Information Technology (IT) Conference 2001

Practices & Methods

October 9 and 10, 2001
Palais des congrès
200 Promenade du Portage
Hull (Québec)

Background

Statistics Canada has a very large IT community (over 1,000 professional CS, MA-ST and SI staff) involved in the development and maintenance of software solutions that serve the needs of our statistical and administrative programs. There has never before been an IT Conference at Statistics Canada. However, based on discussions at the Statistics Canada Informatics Committee and within various IT and management groups at Statistics Canada, it appears that interest is high in establishing a conference to facilitate the sharing of information within the IT community with a view towards improving the timeliness, cost and quality of IT solutions delivered.

This conference coincides with a recommendation put forth in October 1998 by the Task Force on Human Resource Issues in the informatics community. The Task Force, chaired by Brian Williams, recommended that Statistics Canada "host a biennal international symposium similar to the methodology symposium, as a learning opportunity for Informatics professionals throughout the Bureau."

Theme

The theme of the first conference is Practices and Methods used in the delivery of IT solutions for statistical and administrative programs at statistical agencies. Through a mixture of formal presentations, workshops and panel discussions, the conference will provide information about best practices used in order to achieve timely and cost-effective IT solutions at a desired level of quality.

Sub-Themes

In January, 2001 a questionnaire was administered to the IT and management community requesting feedback about sub-themes of interest for the conference. Over 220 responses were tabulated. The organizing committee based on those responses identified three sub-themes of highest priority: Software Development, Delivery of Instrastructure Services, Project Management Topics. The conference content is based on these sub-themes.

Target Audience

Attendees at the conference will be from the IT and management communities of Statistics Canada and other Canadian as well as international statistical agencies. The focus will be on, but not limited to, Program Managers and IT managers and practitioners. Two conference tracks, on management and technical topics, are proposed. An initial estimate of the number of attendees is 275.

For further information, please contact:

Conference Planning Services
Statistics Canada
Jean Talon Building
Ground Floor, Section C11
Ottawa (Ontario)
K1A 0T6
Telephone: (613) 951-1135
Fax: (613) 951-5544

or

Wilder Boucaud
(613) 951-1617

and

Marcel Falardeau
(613) 951-6582