[Chapter-delegates] Application to start an Internet Society Chapter: Canada Ontario
Charles Mok (gmail)
charlespmok at gmail.com
Wed Jun 18 13:29:38 PDT 2025
Great to hear about this! It will be a great addition to ISOC for the North
America community!!
Charles
On Wed, Jun 18, 2025 at 8:26 AM Kyle Shulman via Chapter-delegates <
chapter-delegates at elists.isoc.org> wrote:
> Dear Chapter Leaders,
> We recently received the *application below to start an Internet Society
> Chapter in Canada Ontario*. I kindly invite you to *review it and share
> your comments by 1 July 2025*.
> If you know active Internet Society members in Ontario who are interested
> in joining this initiative, please let me know via shulman at isoc.org . I
> will happily connect them to the volunteers who submitted this application.
> Your comments and input will help us make a final decision on this
> application and move to the next steps.
> Thank you very much in advance for your feedback.
> Kind regards,
> Kyle Shulman
> Senior Manager, Community Engagement
> Internet Society
> shulman at isoc.org
>
> _______________________
>
> *Internet Society Ontario Chapter*
>
>
> *A. Proposed name of the Chapter*
> Internet Society Ontario Chapter
> *B. Community of Interest the Chapter will serve*
> The primary community of interest is the *Province of Ontario*, In the 2021
> census <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_Canadian_Census>, Ontario had
> a population of 14,223,942 living in 5,491,201 of its 5,929,250 total
> dwellings, a 5.8 percent change from its 2016 population of 13,448,494.
> With a land area of 892,411.76 km2 (344,562.11 sq mi), it had a population
> density of 15.9/km2 (41.3/sq mi) in 2021.[2]
> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontario#cite_note-StatCan2021-2> This
> large and diverse population, spread across a significant geographical area
> with key urban centres, presents both a substantial opportunity and a clear
> need for an Internet Society chapter dedicated to promoting digital
> literacy, accessibility, and informed Internet governance across the
> province. The largest population centres
> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_population_centres_in_Ontario> in
> Ontario are Toronto <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toronto>, Ottawa
> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottawa>, Hamilton
> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamilton,_Ontario>, Kitchener
> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitchener,_Ontario>, London
> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London,_Ontario> and Oshawa
> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oshawa>, which all have more than 300,000
> inhabitants.
> The Chapter welcomes participation from individuals across Ontario and
> Canada who share an interest in Internet governance, policy, technology,
> and development, particularly those operating primarily in English.
> *C. Purpose and scope of Chapter*
> The purpose of the Internet Society Ontario Chapter is to advance the
> mission of the Internet Society within the Province of Ontario by:
>
> - *Promoting an Open, Globally-Connected, Secure, and Trustworthy
> Internet:* Serving as a local platform for discussion, education, and
> advocacy on critical Internet issues.
> - *Building Capacity:* Educating students, professionals,
> policymakers, and the public on Internet governance, digital rights, online
> safety, accessibility, and emerging technologies.
> - *Fostering Community:* Creating a multi-stakeholder forum for
> collaboration among academia, the technical community, civil society, the
> private sector, and government entities within the province's vibrant
> ecosystem.
> - *Supporting ISOC's Vision:* Contributing to global Internet policy
> discourse and advocating for principles that ensure the Internet is for
> everyone.
> - *Addressing Local Needs:* Focusing on issues relevant to Ontario
> residents, such as digital inclusion across Ontario's diverse urban and
> rural landscape, the intersection of technology and civic life, and
> supporting the region's large tech and innovation sector.
>
> In particular, the Ontario provincial capital is Toronto, and it's one of
> the leading North American tech hubs (over 285,000 tech workers, major R&D
> presence), home to numerous world-class universities and colleges, and its
> position as Ontario's provincial capital makes it a critical location for
> an ISOC chapter. In addition to the regional hubs in Waterloo and Ottawa,
> these cities have a substantial population of potential ISOC membership.
> The Chapter will leverage these concentrated strengths and the diverse
> digital landscape across the entire province to build a dynamic community
> engaged in shaping the future of the Internet for all Ontarians and
> contributing to global Internet discourse. We are committed to ensuring our
> activities reflect the diversity of Ontario and promote inclusivity in all
> aspects of our work.
> *D. Outline of key priorities for the first year of Chapter*
> The inaugural year will focus on establishing a strong operational
> foundation, building an engaged membership base, and initiating impactful
> activities.
