We’ve got highlights from Canadians Connected 2018, which brought together industry experts and CIRA members to discuss cybersecurity in Canada and protecting your privacy online.
Canadians Connected is CIRA’s symposium and annual general meeting that brings together industry experts and CIRA members to discuss the future of the internet and CIRA’s purpose of building a better online Canada.
This year’s event took place on September 27, 2018 at the Infinity Convention Centre in Ottawa where we welcomed more than 200 people plus many more via webcast from across the country.
Attendees heard from keynote tech entrepreneur Nicole Verkindt, CIRA board members and an expert panel on cybersecurity.
Missed the event? Here are some highlights and videos.
Keynote Nicole Verkindt is a tech entrepreneur, Dragon on CBC’s Next Gen Dragon’s Den, Startup Canada’s Woman Entrepreneur of the Year, and founder and CEO of OMX (Offset Market Exchange), a procurement platform. She talked about digitization, cybersecurity and the importance of growing tech in Canada.
Following the Report of the Board of Directors, CIRA President and CEO Byron Holland spoke about CIRA’s year in review. Byron touched on CIRA’s new products and services and the future of the internet from both a Canadian and global perspective.
An expert panel discussed cybersecurity in Canada, and how people can protect their privacy online. The panel featured:
- Amanda Maltby, Canada Post’s General Manager of Compliance and Chief Privacy Officer.
- Michael Geist, law professor at the University of Ottawa where he holds the Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law.
- Dave Chiswell, CIRA’s vice president of product development.
- Nicole Verkindt, founder of Offset Market Exchange (OMX), Dragon on CBC’s Next Gen Den.
Supporting Ottawa’s local community
The weekend before this year’s Canadians Connected event, a devastating storm hit Ottawa. Supporting local communities and residents during a time of need is important to us at CIRA.
For every attendee in Ottawa and member online, CIRA donated $20 to the Ottawa Food Bank. We wanted to support residents across Ottawa who were without power for several days and will have to rely on the Ottawa Food Bank to replace hundreds of dollars worth of food that had to be thrown out. CIRA, through staff events, is also a long-time supporter of the Ottawa Food Bank.
About CIRA membership
The internet is changing every day and your CIRA membership gives you an edge and a say in how it changes. Be part of a community of .CA holders who, like you, have an interest in making the internet work for them! It’s free and you can be part of helping us build a better online Canada. Learn more about being a member at www.cira.ca/membership.
More videos from CIRA are available on our YouTube channel.
Erica works in corporate communications at CIRA. Her background is in writing and community relations in the non-profit sector. She is a graduate of Carleton University’s journalism program.
