VCN Community Information

Vancouver Community Learning Network

This web site is to complement the Vancouver Community Learning Network Project taking place in three Vancouver, British Columbia neighbourhoods during 2001-2003. The site will remain as a permanent resource.

This project is the result of a partnership between Human Resources Development Canada Office of Learning Technologies through their Community Learning Networks program, Vancouver Community Network and many Vancouver not-for-profit agencies.

The Community Learning Network Project at Vancouver Community Net is proceeding by building partnerships with non-profit organizations and building on the federal government CAP program. VCN is in the early stages of working with community agencies and local residents in community development planning through the use of information technology.

The VCN Community Learning Network Project is providing basic computer training on Tuesday afternoons on a drop-in basis at the 411 Dunsmuir Lab. By working with people where there at, VCN hopes to build the capacity of people to be able to use information technology for the purposes of community development. Even if people are using a computer for the first time, it is an opportunity for people to see the incredible resources and information that is available, as well as the ability for people to communicate with each other.

As well, VCN will be partnering with the Self Help Resources Association to conduct a half day training session with Common Ground Mapping of Victoria. This training will be available to all Community Learning Network Partners. Each site will develop an asset based community mapping process in the New Year.

Community Learning Network Sites

1) The Lions Den located at 770 Commercial Drive is a Seniors Day Centre located on the ground floor of a seniors' housing complex . Working with residents and users of the center, VCN is developing a broad range of activities to help support the Community Learning Network project. The CLN project is providing on-site training, working with residents to develop a website and a monthly newsletter to help residents communicate with one another. Individual residents are being supported in their work on the internet with geneology, recipes and information referral. At the request of residents, a weekly lecture series has been introduced which encourages residents to further their knowledge of issues on the internet.

Speakers include:

� 2) The 411 Seniors Centre is an easily accessible, multi-purpose social and recreational drop-in facility for seniors. Centrally located in downtown Vancouver, the Centre offers a variety of programs, services and special projects for seniors. It also has several Associate Members housed in the building who directly or indirectly work with seniors. The centre is directed by the 411 Seniors Centre Society, with a Board of Directors, a small staff and a number of volunteers who run the centre. As a CLN site, VCN is working with staff to build a long term plan. Initial projects include a training session with information and referral services volunteers on the Redbook Resource Guide on October 30th. Future projects could include using collaborative information technology tools to build the seniors advocacy community. VCN will also work with seniors who live in the 127 Housing Society buildings at their CAP sites to help develop on-line newsletter and a web page.

3) The Alliance for Arts and Culture consists of over 270 individuals and organizations which promote art and culture in the Lower Mainland and British Columbia. Located at 938 Howe Street, the Alliance has a CAP site available to the public. The CLN project with the Alliance will work with former participants in their one month SEARCH program. For several years, the Alliance has administered SEARCH, a four-week program to help cultural workers create sustainable incomes through better employment and self-employment skills. The CLN project will aid former SEARCH participants to build an on-line community and public space for interaction to aid each other in the communication of ideas, a space to show their work and help in the referral of job opportunities to their peers. A questionnaire has been developed with former SEARCH participants and a community learning plan will be developed based on the feedback.

4) VCN will be working with the Humanities Educational Resource Centre Society to set up an Open Source community lab in the Downtown Eastside. HERC is a barrier free post secondary presence in the community. As well VCN will be working with the Carnegie Community Centre to expand information technology community learning opportunities. Together, these sites will be VCN's CLN presence in the Downtown Eastside community.

5) VCN is partnering with the Self Help Resources Association to build the online component of an asset mapping process based on youth services.

6) VCN is working on a partnership with the Open Learning Agency Employment Access Centre to build an online database of services in the city of Vancouver. Working with individuals and non-profit agencies, VCN will build an interactive site which can benefit the community.

Training Links:

Training Tools - For Community Groups

Project Details - Website for Project Administration

For more information:
Am Johal [email protected]

Vancouver Community Network
411 Dunsmuir Street
Vancouver, BC, V6B 1X4
tel: 604.257.3804
fax: 604.257.3808

Our office is open on weekdays between 9 am. and 4:30 pm.

Last modified October 29, 2001

Copyright © 1995-2001 VCN

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