Village Gamer

The mesh prize is awarded annually to a project or a group of projects that seek to collectively improve the Canadian Digital Media Industry. The prize, which is sponsored by Teehan + Lax, seeks to fund projects that create new understanding, capabilities or tools that the digital media community can benefit from. The prize recipient will receive $40,000 towards the successful completion of their project.

The winner for 2011 is The Centre for Social Innovation (CSI), which was founded in 2004 with the mission to catalyze social innovation in Toronto and around the world.  By providing high quality shared workspace for over 300 nonprofits and businesses CSI has created a dynamic community of professionals that have an appetite for social change.

Project Scope:

Bring women together in a creative, hands-on project where they can showcase talent, build skills and establish ongoing mentorship opportunities. Working with an advisory group, the activities include:

• Launch a competition in the fall that will invite teams of women in technology to design and develop digital game projects.
• Following the competition launch, participants will have 10 weeks to develop their digital game with access to hands-on advice and mentorship.
• At the end of the 10 weeks the projects will be judged and the winner will receive $10,000 and a permanent desk at a CSI workspace facility to further develop their project.

The launch and judging event will be open to the public. This year’s project will be piloted in Toronto with hopes of rolling out to other cities in Canada next year.

The mesh prize is a founding partner for this project and there is opportunity for more partners to be involved in this pilot year and growth to expand, both financially and with advisory support roles. If you are interested in this helping this project email Jessica Hazen, Director, Stakeholder Engagement a the Centre for Social Innovation.

Background on the Social Innovation Project:

Information and communications technology (ICT) has a lot to offer in terms of exciting new developments in digital media, creative communications tools, finding solutions to challenges in society and strengthening businesses. It’s easy to assume that this ever-growing industry would also have a lot to offer in terms of careers for Canadians. Sure, except for only half of our demographic. Women represent a very small percentage of the ICT workforce, and this number has been declining over the past two decades.

Across the ICT industry there is agreement that 1) women are underrepresented; 2) an increase of women in this field can bring a positive effect for their business; and 3) it would be nice to hire more women but finding candidates has been a challenge. In addition, there is great potential for more women to lead their own ICT businesses.

The Centre for Social Innovation (CSI) sees the gap between men and women benefiting from growth in the ICT industry, paired with the industry appetite to narrow this gap, as a perfect opportunity to make a positive change in the digital community. As such, the process of strengthening the technology community at CSI will include strategies to showcase talent and build opportunities for women in this field.

To compound the issue even further, the data currently being collected reflects only the larger organizations, while ignoring the small to medium-sized businesses, who are the primary drivers of our economy.

Many computer, business and information experts argue that the internet is no longer just a huge repository of digital information, but that new programs, services and uses are transforming it into an intelligent and intuitive tool where “personalization” or “contextualization” of information is the primary product and goal. This new context-driven nature of the web is frequently referred to as “Web 3.0”.

In Web 3.0, developers and providers configure online technology, applications and services to automatically determine the content that is most relevant, and to organize and deliver it as personalized packets. But is this privacy-invasive? Are there information security issues? Or is personalization what the public wants and needs to effectively manage the overwhelming flow of data that is now an integral part of their daily lives? What are the opportunities with Web 3.0? What are the challenges? And is this the future we all want?

The 2011 Advisory Board of the Privacy and Information Security Conference invites the submission of papers or studies that directly address the opportunities and challenges raised by Web 3.0 digital technologies or applications. The Conference will take place on November 28th and 29th at The Westin Hotel in Ottawa.

Submission Deadline:

All entries must be received by midnight of July 30, 2011. Invited speakers will be notified by August 30, 2011.

Submission Process:

Submissions will be accepted electronically.

2011 Conference Suggested Topic Ideas:

• Smart Grids
• Social Media
• E-Health
• Mobility
• Net Neutrality
• Data Breaches
• Identity Management
• Cloud Computing
• Copyright/Digital Rights
• Behavioral Advertising
• Spyware
• E-Voting
• Workplace Surveillance
• Lawful Access
• Nanotechnology
• Cyber Security

Presentation Types:

Issue papers: An executive or management briefing on a prominent issue or aspect of information privacy or security.

Case studies: Descriptions of a given information privacy or security situation or incident, or research results. Names of organizations can be kept anonymous to maintain confidentiality if necessary.

New technology research: Results or developments in cutting edge research on new information privacy and security technologies.

Sociological/ Philosophical perspective: A candid and/or introspective look at the impacts of new technological developments on privacy, security, social consciousness, or social functioning.

Papers in the above categories may be selected for a 15 to 20 minute presentation as part of a specified panel session at the conference.

