Vancouver Community Network

49°16′56.59″N 123°6′26.87″W﻿ / ﻿49.2823861°N 123.1074639°W﻿ / 49.2823861; -123.1074639
Formation| May 21, 1993; 30 years ago (1993-05-21)
Founder| Brian Campbell[1]
Founded at| Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Type| Nonprofit organization
Location|

* Woodward's Heritage Building, Suite 280-111, West Hastings, Vancouver, BC

Services| Internet access
Technical support
Web hosting service

Key people

| Tracey Axelsson, Executive Director[2]
Website| www2.vcn.bc.ca

Vancouver Community Network (VCN) is a community-owned provider of free internet access, technical support, and web hosting services to individuals and nonprofit organizations in Vancouver, British Columbia.

It developed StreetMessenger, a communication service for the homeless.[3]

## History[edit]

The organization was founded as Vancouver FreeNet by Brian Campbell and others.[1]

Revenue Canada initially rejected VCN's application status as a charitable organization, which would have allowed it to receive tax-deductible contributions. VCN appealed this decision, and in 1997, the Federal Court of Appeal ruled that providing free internet service was a charitable tax purpose.[4][5][6][7]

## See also[edit]

* Chebucto Community Network
* Free-Net
* Wireless community network
* Community informatics
* National Capital Freenet

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b Smith, Charlie (January 17, 2017). "Free speech advocate and long-time Vancouver library employee Brian Campbell dies". The Georgia Straight.
2. ^ Grauer, Perrin (September 16, 2018). "Home of Downtown Eastside harm-reduction kiosk in question after Friday police raid". Toronto Star.
3. ^ Ryan, Denise (June 20, 2018). "'Being a refugee is a circumstance, it's not a choice'". Vancouver Sun.
4. ^ Internet. November 11, 1997. `{{cite book}}`: `|work=` ignored (help)
5. ^ Hutchinson, Allan C.; Petersen, Klaus (January 1, 1999). Interpreting Censorship in Canada. University of Toronto Press. ISBN 978-0-8020-8026-4.
6. ^ "Legal Developments". The Philanthropist. October 1, 1996.
7. ^ "Full Text of Judgement Indexed as: Vancouver Regional FreeNet Assn. v. Canada (Minister of National Revenue – M.N.R.) Between Vancouver Regional FreeNet Association, appellant, and Minister of National Revenue, respondent [1996] F.C.J. No. 914 Court File No. A-413-94". www2.vcn.bc.ca.

## External links[edit]

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Internet service providers of Canada

Domestic|

| Incumbent|

| Bell|

* Bell Internet
* Bell Mobility
* Bell Aliant
* Cablevision
* DMTS
* Distributel
* Primus Canada
* Zazeen
* EBOX
* MTS
* NorthernTel
* Northwestel
* Ontera
* Télébec

|

Rogers|

* Comwave
* Fido
* Rogers Hi-Speed Internet
* Rogers Telecom
* Seaside Communications
* Source Cable

Telus|

* Koodo Mobile
* Public Mobile
* Telus Internet
* Telus Mobility

Vidéotron|

* Freedom
* VMedia

Other|

* Access Communications
* Cogeco
* Cable Axion
* Dery Telecom
* Eastlink
* SaskTel
* Tbaytel

Independent|

* Chebucto Community Net
* CIKtel
* Execulink Telecom
* MNSi Telecom
* National Capital FreeNet
* Novus
* SSi Canada (Qiniq)
* TekSavvy
* Vancouver Community Network

Defunct|

* Aurora Cable Internet
* Clearnet Communications
* Everus Communications
* Internex Online
* Inukshuk Wireless
* Look Communications
* Mountain Cablevision
* Rush Communications Ltd.
* Shaw Communications

Foreign|

| Active|

* Xplornet

|

Former|

* Verizon (Owned small former stake in Telus)
* AT&T (Sold subsidiary of AT&T Canada)
* Sprint (Sold subsidiary of Sprint Canada)

Related topics|

* Internet in Canada
* Internet censorship
* Telecommunications in Canada

This Internet-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

|

* v
* t
* e

This Vancouver-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

* v
* t
* e

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template