one of fifteen $250 gift-cards from Orchard. Winners will be drawn throughout the day, during each session.

Things wrap up that evening with the Nova Scotia Digital Inclusion Awards in Halifax which will be livestreamed.

Whether you’re involved in policy, programming, service provision, or have another interest in digital inclusion in Nova Scotia, GEO FORUM 2024 is the place to be. It’s a great chance to learn, share ideas, and be part of the solution.

Register here!

AGENDA

9:00 AM – 10:30 AM: Opening Session (plenary)

  • Welcome + Opening Remarks from Honorable Colton Leblanc, Minister of Cyber-Security and Digital Solutions
  • Featured Panel Discussion: “Digital Inclusion in Scotland”

10:30 AM – 11:00 AM: Break

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Breakout Sessions Round 1

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Lunch

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Breakout Sessions Round 2

2:00 PM – 2:30 PM: Break

2:30 PM – 3:30 PM: Breakout Sessions Round 3

3:30 PM  – 4:00 PM: Closing Session (plenary)

7:00 PM  – 8:30 PM: Nova Scotia Digital Inclusion Awards!

  • LIVESTREAMED

Thank you to our Sponsors!

Presenting Sponsor

NS Department of Cyber-Security and Digital Solutions

Partnering Sponsors

NS Department of Community Services

NS Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration

Contributing Sponsor

Door Prizes

____________________________________________________________________________

DETAILED AGENDA

9:00 AM – 10:30 AM: Opening Session (plenary)

Welcome + Opening Remarks from Honorable Colton Leblanc, Minister of Cyber-Security and Digital Solutions

Panel discussion: Digital Inclusion in Scotland, what can we learn?

Host: Matt Spurway, Executive Director, GEO Nova Scotia

Featuring:

As a global-leader in digital inclusion initiatives, Scotland has been at the forefront of digital government and service delivery. In this all-Scottish plenary panel discussion, we’ll hear about Scotland’s ongoing journey building its citizens’ digital skills, closing the digital divide, and bringing more care to people across the country.

10:30 AM – 11:00 AM: Break

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Spotlight: Digital Inclusion and Community Services

Host: Matt Spurway, Executive Director, GEO Nova Scotia

Featuring: Cynthia Carroll, Associate Deputy Minister, Community Services

Whether it’s Income Assistance, Disability Support, Employment Support, or housing and homelessness, digital inclusion has a major impact on the priorities and responsibilities of the Department of Community Services.

In this special session we’ll talk to the Cynthia Carroll, Associate Deputy Minister of Community Services, about how digital is transforming the department’s delivery of services and how the department is finding ways to contribute to digital inclusion for all Nova Scotians.

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Panel: Digital Inclusion and Mental Health

Host: Ian Scarisbrick, Referral Program Manager, GEO Nova Scotia

Featuring:

In this session, panelists will:

  • reflect on how digital inclusion (or exclusion) impacts mental health
  • share what they are seeing today as it relates to digital inclusion and mental health
  • Identify promising opportunities for Nova Scotia related to digital inclusion and mental health
  • Field moderated questions from attendees

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Panel: Digital Inclusion and Seniors

Host: Brenda Lavandier, Interim Digital Champions Lead, GEO Nova Scotia

Featuring:

In this session, panelists will:

  • reflect on how digital inclusion (or exclusion) impacts seniors
  • share what they are seeing today as it relates to digital inclusion and seniors
  • Identify promising opportunities for Nova Scotia related to digital inclusion and seniors
  • Field moderated questions from attendees

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Digital Champions Training

Hosts: Cam Roach and Tyra MacInnis, Digital Inclusion Facilitators, GEO Nova Scotia

Become a Digital Champion! Learn from experienced Digital Inclusion Facilitators in this interactive workshop that highlights the importance of digital inclusion, the role of a Digital Champion, and provides tools, tips, and techniques to support others getting online safely and confidently.

Digital Champions can come from anywhere! They are most often staff and volunteers from nonprofit and public sector organizations who find themselves helping people one-on-one. 

Empower yourself, discover effective strategies to guide others, and become a trusted resource for overcoming online challenges. As part of the training, you will also gain login access to the Digital Champion portal, its resources, and the opportunity to make connections with other Digital Champions.

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Lunch

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Spotlight: Digital Inclusion and Labour, Skills and Immigration

Host: Matt Spurway, Executive Director, GEO Nova Scotia

Feauring: Hon. Jill Balser, Minister, Labour, Skills and Immigration

Whether it’s training and employment, workplace safety, or supporting newcomers, technology and digital inclusion have a major impact on the priorities and responsibilities of the Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration.

In this special session we’ll talk to the Honourable Jill Balser, Minister of Labour Skills and Immigration, about how digital is transforming the department’s delivery of services and how the department is finding ways to contribute to digital inclusion for all Nova Scotians. 

