2009 Community Stewardship Award - Other Nominees

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Sustaining the Islands – Community Stewardship Awards Program 
 
 
 
2009 Nominee Profile 
 
Nominee:  Lasqueti Internet Access Society, Lasqueti Island  
 
Category:  Organization/Group 
 
Project: Communications network development and access to communications 
technologies 
 
Nominator(s): Joseph Fall 
 
Letters of Support: N/A 
 
Project Description:   Lasqueti Island Access Society (LIAS) is a community-based volunteer 
network working to improve the communications network and access to communications 
technologies on Lasqueti Island. LIAS has achieved three significant milestones: 1) Opening of 
an Internet Centre offering community members access to computing/communications 
equipment, high-speed internet connection, and help from volunteer staff or a paid youth intern; 
2) Development of an interactive community website serving as a communications hub for 
coordinating island activities, and; 3) Implementation of a broadband network operating almost 
exclusively on renewable energy that provides high-speed wireless internet for residents on 
most of Lasqueti and parts of Texada. 
 
LIAS supports economic sustainability and social networking on Lasqueti and serves as a model 
for community-based communications. Internet access makes it feasible for people to live and 
work on Lasqueti, reversing a trend towards part-time and vacation homes. The community 
website allows artists and food producers to make their work/produce more accessible to a 
wider audience while the site’s virtual Farmers’ Market allows local food producers to connect 
with local consumers at nearly zero cost. Both the Internet Centre and community website are 
widely used -- there are currently 250 registered users who contribute and post/edit content on 
the site, and the Centre is nearly always busy during operating hours. 
 
 
 
  

Sustaining the Islands – Community Stewardship Awards Program 
 
 
 
2009 Nominee Profile 
 
Nominee:  Mayne Island Early Childhood Society, Mayne Island  
 
Category:  Organization/Group 
 
Project:  Development of programs for families with young children 
 
Nominator(s):  Annette Witteman 
 
Letters of Support: N/A 
 
Project Description:  Established in January 2008, the Mayne Island Early Childhood Society 
is a response to the need for infant to preschool-aged children’s programs on Mayne Island. 
The Society has a volunteer board of directors and a program coordinator who currently delivers 
eight programs for families with young children, including: Mother Goose and Stay and Play; 
Toy and Book Lending Library; Preschool Enrichment program; Parent Education Program; Dad 
and Me; Tots Gymnastics; Community Gardening; and the Strong Start program (in 
collaboration with School District 64). Most programs are free and grants are available if 
required. Over 20 full-time families and many additional weekend families currently take part in 
the programs.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  

Sustaining the Islands – Community Stewardship Awards Program 

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