Visitors to the virtual world site can explore Canada click-by-click

“The Experience Canada pavilion is designed to showcase Canada through compelling images, interactive displays, and access to experts who can elaborate on Canada’s valued attributes as a modern and innovative country”

“All eyes will be on Canada during the G-8 and G-20 Summits, and the CDMN is serving as a conduit to the high-tech sector, demonstrating the power of Canadian innovation and potentially attracting future investment,” said Kevin Tuer, managing director of the CDMN, which is dedicated to furthering commercialization of digital media in Canada. “Experience Canada at the International Media Center will be high-impact, with imaginative displays, giant video walls and creative use of technology capturing the essence of Canada’s tech leadership.”

The CDMN, which links digital media-related organizations across the country, has attracted tech companies, universities, research houses, and public sector organizations to participate in the 20,000 square foot Experience Canada marketing pavilion. The experiential pavilion will have a global impact, as key displays will be digitized, virtualized and shared over the Internet.

The Cityscape presents Canadian success stories through an audiovisual experience

A unique feature for the more than 3,000 media expected to cover the summits, is a mobile social networking platform enabling journalists to have information and access to content experts at their fingertips as well as collaborate using secure software. The link to the network is: www.g20net.org. The G-8 Summit will take place in Huntsville, Ontario, June 25 and 26 and the G-20 Summit will take place in Toronto, Ontario, June 26 and 27, 2010. Experience Canada will be housed within the International Media Centre in the Heritage Court of the Direct Energy Centre in Toronto from June 23-27.

About the Experience Canada marketing pavilion:

As Canada hosts world leaders for the G-8 and G-20 Summits, thousands of media will participate to bring coverage of developments back to their national audiences around the world. This offers a unique opportunity to draw media attention to Canada’s many strengths as a destination for business, investment and tourism.

Set up in the International Media Center for the G-8 and G-20 Summits, Experience Canada is designed to showcase Canada through compelling images, interactive displays, and access to experts who can speak to Canada’s many strengths, all content that can form the basis of national and international print and broadcast stories.

For more information about Experience Canada, please visit http://g20.gc.ca/for-media/experience-canada/.

“In launching the Canada Media Fund, we’ve taken an important step towards supporting a truly modern, multiplatform industry and a digital content strategy for Canada. The CMF will allow our industry to do what it does best: create, entertain, and connect with Canadians,” said the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages. “We must all work together to ensure the Canada Media Fund’s success and provide Canadians with exciting content that is reflective of new digital realities.”

The CMF will support projects through two streams of funding, an Experimental Stream, which will invest in the creation of innovative content and software applications for eventual integration into mainstream Canadian media platforms; and a Convergent Stream, which will support the creation of convergent television and digital media content.

“Disbursing over $350 million in funding support, the CMF will strengthen Canada’s production and broadcasting industries as they adjust to the evolving content consumption behaviour of Canadians,” said Mr. Roquet.

Through its Experimental Stream, the CMF will encourage the development of leading-edge, non-linear, interactive digital media content and software applications. Through its Convergent Stream, the CMF will support the creation of television shows and related digital media content in four underrepresented genres: drama, documentary, children’s and youth, and variety and performing arts. While basic digital media components, such as first generation websites and video-on-demand will be eligible, the CMF will encourage the creation of rich, value-added content.

The programs and incentives that comprise the Convergent Stream are designed to support production in all regions of Canada and in the variety of languages spoken by Canadians. The majority of funding in the Convergent Stream will be disbursed through the Performance Envelope Program, which encourages partnerships between broadcasters, television producers, and digital media producers to create convergent content that Canadians want to consume.

“Designed and based on the valuable input we received from the industry, the CMF program balances the varied objectives and interests of the industry, while responding to the call for change in the mandate of the new organization. As we roll out the new program, we will continue to consult with the industry, evaluate the impact of the program, and re-calibrate as required.” said Valerie Creighton, President and CEO of the CMF.