The CMPA is pleased to announce the results of its recent Board elections.  The incoming Board of Directors will serve a two-year term commencing this month and ending in June 2013.  Tom Cox (SEVEN24 Films) was also reelected as Board Chair.

“I would like to thank the outgoing Board for steering the organization through an important strategic review, and rebranding over the past two years,” says Sandra Cunningham, Chair CMPA Nominating Committee. “The Board’s dedication and passion has helped position the independent production sector as a vital leader for the future success of Canada’s screen-based industry.”

“It will be the job of the new Board to build on that success,” says Norm Bolen, CEO and President CMPA. “It is up to all of us to make sure each element of the system continues to make a significant contribution to the creation and presentation of Canadian content. Now, more than ever, the industry must stand together. Under the leadership of Tom Cox, the CMPA Board will continue to lead the way.”

The 2011-2013 CMPA’s Board of Directors is as follows:
BRITISH COLUMBIA

• Rob Bromley (Force Four Entertainment)
• Brian Hamilton (Omni Film Productions)
• Alexandra Raffé (Thunderbird Films)
• Cal Shumiatcher (Paperny Films)

ALBERTA

• Tom Cox (SEVEN24 Films)

SASKATCHEWAN

• David Cormican (Minds Eye Entertainment)

MANITOBA

• Jamie Brown (Frantic Films)
• Kim Todd (Original Pictures)

ONTARIO

• Douglas Barrett (PS Production Services)
• Mark Bishop (marblemedia)
• Don Carmody (Don Carmody Productions)
• Sandra Cunningham (Strada Films)
• Sari Friedland (Factory Films)
• Scott Garvie (Shaftesbury Films)
• Ira Levy (Breakthrough Entertainment)
• Mark Musselman (Serendipity Point Films)
• Margaret O’Brien (Entertainment One)

QUEBEC

• Ina Fichman (Intuitive Pictures)
• Arnie Gelbart (Galafilm)
• Janis Lundman (Back Alley Film Productions)

ATLANTIC

• Michael Donovan (DHX Media)
• David MacLeod (Big Motion Pictures)
• Paul Pope (Pope Productions)
• Mary Sexton (Rink Rat Productions)

Reminder: The BCTIA Tech Impact Awards are on June 9th. Tickets are still available for purchase.
Reminder: The Art of Marketing session day is also on June 9th in Vancouver. Tickets are still available for purchase.

BCIC has appointed Entrepreneur-in-Residence Mark Payne to the position of Acting CEO, effective yesterday. This follows the departure of former CEO Danny Robinson, who will be taking on a new role as Advisor to the Board. Board Chair Greg Aasen announced that the search for a new CEO will begin very soon.

Catalyst Canada announced today that it will honour Monique F. Leroux, Chair of the Board, President and CEO, Desjardins Group; Jennifer Tory, Regional President, Greater Toronto, RBC; and Michael Bach, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, KPMG LLP, with The Catalyst Canada Honours. The Catalyst Canada Honours recognizes three exceptional individuals who have demonstrated commitment, passion and results through their championship of women’s advancement in Canadian business.

“This year’s champions are extraordinarily committed to advancing women in the Canadian corporate world. Catalyst research shows that companies gain when they have a greater number of women on their boards and in senior leadership roles—and that highly placed sponsors like this year’s champions are the key to women’s advancement,” said Deborah Gillis, Senior Vice President, Membership & Global Operations, Catalyst. “Advancing women to leadership strengthens companies and promotes the sustainability and well-being of corporate Canada as a whole. By recognizing these outstanding leaders with The Catalyst Canada Honours, Catalyst hopes to inspire a robust pipeline of women and men who will follow in their footsteps.”

With a mission to create visible role models for Canada’s current and future leaders, The Catalyst Canada Honours recognizes a Company/Firm Leader, a Business Leader and a Human Resources/Diversity Leader who champion progress by advancing women in their organizations, industries and communities. The three categories reflect the unique and critical roles played by those who champion inclusion. The Catalyst Canada Honours celebrates leaders who have made a critical difference to women’s advancement, while inspiring men and women leaders to step up, demonstrate foresight and leadership and become champions themselves.

“Being in business carries with it responsibilities to the people who choose to work with us. BMO became one of Catalyst’s earliest members not only because of a shared conviction that workplaces must provide opportunities for everyone but also to serve as a constant reminder of the standard to which we hold ourselves as a company,” said Bill Downe, President and CEO of BMO Financial Group and Chair of The Catalyst Canada Honours dinner. “The Catalyst Canada Honours is all about recognizing individuals who are setting the bar higher and understand that it’s the strength of Canada’s workforce that will define corporate Canada’s success and, in turn, our customers’ success in a rapidly changing world.” Read the rest of this entry »

Via ESAC: Once again, some of the most anticipated games at this year’s E3 Expo, are developed in Canada. Over 10 major titles at this year’s show are developed in Canadian studios including major blockbusters such as Assassin’s Creed: Revelations, Mass Effect 3, and Prototype (full list below). These games showcase the exceptional talent and expertise of Canadians within the global video game industry.

