Cindy MacDougall
Northern News Services

Hay River (Mar 13/00) - Hay River Mayor Jack Rowe dreams of a day when everyone in his community has access to the Internet and 911 emergency services, and when tourists can see the Twin Falls flow before they ever arrive.

The hub town and a group of local organizations have sent in their final proposal to win $5 million in federal high-tech funding.

Rowe said the national Smart Communities contest is a chance to prove a small Northern community can be innovative.

"We think it's a fairly aggressive program, and we're glad we've been short-listed," he said. "I hope we get a chance to implement it and show what we can do."

The Smart Communities Program is a Canada-wide contest sponsored by Industry Canada.

One municipality in each province, one aboriginal community and a Northern city or town will receive $5 million each for the most innovative and service-oriented program.

The three-year program must use high technology and serve the community's residents in new better ways.

Rowe said Hay River has a plan that will improve health and education services for residents and promote the town as a place to do business and visit.

"We sat down and thought, 'What would make us smarter?'" he said. "This is what we came up with, and I think it's very good."

The project would use the Internet, television and telephone systems to provide 911 services, set up an electronic commerce Web site, allow students to take long-distance education courses and provide online job training.

The system would also give tourists the chance to check out online video of sites, receive discounts and send home free e-mail postcards once they arrive.

Every resident would receive a smart card to use services for free.

Rowe said public computer kiosks throughout the town and around tourist attractions will make the project possible.

"You could have a digital picture taken of yourself at the Dene Cultural Institute buying mukluks and send it home by e-mail at the kiosk," he said.

The cultural institute also has plans for Smart Communities, but tourism is just one of the ideas on its list.

"For one thing, it (the e-commerce portion) would help with marketing our Dene arts, crafts and skills," said Wendy Schreder, communications manager for the institute.

The aim of the institute, preserving Dene language and culture, could also be promoted, she said.

"We deal with 27 communities and five language groups in the Western Northwest Territories," she said. "We have a lot of programs we could offer (through the Internet.)"

However, Hay River has some stiff competition from an old rival.

Yellowknife is competing for the Northern cash with Hay River.

Rowe said the Yellowknife proposal is a good one, but he is sure Hay River can win.

"We want people to say 'Look what this small community was able to do with this technology,'" he said. "It will be something marketable to small communities around the world.

"If they (the government) choose a capital city, where they've invested lots of money, what will that say?"

The decision will be released sometime in April or May.