COMMUNITYNET CONNECTS DUCK LAKE

Released on May 13, 2002

Duck Lake today marked its recent connection to CommunityNet,

Saskatchewan's public sector high-speed network.



Premier Lorne Calvert joined the students and staff of Stobart High School

in an event celebrating the $71 million broadband telecommunications

network that is connecting public institutions in towns and cities across

Saskatchewan.



All of Duck Lake's schools now have a CommunityNet connection, which brings

with it high-speed Internet and tele-learning capabilities. Remaining

public institutions in the community will be connected in the next few

months.



"With this connection, students in Duck Lake will have access to a world of

information and resources - just like students in larger centres," Calvert

said. "CommunityNet is meeting the needs of Saskatchewan's students,

arming them with the tools they need to succeed in the new economy, and

allowing us in government to better serve every citizen of this province."



CommunityNet has already linked 530 schools in 245 communities across

Saskatchewan, including Stobart High. By 2003, the network will connect

834 educational facilities, 310 health facilities, 86 First Nations schools

and 256 government offices in 366 communities.



CommunityNet is a partnership of provincial government departments and

agencies, and the public sectors of education and health. The federal

government, through Western Economic Diversification Canada, has

contributed $5 million toward the project's first phase that enables

hardware installation for the connection of schools, including First

Nations schools, throughout the province.



CommunityNet is being delivered to Saskatchewan communities through a

combination of new and existing infrastructure provided by SaskTel and the

Saskatchewan Communications Network.



Detailed information on the communities and facilities that will be

connected under CommunityNet can be found on the network's web site at

www.communitynet.ca.



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For more information, contact:



Bob Ellis

Industry and Resources

Regina

Phone: (306) 787-1691