“The Canadian made games shown at this year’s E3 really demonstrate the calibre of talent and innovation here in the Great White North,” said Danielle Parr, Executive Director of the Entertainment Software Association of Canada (ESAC).  “Canada remains a powerhouse in the world of game development, punching well above its weight,” she added.

According to recently-released research (PDF) by Secor Consulting for ESAC, over the past 2 years the video game industry in Canada has grown by 11% and now currently employs approximately 16,000 people across the country at nearly 350 companies, making Canada’s the third largest video game industry in the world.  The industry is projected to grow at 17% over the next two years.

New made-in-Canada games from ESAC-member companies* showcased at E3 2011:

·         Assassin’s Creed: Revelations (Ubisoft)
·         Far Cry 3 (Ubisoft)
·         FIFA Soccer 12 (EA Sports)
·         Hole In The Wall (Ludia / Microsoft)
·         Just Dance: Kinect (Ubisoft)
·         Mass Effect 3 (Bioware / Electronic Arts)
·         Need For Speed: The Run (Electronic Arts)
·         NHL 12 (Electronic Arts)
·         Prototype 2 (Radical Entertainment / Activision)
·         Spider-Man: Edge of Time (Beenox / Activision)
·         SSX (Electronic Arts)
·         The Darkness 2 (Digital Extremes / 2K Games (Take-Two Interactive))
·         War Hammer 40,000: Space Marine  (THQ)
·         X-Men: Destiny (Silicon Knights / Activision)
·         Your Shape Fitness (Ubisoft)

* This list does not include the many non-ESAC member studios who are also down showcasing their titles at this year’s E3 Expo.

Today’s federal budget confirmed the Government of Canada’s commitment to young entrepreneurs through a continued confidence in the work of the Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF).

With today’s budget, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty confirmed $20 million over two years in CYBF funding, an investment that will help the national charity continue to expand in order to meet the growing demand for start-up assistance. CYBF provides character-based start-up financing and world-class mentoring from business expert volunteers to young Canadians, enabling them to launch more than 1,000 new businesses in the next two years. These businesses are expected to generate more than 6,700 new Canadian jobs, reinforcing both short-term recovery and Canada’s long-term economic growth.

“We are grateful for the ongoing partnership we have forged with the Government of Canada, in this, the Year of the Entrepreneur,” explains Vivian Prokop, chief executive officer of CYBF, widely considered the go-to organization driving youth entrepreneurship in Canada. “This contribution will allow CYBF to continue to support the ideas, the innovation and the entrepreneurial spirit of Canada’s youth, ultimately creating jobs and strengthening our economy.”

Earlier this year, The Government of Canada designated 2011 as Year of the Entrepreneur, in recognition of the critical role that entrepreneurship plays in building a strong and competitive economy. The organization will also rely on funding from non-federal government sources in the public and private sectors in order to help meet the ever-increasing demand for its programs from coast to coast to coast.

Skills/Compétences Canada, a not-for-profit organization that actively promotes careers in skilled trades and technologies, announced today the results of the 17^th Skills Canada National Competition, which took place June 1-4, 2011 in Québec.  The national Competition brought together over 500 competitors, 3,000 delegates and over 150 industry Sponsors and Partners.

The Skills Canada National Competition is the only national, Olympic-style, multi-trade and technology event of its kind for young students and apprentices in the country. The two-day competition took place at the Centre de Foires, ExpoCité where 40 different events were showcased in six major trades and technology categories: transportation, construction, manufacturing, information and technology, service and employment.

“Industries that depend on skilled trade workers are key drivers of our economy and contribute over 50% of Canada’s GDP,” said Shaun Thorson, Executive Director, Skills/Compétences Canada. “The Skills Canada National Competition is a unique event that helps showcase and raise awareness for the broad range of opportunities to be found in the trades, while demonstrating the depth of talent within the skills movement in Canada.”

The Competition featured 40 different assigned projects created by industry and education representatives of the Skills/Compétences Canada National Technical Committee. Competitors were evaluated by independent judges from the respective industry sectors, who based their decisions on industry standards and established work practices, including such criteria as quality of work, safety, cleanliness, skill level and creativity.

