Village Gamer

Young women in the Moncton area will have the opportunity to learn about careers and educational possibilities in the trades and technology sector thanks to support from the Government of Canada. Mr. Robert Goguen, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Member of Parliament for Moncton–Riverview–Dieppe, made the announcement today on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. Read the rest of this entry »

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada has launched a tool to help teachers and community leaders talk with younger Canadians about protecting their privacy online.

The youth presentation package – Protecting Your Online Rep – comes right in time for back-to-school. It offers people who work with youth the information necessary to offer an engaging and effective presentation in their own schools and communities. Read the rest of this entry »

On September 1, 2011, the Canadian Technology Accreditation Board (CTAB) granted national accreditation to four of the Information Technology programs at Centennial College’s School of Engineering Technology and Applied Science. This brings the total number of CTAB accredited programs offered by Centennial to 21, putting the College in the number one slot for nationally accredited Engineering Technology and Applied Science course offerings.

“Centennial College applies quality standards through rigorous program evaluation tools and continues to earn the highest number of external accreditations for our programs,” says President Ann Buller. “We are committed to preparing people for the new world that awaits by offering students programs with national accreditation that is portable across the country and internationally. Accreditation makes it easier for students to complete their certification and to gain employment in these disciplines.” Read the rest of this entry »

Last year’s Merging Media Conference+Masterclass marked the first time that the $10,000 BC Film Development Award was awarded to the best cross-media project presented at the annual event. Merging Media will once again offer this wonderful opportunity to cross-platform content creators at its Merging Media Pitch 360 sessions during the upcoming 2011 event on October 27th and 28th.

Andrew Williamson of Off Island Films and Audrey Mehler of Paperny Films each won $5,000 last year to develop their projects. Andrew came to Merging Media with the Spiral, a web based interactive drama series that went on to become a part of another local media initiative called Melting Silos. Audrey pitched Eat St. Tweet, an innovative way to bring a Food Network show about food carts to life online as well as in a mobile app. The series and app launched earlier this year and more goodies are in store with their fall season that premiered on September 2nd. Audrey’s team offers viewers an unparalleled culinary experience by revealing new culinary carts around cities in North America, with access to information across three media platforms.

Now here’s your chance to take your project to the stage and win this year’s award! If you have an innovative transmedia or cross-media project in the works, apply before September 30 to be one of 8 participants to present at Merging Media’s Masterclass and Pitch 360 sessions and you could be the next one to win that $10,000 award! For more information, contact: coordinator@mergingmedia.ca. If you haven’t registered yet, it’s not too late to take advantage of Early Bird rates.

The Toronto International Microfinance Summit announced today The MasterCard Foundation is providing 100 college and university students with financial assistance to attend its conference at Toronto’s Allstream Centre September 17, 2011. In its third year, the Summit is comprised of two events, a fundraising Gala on September 16th and the micro way Conference with a new MicroMarketplace September 17th. This year the theme is From Microfinance to Financial Inclusion: Making a Difference in our World. Topics include:

• Financial Literacy, Youth Programs and First Nations
• Mobile Banking, Technology and Investment Funds with impact
• How microfinance enables global health initiatives
• Rating Microfinance Institutions and Risk Management
• Microfinance in conflict zones

“The Toronto International Microfinance Summit brings together thought leaders in the sector with both international and domestic expertise,” says Reeta Roy, President and CEO of the MasterCard Foundation.  “The Summit is an important platform for knowledge-sharing and The MasterCard Foundation is proud to support students’ attendance.”

“Microfinance is the place where business and international development objectives intersect and social impact is achieved,” adds Jim Louttit, Vice President of Toronto International Microfinance Summit and Rotarian Action Group for Microcredit Secretary.  “For the second year, The MasterCard Foundation is partnering with us so more students can learn about this powerful poverty reduction tool, interact with experts and get involved.

