Vancouver Community Network

{{Infobox organization

| name = Vancouver Community Network

| map = {{Coord|49|16|56.59|N|123|6|26.87|W}}

| formation = {{start date and age|1993|05|21}}

| founder = Brian Campbell{{Cite news | url=https://www.straight.com/news/857286/free-speech-advocate-and-long-time-vancouver-library-employee-brian-campbell-dies | title=Free speech advocate and long-time Vancouver library employee Brian Campbell dies | first=Charlie | last=Smith | work=The Georgia Straight | date=January 17, 2017}}

| founding_location = Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

| type = Nonprofit organization

| location = Woodward's Heritage Building, Suite 280-111, West Hastings, Vancouver, BC

| services = Internet access
Technical support
Web hosting service

| key_people = Tracey Axelsson, Executive Director{{Cite news | url=https://www.thestar.com/vancouver/2018/09/16/dtes-harm-reduction-kiosk-loses-location-after-friday-police-raid.html | title=Home of Downtown Eastside harm-reduction kiosk in question after Friday police raid | first=Perrin | last=Grauer | work=Toronto Star | date=September 16, 2018}}

| website = {{URL|https://www2.vcn.bc.ca/}}

}}

Vancouver Community Network (VCN) 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.{{Cite news | url=https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/being-a-refugee-is-a-circumstance-its-not-a-choice | title='Being a refugee is a circumstance, it's not a choice' | first=Denise | last=Ryan | work=Vancouver Sun | date=June 20, 2018}}

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.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kU5WAAAAIBAJ&q=%22Vancouver+Community+Network%22&pg=PA3&article_id=6097,2827780#v=onepage |title=Internet | work=The Register-Guard | date=November 11, 1997}}{{Cite book |last1=Hutchinson |first1=Allan C. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O7tFPZ33_NcC&q=%22Vancouver+FreeNet%22&pg=PA246 | title=Interpreting Censorship in Canada |last2=Petersen |first2=Klaus | publisher=University of Toronto Press |isbn=978-0-8020-8026-4 |date=January 1, 1999}}{{Cite web |title=Legal Developments | url=https://thephilanthropist.ca/1996/10/legal-developments-3/ | work=The Philanthropist |date=October 1, 1996}}{{Cite web |title=Full Text of Judgement Indexed as: Vancouver Regional FreeNet Assn. v. Canada (Minister of National Revenue – M.N.R.) Between Vancouver Regional FreeNet Association, appellant, and Minister of National Revenue, respondent [1996] F.C.J. No. 914 Court File No. A-413-94 |url=https://www2.vcn.bc.ca/2704-2/ |website=www2.vcn.bc.ca}}