Actua Announced as CIRA Community Investment Program Grant Recipient
Ottawa, ON - May 30, 2019
Today the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) announced Actua as one of the grant recipients from its Community Investment Program.
The $100,000 grant will support Actua’s AI for Education initiative which provides elementary and high school teachers across Canada with resources and training on how to incorporate accessible artificial intelligence lessons in the classroom.
“Teachers are being called upon to build and support digitally-driven competencies
among students; however, they are not being offered enough resources and training to support this
learning, specifically for understanding new and emerging technologies such as AI,” said Jennifer Flanagan, CEO of Actua. “The Community Investment Program grant from CIRA will help support Actua’s mission to equip educators with the knowledge and resources they need to support Canada’s next generation of innovators.”
Beyond face to face teacher training, Actua will develop an AI handbook for teachers that will be disseminated online so it that it can be accessed by anyone, anywhere.
“The digital landscape is quickly changing and young Canadians need skills to help them safely navigate and contribute positively to the online environments they use daily,” says David Fowler, vice-president of marketing and communications at CIRA. “We’re proud to support Actua’s initiative which will incorporate accessible artificial intelligence (AI) lessons in the classroom.”The Community Investment grant from CIRA will augment the recently announced grant Actua received from Google.org to develop a national AI program for Canadian high-school students across the country, including communities where access to technology is more limited.
About Actua
Actua is Canada’s leading science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) youth outreach network representing 38 university and college based members. Each year 250,000 young Canadians in over 500 communities nationwide are inspired through hands-on educational workshops, camps and community outreach initiatives. Actua focuses on the engagement of underrepresented youth through specialized programs for Indigenous youth, girls and young women, at-risk youth and youth living in Northern and remote communities. Actua’s major funders include: Government of Canada, Google Canada, Suncor Energy Foundation, GE Canada, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Ontario Trillium Foundation, Finning, Toyota Canada Foundation and Lockheed Martin.
About CIRA's Community Investment Program
CIRA is building a better online Canada through the Community Investment Program by funding charities, not-for-profits and members of the academic community who are making the internet better for all Canadians. CIRA is best known for our role managing the .CA domain on behalf of all Canadians. While this remains our primary mandate, as a member-based not-for-profit ourselves, we have a much broader goal to strengthen Canada’s internet. The Community Investment Program is one of our most valuable contributions toward this goal and funds projects in digital literacy, online services, research and infrastructure. Every .CA domain name registered or renewed contributes to this program. To date CIRA has contributed $6.7 million in Community Investment Program grants.
Contact Information
Kristina Martin, Director of Communications, Actua
111 Murray Street, Ottawa ON K1N 5M5
Tel: (613) 234 4137 Fax: 613 234 4779
Email: kristina.martin@actua.ca
Web: www.actua.ca