Cisco Launches Connected Nor To Enhance Education and Healcare Services in Remote Norern Communities

Cisco Launches Connected North To Enhance Education and Healthcare Services in Remote Northern Communities High-definition two-way video communications broaden classroom experiences and health services delivery

IQALUIT, NUNAVUT/TORONTO, ONTARIO - April 2, 2014 - The Government of Nunavut today joined Cisco Canada for the official launch of Connected North. The Connected North program delivers immersive and interactive education and healthcare services to remote and northern Aboriginal and Inuit communities through high-definition two-way video communication and collaboration technology. The program represents a $1.6 million investment by Cisco in Canadas North. A successful pilot phase in education was initiated in September 2013. Utilizing prioritized satellite bandwidth donated by SSi Micro, grade 6, 7 and 8 classrooms in Iqaluits Aqsarniit Ilinniarvik have been connected in real-time with teachers, experts and other students throughout Canada, for a more engaging, diverse and dynamic classroom experience. Following todays announcement, two additional schools - the Deh Gah School in Fort Providence, Northwest Territories, and John Arnalukjuak High School in Arviat, Nunavut -will be joining the program in September 2014. Connected North was designed to showcase innovations in the field of learning with the aim of encouraging students to attend class regularly. The virtual education program utilizes Cisco TelePresence and Partners In Researchs (PIR) successful VROC (Virtual Researcher on Call) platform. Students in Iqaluit are benefitting from directly engaging with subject matter experts brought into the classroom through two-way video, for interactive sessions lasting up to 40 minutes. Students also connect with peers of the same age throughout Canada as part of the programs Classroom Connect component, to share rich educational and cultural experiences. In a study conducted by York University, on the impact of the program, preliminary research results show that both teachers and students view the program positively. A majority (89%) of students reported that the remote learning experience made science more enjoyable and 81% said they felt they learned more in the virtual sessions than they did through traditional classroom learning. The focus of the program is to provide a fresh approach to learning, allowing teachers and administrators to expose their students to new people, experiences and ideas. Connected North is also focused on bringing psychiatric and youth mental health services to Northern Aboriginal and Inuit communities via Cisco TelePresence high-definition video links. To that end, RBC Foundation and Cisco have joined with the Tele-Link Mental Health Program developed by Torontos Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), to launch Tele-Link in select Nunavut health centres in September 2014. Tele-Link was developed by SickKids in 2009 to provide mental health services to children, youth and their families in difficult to access rural areas, using videoconferencing and other technologies to give timely, equitable access to specialist services. The program has met with positive results in Ontario since its launch and now, with funding provided by RBC and technology donated by Cisco, it is hoped that success will be matched in Nunavut. Facts and Highlights: Content provided through Connected North education programming will focus in the following key areas:

o Bio-science and Nature: bringing real time lab experiments and conversations with leading experts to students;

o Teacher mentoring and professional development; and

o Classroom Connect: bringing together students from Iqaluit with their peers across Canada through dedicated joint programming.

Connected North was established in 2011 by Cisco Canada to leverage the companys core competence in Internet, networking and collaboration solutions to bring education and healthcare services to remote communities across Canadas North. Connected North is composed of a strategic partner ecosystem that includes:

o Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami;

o The Department of Education of the Government of Nunavut;

o The Department of Health of the Government of Nunavut;

o Cisco Canada;

o SSi Micro;

o Partners In Research;

o The Toronto Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids);

o The Royal Bank Foundation;

o York University;

o Sheridan College; and

o Canadian North

Connected North is made possible by the delivery of video conferencing sessions over SSis Qiniq network using Meet Online Enterprise, an audio-video solution optimized for satellite networks by SSi with support from Infrastructure Canada and the Nunavut Broadband Development Corporation. Run by Partners In Research, the VROC program seeks to inspire students by bringing experts directly to the classroom through two-way video. The VROC program offers five to ten-minute spontaneous videoconferencing sessions, hour-long interactive presentations and semester-long mentorship style sessions. Cisco Canada press releases are always issued in English and French. For this announcement, the release will also be translated into Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun. Supporting Quotes Monica Ell, Minister of Health, Nunavut: The partnership with the Hospital for Sick Children gives us greater access to patient psychiatric care for children and youth to assist in their healing. Working with the Hospital for Sick Children will also help us deliver clinical training to our health care professionals. Paul Quassa, Minister of Education, Nunavut: Rich and diverse educational programs are important investments to building a solid educational foundation for our current and future students. The Connected North program in Iqaluit is the first pilot project and we are encouraged by the initial results. The physical geography of our communities is always a challenge and Connected North a

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