Needs No Introduction

On May 5, 2009, Ryerson University was host to a free screening of Us Now, a UK documentary about how the web enables people of all ages to participate in their communities. The event was organized by Volunteer Toronto.

02:36 The event began with words from Toronto Mayor David Miller on shift toward open governance in the City of Toronto (see Toronto.ca/open), and on Twitter. Mayor Miller is introduced by Andy Strote, President of the Board of Directors, Volunteer Toronto.

15:40 Following the film screening, author Don Tapscott shared his observations about the film, society and technology, and the global shifts in the economy and institutions, as we know them.

This was followed by panel disucussion on the role of technology in community engagement with Toronto's social innovation and non-profit organizations, moderated by Volunteer Toronto's Celina Agaton.

Allyson Hewitt, Director of Social Entrepreneurship, MaRS Discovery District; Christine Cooper, Executive Director, Family Assoc. for Mental Health Everywhere (FAME); Mark Surman, Executive Director, Mozilla Foundation; Mark Kuznicki, Principal, Remarkk and Co-organizer of ChangeCamp 38:08 Marco Campana, Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI)

Conversation continues, including questions and comments from the audience.

SaveourNet.ca partnered with Telecommunities Canada, rabble.ca and The Tyee for Ottawa's Open Internet Town Hall, with support from NUPGE.

Speakers: Michael Geist - law professor at the University of Ottawa where he is Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law; Charlie Angus - NDP MP, Heritage and Culture; Rocky Gaudrault - CEO, Teksavvy Solutions Inc.

Introduction by Steve Anderson - Co-founder, SaveOurNet.ca Discussion Facilitator: Marita Moll - TeleCommunities Canada

Special guests: Jacob Glick - Canada Policy Counsel, Google Canada, * Mike Gifford - founder of Open Concept Consulting Inc * Leslie Regan Shade - Communications Professor, Concordia University * Graham Cox - Canadian Federation of Students David Fewer - Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic (CIPPIC)

Ottawa's Open Internet Town Hall was designed to give local citizens the chance to shape Canada's broadband future. As Canada falls behind other OECD countries on Internet speed, cost, and openness, SaveourNet.ca will host a lively discussion guided by panelists representing web innovators, social change leaders, and public policy gurus.

We will gather citizen testimony that SaveOurNet.ca's Steve Anderson will use to guide his presentation to the CRTC at the July 6 "Traffic Management" hearing. We will also record the town hall meetings and present video testimonials to the CRTC and share them online. Information gathered at the town hall meeting will also help us develop the "Open Internet Declaration" which we will put before MPs and policy makers.

We want to engage the public in 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?

For more information about the campaign, visit http://saveournet.ca/

Note that audience members did not have a mic, so audio quality varies in question period.

TBD.

Teamsters Canada held its 10th convention from June 8-11 at the Château Laurier in Ottawa.

Jimmy Hoffa Jr, the General president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, addressed the assembly on issues including the new Obama regime, the economic crisis, organizing across borders, and the Columbia Free Trade Agreement. Hoffa is introduced by Teamsters Canada President, Robert Bouvier.

To learn more about the Teamsters, visit http://www.teamsters-canada.org/

Teamsters Canada held its 10th convention from June 8-11 at the Château Laurier in Ottawa.

Globe and Mail columnist and CTV commentator, Jane Taber, addressed the convention on the importance of union engagement with media and new media, and also shared some insight into the experience of reporting from the Hill.

The Future of the Internet: Access, Openness, and Inclusion A Town Hall Discussion. Open Internet Town Hall Meeting (TORONTO) Monday June 8, 2009, 7:00pm – The Gladstone Hotel (1214 Queen St. West) Speakers include: Mark Surman – Executive Director, Mozilla Foundation; Steve Anderson – Co-founder, SaveOurNet.ca; Rocky Gaudrault – CEO, Teksavvy Solutions Inc; Raymi the Minx of http://raymitheminx.com/ & Sass of http://zucket.com/; Derek Blackadder – National Representative with CUPE.

Special Guests: * Olivia Chow – MP * Jesse Brown – Search Engine * David Skinner – Communications Professor, York University * Kim Elliott – rabble.ca * Mark Kuznicki – remarkk consultant

John Agnew, the president of the American Association of Geographers. He was speaking to the Canadian Association of Geographers at the 2009 Congress of the Humanities.

Thanks for listening to Needs No Introduction on the rabble podcast network. Tune in again for more fresh ideas from speakers of note.

What made Obama's campaign marketing work so well? Dr. Jeffrey MacLeod presents research at the 2009 Congress of the Humanities.

Alex Marland, Associate Professor at Memorial University, presenting at a 2009 Congress of the Humanities roundtable.

Are Canada's political parties selling their image, or changing their image to suit you? Marland looks at the last two elections to answer that question.

The title of the session was The State of Political Marketing in Canada.