Information Technology Week in PEI is a new and exciting Knowledge Economy Partnership (KEP) initiative, and will run from November 23 to November 28, 1998. Information Technology (IT) Week was announced today by the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Labour, on behalf of the Honourable Fred J. Mifflin, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA); and the Honourable Pat Binns, Premier of Prince Edward Island.
IT Week will give Island businesses, governments and educational institutions an opportunity to demonstrate their information technology capabilities and confirm that PEI is strongly positioned to benefit from the knowledge economy. The Knowledge Economy Partnership will provide $40,000 in funding to the Information Technologies Association of PEI (ITAP) to organize activities for the week.
"When we announced the Knowledge Economy Partnership in 1997, two of our goals were to enhance Islanders' information technology skills, and stimulate job creation in knowledge-based industries," said Minister MacAulay. "IT Week will help further these goals by increasing the profile of information technology on Prince Edward Island."
"Prince Edward Island is well on its way to becoming a leader in the new knowledge-based economy. Businesses, educational institutions and various levels of government are on the leading edge of information technology training, marketing and development," say Premier Binns. "One need only venture as far as 15 minutes from our homes to see one of 45 CAP sites across PEI ... we are already a leader in Canada in connectivity and set to become one of Canada's first Smart Communities."
IT Week in PEI will consist of a series of open houses at IT businesses across the Island including locations in O'Leary, Montague, Summerside and Charlottetown. Community Access Program (CAP) Sites, and the Information Technology in Education Centres at Holland College and UPEI will open their doors for demonstrations and Internet training sessions. There are also several workshops planned on topics such as purchasing the right computer and software, careers in the IT industry and electronic commerce. Topping off the week will be the three day Wired for the Future Information Technology Fair featuring workshops, exhibits, keynote speakers and entertainment.
"The Information Technologies Association of PEI is pleased to be playing a key role in IT Week in PEI. Our members are excited about sharing their knowledge and skills with the rest of the province," said Ed Lawlor. "Sharing our IT skills and some of our leading edge technology developments with Islanders is an important step in building and strengthening the industry on PEI."
IT Week in PEI is an important opportunity for Island businesses and organizations to showcase their IT capabilities and expertise. PEI can now boast sophisticated telecommunications links and support networks for a rapidly growing information technology sector.
The Knowledge Economy Partnership is an initiative of the Government of Canada, the Province of Prince Edward Island, the University of Prince Edward Island, Holland College and private sector business. The partnership began in 1996 and is now part of the strategic plan for Prince Edward Island.
The goal of the partnership is to advance the growth of the knowledge economy on Prince Edward Island by encouraging technological innovation and new approaches in public services, education and commercial enterprise in PEI.