In 1998, many communities within our region made application to Industry Canada to embark on a project to bring technology to our small communities and to provide Internet access.  Computers and the Internet were seen as a solution to the digital divide and a capacity builder for remote and rural communities.

Each community was organized as a non-profit. By 1999, Hafford and Blaine Lake had established centres.  Slowly, the enthusiasts of the program left and the CAP sites were faltering.  In response The Thickwood Hills Business and Learning Network (THBLN) was established as a division of the Blaine Lake Marcelin and District CAP Inc. and became the delivery agent and developer for the West Central Region of Saskatchewan.  Sites include 20 First Nation communities, 3 Métis and 45 non-native locations  for a total of  68 communities. 

It is now 2010, and the Federal government, through Industry Canada is still providing funding for CAP. It has proven one of the most popular programs sponsored by the Federal government.  But CAP is greater than just the technology and access to the Internet; it has assisted in developing strategies to develop entrepreneurship and the development of small business, created opportunities to leverage training dollars and many community based projects.  

THBLN has participated in the CAP Youth Initiative (CAPYI) for the last 10 years which means that youth from targeted communities could gain some practical work experience.  In total we  assisted with 200 CAP youth which leveraged over one million dollars for salaries.  For many youth this was their first job and many youth give credit to their CAPYI experience for helping them choose a career path in business and helping them find jobs locally.

“Helping hands for growing communities”

Mission Statement – Thickwood Hills Business & Learning Network is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping grow communities through training and providing Internet access and other business servicesunavailable or inaccesible essential services.  It is our belief that in today’s age of technology, it is of utmost importance for communities to have an understanding of, and access to, the internet and to have available the vast knowledge and resources that it can provide:

Area 1 – Labour Force Development

• Youth Development delivered through skill enhancement programs, on-the job training, entrepreneurial development, access to technology, after school programs and provincial project
• Family Development delivered through personal empowerment programs, access to technology for personal and career development, job readiness programs, and cultural enrichment programs

 Area 2 – Technology Development

• Human Capacity Building delivered through computer training workshop ranging from basic introductory classes to on-line certification courses
• Technology Skill Development delivered through the refurbishing centre at the Hafford Learning Center, which provides on-hands practical experience in trouble shooting, repairs and maintenance, computer refurbishing and new computer building
• Youth Internship Programs that provide youth between the ages of 16 and 30 with the opportunity to experience, in a full-time paid position, the uses and potential of technology, to learn about community and economic development in rural SK
• Digital Production Courses that provide community residents with opportunities to use and experiment with higher levels of technology including digital cameras, digital video cameras, and numerous software programs that enable webpage design activities, photo editing and photo enrichment

Area 3 – Contract Administration

• Act as a Sponsor Agency for the delivery and monitoring of contribution and related contracts.  Programs have been delivered on behalf of Industry Canada, HRSDC (Community Development Network), the Community Development Initiative (CDI) for the development of worker and marketing co-operatives, and Seniors on Seniors Program to enable seniors use technology to remain independent.  
• Establishment of Partnerships and Alliances that focus on greater penetration and presence within the Saskatchewan and Pan Western markets and rural Canada as a whole.

Area 4 – Business and Related Services

• All General Business Services provided to the communities including photo copying, printing, scanning, faxing, purchase of hardware and software etc.
• Business Mentorship provides professional and skills development for those individuals or groups interested in entrepreneurship and small business development

Recycling Initiative

Do you have an old computer that is just collecting dust?  Rather than taking it to the dump or even to SARCAN, drop it off at either the Blaine Lake CAP or Hafford CAP sites.  We have started a program called NewLeaf Computers in which we salvage working computer parts prior to sending the rest to SARCAN for recycling.  We then combine these to make working computers that we either donate or charge a minimal fee to families who otherwise can’t afford a new computer!  Our technician fully checks every part to ensure the computer will run as good as the day it was new.  So don’t throw your computer away, make someone’s day… help families in need while saving the environment!  For further details and available computers, check out the NewLeaf section under Tech Corner!