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Fundica, providers of unique services that help entrepreneurs efficiently find suitable funding programs and products, has launched new proprietary online services to intelligently help entrepreneurs and funding providers in Québec and Ontario. Fundica finds and tracks available grants, tax credits, loans and equity funding offered by federal, provincial and municipal governments, and private funding providers. Additionally, these services elevate the visibility of public and private funding providers’ initiatives.

Fundica offers a unique solution through its proprietary search, intelligent filtering and timely notification software. With an intuitive user interface, the Fundica solution allows for quick and easy matching of entrepreneurs with funding programs/products through an extensive and up-to-date database.

“Québec and Ontario have some of the best government and private sector funding programs/products in the world,” says Mike Lee, Eng., MBA, CFA, Partner, Fundica. “But, finding and tracking these initiatives can be mysterious and costly for busy entrepreneurs. Additionally, high advertising and administration costs can make programs/products completely ineffective for governments. We created Fundica to simplify the funding process for both entrepreneurs and funding providers,” adds Mr. Lee.

Fundica offers a free Basic Service that allows entrepreneurs to evaluate the number and size of potentially applicable programs/products before making a purchase decision. Fundica’s Premium Service includes comprehensive details on programs/products, advanced notifications and one hour of expert consulting. Depending on individual circumstances, it may be possible to fully complete applications within this one-hour period. Fundica’s Premium Service costs $40.00 per month, based on a 12-month subscription. Funding providers may change programs/products within Fundica’s database listings at any time and at no cost.

By now you’ve probably already heard that Electronic Arts Inc. has announced that EA Sports™ FIFA Soccer 12, currently in development at EA Sports in Burnaby, will deliver the most authentic, innovative and feature-rich 3D soccer experience on Nintendo 3DS™ when the game launches this fall. FIFA Soccer 12 on Nintendo 3DS will feature over 500 officially licensed clubs, new touch screen controls that will change the game play experience, and the first-ever 3D Street Soccer. With eight different game modes, it is the largest feature set ever developed by EA Sports for a hand-held soccer game.

Take to the pitch with superstars like Real Madrid’s Kaká and Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney, and become a true marksman using all-new optional touch screen controls. Enjoy precision shooting by picking a spot precisely from the player’s viewpoint using the lower touch screen and then finessing a shot with pinpoint accuracy. Utilize touch screen controls on set pieces to draw a shot that curves the ball around, or even power it over the wall for the match-winning goal that lifts your club to victory.

“We challenged our development team to develop innovative features that would maximize the FIFA experience on 3DS. They delivered intuitive new touch screen controls and a curved pitch in our Street mode that truly brings the 3D elements to life,” said Matt Prior, Producer for FIFA Soccer 12 on Nintendo 3DS. “When you combine these features and many other innovations with all the authentic players and kits for the upcoming season, we are confident that this will be the best soccer game available on Nintendo 3DS.”

Whether fans choose to take to the pitch as a real-world superstar or re-create themselves in the first-ever 3D Street Soccer mode, the environment will come alive through an innovative curved pitch and unique lower camera view that maximizes 3D planes, enabling gamers to experience the depth of the field and player movement with full 3D effects. Featuring players wearing the latest street gear, the stage will be set for epic 5 versus 5 matches in exotic street locales and indoor environments that are true to the spirit of street soccer. Plus, in Be A Pro, fans will be able to take their created player on a journey from the streets to ultimately compete for their favourite club and national side and become the next soccer legend.

FIFA Soccer 12 on Nintendo 3DS will feature fully authentic 11 versus 11 gameplay, head-to-head online matches using Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection, Tournament Mode with over 50 real-world competitions, a full in-depth Career Mode that enables gamers to play or manage their way to glory, 3D Street Soccer, Be A Pro and a Training Mode. It also features eight different camera angles to choose from for the perfect view of the pitch.

FIFA Soccer 12 has not yet been rated by the ESRB, and will be available in stores world-wide this fall.

