National open data summit comes to New Brunswick
National open data summit comes to New Brunswick
November 18, 2015
Saint John, NB – The NB Social Policy Research Network (NBSPRN) and nb+ in partnership with Open North are pleased to announce that the next annual Canadian Open Data Summit will take place in Saint John, New Brunswick on April 28th, 2016.
The Canadian Open Data Summit is the annual event where the most pressing challenges facing the open data community are addressed on a national scale. Experts from all sectors come together to share best practices and local experiences, to learn from top international experts, and to work on growing the community strategically and collaboratively.
“Landing the Summit is a great coup for New Brunswick, and the timing couldn’t be more fortunate,” said Cathy Simpson, TechImpact leader for nb+ and Vice-President, Public Sector, T4G. “Here in New Brunswick we have just launched nb+, the partnership between the provincial government and TechImpact to work towards making the province a truly digital government. Through the Summit and nb+ we will be illustrating the impact that digital technology and open data can have.”
“We believe open data is about recognizing that we have an untapped resource to solve big problems,” said Nick Scott, Executive Director of NBSPRN. “As such open data will play a vital role in policy-making, research, and citizen engagement.” The upcoming GovMaker Conference in Fredericton on November 23rd and 24th exemplifies the vital role of open data in New Brunswick.
“As hosts of the 2015 edition of the Canadian Open Data Summit, which brought together more than 180 leaders in Ottawa last Spring, we’re very pleased to see the open data community in Eastern Canada step up to the challenge of organizing this important annual gathering,” said Jean-Noé Landry, executive director of Open North. “It’s a timely opportunity to strategize together and move the open data conversation in Canada forward. We hope stakeholders from all parts of the country will participate.”
The summit will take place as the second day of a three-day blitz of events led by the NBSPRN including a community data event in partnership with the Community Knowledge Exchange on April 27th and the New Brunswick Policy Research Forum on the 29th.
“I encourage Canadian businesses, community groups, academics, and citizens who are interested in open data and open government to seize this opportunity to participate in the national debate as we explore real solutions,” concluded Simpson.
To find out more about the Summit and to register, go to http://opendatasummit.ca.
About nb+
nb+ is a partnership between the Government of New Brunswick and TechImpact, an organization made up of local technology business leaders that advocates for a greater embrace of IT literacy and innovation as a strategy for economic growth.
About NBSPRN
NBSPRN is a partnership between the Government of New Brunswick and the four publicly-funded universities in the province. NBSPRN seeks to advance citizen-engagement and evidence-based policy development through cross-sectoral collaboration.
About Open North
Open North is a Canadian nonprofit that creates online tools to educate and empower citizens to participate actively in Canadian democracy. It helps governments become more transparent, accountable and responsive in the digital age.
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Media contacts:
Nick Scott, NBSPRN
(506) 292-7295
Lorna Brown, nb+
(506) 478-7248
Jean-Noé Landry, Open North
(438) 398-9338
