BC & Yukon Technicial Support Network
The fledgling support network forming at bcyk-tech.net is a tool to connect the voluntary sector (non-profit groups) with the technical support they need. Technical service providers like you, can register, develop your organizational profile and post your services for others to access. There is an:
- equipment exchange
- calendar for IT workshops
- question and answer board
- resource library
- places to post success stories and requests for proposals
- mailing list server for IT related topics
While the services are available free, those registering technical services can negotiate their own fees directly with the non-profits they are serving. So, if you have considered how to make your CAP site sustainable, you might consider how you can use this network to help transform your CAP site into an IT training and support centre. We wil be publishing some successful models and stories to help guide you.
Ultimately, the training and support network is about helping non-profits to take advantage of IT, just like businesses have done, to achieve their strategic goals. It is your network to use or not and will gain value the more it is used. It is one of ten networks across Canada that will be connected with a national voluntary sector portal and funding initiatives supported by the Government of Canada as part of the Voluntary Sector Initiative. If you have any questions or would like further information please email imit@vcn.bc.ca.
The PCNA is an association of community networks, community access sites (CAP) and learning networks (CLN). CAP (Community Access Project) is an Industry Canada initiative started in 1995. In British Columbia/Yukon we have over 1000 CAP sites. CLN (Community Learning Networks) is an initiative of Human Resources Development Canada. 