TVOKids is calling on students across Ontario to nominate their favourite teacher in its fifth annual Best Teacher Ever Contest, presented by Scholar’s Choice and in partnership with City Parent magazine. With the chance for both teachers and students to win great prizes, the contest is a perfect way to end the school year on a high note.

From May 2 until June 12, the contest gives kids in Junior Kindergarten up to Grade 6 an opportunity to recognize their teachers for the valuable work that they do. Last year’s contest received over 9,900 entries.

Both teachers and the students who nominate them have a chance to win. One teacher from each of three grade categories will win a $400 gift card from Scholar’s Choice and a netbook computer, and the students who nominated them will win a $100 gift card from Scholar’s Choice, an iPod Shuffle and a pizza party for their class. Five other entrants in each grade category will also win TVOKids prize packs.

To enter, kids must write to TVOKids describing what makes their teacher so special. Is it because they make every kid feel welcome and at home in the classroom? Do they go out of their way to give extra help after class? Or do they just make learning fun? Children from across the province can nominate their teacher in one of three categories: Junior and Senior Kindergarten; Primary (grades 1-3); and Junior (grades 4-6).

Entries can be submitted online or kids can send their submission by mail, being sure to include the name of the teacher they would like to nominate and their reason for nominating them, their school’s name, the child’s own name, grade level and phone number, and an original drawing showing why their teacher is the best teacher ever. Mail should be addressed to:

TVOKids The Space
Attn: Best Teacher Ever Contest
Box 200, Station Q
Toronto, ON
M4T 2T1

Winners will be chosen in a random draw and announced the week of June 12. Throughout the contest, a “Teacher of the Day” will be featured on tvokids.com. For complete rules, submission requirements, and prizing information, please visit tvokids.com.

Kids and parents visiting TVOKids.com beginning May 31st will be introduced to two new and inspiring additions to the team. Ten-year-old Emma Evans from Toronto, and 16-year-old Hisham Mohammad from Whitby, join TVOKids.com as its newest Kid Reporters bringing back stories from the field from a typical kid’s point of view.

TVOKids producers worked with Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital in Toronto, where Emma and Hisham receive services, to help find kids who had talent and who could inspire kids who face challenges of their own.

“When TVOKids approached us to help find a Kid Reporter, we were thrilled because we know so many enthusiastic kids with great stuff to contribute,” says Genevieve Scott, Senior Communications Associate at Holland Bloorview. “Many people don’t know a child with a disability. Sometimes this can lead to false impressions about differences and misunderstandings. Emma and Hisham are role models for kids with and without disabilities. We are so proud of them and excited to see them on TV.”

For TVOKids producers the search of Emma and Hisham presented them challenges of a welcome kind.

“At first, we were looking for only one new reporter,” says Pat Ellingson, TVO’s Creative Head of Children’ Media, “but Emma and Hisham’s auditions were so wonderful that when it came to making the selection we realized we had to have two. They’re both enthusiastic, interested in people, and both have exceptionally bright minds. They are great examples of kids who demonstrate that there are no limitations to what you can achieve in life.”

Emma is a Girl Guide, a member of the Toronto Children’s Chorus, an avid reader who hosts monthly book clubs in her home and has published a short piece of writing in her school where she is a grade 4 student. Emma was also featured in a video for HeartSpeak, in which she talks about Cerebral Palsy, the challenges it presents to her in her life, and confessed to wanting to become an actress when she grows up.

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dxRYY_qbP0]

Hisham is a grade 10 student in the Performing Arts program at O’Neill Collegiate & Vocational School in Oshawa. A budding musician and athlete, Hisham plays alto saxophone and sledge hockey, is a member of the Junior National wheelchair basketball team, and names Rick Hansen as his role model. Hisham is also civic-minded, becoming the first page in a wheelchair in the Ontario Legislative page program at Queens Park.

In April, Emma and Hisham along with some of their friends met with TVOKids producers to talk about what stories they think should be on their editorial calendars including, a trip to the Toronto Zoo, bush-plane ride, the Canadian Air & Space Museum, Wheelchair sports, and Harbourfront Kids Camp.