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Panel: Digital Inclusion and Disability

Host: Josie Lake, Interim Programming Partnership Manager, GEO Nova Scotia

Featuring:

  • Isaiah Doucet, Employment and Program Development Specialist, Prescott Group
  • Charles Levasseur, Regional Manager, Neil Squire Society
  • Amanda Hendrie, Program Coordinator, NSLEO
  • Randy Acker, DCS

In this session, panelists will:

  • reflect on how digital inclusion (or exclusion) impacts disability
  • share what they are seeing today as it relates to digital inclusion and disability
  • Identify promising opportunities for Nova Scotia related to digital inclusion and disability
  • Field moderated questions from attendees

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Panel: Digital Inclusion and Homelessness

Host: Laurel Taylor, Administrative Lead, GEO Nova Scotia

Featuring:

In this session, panelists will:

  • reflect on how digital inclusion (or exclusion) impacts homelessness
  • share what they are seeing today as it relates to digital inclusion and homelessness
  • Identify promising opportunities for Nova Scotia related to digital inclusion and homelessness
  • Field moderated questions from attendees

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Digital Champions Training

Hosts: Kamal Kaur and Tyler Johnson, Digital Inclusion Facilitators, GEO Nova Scotia

Become a Digital Champion! Learn from experienced Digital Inclusion Facilitators in this interactive workshop that highlights the importance of digital inclusion, the role of a Digital Champion, and provides tools, tips, and techniques to support others getting online safely and confidently.

Digital Champions can come from anywhere! They are most often staff and volunteers from nonprofit and public sector organizations who find themselves helping people one-on-one. 

Empower yourself, discover effective strategies to guide others, and become a trusted resource for overcoming online challenges. As part of the training, you will also gain login access to the Digital Champion portal, its resources, and the opportunity to make connections with other Digital Champions.

2:00 PM – 2:30 PM: Break

2:30 PM – 3:30 PM Panel: Digital Inclusion and Education

Host: Matt Spurway, Executive Director, GEO Nova Scotia

Featuring:

In this session, panelists will:

  • reflect on how digital inclusion (or exclusion) impacts education
  • share what they are seeing today as it relates to digital inclusion and education
  • Identify promising opportunities for Nova Scotia related to digital inclusion and education
  • Field moderated questions from attendees

2:30 PM – 3:30 PM Panel: Digital Inclusion and Gender-Based Violence

Host: Josie Lake, Interim Programming Partnership Manager, GEO Nova Scotia

Featuring:

  • Shona Munro & Dr. Irene Mackintosh, Directors, Mhor Collective (Scotland)
  • Ann de Ste Croix, Coordinator, Transition House Association of Nova Scotia (THANS)
  • Caira Mohamed, December 6 coordinator, YWCA Halifax

In this session, panelists will:

  • reflect on how digital inclusion (or exclusion) impacts gender-based violence
  • share what they are seeing today as it relates to digital inclusion and gender-based violence
  • Identify promising opportunities for Nova Scotia related to digital inclusion and gender-based violence
  • Field moderated questions from attendees

2:30 PM – 3:30 PM Presentation: Digital Inclusion in Nova Scotia: What does the data tell us?

Host: Dr. Cari Patterson, Learning and Evaluation Lead, GEO Nova Scotia

Featuring:

In this session, we’ll dig into the existing data to get a better understanding of the state of digital inclusion in Nova Scotia and discuss what data may be missing and how it might be collected.

2:30 PM – 3:30 PM Digital Champions for Newcomers Training

Hosts: Cam Roach and Tyra MacInnis, Digital Inclusion Facilitators, GEO Nova Scotia

*this session is a modified version of our regular Digital Champions training with a focus on newcomers*

Become a Digital Champion! Learn from experienced Digital Inclusion Facilitators in this interactive workshop that highlights the importance of digital inclusion, the role of a Digital Champion, and provides tools, tips, and techniques to support others getting online safely and confidently.

Digital Champions can come from anywhere! They are most often staff and volunteers from nonprofit and public sector organizations who find themselves helping people one-on-one. 

Empower yourself, discover effective strategies to guide others, and become a trusted resource for overcoming online challenges. As part of the training, you will also gain login access to the Digital Champion portal, its resources, and the opportunity to make connections with other Digital Champions.

3:30 PM  – 4:00 PM Plenary: Digital Inclusion and Emerging Technology

Host: Matt Spurway, Executive Director, GEO Nova Scotia

Featuring: Teri-Lynn Dempsey, Owner, DataGuide Technologies

In this closing plenary session we’ll hear from IT entrepreneur Teri-Lynn Dempsey, owner of DataGuide Technologies in Mahone Bay. We’ll get her take on Digital Inclusion efforts and how it is impacting her business. We’ll also learn about emerging made-in-Nova Scotia Digital Inclusion technology that is already drawing international attention.

7:00 PM – 8:30 PM: Nova Scotia Digital Inclusion Awards Livestream

Join GEO Nova Scotia and emcee Crystal Garrett for a very special evening of celebration!

The first Nova Scotia Digital Inclusion Awards will take place in Halifax and live streamed right here!

The Nova Scotia Digital Inclusion Awards will bring together people from across sectors and across the province to celebrate each other and our progress together, and build momentum as we continue to learn, grow, and collaborate to ensure digital inclusion for everyone in Nova Scotia.

7pm – 7:30pm Welcome, Guest Speakers

7:30pm – 8:30pm Awards Presentation

  • Business Champion  of the Year
  • Government Champion of the Year
  • Community Partner of the year
  • GEO Referral Agent of the Year
  • Program Partnership of the Year