Chris Cope

My wife Lesley and I live in Ottawa, Canada's National Capital. I've got 3 pretty terrific kids, Tyler, Jessica and Melissa. My son Tyler, is a graduate of Carleton University where he obtained a Bachelor of Computer Science (high Honours). Tyler is co-founder of Overlay.TV. My eldest daughter Jessica graduated from Canterbury High School (OSSD) in 1998. Jess shares my love for "Wettin-a-line" Jess attended the Kemptville campus of the University of Guelph studying Agriculture. My youngest, Melissa ("Mel" to her friends) graduated from Sir Robert Borden High School. in 2004 and went on to study Criminology at The University of Toronto where she graduated with an Honours B.A. with a Criminology major and History minor in the spring of 2007. I work for the City of Ottawa as an Economic Development Officer. Among my current projects is "Discover Ottawa" a Smartphone app and a web-based GIS-based Site Selector's tool. I was heavily involved in several "business friendly" projects at the City including connectivity projects set out in the City's Broadband Plan especially, the rural broadband project and the city-wide toll-free calling telephone initiative to make the entire city (post amalgamation) a single telephone calling area. Previously, I was Director, SmartCapital Special Projects at The Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation or "OCRI". In that capacity, I spent four days per week at City Hall, working on community technology projects. I am also working as Coordinator of ORCnet an organization of people and businesses working with the City's help, to deploy broadband in the rural communities of Ottawa I have a special connection with The National Capital FreeNet amd from 1997 until the end of 2000, I was NCF’s Executive Director. Although I am no longer a member of FreeNet’s paid staff, I continue my involvement with NCF as a member of the FreeNet Board and since 2001, I have held the position of President and Chairman of the Board. I am Vice President of Telecommunities Canada Inc., an organization that represents and promotes the Canadian community networking movement at the national and International level. I am on the Board of the Ottawa Humane Society and a past Board member of Volunteer Ottawa, where I chaired the Technology Committee and served on the Volunteer Learning Network. I am past Chair of the Nepean Environmental Committee, a citizen advisory committee of the former City of Nepean. While my principal hobby is messing ar