Look for Emma and Hisham’s stories in the TVOKids Reporters page at TVOKids.com Ages 11 and Under.

Bong of the Dead, an independent movie by writer, producer and director Thomas Newman keeps getting better and better news. Film festivals and distributors are lining up to get a piece of flesh from this zombie film and they don’t come any bigger than the Cannes Film Festival. Newman received notice that the film Bong of the Dead will be added to the Cannes 2011 program. Newman hit the Indy home run but the good news didn’t stop there.

The king of pot comedy Tommy Chong said of Bong of the Dead, “This is a sure winner”. Tommy Chong is still being courted to appear at the May 15, 2011 movie premiere in Vancouver at the Rio Theatre so fans will want to stay tuned and hurry up and get some of the few remaining tickets. There will be prizes and giveaways so don’t miss out!

For 3 solid years Thomas Newman has been plugging away relentlessly on his dreams by creating his film all by himself in his basement. The movie was originally shot on location 3 years ago with a small crew compiled of close friends and family. He then took the footage which was shot over the course of only 15 days on one camera and went to work editing, mixing music and enhancing over 365 shots by hand.

If you are in France during the Cannes Film Festival, be sure to check out what all the hype is about as the film will be premiering there on May 12th and 14th. Conversely, if you reside in or near Vancouver, then hop over to the Rio Theatre on East Broadway and catch the film’s Vancouver 6:30pm premiere on May 15th.

Rogers Media, in partnership with iVillage, is thrilled to announce that iVillage.ca is here for Canadian women. iVillage.ca launched today, providing Canadian women with a one-stop online destination for engaging content, community and a ground-breaking multimedia campaign. The new iVillage.ca offers Canadian women content, community and the chance to pick up one of over 250 prizes.

iVillage.ca is all about passion and what better way to launch than with The iVillage Passion Project – an interactive program that invites Canadian women to share their passions for the best things in life; for things like family, fashion, fitness, celebrity, work and relationships. It’s also a chance to watch other women – including CityLine’s Tracy Moore and Sportsnet’s Martine Gaillard – talk about the things that matter most in a collection of over 50 vibrant original videos.

Watching videos also gives viewers a chance to WIN one of over 250 prizes – instantly – plus score daily entries into a grand-prize sweepstakes, where one lucky participant will pick up a trip for four to Universal Orlando^® Resort. To collect bonus entries, users are invited to add their passions to the dynamic iVillage Passion Wall. Editorial about all-things-passion will live throughout the site during the months of May and June and is sponsored by Pantene^® Pro-V^®, COVERGIRL^® NatureLuxe, Pampers^® and Olay Regenerist.

“Rogers Media is thrilled to launch iVillage.ca in partnership with iVillage,” said Jason Tafler, Chief Digital Officer of Rogers Digital Media. “We are proud to bring a Canadian perspective to such a prominent brand. With iVillage.ca added to our list of more than 250 digital products, we will continue to provide Canadian women with trusted, top-tiered online content.”

iVillage.ca will feature original content, alongside top features from iVillage.com and stories from popular Rogers Media brands such as Chatelaine, CityLine and sweetspot.ca. The community-driven site will also connect women to their much beloved iVillage.com discussion boards and feature new discussions for Canadian women about issues important to them.

iVillage.ca is proud to bring a slate of A-list experts and contributors to the table for launch, including one of Babble’s top 10 Canadian mommy bloggers, Catherine Connors (Her Bad Mother) who will write an exclusive weekly column titled “Straight Up from Her Bad Mother” Home Heist‘s Cheryl Torrenueva who comes on board as the iVillage.ca home expert; and Lianne Phillipson-Webb, author of SproutRite, who will dish out weekly nutrition advice for the family.

“We’re delighted to welcome the new iVillage.ca site, which beautifully reflects iVillage’s brand mission as a trusted community and valued resource for women,” said Jodi Kahn, Executive Vice President, iVillage. “Rogers is the perfect partner to bring iVillage to Canada given their strong female brands.”

