The L.E.A.F. Initiative is a Commonwell program to support capacity, resiliency and growth in the communities we call home.

Bridging the Digital Divide in Rural Cramahe Township

PO Box 190, 6 King Street West ColborneK0K 1S0

Target Completion Date: February 28, 2022

What is this project about?

Bridging the Digital Divide in rural Ontario is costly, complicated and time consuming. The Ontario and Federal Governments are investing, but it all takes time and time is money, or opportunities lost.

Libraries across Ontario are doing their part to help this situation by focusing on assisting through “wifi hotspot” devices that they lend out to patrons for a limited period of time, along with a tablet or chromebook.

Cramahe Township and many parts of Northumberland County have two serious issues:-

(1) Affordability – many of our population simply cannot afford a mini computer or the internet
(2) Accessibility – many in our population simply cannot achieve good internet service rurally

This project would enable our Library to lend out wifi hotspot devices & chrome books for a limited period of time (just like a book) to access the internet.

Why is this project important to the community?

Accessing the internet is something we take for granted, but many of us in rural communities do not have that luxury on a regular basis. Yes the community can access their libraries for this, but it may be at the wrong time, or transport may be limited, or they simply may want to access the internet from the comfort of home. There are so many valuable reasons for accessing the internet. People in our community need to access government websites, apply for government services, connect with friends and family, research topics of interest such as job opportunities, training options, health advice, access to online educational services & hobbies of interest, or for work related reasons. The list of lost opportunities is endless, for those of us who do not have direct access to the internet on a regular basis. Strengthening community economic, health and social options and support structures, as well as simply accessing community news & community events now, sadly, depends on internet access as all of our communications nationally, provincially and locally are all ONLINE. This digital divide needs to be closed and this project goes a long way to helping bridge this and help grow capacity within our community.