To make these lists a company needed either strong sales volume or to be an innovator in the region.

ALBERTA

• BioWare (now EA)
• Rocketfuel Productions
• Nexopia
• Multiplied Media
• Calgary Scientific Inc.
• Smart Tech
• TELUS
• 3DI
• Statusfirm
• 3D Internet

SASKATCHEWAN

• Zu
• Point2 Technologies
• Vendasta Technologies
• Itracks
• dblack.communications
• SaskTel
• Minds Eye Entertainment
• Partners in Motion
• Melcher Media and Designs
• OH! Media

MANITOBA

• Frantic Films / Prime Focus
• iC Group
• Infinite Ammo
• TLG
• Systematic Design
• Blendic Design Studios
• Can West Global
• MTS Allstream
• Mid Can Productions
• Mars Hill Group
• Man Lab
• Digital Pictures Group
• Complex Games
• Project Whitecard
• Tactica Interactive Communications
• Debreuil DigitalWorks

What Does it Cost?

There is no charge. Companies cover travel and lodging expenses and make individual reservations. We will help with advice on lodging etc. but we can´t make bookings. The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service will provide hospitality in all cities on the Mission.

Why Should I Participate?

We will bring your product or service offering closer to purchasers and partners. You have the chance to meet face to face with local players.

What Do I Get?

A programme based on market knowledge and developed by local Trade Commissioners to connect you with target customers and market partners. The format will vary depending on local practice but will include networking events in addition to one-on-one meetings. We welcome requests to target specific local partners and priority customers. Also participating on the Mission will be Canadian Digital Media guru Gerri Sinclair who will set the tone at events promoting investment in Canadian capabilities in Digital Media.

Find out more by reading the invitation here [pdf].

We also wanted to attract a different audience than the usual tech folks who attend events such as StartupCamp. We wanted to incite not only tech people, but content creators and designers – the people who create the actual digital media. We started with a simple question:

How can we work together to make Toronto a globally competitive hub of digital media entrepreneurship and innovation?

Yesterday was the day. DigitalMediaCamp Toronto at OCAD in Toronto. With about 80 people in attendance we didn’t just meet; we engaged with each other. If the day had been 48 hours long I don’t think that we would have had enough time for everyone to say everything they wanted to say.

I was wrong. It was a remarkable event. And I’m comfortable saying that it shattered everyone’s expectations. But don’t take my word for it. Follow the #dmcamp hashtag on Twitter.Or check out these posts:

http://www.techvibes.com/blog/digitalmediacamp-toronto
http://bradfortner.wordpress.com/2009/12/13/will-torontos-digitalmediacamp-help-better-focus-the-understanding-of-the-citys-digital-media-industry/
http://citadelrock.com/www/blogpost4-Reflections-on-Digital-Media-Camp
http://beta.innovatetoronto.ca/?p=281

With 40 different conversations spread across 4 topic areas (check them out on the wiki) there just wasn’t enough time to discuss all that we wanted to discuss. I found myself moving from group to group, just to partake of some of the passionate discussions, and to add my two cents worth occasionally. Personalities contributed, clashed, and entertained. Several groups spawned projects from the conversations and planned to meet again, especially the #t4change group. And people who are usually more reserved (you know who you are) found their voices.

Even given a very long day on a Saturday, the energy was palpable all day long, likely spurred on by great food and coffee, and excellent work by Mark Kuznicki. I don’t make it to Toronto all that often – that 401 drive is a deterrent – but I’m certainly glad this was the day.

It was great to meet everyone and I look forward to chatting with all of you both virtually and live as we figure out how to answer that question. It’s going to take me a few days just to work through all of the ideas we generated in that one short day. Thanks to everyone who joined us on Saturday!