Ode To A Post-It Note has been named the best Branded Entertained Online Film & Video by the 15th Annual Webby Awards. The film was produced by Vancouver’s Meditating Bunny Studio Inc. and commissioned by 3M Canada.

The film begins with a cluttered office desk plastered with to-do lists scribbled on Post-it Notes. One brave Post-it Note escapes on an incredible journey of self-discovery to find his father, which brings him to St. Paul, Minnesota where he tracks down Art Fry, the inventor of Post-it Notes.

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WelIo6EOPvA]

“The Webby Awards honour the very best of the Internet,” said David-Michel Davies, Executive Director of the Webby Awards. “Jeff Chiba Stearns’ achievement for Ode To A Post-it Note is a testament to the skill, ingenuity and vision of its creators.”

Producer Jeff Chiba Stearns, of Meditating Bunny Studio Inc., and executive producer Sherry Browne, of 3M Canada, are honoured to be among the winners of the annual Webby Awards which will presented in New York City on Monday, June 13, 2011.

The Webby Awards are infamous online and around the world. They’re considered the Internet’s highest honour and winners are chosen by members of the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (which includes such members as David Bowie, Beck, Arianna Huffington, Internet inventor Vint Cerf, and Richard Branson). The 15th Annual Webby Awards received nearly 10,000 entries from over 60 countries.

“3M Canada is very honoured that Jeff Chiba Stearns is receiving this award for his work on Ode To A Post-it Note,” commented Sherry Browne, Marketing Manager at 3M Canada. “This animated film has touched the hearts of people around the world, especially those who are fans of Post-it products”.

IGLOO Software has announced it is the recipient of the Technology Services Industry Association (TSIA) Recognized Innovator Award for Social Collaboration. The company won the honour for its social intranet and extranet solutions at the spring 2011 Technology Services World (TSW) conference in Silicon Valley.

IGLOO was also awarded Best in Tour, as voted by attendees, following the Innovation Tours at the conference. Conducted by John Ragsdale, TSIA vice president of technology research, the tours featured demos from all of the Recognized Innovator finalist companies, including CitrixOnline, Coveo, InQuira and LivePerson.

Communities, powered by IGLOO, allow business professionals to share files and capture knowledge, locate documents and expertise, communicate with colleagues and customers, build connections and work better together around projects. Services professionals frequently use IGLOO to build a knowledge base and encourage peer-to-peer interaction in order to reduce support costs and increase sales.

“Technology innovation is a driving force for businesses in every sector of the market,” said John Ragsdale, vice president of technology research for TSIA. “IGLOO Software was selected as a winner for its leadership in developing an innovative social collaboration solution that aims to improve the capture, sharing and consumption of ideas and expertise across employee, partner and customer communities. We were proud to honor them at our spring TSW event.”

The Recognized Innovator Awards are the only independently judged awards program that recognizes innovation in technology services products and service offerings documented with customer case studies of measurable business value and results. The Recognized Innovators in each category were selected by a panel of judges, including industry experts and TSIA members.

Toronto game developer Alexander Shapovalov has announced the release of iPhone game Aliens Attack Deluxe. Available now for 99 cents USD, the game is compatible with the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Rated 4+, Aliens Attack Deluxe requires iOS 3.0 or later.

Aliens Attack Deluxe has a simple concept and game play is easy to understand. Aliens have arrived and attacking Earth is their prime objective. The user must protect the planet using laser cannons. The game resembles 1980’s Missile Command game, but with better graphics and a variation on actual game play. To shoot down the aliens, players tap the screen to fire the cannon and knock the invaders out of the sky and earn money for your defensive efforts.

For the wee folk in your house, Wrinkled Pants Software, Ltd. has released it’s debut title, My Word! Reader – Are Bees Smart, or What? for iPads with iOS 3.2 or later. Available now for $4.99 USD, My Word! Reader – Are Bees Smart, or What? is a ground breaking app for the iPad based on sound educational and literacy theory that is designed to improve literacy skills in underachieving students.