The Honourable David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, will attend the Gala and offer official greetings. Forty Summit speakers from thirty organizations on five continents are scheduled to make presentations,  including:

• Bob Annibale – Citi Microfinance
• Vidar Jorgensen – Grameen America
• Kadita (A.T.) Tshibaka – Opportunity International
• Philip Smith – philanthropist and author
• Joyce Lehman – Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
• Michael Bowles – Aga Khan Foundation
• Damien von Stauffenberg – MicroRate
• Jeff Rayman – Secutor Capital
• Dr. Tanjina Mirza – Plan Canada
• Howard Weinstein – Solar Ear
• Charles Belanger – FINCA
• Francois Montour – CIDA
• Tess Bayombong – CARE Canada
• Deborah Lindholm – Foundation for Women

Computer Using Educators of BC will be holding their annual fall conference at Terry Fox Secondary in Port Coquitlam on October 21st. This conference, which focuses on technology in the classroom, is open to both educators and non-educators.

The conference’s keynote will be presented by North Carolina writer, speaker and instructor David Warlick, and this year’s conference theme is Embracing Emerging Technologies. As of this writing, there are 40 speaker sessions being offered at the conference, including presentations on how to use Blender 3D, Twitter for the Classroom, Supporting Online Learners, Digital Game Development, Digital Storytelling and there are also several sessions on ways to use the internet and technology tools to inspire learning and creativity in today’s students.

The organizers of Web-In, presented by the Canada Media Fund, are proud to announce the first series of speakers who will present their vision of the Web of tomorrw, on October 31^st at the Hilton Montréal Bonaventure hotel, as part of MTL DGTL.

Web-In is a one-day event, featuring micro-conferences that aim to drive industry professionals to break new ground and create the Web of the future by encouraging them to be a step ahead of common observation, leave their comfort zone and question their certainties. Take advantage of the Early Bird 30% discount on the regular price by registering online before September 16.

Brief and Inspiring Speakers!

• Jonathan Bélisle: Ux, Drugs & Rock N’ Roll: From Divergence to Exploration to Convergence
• Olivier Bruel: La viralité gratuite
• Alexandre Ekerli: Le Web comme rituel
• Geoffroi Garon: Le phénomène du «Selftracking» et le concept de «Quantified Self»
• Luc Gauvreau: Le «Montréalscope»: histoires données au futur
• Alex Lauzon: L’obsolescence (non planifiée) des logiciels de courriels
• Laurent Maisonnave: Comment le buzz des médias sociaux rendra enfin sexy votre TV connectée
• Véronique Marino: Création transmédia: la compréhension de l’autisme est-elle la clef de la réussite?
• Sébastien Paquet: Le futur est collaboratif et ouvert
• Patrick Tanguay: Post-numérique et l’Internet des machins

“Web-In will be the perfect opportunity for Web enthusiasts to find inspiration for their next projects,” says François Légaré, Coordinator of the event. “We are proud to welcome close to 20 speakers who are willing to share their vision and passion, in order to push Quebec’s Internet community to excel, and move forward creatively.”

Vancouver Film School has announced the dates for the 2012 version of its annual Game Design Expo. Day One of the expo, known as Industry Day, will be held at the Vancouver International Film Centre on Seymour on January 21st. Industry Day is filled with speaker and panel presentations in the theatre, with displays and networking opportunities held in the lobby area.

Day Two of the Expo will be hosted at the new VFS Game Design Campus at 88 East Pender on January 22nd, where those interested in attending VFS as a student can speak with instructors and admissions counselors as well as participate in hands-on workshops or try out some student-developed games.

The Games Design Expo has also put out a Call For Speakers and Panels. Deadline for submissions is October 16, 2011. If you or your company are interested in becoming an event sponsor, please see the information on the Expo’s Sponsor page.

It’s not easy being tween. Youth today face difficult and sometimes life-threatening decisions, and at this time of year, back-to-school anxiety and stress is much discussed among parents, educators and the media. Tweens and young teens, confronted with peer pressure, cyber-drama, bullying and the increasingly pervasive influence of social media, often need support to help them navigate their way from childhood to high school.

