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Ted Talks

Juliana Rotich: Meet BRCK, Internet access built for Africa

Tech communities are booming all over Africa, says Nairobi-based Juliana Rotich, cofounder of the open-source software Ushahidi. But it remains challenging to get and stay connected in a region with frequent blackouts and spotty Internet hookups. So Rotich and friends developed BRCK, offering resilient connectivity for the developing world.

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Innovation

U.S. and Canadian researchers drive towards cheaper fuel cells for electric cars

WATERLOO – A million electric cars could be on roads across North America before the end of the decade with the help of research by the United States Department of Energy, Los Alamos National Laboratory and the University of Waterloo.

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Community Challenge

Community Foundations launch search for faces of new national advertising campaign

'Community champions are our most passionate spokespeople'

OTTAWA - Canada's community foundations are today launching a nationwide talent search for local champions to star in the movement's first advertising campaign.

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Growth

Despite global economic uncertainty, Canadian CFOs forecast a strong year ahead

Executives increase spending and investments to support top-line growth according to new survey from American Express

TORONTO - Optimism is on the rise when it comes to economic growth, according to the sixth annual American Express/CFO Research Global Business & Spending Monitor. The Monitor, a survey of senior finance executives from the U.S., Europe, Canada, Latin America, Asia and Australia, found that fifty per cent of Canada's finance executives plan to support top-line growth this year, while improving profitability through modest spending and investment. Additionally, 31 per cent plan to increase real spending and investment by more than 10 per cent, compared to only 17 per cent of CFOs in the U.S.

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Economy

Ontario's economic growth to pick up the pace in 2013

TORONTO - Ontario's economic growth is expected to improve this year and next, due to employment gains, improving trade performance and still-strong housing construction at the start of 2013, according to the latest RBC Economics Provincial Outlook issued today. RBC anticipates real GDP growth of 1.7 per cent in 2013 and 2.8 per cent in 2014, both up from 1.5 per cent in 2012.

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Technology

Accelerator Centre Announces the Graduation of Three More Start-ups

BigRoad, Boom Digital Media, and InfiniDy Join Rising Tide of Market-Ready Companies Graduating from the Accelerator Centre’s Award Winning Incubation Program.

Waterloo – World-renowned for its cultivation of technology entrepreneurship, Waterloo’s Accelerator Centre announced today the successful graduation of BigRoad, Boom Digital Media Group and InfiniDy from its award-winning incubation program. The three companies bring the total number of graduates from the Accelerator Program to 31.

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Innovation

Five New NRC Programs to Support Canadian Aerospace Industry With Innovative Technologies

PARIS, FRANCE - As aircraft manufacturers from around the world strive to develop innovative technologies to overcome important challenges, the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) has announced five new programs to support the Canadian aerospace industry.

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Document Security

It won’t happen to us: Large and small Canadian businesses increasingly complacent about information security

Study demonstrates lack of awareness about the consequences of a data breach

TORONTO — Companies exchange sensitive information on a daily basis, but when it comes to protecting data from falling into the wrong hands, many Canadian businesses of all sizes are taking a passive approach to their information security. A recent study conducted by Ipsos Reid on behalf of Shred-it demonstrates that Canadian businesses lack not only awareness about information security breaches – they also underestimate a breach’s potential, making them vulnerable to data loss and possible financial and reputational damage.

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Linear Collider

Carleton Researchers Contribute to International Particle Accelerator Announcement

Ottawa - Three Carleton University researchers are part of team responsible for the new Technical Design Report by the worldwide International Linear Collider (ILC) community. Since 2000, the Carleton group has been involved in all aspects of the ILC Time Projection Chamber (TPC) design and construction, as well as particle physics phenomenology that connects theoretical and experimental findings. The group includes Heather E. Logan, associate professor of theoretical particle physics; Alain Bellerive, professor of experimental particle physics; and Madhu Dixit, professor of experimental particle physics.

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Guest Column Innovation

If-Then Rewards Destroy Performance - by Steve Southern

New business and old, in Waterloo Region and beyond, continually shoots itself in the foot. This self-destructive behaviour must cease if our local economy, fueled largely by small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and the increasingly vibrant (often IT-based) start-up community, is to thrive into future generations. Both of these broad sectors live, or die, by the sword of innovation, creativity, and inventiveness. And both unwittingly destroy the very innovation they require.

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Municipal Media

Receive City of Kitchener information directly to the palm of your hand!

KITCHENER - It takes 26 hours for the average person to report a lost wallet. It takes 68 minutes for them to report a lost phone. Knowing that people like to keep their phones nearby, the City of Kitchener, led by the communications and marketing division, is rolling out a one-year Short Messaging System (SMS) pilot to deliver city messages right to subscribers’ hands.

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Guest Column - Leadership

4 ‘Aha’ Truths for a Changing Corporate Landscape

Thought-Leading CEO Reviews Time-Tested Principles

Technology is moving much faster than many of our institutions – while it continues to change the way people interact with businesses, many corporate leaders are still operating as if it didn’t exist, says Thought Leader Architect Mitchell Levy.

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MEDA MEDIA

MEDA video contest winners show it’s Time for Change

Impact of empowering women economically is captured on film

WATERLOO - MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates) announced Drew Warkentin, of Ottawa, Ontario, and Eric Tichbourne, of Morden, Manitoba as the winners of our 2013 Time for Change video contest with their video, Marie and Liz’s Story.

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Waste

Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care releases organic waste management primer for health care

Toronto – The Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care released its latest Green Best Practice Case Study, Taking a bite out of organic waste, a primer for Canada’s environmental health care champions working to make health service delivery more sustainable.

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Education

Picking the Right School will Help Build Your Resumé

Tips to find a program that offers what today’s employers are seeking

St. Catherines — Business students have a lot on their mind as they approach graduation and face the daunting prospect of entering the working world.

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Books

Winners for Literary Excellence Announced

Toronto - Winners of Ontario’s foremost prize for literary excellence, the Trillium Book Award, were announced this evening by Michael Chan, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, at a dinner hosted by the Ontario Media Development Corporation (OMDC).

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Tax

Taxpayer Relief Measures Available to Canadians Affected by Flooding

OTTAWA - The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) would like to advise taxpayers who have been affected by flooding in Fort McMurray, Alberta, and other affected areas, that they will have access to the CRA's taxpayer relief provisions if they were unable to meet their tax obligations.

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Arts & Culture

Dance event kicks off the summer season in Market Square


GUELPH – The City of Guelph launches its program of free summer entertainment in Market Square with a live dance and music performance on Friday, June 28, 2013 beginning at 9:15 p.m. to coincide with this month’s Fourth Fridays events.

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PSA

Public Meeting Slated for Input into Fire Master Plan

Cambridge - Cambridge Fire Department (CFD) staff next week will hold an information session to share a draft of the 10 year master plan for the department. The meeting will take place on Monday June 24th at the Fire Hall Museum and Education Centre, 56 Dickson Street. The session begins at 7:00pm with a presentation slated for 7:30pm.

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Let Your Motor Run

Rock and Rumble brings L.A. Guns and bikes to downtown Kitchener!

KITCHENER – The sounds of bikes rumbling down King St. and L.A. Guns tunes filling the air is like nothing Rock and Rumble visitors have experienced before!