“An event like the Skills Canada National Competition gives me great encouragement about the future of skilled trades and technology careers in Canada. I am so proud of the caliber of projects showcased at this event, and I look forward to continuing to support unique programs and competitions that promote skilled trades to young people.” said Mike Holmes, Canada’s Most Trusted Contractor and host and creator of Holmes on Homes™, who was but one of the numerous special guests and dignitaries attracted by the event. Read the rest of this entry »

An invitation has been sent out by the BC chapter of CanWIT for a special opportunity to participate in the Circle of Wisdom – Raise The Bar event. This is an evening of dialogue designed for CanWit members or interested members of the community to come together in an intimate setting to connect with experience.

• Hear from 3 women who are successfully operating in a Senior roll (VP or Senior Director)
• Hear first hand personal stories about how the Mentor’s reached senior levels and what made a difference in their careers
• Network with BC tech women who are looking to advance their careers
• Enjoy a rich exchange of wisdom

Speakers:

• Robin Jones – Vice President, Marketing at Active Network
• Molly Mason Boulé – Director of Content Development for EA Sports
• Tabitha Creighton – VP, Services at KnowledgeTech Consulting, Inc.

Your hostess for the evening will be Felicia Bochicchio – VP of Sales, Active Network.

This event will be held at the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club from 6:00 – 8:00pm on June 23rd. Tickets are $50.00 each, and the registration deadline is June 9th.

Winners of the “It’s Chemistry, Eh!?“ YouTube contest, aimed at highlighting the exciting contributions of chemistry to society, were announced today in celebration of the International Year of Chemistry (IYC 2011). The contest was established as one of the many Canadian IYC activities that can be seen on the IYC 2011 website.

Targeted toward Canadian middle and high school students, numerous submissions from across the country were received, which were diverse in nature and rich in content.

First prize and $2,500 toward further education was awarded to Pascal Turmel and Jonathan Kwok from Vancouver for their video entitled “Combustion’s Not Always Destruction.” Elisha Walker, also from Vancouver, wins second prize for highlighting the chemistry that can be found around us in our daily lives. “Chemical Girl,” submitted by a class from Monterey Middle School in Victoria sang and danced their way to 3rd prize for creativity.

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUTjjIMK2Yk]

“We were delighted and inspired by the enthusiasm displayed in the submissions we received.  These videos absolutely shout how much fun chemistry can be,” says Greg Wilkinson, chair of the IYC communications committee and founder of the YouTube contest.

“It’s Chemistry, Eh!?” is sponsored by Esso-Imperial Oil Chemical and led by the Chemical Institute of Canada, with sponsors including Gold-Level sponsors Amgen, Chemistry Industry Association of Canada, Lanxess, Maxxam Analytics, NOVA Chemicals and Silver-Level Sponsors Croplife Canada, BASF, DOW Chemical Canada Inc., Newalta, Woodbridge Foam and Xerox Research Centre of Canada.

AceTech Ontario has started a new Roundtable Group in Ottawa, expanding its mandate to help Technology CEOs in Ontario become better at their jobs through professional development and peer mentoring.

The Ottawa group will be led by Don Chapman, Corporate Director and AceTech Ontario Board Member and will be supported by AceTech Ontario sponsors in the Ottawa area, including Gowlings.  Says David Pamenter, Partner at Gowlings and Leader of the Technology Industry Group “We already have a strong group of experienced and enthusiastic CEOs signed on, eager to begin experiencing the value of AceTech Ontario.”

Programming for the Ottawa group will include the Annual Retreat (this year in Blue Mountain Village from May 31st to June 2nd), and all the Quarterly Dinners and Power Sessions in Toronto, together with the members located in the GTA.  The backbone of the programming will be the Roundtable Sessions held monthly in Ottawa.

Roundtables are discussion groups formed by CEO peers committed to helping diagnose and resolve real-life questions, problems or issues, without any fear of being judged. Roundtables offer an ideal environment for CEOs to really understand what the “best” looks like and work with a trusted group of peers to identify how to get there.  CEOs who commit to the Roundtables form a trusted environment that is supportive, yet challenging, without being confrontational. The result is real-world solutions to today’s problems and tomorrow’s opportunities.  The results are remarkable! Roundtables are the most valued benefit of AceTech Ontario membership.

“AceTech Ontario is growing rapidly due to the real need for Technology CEOs to have a trusted network of experienced and supportive peers to bounce ideas off of and to learn from” says David Nyland, CEO of Blueprint and Chairman of AceTech Ontario.  “We are proud to be expanding into the vibrant Ottawa Technology Community and we are looking forward to having these CEOs join us for our events and become valued contributors to our network”