And schools in Toronto and the GTA are able to do that with the free kids.now after-school program, which matches one volunteer mentor with 10 students in a 12 week curriculum-based program that provides students with important lessons in building self-confidence, resolving conflict, setting goals, improving communication and managing stress.

“We are really pleased to be partnering with kids.now to offer many of our students the opportunity to work with a mentor that will help students discover who they are and what they can become,” says Chris Spence, Director of Education for the Toronto District School Board. “I know from personal experience the value of mentorship and I encourage students to get involved and let their journeys begin.”

Since 1999, kids.now, a charitable organization, has provided free in-school group mentoring programs to more than 11,000 grades 7 and 8.  This fall, kids.now will run 80 programs in Ontario and 40 more throughout New Brunswick and Alberta.

“What we do is really provide kids with a toolbox that helps them in these critical years but that they can also access as they get older,” said kids.now President and Founder Janet King. “We empower youth to believe in themselves to make positive choices so they can reach their full potential.”

Marilia Lana signed up “shy introvert” Vinny during a particularly difficult time in her family’s life. “After the program, Vinny was like a flower blossoming. He just became better,” said Marilia, a family support worker. “Our experience with kids.now has impacted our whole family, and I want to tell other parents that this program is a no brainer – the results are big, a huge improvement in social skills.”

Accenture and the Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) have announced that the Accenture Foundations have awarded the national charity a grant of US$420,000 to help the organization support young entrepreneurs in Canada.

The two-year commitment is part of Accenture’s global corporate citizenship initiative, Skills to Succeed, which will equip 250,000 people around the world by 2015 with the skills to get a job or build a business. The grant will help CYBF mentor more than 2,000 entrepreneurs aged 18 – 34 and enhance the mentoring skills of more than 3,700 existing and new mentors, who help entrepreneurs build and scale sustainable businesses across the country.

In addition to the grant Accenture will provide CYBF with pro-bono services to help ensure the long-term success of the program. Specifically, Accenture employee volunteers will create a new online mentoring orientation program, which will upgrade the skill sets of both mentors and mentees. Additionally, Accenture volunteers will be recruited to act as mentors to the entrepreneurs.

“Supporting Canadian Youth Business Foundation helps bring to life Accenture’s commitment to building skills,” said Adrian Lajtha, chief leadership officer at Accenture. “CYBF proves it’s possible to make a significant, lasting impact on the economic well-being of individuals and their communities by developing entrepreneurial skills and connecting people with the right job opportunities.”

“Accenture’s work empowering Canadian youth through our work with Canadian Youth Business Foundation builds on our goal to make a difference in the lives and careers of people across Canada,” said Bill Morris, managing director of Accenture in Canada. “Teaming with CYBF fits with Accenture’s global corporate citizenship focus, Skills to Succeed, which recognizes that skills are one of the most powerful drivers of success.”

The grant is an extension of Accenture’s relationship with CYBF which began in 2006, when Accenture funded development of their online mentoring tools and interactive business planner. Additionally, CYBF is an active member of the Prince’s Youth Business International network (YBI), which Accenture has supported since 2006 by providing more than US$3.6 million in grants and pro-bono assistance in recruiting, training and maintaining the organization’s mentoring network. The new funds will be used to rebuild and roll out the nonprofit’s online mentoring orientation tool and to assess, scope and develop mentoring programs and services.

“Both the Canadian Youth Business Foundation and Accenture share a commitment to invest in the success of tomorrow’s business leaders by providing them with the skills and support they need to start and sustain their own businesses and to drive economic vitality in communities” said Vivian Prokop, chief executive officer of Canadian Youth Business Foundation. “The support of Accenture will enable Canadian Youth Business Foundation to strengthen and broaden its successful mentoring program as the foundation and platform for entrepreneurial, small business skill development for young entrepreneurs in Canada and around the world.