Wow Tracey. VCN projects continue to be leading edge!! Digital sovereignty (aka digital resilience) is emerging as a major concern here in Canada. And not a moment too soon, given the intimidation tactics coming at us from south of the border. In large and small ways, we need to start thinking seriously about how to keep and protect our own data here in our own country. This project below is an excellent example of how community networks can be a partner in such a national agenda. I am sure you won't mind if I share your posting with a number of others thinking about this issue.

Have you considered applying for a CIRA grant for this. Sounds like a good candidate.

Marita   

On 2025-07-30 1:48 p.m., Tracey Axelsson wrote:
Thanks so much marita - I've listened and been inspired!  I've shared it on LinkedIN!

VCN is actually in the process of evolving member's digital democracy. The freenet network was so much a part of getting the internet into the community's hands I love it!  I feel humbled to be leading the next wave - with one of the most important iterations of Digital sovereignty.  We're building what is called Legacy Shield.  

Legacy Shield, a new project emerging from the freenet movement -  I believe speaks directly to the mission we all share through Telecommunities Canada — building community-owned, values-aligned digital infrastructure for the public good.

Legacy Shield is envisioned as a nonprofit digital vault designed to protect people’s most sensitive legacy documents — wills, directives, key identity records — and more importantly, to shield their digital identities from theft, misuse, and erasure after death.

Unlike commercial platforms, Legacy Shield is:

  • Mission-locked to remain in the nonprofit space
  • Governed by its members, not shareholders or private interests
  • Technically secure and privacy-first by design
  • Structured to resist capture by venture capital or Big Tech
  • Built with interoperability and permanence in mind, rather than obsolescence

As we all know, platforms fade and accounts get wiped — but personal digital legacies deserve the same permanence and dignity as any other estate. Legacy Shield aims to make that possible in a public interest framework that scales — without selling out.

We’re preparing to launch a crowdfunding campaign this fall, alongside nonprofit membership, and would love to connect with fellow community network builders about how this could serve as a model of digital trust infrastructure in the nonprofit sector

I'll share more, and am always  open to collaboration or shared governance ideas as we grow this work. In fact - I can't think of a better group to help on the project.  

here are the current tiers we've developed for the crowdfunding process

Shield Bearer

$25

1-year VCN membership, tax receipt, project updates, and governance polling

Legacy Sentinel

$50

All Shield Bearer benefits + early access to platform demo + optional name on supporters page

Shield Builder

$100

All above + access to Builder Polls on major platform decisions

Legacy Defender

$500

All above + invitation to virtual design session + beta tester access + recognition in founding project report (opt-in) + one personal vault with no fees for 10 years — no renewals, no strings attached

Shield Ally

$2,500

All above + 100 client vaults + 2 years waived client registration fees + priority tech support + legal roundtable invitation + Founding Ally recognition (opt-in)

IThoughts?

all the best, Tracey
-----------------
Tracey Axelsson
Executive Director - Vancouver Community Network (VCN)
280 - 111 West Hastings Street,    Vancouver, BC    V6B 1H4
t: 778.724.0241    

                             Consider the environment before printing.

VCN offers great services to all for IT support and web development at very affordable rates.
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On Wed, Jul 30, 2025 at 8:26 AM Marita Moll <mmoll@ca.inter.net> wrote:

Hi folks. I am really happy to share with you Joel Templeton's (ISOC Manitoba) podcast documenting some of the history of the early Internet in Canada, Freenets in general, the development of TC and particularly the story of the Blue Sky network in Manitoba. 1:23 min podcast. Garth and I both contributed to this episode.

The Past - The Freenet Dream–ConnectedMB – Apple Podcasts

Something to do on another very hot summer day when many of us are stuck inside. 🙁

Marita

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