This app will be an essential tool for literacy learning for education and home markets. Simple to use, but sophisticated in design, it incorporates word analysis, phonics, writing skills, word recognition, comprehension and spelling in a series of dynamic, engaging, and delightful “word games” that are rooted in the easy-to-read, but sophisticated story, Are Bees Smart, or What?

“My Word! Reader provides a resource for teachers to use with underachieving students, thus allowing them more time for other demanding instructional tasks,” said Dr. Selma Wassermann, CEO of Wrinkled Pants.

The application is designed to be self-instructional – giving the student control over the learning process. The “Bees” story features an interactive experience on the iPad with 6 learning games designed to engage the reader and develop basic literacy skills and comprehension.  Wrinkled Pants Software intends to release more titles in the My Word! Reader series on an ongoing basis.

Renegade Citizen has released Infinity Control, a game that casts players as new recruits for the Federation of International Space Marines. You begin your career on Earth, where you learn the basics of game play, managing incoming craft while avoiding collisions with orbiting satellites. Once you’ve mastered these skills, you will move on to help scientific researchers maneuver craft around the dense asteroids of Saturn. The random spawning of black holes adds even more challenge to your flying skills as you move up the career ladder through 40 ranks – from young recruit to skilled veteran.

Infinity Control is comprised of 3 incredible worlds built in high resolution retina graphics accompanied by a dynamic orchestral score. The game also features a stats screen along with full Openfient and GameCenter integration with Leaderboards and Achievements. Infinity Control is available now on iTunes for 99 cents USD and is rated 4+. It is compatible with the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad running iOS 3.0 or later.

A team of four Game Design students at Vancouver Film School have released the school’s first iPad game to be available on iTunes. Faine’s Melody was developed by Sharai Grant, Steven Martin, Christopher Ellington and Michel McBride-Charpentier as a way to experience the game mechanics and overcome the challenges they presented as the team worked towards their goal. The result was a fun and unique puzzle adventure that makes imaginative use of all of the touch controls available for iPad interaction. This initial release is a presentation build and is free to download. Faine’s Melody is rated 4+ and is compatible with iPads running iOS 3.2 or later. Watch the trailer for a close up look at the innovative game play of Faine’s Melody.

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3HZxulBuFc]

As part of its “International Leaders” series, the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal is pleased to announce that Chris Hughes will be speaking at the Palais des congrès de Montréal, Thursday, June 16, from 1:45 to 3:30 p.m.

In 2004, along with Mark Zuckerberg, Dustin Moskovitz and Eduardo Saverin, Mr. Hughes co-founded the social network Facebook, which today has more than 600 million active users in 190 countries. In 2007, Mr. Hughes left Facebook to join Barack Obama’s team and headed up the American presidential candidate’s online campaign. Through this historic campaign, Chris Hughes revolutionized how new media are used as political levers, helping Mr. Obama raise more than $500 million from over two million donations.

More recently, in February 2010, Mr. Hughes founded Jumo, an organization that connects “individuals and organizations working to change the world.”

“Chris Hughes is a young entrepreneur with an impressive track record,” said Michel Leblanc, President and CEO of the Board of Trade. “Not only has he been integral to the emergence of social media by co-founding Facebook – a company valued at over $50 billion – but he also contributed to the success of a historic American presidential campaign.”

“We are proud to bring the business community a leader like Chris Hughes, who has demonstrated innovation, daring and vision,” Mr. Leblanc said. “Local businesses and the younger generation of businesspeople will definitely be inspired and motivated by his speech and his unusual career path.”

The Board of Trade’s International Leaders event is presented by Bell Canada, in cooperation with Les Affaires, The Gazette and w.illi.am/, and with the participation of Infopresse for content and promotion.

International leaders who have spoken before the Board of Trade as part of this series include Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bill Clinton, Tony Blair, George W. Bush, Alain Greenspan and Sir Richard Branson.