Videoconferencing offered with soldiers

Following a successful videoconference with a Canadian soldier in Afghanistan earlier this month as an educational tool, the Rainy River District School Board is offering the use of its equipment to the community as a Christmas gift.
Anyone in the district with family serving in the Canadian Armed Forces in Afghanistan is welcome to contact the board to set up a free videoconference with their loved one during the week before Christmas.
“We want to offer to the community, for anyone from Rainy River to Atikokan, to schedule a videoconference with any soldier in Afghanistan,” explained Mary Lynne Bondett, a teacher at J.W. Walker School where the first videoconference took place.
The idea came about from Stephen Danielson, the board’s manager of information services.
Bondett had helped arrange the first videoconference for students to speak with Cpl. Andrew Mcleod, her nephew currently serving in Afghanistan.
She had asked Danielson if it would be possible to arrange a personal videoconference with the young solder again, closer to Christmas.
As there is virtually no cost to set it up, he suggested they offer the service to the public as well for personal Christmas greetings.
Bondett said it is important for anyone interested to first talk to their family member in Afghanistan.
“They need to talk to and connect with their family member to find out when they can set up the interview,” she explained.
The board is willing to schedule videoconferences for the public from Dec. 18-22 from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. local time.
But people should bear in mind the time difference. When it is 10 a.m. here in Fort Frances, it is 8:30 p.m. in Afghanistan, Bondett noted.
“They have to set it up themselves. Just let me know the time, and if I can make the schedule work, we can do that,” she said.
The board will make its equipment available in Rainy River, Fort Frances, and Atikokan.
“Everyone is right behind this,” Bondett noted, including Jack McMaster, the board’s director of education. “The board is encouraging families to use our facility.” Anyone interested in setting up a family videoconference should contact Bondett at 274-3616.
Meanwhile, the school will continue to set up videoconferences with Canadian soldiers abroad—possibly on other missions—to help students understand how Canada contributes on the world stage.
Students gave very positive feedback from their talk with Cpl. Mcleod, where they learned a little about everyday life for a soldier stationed overseas.
“This is a global experience for the kids,” Bondett said.