Vancouver Community Network
Vancouver Community Network is a community-owned provider of free internet access, technical support, and web hosting services to individuals and nonprofit organizations in Vancouver, British Columbia.
It developed StreetMessenger, a communication service for the homeless.
History
The organization was founded as Vancouver FreeNet by Brian Campbell and others.Revenue Canada initially rejected VCN's application status as a charitable organization, which would have allowed it to receive tax-deductible contributions. VCN appealed this decision, and in 1997, the Federal Court of Appeal ruled that providing free internet service was a charitable tax purpose.