Chinook Arch adds Wi-Fi hotspot devices to its collection

Having the skills, knowledge and confidence to navigate the digital space has become an important life skill.

Thanks to a grant from the Government of Alberta’s Civil Society Fund, the Chinook Arch Regional Library System was able to add 75 loanable Wi-Fi hotspot devices to its collection.

The grant was also used to host digital skills clinics in southwestern Alberta. The addition of 75 Wi-Fi hotspots that can be borrowed through local libraries helps those who cannot afford internet at home.

Project goals included equipping participants with the skills necessary to use the Internet safely and effectively, improving the self-confidence and Internet skills of underrepresented groups, and increasing the number of Albertans using the Internet in their everyday lives.

Although the goals are simple, the impact of the project is enormous and goes beyond helping individuals. Chinook Arch is working with member libraries to close the digital equity gap because many things today require digital access.

From searching/applying for a job to doing homework, people are expected to have access to the tools and knowledge they need to live in an increasingly digital world.

Chinook Arch has hired Cassidy Yaroslavsky to play the role of digital navigator. She has taught in-person digital literacy classes at many member libraries. The clinics took place from January 2023 to March 2024. Word of mouth and community partnerships were valuable tools in driving the popularity of these classes. Many communities have had regular participants throughout the series.

In Picture Butte, after contacting the Happy Old Timers group, attendance quickly increased.

“The greatest value for me was just learning all the basics, because many of us older people are not tech-savvy,” says Pat Bodnar. “Now I’m not afraid to try to solve problems on my own.”

The next proposed program were personalized and individual classes, depending on the topic and demand. These programs ranged from an in-depth understanding of the differences between Canadian and U.S. privacy laws (for international and Snowbird participants) to help connecting a drone to a tablet to monitor farm animals.