Waterloo Region - Through the efforts of two powerful groups – Canada’s Technology Triangle Inc & the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics – the Waterloo Region is reshaping the Canadian “brain drain” and becoming an international “brain gain” region, earning the Canadian Urban Institute’s 2009 Global City Award to be granted June 5 at the Urban Leadership Awards in Toronto.

“Together these two groups have managed to transform the Cambridge-Kitchener-Waterloo region into a global centre of excellence. Their combined efforts have created a global identity for three cities and enhanced the region’s reputation, attracted high-tech businesses and improved the region’s place in the world,” said CUI President and CEO Glen Murray.

About 500 elite members of Canada’s who’s who of city building will gather in Toronto on June 5 to honour Canada’s Technology Triangle Inc (CTT) and the Perimeter Institute, as well as 17 other groups and individuals across the country who are making Canadian cities exciting and dynamic places to live and work.

“Part of the secret to the region’s success on the international stage is how well the players work together on the local scene,” said CTT’s CEO John Jung.

“We’re still small enough that people can rally and build coalitions to make things happen here. We pool our resources between the local municipalities, the local businesses and the institutions and that allows us to showcase our communities on the international market in a way that few other places can. Our key is the collaborative nature of the way we work and the fact that we have a strong foundation of technology that dates back over the decades,” said Jung.

The Perimeter Institute exemplifies a unique balance in the region - advancing fundamental knowledge that can lead to new innovations. Propelled by a private-public partnership involving personal philanthropy and all levels of government, the institute is attracting highly qualified researchers from around the world, is pursuing long-term research that may lead to scientific breakthroughs of global impact, and is providing outreach activities to the region, the country and beyond.

"The acknowledgement of the CUI's Global City Award supports our belief that cutting edge research and innovative outreach programs have an important role to play in contemporary urban centres. PI's structure, activities and long-term goals are a model for excellence, now being noticed and copied by other centres around the world" said John Matlock, Director of External Relations and Outreach at Perimeter Institute.

The Urban Leadership Awards (ULA) Program honours Canadian individuals, groups and organizations that have made significant contributions to improving the quality of life in Canada’s cities and urban regions. The 2009 ULA’s have been made possible by the generous support of a variety of corporate sponsors including Gold Sponsors Loblaw Properties Ltd., Scotiabank, TD Bank Financial Group, the Ontario Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, Environics, the City of Toronto and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). Community Builder Sponsors include Toronto Hydro, Local 27 of the Union of Carpenters and Allied Workers, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and Great West Life, London Life and Canada Life Assurance Companies.

The judges for this year’s awards included Canadians who have dedicated their lives to public service and who have detailed knowledge of the local stories and triumphs of Canadians in their home communities. Under the chairmanship of the Hon. David Crombie, the committee included; Al Duerr, former Mayor of Calgary; Newfoundland’s Dr. Linda Inkpen; Dr. Antonia Maioni, Director of the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada; John Kim Bell, founder of the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation; Ms. Mitzie Hunter, a Vice President at Goodwill Industries; and, Dr. Nola Kate Seymoar, President and CEO, International Centre for Sustainable Cities, based in British Columbia.

The Canadian Urban Institute (CUI) is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in urban areas across Canada and throughout the world.