>
> - *Governance & Operations (Q1-Q2):*
> - Finalize and adopt the Chapter Bylaws.
> - Formally incorporate as a non-profit entity in Ontario.
> - Establish financial infrastructure (bank account, basic
> accounting).
> - Elect the first official Chapter Board/Officers as per the bylaws.
> - Develop internal processes using tools like Trello for project
> management.
> - *KPI:* Achieve non-profit incorporation within 6 months.
> - *KPI:* Hold first official Annual General Meeting (AGM) and
> election within 12 months.
> - *Membership Growth & Engagement (Ongoing):*
> - Launch membership recruitment drive targeting academic
> institutions, tech companies, NGOs, and interested individuals.
> - Develop and launch the Chapter website (WordPress) and social
> media presence (e.g., LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter).
> - Implement the communication plan (see Section G), including a
> regular member newsletter.
> - *KPI:* Recruit a minimum of 100 registered members by the end of
> Year 1.
> - *KPI:* Achieve an average open rate of 25% for the member
> newsletter.
> - *KPI:* Establish active Chapter presence on at least two relevant
> social media platforms.
> - *Partnerships & Outreach (Ongoing):*
> - Formalize collaborations with initial partners (IEEE Toronto,
> NASIG, VSIG, ARIN, CIRA, NARALO/NPOC).
> - Identify and engage with potential new partners in the academic,
> tech, and civil society sectors within Ontario.
> - Develop a sponsorship package and initiate fundraising efforts.
> - *KPI:* Secure formal Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) or
> collaboration agreements with at least 3 key partners within Year 1.
> - *KPI:* Secure initial funding/sponsorship from at least 5
> corporate or institutional sponsors by the end of Year 1.
> - *Education & Events (Q3-Q4 onwards):*
> - Co-organize and host the North American School of Internet
> Governance (NASIG) Toronto event (in collaboration with NASIG).
> - Host introductory webinars/events focused on ISOC's mission and
> key Internet governance topics.
> - Plan and deliver at least one event specifically focused on
> digital inclusion or accessibility within Ontario.
> - *KPI:* Successfully deliver the NASIG Toronto event (or agreed
> equivalent first major event).
> - *KPI:* Engage at least 200-300 individuals from across Ontario
> through [e.g., 3-4] educational webinars or public forums on key Internet
> governance issues.
> - *Diversity and Inclusivity (Ongoing):*
> - Actively promote membership and participation from
> underrepresented groups within Ontario's tech and policy communities.
> - Ensure events and communications are accessible.
> - Strive for gender balance and diverse representation in
> leadership and event speakers.
> - Engage students and youth through targeted outreach and potential
> student membership rates.
> - *KPI:* Develop and publish a Chapter Diversity & Inclusion
> Statement within 6 months.
> - Initiate at least one outreach activity or event in Year 1
> specifically designed to engage an underrepresented group identified
> through our D&I planning.
>
>
>
> * E. Founding members of the Chapter*
> A minimum of 25 Internet Society members is required. The following
> individuals are confirmed founding members committed to establishing the
> Chapter:
>
> *Name*
> Waqar Ahmad
> Mohibul Mahmud
> Joan Kerr
> Glenn McKnight
> Jason Dasti
> Daniel Migault
> David Cameron
> Robert T Bell
> Allan Aspina
> Muhammad Shammaas Baig
> Zulqar Nayen
> Bibi Rookayya Gulmahamed
> Adrian Schmidt
> Mildred Weiss
> Marita Moll
> Arafat Al Hossain
> MD Saiful Amin
> Kim Therrien
> Fariha Rahman
> Monamee Afroze Ishika
> Fred Fernbach
> Caleb Ogundele,
> Momotaz Mahin Khan
> Abdul Ala Muhammud
> Md Mokarram Hossain
>
>
> *F. List of supporters and partner organizations*
> We are actively engaging with potential partners and have secured initial
> commitments. We aim for a multi-stakeholder approach. Letters of support
> will be included in Appendix C.
>
> - *Virtual School of Internet Governance (VSIG):* Educational partner.
> Letter of Support secured (see Appendix C). Collaboration on educational
> content, a potential source for speakers and student members. Contact:
> Alfredo Calderon, Dean of Academic Affairs) ATTACHED
> - *North American School of Internet Governance (NASIG):* Educational
> partner. Letter of Support requested. Planned collaboration to host the
> NASIG Toronto event. Contact: Eduardo Diaz, Chair) ATTACHED
> - *North American Regional At-Large Organization (NARALO) &
> Non-Commercial Stakeholder Group (NCSG) (ICANN):* Multi-stakeholder
> partner. Letter of Support requested. Collaboration on policy discussions,
> potential discretionary funding support, cross-promotion for membership.