DigitalMediaCamp Toronto

Saturday, December 12th

9:30 to 4:30

OCAD Auditorium

100 McCaul Street

Toronto, ON

Register: http://guestlistapp.com/events/8148

You will join other emerging leaders in Toronto’s digital media community in an intense and interactive set of conversations around this central question:

How can we work together to propel Toronto’s technology, content and design communities into the future and make Toronto a globally competitive hub of digital media entrepreneurship and innovation?

The day is structured as an unconference. The participants create the content of the day. There is no pre-set agenda. Your ideas, your needs and your voice will have the platform and the content of our conversations will be shared online in real-time and will be used beyond the day of the event in a number of forums, including at the Canada 3.0 2010 conference which will take place May 10-11, 2010.

This is the first of a series of DigitalMediaCamp events to be held across Canada, hosted by the Canadian Digital Media Network, and designed to help shape the agenda for Canada 3.0 2010. The series is intended to engage emerging leaders and the talented and passionate creators in Canada’s digital media industry, to identify great ideas and new voices and to spur creativity in Canada’s digital economy.

For more information about the Canadian Digital Media Network, visit www.cdmn.ca and see what’s in store for Canada 3.0 2010 at www.canada30.ca.

Ontario’s Minister of Research and Innovation John Milloy, MPP for Kitchener-Centre, today announced that the province is providing $26 million to Communitech to create Ontario’s hub for digital media tools, technology and applications. The Communitech Hub: Digital Media & Mobile Accelerator will serve as a ‘club-house’ of innovation for digital media companies and entrepreneurs and drive creation of new companies and jobs in Waterloo Region and throughout Ontario.

“Ontario is already recognized as a global leader in the digital media sector and today we are sending a clear signal to digital entrepreneurs everywhere – Ontario means business. The Hub will strengthen our ability to support innovators right here in Waterloo Region and across the province, as they work to turn new ideas into new jobs and globally-competitive businesses,” said Minister Milloy.

The Hub will also have R&D and capital support from established companies in the Waterloo region including RIM, Open Text Corporation, Christie Digital Systems, Agfa HealthCare, and Dalsa as well as the City of Kitchener.

“Waterloo Region is a perfect fit for The Hub. We are home to globally-recognized research and industry leaders, a highly-skilled workforce, and now – the business development and commercialization muscle that we need to help build Ontario’s digital economy,” said Leeanna Pendergast, MPP for Kitchener-Conestoga.

Communitech, the region’s organization dedicated to commercialization of innovation, has championed The Hub project to support businesses at all stages of their growth and enhance the tech sector overall. It is also the host organization of the new Canadian Digital Media Network – a federal centre of excellence designed to interconnect Canada’s clusters of digital media expertise.

“Our focus is business-driven commercialization of high-tech innovations, and we believe the Province has invested in The Hub because Communitech has a track record of success in supporting companies at all stages in their evolution from start-up to multi-national success story. Canada needs even more tech success stories and we’re here to help create those,” said Iain Klugman, president and CEO of Communitech.

Some features of The Hub will include:

• 30,000 square foot open innovation hub ‘club house’ bringing together knowledge, activities, tools and expertise;
• 2,000 square feet dedicated to enabling entrepreneurs to ‘incubate’ ideas in close proximity to tools and services they need to succeed;
• 8,000 square feet allocated to partner lab space with platforms and tools provided by established partner companies including RIM, Open Text, Agfa HealthCare, and Christie Digital Systems;
• A versatile immersive environment with reconfigurable projection and display systems;
• Full audio-visual production studios including advanced equipment such as scalable sensors, cameras and media capture equipment;
• Medical imaging software platforms for development purposes;
• A suite of expert resources including entrepreneurs in residence, project manager support, marketing and branding expertise.

“Speaking on behalf of all the partner companies involved in this venture, we’re delighted at the level of commitment provided by the Province which demonstrates strong support for the high-tech community and digital media in particular. This is a strategic investment in Ontario’s future,” said Tom Jenkins, Executive Chairman & Chief Strategy Officer of Open Text and Chair of the Canadian Digital Media Network Advisory Board.