Through CIRA’s Community Investment Program, we have supported 185 innovative projects across Canada for a total of $9.2 million. 

Filter grants by year funded, province and project type. 

Indigitize: Citizen Science to Enable Digital Literacy, Community Leadership, and Social Innovation

The Mayor, School Division, and DEPtH Lab at the University of Regina will coordinate to develop and embed a citizen-science-based digital literacy program in the Île-à-la-Cross school division curricula to empower students to contribute to long-term digital initiatives currently in place. 

Organization
The Northern Village of Île-à-la-Crosse
Project type
Digital literacy
Funding year
2021
Geographic reach
Local

2021 Bridge River Valley Internet Upgrade

Minto Communications Society will invest in broadband last-mile access infrastructure to improve service speeds and capacity limits for the existing network in Bridge River Valley and its communities.

Organization
Minto Communications Society
Project type
Infrastructure
Funding year
2021
Geographic reach
Regional

Privacy on Smartphones in the Digital Age: Youth and their Rights

BCCLA is creating lesson plans, fact-sheets, and informative videos to provide Canadian youth ages 14-24 with an understanding of their digital rights on smartphones and how they can manage their own online privacy in relation to law enforcement and the social support system.

Organization
British Columbia Civil Liberties Association
Project type
Digital literacy
Funding year
2021
Geographic reach
National

C'est juste en ligne

C'est juste en ligne will provide teens with access to tools, resources, and support in the form of workshops, toolkits, and online resources, to help them become empowered digital citizens. 

Organization
Techno Culture Club
Project type
Digital literacy
Funding year
2021
Geographic reach
Local

Learning Hub for Indigenous Students

This project is creating a pilot 'pop-up' Learning Hub in Six Nations of Grand River to provide Indigenous post-secondary students at McMaster University, Mohawk College, and Six Nations Polytechnic with a local, off-campus venue to access secure, high-speed internet and connect with student support staff. 

Organization
McMaster University, Indigenous Student Services
Project type
Infrastructure
Funding year
2021
Geographic reach
Local

Technical Lending Library in Regent Park

The Technical Lending Library will be for youth and school children in the Regent Park neighbourhood in Toronto to be able to access internet devices, and take cybersecurity and device training. This access will enable them to attend online school, socialize, access services and find opportunities for safe online activities.

Organization
Centre for Social Innovation Institute
Project type
Digital literacy
Funding year
2021
Geographic reach
Local

Connect Duff-Court

COVIQ will provide affordable broadband internet through a shared infrastructure strategy to low-income tenants in the main building of the Place-Lachine subsidized housing complex, 1830 Duff-Court. 

Organization
Comité de vie de quartier Duff-Court
Project type
Infrastructure
Funding year
2021
Geographic reach
Local

Disinformation and Misinformation Training for University Students

The CAJ will provide 13 training sessions (one in each province/territory) to post-secondary students and create a research guide and practical handbook on how to detect misinformation and disinformation online.

Organization
Canadian Association of Journalists
Project type
Digital literacy
Funding year
2021
Geographic reach
National

Connecting the Tsilhqot'in Nation Through Community Open Access Networking

TNG, I-Valley, and Rock Networks have partnered to assess, design, and implement a cellular and broadband network in the Tsilhqot'in Nation, serving 4000 people across 6 communities. This project will create a working pilot to provide the foundation for a Tsilhqot'in owned and managed network and identify next steps for development. 

Organization
Tsilhqot'in National Government (TNG)
Project type
Infrastructure
Funding year
2021
Geographic reach
Regional

Connected Coastal Nations: Leveraging our Collective Impact for Indigenous Economies & Community Wellbeing

The Connected Coastal Nations project is leveraging federal and provincial funding to support Coastal First Nations community-owned ISPs to deliver high-speed internet throughout the region and increase the network performance among Nations to reach the 50/10 mbps universal standard.

Organization
Great Bear Initiative Society (Coastal First Nations)
Project type
Infrastructure
Funding year
2021
Geographic reach
Regional

Towards Digital Equity: A Strategy and Roadmap for Indigenous Innovation and Technology

The FNTC will co-create a Digital Equity Roadmap for leaders in First Nations communities to mobilize their communities towards achieving digital equity in 6 areas: connectivity and infrastructure, policy and legislation, skills development, employment and business development, tech and innovation leadership, and governance and self-determination. 