> (Contact: Adrian Schmidt, Secretariat ATTACHED
> - *IEEE Toronto Section:* Professional affiliation. Letter of Support
> requested. Potential for cross-promotion of events and membership, access
> to the technical community. Contact: Dustin Durwell, Chair: Pending
> - *American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN):* Regional Internet
> Registry (RIR). Letter of Support requested. Promotion of ARIN
> Fellowships/Memberships, potential collaboration on events, exploring
> Community Grant opportunities. Contact: Amanda Gaudin, ARIN Outreach,
> Pending
>
>
> *G. Membership Communication, Engagement, and Interaction*
> We propose a multi-channel strategy to engage members and the broader
> community:
>
> - *Website (WordPress):* Serve as the central information hub with
> news, event listings, resources, membership information, and blog posts.
> Will adhere to accessibility standards (WCAG). The domain name
> www.isocontario.org has been identified as available and is planned
> for registration upon chapter approval.
> - *Email Newsletter:* Monthly updates sent to members covering chapter
> activities, relevant ISOC news, upcoming events, and Internet governance
> highlights.
> - *Podcast*: Foster spirited discussion of relevant and current
> Internet issues with industry leaders and civil society members
> - *Social Media (LinkedIn Group, potentially Twitter/Facebook):* Foster
> discussion, promote events, share relevant news, and engage with the wider
> Ontario tech/policy community.
> - *Online Events:* Regular webinars, virtual panels, and Q&A sessions
> on relevant topics, allowing broad participation. Recorded sessions made
> available where possible.
> - *In-Person Events:* Periodic meetups, workshops, and networking
> events across Ontario (with initial events potentially in accessible hubs
> like the GTA), including the Annual General Meeting (AGM).
> - *Collaboration Platforms:* Utilize tools like Google Workspace,
> Discord or Slack for internal committee work and potentially member
> discussions.
> - *Membership Management:* Use tools like Google Forms or a dedicated
> membership platform for applications and database management.
> - *Feedback Mechanisms:* Regularly solicit member feedback through
> surveys and during events.
>
> Recruitment Strategy: Outreach via partners, promotion at relevant
> industry/academic events, targeted social media campaigns, direct outreach
> to key organizations and universities in Ontario, and leveraging the
> professional networks of founding members to build initial momentum.
>
> Retention Strategy: Provide valuable content, facilitate networking
> opportunities, offer meaningful ways to participate (volunteering,
> speaking), recognize member contributions, and conduct periodic member
> surveys to gauge satisfaction and identify evolving interests.
>
> *H. List of requirements*
> We have researched the requirements for operating a non-profit
> organization in Ontario, Canada:
>
> - *Incorporation:* We intend to incorporate as a non-profit
> organization under the Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (ONCA). This
> involves filing Articles of Incorporation with the Ontario Ministry of
> Public and Business Service Delivery (Estimated Fee: ~$155).
> - *Annual Filings:*
> - *Ontario:* Annual return filing with the Ministry.
> - *Federal (CRA):* Annual T2 Corporation Income Tax Return and
> potentially T1044 Non-Profit Organization Information Return with the
> Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). We anticipate needing accounting services for
> tax preparation (Estimated cost: ~$500+/year).
> - *Regulatory Compliance:* We will ensure compliance with all relevant
> provincial and federal regulations for non-profits, including governance
> practices outlined in ONCA and financial reporting standards.
>
> We have reviewed these requirements via the official Ontario government
> websites and resources for non-profits.
> *I. Additional information*
> The founding team comprises individuals with diverse backgrounds in
> technology, policy, education, and business, deeply committed to the
> Internet Society's mission. The establishment of the ISOC Ontario Chapter
> fills a significant gap, providing a much-needed platform for
> multi-stakeholder dialogue and capacity building across Ontario, one of
> North America's most dynamic and diverse digital landscapes. We are
> confident in our ability to build a vibrant and sustainable chapter that
> contributes positively to the local community and the global Internet
> Society network.
> *J. Contact Information*
>
> - *Name:* Mr. Waqar Ahmad
> - *Affiliations:* IEEE Member, NARALO Unaffiliated Member, VSIG Urdu
> Translation Lead
> - *Postal Address:*
> - *Phone Number:*
> - *Email Address:*
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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