Village Gamer

Shaw Media has announced that the popular competitive culinary format, Chopped, will be developed into a Canadian series exclusively for Food Network Canada. Having inked a deal with Knoxville-based Scripps Networks Interactive, the network is partnering with Vancouver’s award-winning Paperny Entertainment on production of the series currently slated to premiere in winter 2014 on Food Network. The national casting call for Chopped Canada begins today, with information available online. (At press time, I checked this link to see where the series is shooting, no info was available for Chopped Canada – hopefully that will change very soon.) Read the rest of this entry »

Xerox has officially introduced ConnectKey™, a software system embedded in Xerox multifunction printers (MFPs) and a set of solutions that respond to an increasingly mobile workforce and the need for more advanced IT security across connected devices. Sixteen ConnectKey MFPs – including the new WorkCentre^® 5800 and 7800 Series – will use the industry’s first embedded security protection from McAfee, giving IT managers more control and peace of mind in “bring your own device” (BYOD) workplaces. ConnectKey MFPs also have an extra layer of security with Cisco’s TrustSec, which protects data paths to and from the devices. Read the rest of this entry »

MaRS Discovery District is pleased to announce the appointment of Elaine Campbell, President of AstraZeneca Canada Inc. and Elyse Allan, President and CEO, GE Canada to its Board of Directors. The MaRS Board of Directors is chaired by Gordon M. Nixon, President and CEO of RBC. MaRS founder Dr. John Evans serves as the board’s Chair Emeritus. Read the rest of this entry »

Canada’s mid-sized companies, a key motor of the economy, saw their numbers decline by 17% – 9,370 to 7,814 – from 2006 to 2010, according to a new study (PDF link) by the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC). Hardest hit was the manufacturing sector, which saw over half its mid-sized firms vanish between 2001 and 2010 from 2,807 to 1,381. BDC undertook the study to fill an important research gap on mid-sized firms. The study is based on Statistics Canada data and supported by survey results from market research firm Harris/Decima. The study is one of three that the BDC plans to release this year on economic issues of importance to Canadians. Read the rest of this entry »

Espial^® Group Inc., an on-demand TV software and solutions, has announced that Wi-LAN Inc. and Espial, both of which are headquartered in Ottawa, have entered into an agreement that will see WiLAN assist Espial in licensing certain of Espial’s patents related to video-over-IP technology. Read the rest of this entry »

It holds the promise of being the best Communitech Tech Leadership Conference yet, as the lineup of keynote speakers and breakout session speakers comes together for the 2013 event in Waterloo Region on March 7th. BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins, coming off the worldwide launch of the BB10, will share his insights with the Region that is home to Canada’s top tech company. Seth Godin, best-selling author, businessman and marketing pioneer and author of 14 books, is adding Waterloo Region to the locales where he has shared his expertise. And Patrick Pichette, Sr. VP and CFO of Google, will provide his perspectives based on nearly 20 years of experience in financial operations and management in the telecommunications sector. Read the rest of this entry »

After reviewing more than 150 applications from schools seeking upgrades to their technology, Future Shop is pleased to announce grant recipients for this year’s Future Generation Tech Lab program. The 2013 program is gifting nearly $250,000 in total grants to the 12 deserving schools across Canada for classes and programs focused on students in Grade 9-12. These schools submitted applications in November and December 2012 and were judged based on the impact of the technology on student learning potential. Read the rest of this entry »

The Canadian Digital Media Network (CDMN) announced today that five more Ontario digital media innovation centres have been added to the CDMN’s cross-Canada network. The additional ‘nodes’ on the network include: The Accelerator Centre Waterloo; Innovation Factory Hamilton; NORCAT Sudbury; NWO Innovation Thunder Bay; and WEtech Alliance Windsor. Along with the addition in December, 2012 of Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre and Tech South East (Moncton, N.B.), this brings the number of nodes located coast-to-coast on the CDMN network to 21. Read the rest of this entry »

Videology, a global digital advertising platform and solutions provider with a location in Toronto, recently released its 4^th quarter findings on the video advertising market in Canada based on an analysis of 77 million impressions delivered via its platform from October to December 2012. Among the findings, Videology found that Canada continues to lead its global business in terms of cross-device video advertising. The share of video ad impressions placed on mobile and connected TV in the 4^th quarter amounted to 26%, with the remainder placed online. Comparatively, the US and the UK placed 8% and 5% of their ads on mobile and connected TV, respectively. Read the rest of this entry »

The CW Network President Mark Pedowitz has given early pickups to three of its hit series for next season, including two which are shot here in BC: freshman hit Arrow, Supernatural and the network’s top-rated drama The Vampire Diaries, whose pilot was shot in Vancouver.  All three shows will return in Fall 2013. Read the rest of this entry »