Organization
First Nations Technology Council
Project type
Community Leadership
Funding year
2021
Geographic reach
Regional

Internet Security Governance & Training

This project will ensure that Long Lake #58 has secure internet infrastructure to avoid cyber-attacks and protect data, develop an internet and information security policy to provide proper governance for their information assets, and provide internet security training to administration staff and community members on the safe use of the internet and governance policies of the administration.

Organization
Long Lake #58 First Nation
Project type
Cybersecurity
Funding year
2021
Geographic reach
Local

Developing Digital Literacy for Northern, Indigenous Communities

CatalystsX is creating a toolkit of resources to meet the unique digital literacy needs of four First Nations Communities in northern Ontario to help community members and business owners (a) develop digital literacy skills, (b) adopt remote working technologies, and (c) advocate for needed infrastructure. This project will work locally in Garden River, Batchewana, Fort William, and Wikwemikoong communities.

Organization
CatalystsX Network Communities Inc.
Project type
Digital literacy
Funding year
2021
Geographic reach
Local

Mamawapowin Community Network

MTS is a not-for-profit that aims to provide Indigenous communities in Canada with complete Internet access solutions for their current and future needs. This project will bring high-speed, reliable connectivity to Ermineskin Nation located in Maskwacis, Alberta.

Organization
Mamawapowin Technology Society
Project type
Infrastructure
Funding year
2021
Geographic reach
Local

First Nations ICT Network

This project is creating a First Nations connectivity strategy networking group that brings together technology professionals to identify and advance solutions in support of First Nations internet access. 

Organization
Assembly of First Nations
Project type
Community Leadership
Funding year
2020
Geographic reach
National

Digital Literacy Program for girls

Christie Lake Kids’ ‘Girls Only’ program will offer a series of digital literacy workshops to help increase the digital skills of girls and young women to help set them up for success. 

Organization
Christie Lake Kids
Project type
Digital literacy
Funding year
2020
Geographic reach
Local

Digital connectivity for students on Vancouver Island

The Oceanside Community Makerspace Society will provide internet access both inside the classroom and after school hours to K-12 students to connect with other students in the region to collaborate online on tech-based projects.

Organization
Oceanside Community Makerspace Society
Project type
Infrastructure
Funding year
2020
Geographic reach
Local

Fibre Optic Installation Study

Couchiching First Nation in Northwestern Ontario will lead a research study on improving internet access for its 800 residents through a study on options for high speed fibre optic connectivity.

Organization
Couchiching First Nation
Project type
Infrastructure
Funding year
2020
Geographic reach
Regional

Bringing high speed internet to Indigenous communities in northern Ontario

reBOOT Canada will work with local Indigenous and rural youth in five small communities in Ontario to train them to set up and operate free wi-fi hotspots.

Organization
reBOOT Canada
Project type
Infrastructure
Funding year
2020
Geographic reach
Regional

Seniors Outreach Computer Tutor Program

Seniors in the Yukon, who are in remote areas or socially isolated, will get training on how to use new technology, and basic computer skills.

Organization
Yukon Learn Society
Project type
Digital literacy
Funding year
2020
Geographic reach
Local

#kids2030

Kids Code Jeunesse will work closely with government, education and industry leaders, #kids2030 to bring digital literacy workshops to classrooms to help address issues of AI ethics and AI’s role with the UN’s Social Development Goals.

Organization
Kids Code Jeunesse
Project type
Digital literacy
Funding year
2020
Geographic reach
National

I-STEAM

I-STEAM is a research and participatory design project to deliver science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) programming to Indigenous youth from Antler River Elementary School, Chippewas of the Thames First Nations.

Organization
STEAM Education Centres Incorporated
Project type
Digital literacy
Funding year
2020
Geographic reach
Regional

Critical Infrastructure Security Operations Center

New Brunswick Community College is Creating a lab facility for students in IT to practice attack detection and remediation, accessing specialized tools to run simulations and test cases. 

Organization
New Brunswick Community College
Project type
Cybersecurity
Funding year
2020
Geographic reach
Regional

Pandora Portal: New Learning Experience about sex education

Youtheatre will produce a digital version of Pandora, their high school show about sex education online and pornography, so teens can learn how to navigate healthy sexuality online. 

Organization
Youtheatre
Project type
Digital literacy
Funding year
2020
Geographic reach
National

Canada Innovates Platform for entrepreneurs

Parkdale Centre for Innovation is moving their entrepreneur training program online so that people outside Toronto's Parkdale community can access the curriculum and participate in a virtual business incubator.

Organization
Parkdale Centre for Innovation
Project type
Digital literacy
Funding year
2020
Geographic reach
National