Internet Commerce (E-Comm) is recognized as an important new trend in the global, knowledge-based economy, and a foundation for future growth and job creation. The ability to conduct commercial transactions on the Internet offers businesses and consumers a safe and convenient alternative to traditional marketing and sales transactions.

Community Storefronts, an eight-month pilot project led by a consortium of private sector companies in partnership with Industry Canada, has been developed to increase confidence and provide practical experience in this electronic commerce for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), charities and social service Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs). It is an excellent example of combining government programs with private sector partners to better serve business and consumers.

Consortium

Royal Bank (RY)
Royal Bank (ticker symbol: RY) is Canada's premier global financial services group and a leading provider of personal and business banking, corporate and investment banking, and wealth management services. As one of North America's largest financial institutions, Royal Bank and its key subsidiaries Royal Trust, RBC Dominion Securities, RBC Insurance, and Royal Bank Action Direct have more than 53,000 employees (on a full-time equivalent basis) who serve 10 million clients through more than 1,500 branches and offices in 36 countries.

Strategic Profits, Inc.
Over the past four years, Strategic Profits Inc. has consulted with literally hundreds of businesses about their Internet needs through educational seminars, website development and Internet marketing. With the roll out of their secure electronic commerce site, one of the main obstacles to greater acceptability of Internet commerce has been removed. We have put together a top-notch development team through joint venture partnerships, enabling us to offer complete turn-key E-Commerce solutions for small, mid and large corporations.

Consumers
Consumers will be able to choose services and products from contact lenses to making donations to their favourite charities from the Okanagan to Cape Breton. SMEs and NPOs will provide secure, speedy transactions, a greater choice of products and services, and access to larger markets, no matter where they are geographically located.

Community Access Program (Industry Canada)
The Community Storefront website links to nearly 250 businesses and 60 charity and social service NPOs through four Community Access Program (CAP) sites in the North Okanagan region of BC, Lanark County ON, Joliette QC and Cape Breton NS, and Web Networks. Up to 64 business are participating in each region, each offering up to ten products each. Community Storefronts can be accessed at http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/cs.

Cape Breton (SENCEN)
The Internet is a way for Strait area businesses in Nova Scotia to market to the world. Fourteen local businesses are participating. These companies will receive comprehensive training on the benefits of electronic commerce. The businesses who have signed up are interested in the opportunities electronic commerce offers them, and want to learn more. Electronic commerce appeals to a wide variety of businesses which currently include sectors from information technology and specialized outdoor clothing to musicians and artists to aquaculture and tourism.

Joliette
The Lanaudière Region in Quebec is already well established on the Internet and looking forward to using the new technology offered through this project. Agricultural producers, exporters, manufacturers, notaries, retailers, internet service providers and other entrepreneurs from the region understand the enormous business potential offered by the Internet. It is with great enthusiasm that they join the Community Storefronts project.

Lumby
Connecting with the global market place is a common theme for the North Okanagan, BC businesses participating in the Community Storefronts project. With products ranging from value added wood items through to specialized water sport equipment, opals, sculpture, art, and world famous Okanagan food products, consumers all across Canada and the world will be able to sample the best of the North Okanagan via the Internet. As the ever changing global scene impacts the traditional resource sector industries located in the area, the businesses involved in this innovative project here in the Lumby/North Okanagan see E-commerce as the way to the future.

Lanark
One of Ontario's most successful CAP sites, the Lanark Communications Network (LCN) is a not-for-profit corporation working in partnership with the Lanark County Community Information Network, and CAP to improve Internet awareness and access throughout the region. More than thirty SMEs have signed up to participate in Community Storefronts. Businesses involved include: retail, legal, insurance, optometry, tourism, entertainment, printing, crafts, agri-products, accommodations, hobbies, maple syrup, consulting and a horse drawn trolley!

Non Profit Organizations (NPOs)
The 60 charities and social service NPOs are participating through Web Networks, Canada's only national non-profit Internet Service Provider. With national groups ranging from Canadian Feed the Children to the United Way of Greater Toronto, Bridgehead to Green Teacher and the Canadian Nature Federation to the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy, the E-commerce Pilot Project is opening up doors to generating greater public awareness and increased revenue for non-profit organizations in Canada.

Results
The Community Storefronts project provides a tangible example of electronic commerce in action and demonstrates the value of government/ private and volunteer sector partnerships. This project also enhances the Connecting Canadians strategy, and the promise of creating jobs and growth in the information economy of tomorrow.

It is expected that participants' experience and testimonials will provide practical insight and generate confidence for consumers, business and Canadian NPOs as well as E-Comm service providers.