Paving a Path for Digital Equity and Digital Transformation in Peel Region (conference session overview)

At the March 2025 Metropolis Conference I participated with Peel Newcomer Strategy Group (PNSG) on a panel presentation:

"The path to achieve digital equity is multi-pronged. Digital transformation of the sector should also go hand in hand with the realities of newcomers’ digital access. It is important to understand who is falling through the gap in the shift to digital. Innovations and digital transformation of service providers is effective if it is accessible to all. Two parallel projects in Peel that contribute to the transformation of digital in the settlement sector will discuss how these aspects are linked and contribute towards digital equity in the sector, examining from the lens of the service providers as well as service users."

If you weren't in the room, you may think you missed it. But, thankfully PNSG recently ran a similar panel and the 2024 P2P conference, virtually, so there is a recording. I didn't participate then, but I also have a recording of a very similar presentation I did on the topic of digital inclusion/equity and digital transformation in the sector.

We had a rich discussion with participants who attended. The research PNSG has done, the digital transformation maturity work they're doing with regional organizations, the conversations they're having about digital transformation are a model for every LIP in this country to do what umbrella groups and funders are not doing. We are a complex sector with many competing agendas, including dealing with funders who treat our sector with such overt contempt and disrespect on the one hand, while openly acknowledging you all as essential service delivery partners on the other.

I know this is a difficult time. We're about to come to the end of the fiscal year without clarity about funding futures. But digital is one agenda we cannot continue to ignore. Given the complete lack of sector leadership on this topic, I believe PNSG has create a replicable model that other LIPs can and should follow. There is an emerging role LIPs could play here.

Let's create a national base of knowledge that funders and service providers could tap into to distill and prepare for technology trends in a more planned way than is currently the case. Data collection/data quality and consistency/accurate and timely reporting/data utilization is something that truly needs to be modernized. We need agency, regional and national level dashboards that are easy to use and provide a basis for evidence informed planning and evaluation at the agency and regional levels. It is critical and has to be part of the story we are telling. Even more, let's talk about regional support. They could play the role AlphaPlus plays for literacy organizations. It's time for the local/regional to lead the provincial/national, since they clearly are not leading.

Let's keep this conversation alive.

So here, slightly pieced together so everyone can benefit from the presentation, is a recording of PNSG's panel, and my add-on presentation:

My add-on to the panel (you can access the full presentation notes over here):

and the consolidated presentation slides from our Metropolis presentation here:

Download PNSG's excellent and important December 2024 report - Digital Equity and Inclusion for Newcomer Services - Exploring Digital Equity for Newcomer Services: Perspectives on Access and Challenges in Peel Region:

Here are the Metropolis presenters:

• Session Moderator: Jessica Kwik, Peel Newcomer Strategy Group - United Way Greater Toronto
• Marco Campana, Knowledge Mobilization and Social Action Coordinator, Access Alliance Multicultural Health & Community Services
• Mariam Mian, Peel Newcomer Strategy Group - United Way Greater Toronto
• Danielle Ungara, Peel CAS Child Welfare Immigration Centre for Excellence
• Ghezal Wallid, Peel CAS Child Welfare Immigration Centre for Excellence
• Prihan Algohary, Peel Multicultural Council