March 2006




ORION workshop in Windsor
The new education and learning environment, shaped by new technologies and innovations in teaching and learning, was the focus of a successful ORION workshop in Windsor, Feb. 1, co-presented by York University's Advanced Broadband Enabled Learning Program (ABEL). Nearly 90 people participated in the session, designed to illustrate the possibilities of using advanced networks and collaborative technologies. Participants came from the region's school boards, St. Clair College and the University of Windsor. Several presenters participated live via videoconference, including colleagues from across the border in Michigan, who demonstrated a live field trip using wireless technology. "This was a wonderful learning opportunity for our academic community and a showcase of the very real possibilities the future can bring," says Rose Mousaly, CIO of the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board, which hosted the workshop. Presentations and photos are available at www.orion.on.ca/events/orionabelwindsor.html.

ORION joins the Quilt
Ontario's R&E network is joining the Quilt, a coalition of US-based regional R&E networks, as an affiliate member. "Our colleagues across the border are interested in what we're doing here in Ontario, and we are anxious to increase our level of collaboration and information sharing," says ORION President/CEO Phil Baker. Baker was among the presenters at the 4th Quilt Optical Networking Workshop in January, where he provided an overview of ORION's infrastructure and outlined the process Ontario went through to establish its own research and education optical network - one of the most advanced in the world. The Quilt represents more than 23 leading research and education networking organizations in the United States, promoting consistent, reliable, interoperable and efficient advanced networking services that extend to the broadest possible community. Participants in The Quilt provide network service for more than 200 Internet2-connect universities and thousands of other educational institutions. Learn more at www.thequilt.net

New ORION backup circuits
ORION recently turned up a new circuit between St. Catharines and Toronto to provide backup service in case of outages on the primary ORION routes. The new circuit uses fiber and equipment diverse from the primary ORION network. "This greatly enhances the availability of services for all institutions connected through the southern PoPs, including Oakville, Hamilton, and St. Catharines," says ORION Senior Director of Engineering and Operations, Sam Mokbel. The new backup circuit was made possible through cooperative efforts from NYSERNet (ORION's peer in New York State) and CANARIE, the Canadian national research and education network. Similar planning is under way with CANARIE to provide enhanced backup services for the Northern route between Thunder Bay and Toronto and other routes over ORION. It's expected that by the end of summer 2007, ORION will have diverse IP and transport layer backup services for institutions connected through the majority of the ORION PoPs.

People News
Ontario has a new Deputy Minister for Research and Innovation. Dr. Alastair Glass took over the position Feb. 13, 2006. Former Chair and acting CEO of the Tyndall National Institute in Cork, Ireland, Dr. Glass has held senior leadership positions at Bell Laboratories, and he has been a frequent advisor to U.S. government agencies and academic institutions. Dr. Tim McTiernan returns to his position as Assistant Deputy Minister. Dr. Alan George, Associate Provost for Information Systems and Technology, has been named Interim Vice-President of Research at the University of Waterloo. It is a one-year term, while a successor to Paul Guild is sought. Joan Homer is retiring as executive CEO of the Association of Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology of Ontario. ACAATO President David Lindsay takes on duties as CEO. Jeff Sutton is the new Director of Information Technology at Sudbury's Laurentian University, replacing Bill Sandblom. A native of Sudbury, Jeff previously held senior technology positions at the Michener Institute of Applied Health Sciences, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and the Sudbury Regional Hospital. University of Michigan professor Daniel Atkins is the new head of the new National Science Foundation (NSF) Office of Cyberinfrastructure. Atkins, keynote speaker at ORION's inaugural 2004 Ontario R&E Summit, assumes his role June 1 and oversee a $182 million budget.

What's your success story?
Researchers and educators throughout Ontario are identifying success stories enabled by ORION and the use of advanced networks and collaborative technologies. Stories range from new innovations in science, to introducing new ways of teaching music, to using remote instruments to help find cures for disease. Do you have an ORION success story to share? We want to know. Contact us at info@orion.on.ca.


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