Social Norms
Social norms action with informed and engaged societies
Social Norms
After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at lainiciativadecomunicacion.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
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Smart Communities Initiative - Canada

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The Smart Communities Program is a three-year federal program created and administered by Industry Canada to help Canada become a world leader in the development and use of information and communication technologies for economic, social and cultural development.
Communication Strategies

4 main programmes
  1. Smart Communities Demonstration Projects are the central focus. Selected through a nationwide competition, these communities (one in each province, one in the North and one in an Aboriginal community) will be chosen for their world-class visions and strategies on how to achieve economic, social and cultural improvements through the use of information and communication technologies. The aim is for them to become centres of expertise in the integration of information and communication technologies into communities, organizations and families. Smart Communities will also act as "learning laboratories" in which the innovative use of these technologies in community life and enterprise will be tested.

  2. The Smart Communities Resource Exchange (the web site) is a clearing house of information and resources that help support the creation of Smart Communities across Canada and promote the development and use of Canadian-made Smart services and technologies. Information will be made available on Smart Communities' best practices, applications and technologies as well as a networking arena where individuals, governments, companies, universities, colleges and communities can share their experiences, offer their expertise and set up alliances. Through this service, community leaders can acquire the necessary information and identify appropriate resources to help develop and implement sustainable Smart Communities strategies.

  3. The Smart Communities Tool Kit & Skills Development Program will build on the proven experiences of the Demonstration Projects by providing on-line and in-person training, as well as educational and business development tools. These tools will be designed to help communities plan, manage and monitor their initiative over time.

  4. The Smart Communities Recognition Program will provide communities that are not recipients of funding with the opportunity to have their achievements recognized as they move toward the standards of world-class Smart Communities.
Development Issues

Economic development, community building, technology.
Key Points

The Smart Communities Program is one component of the Government of Canada's Connecting Canadians initiative which aims to make Canada the most connected nation in the world. The program incorporates the advice of the Panel on Smart Communities which was established by the Prime Minister in June 1998.
Sources

Smart Communities website.