Microsoft Canada - Citizenship Articles

Saving Lives: Microsoft Canada and the Canadian Red Cross

Microsoft Canada Co. — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:48:00 GMT

When the Tsunami ravaged Southeast Asia, or when Hurricane Ike touched down in Texas, or when severe flooding impacted Manitoba residents, Canadian Red Cross workers responded immediately. Red Cross volunteers and staff are highly-trained, dedicated humanitarians who serve the most vulnerable members of society through an international network – in 187 countries around the world.

Photo: Winnipeg Free Press

As Secretary General and CEO of Canada’s largest humanitarian aid organization, I’ve seen firsthand how technology makes it easier for generous Canadian donors to rapidly turn their care and compassion into aid, support and hope for those who need it most.

In May 2009, the Canadian Red Cross was the recipient of Microsoft Canada’s largest software donation to date. The donation included business software (Microsoft® Office 2007 and SharePoint®), Windows Terminal Services as well as the developer tool Visual Studio®. One hundred servers are being updated and serving two thousand Canadian Red Cross workers.

These updates will increase efficiency and free up much needed resources for the Canadian Red Cross to focus on disaster management, first aid, water safety, conflict, fund development and violence and abuse prevention – areas we have been deeply committed to for up to 100 years.

Photo: Winnipeg Free Press

But what does this really mean?

Imagine if you were one of several thousand Canadian Red Cross workers and were stationed in a remote field operation. With low connectivity, accessing files and time-sensitive information would be extremely difficult. With Terminal Services and SharePoint®, workers in the field are able to connect with one another and access tools and information that can save lives, from anywhere in the world.

The world has changed, and we are changing with it. In areas where there is no access to computers, workers are now able to connect and share information using mobile devices. In ten or fifteen years, there is almost no limit to the possibilities that technology will bring to disaster preparedness, response and recovery. Ultimately, this will help us save lives – and that’s our bottom line.

At the Canadian Red Cross, we are looking forward to a long-standing partnership with Microsoft Canada. When two dedicated organizations team up, the results can literally change the world.

Conrad Sauvé

Secretary General and CEO, Canadian Red Cross

Fakes and Forgeries Exhibit at Royal Ontario Museum

Microsoft Canada Co. — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 21:14:00 GMT

Microsoft Canada is proud to be the Education Partner working in conjunction with the Royal Ontario Museum to present Fakes & Forgeries: Yesterday and Today, a ROM-produced exhibition opening January 9, 2010 in the Centre Block, Level 3.

The interactive exhibition presents 115 real and fake objects that run the gamut from historical specimens and cultural artifacts, to household items and designer name brands. Visitors of all ages are invited to guess which objects are real and which are clever fakes. There is also educational information about pirated computer software as well as a section on counterfeit currency. Visitors learn how to tell authentic pieces from sly forgeries and discover the fascinating lengths forgers will take to hoodwink the unwary.

Click here to read press materials from the launch of Fakes and Forgeries.

See below for a video of the launch event:

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Microsoft Canada's Holiday Greeting Card Contest

Microsoft Canada Co. — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 20:59:00 GMT

Roselle Castro, an eight-year-old girl from the Boys and Girls Club of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan is this year's winner of Microsoft Canada's 13thannual Holiday Greeting Card contest. To capture the essence of the holiday spirit, children from Boys and Girls Clubs across Canada were invited to design a holiday card based on the theme "This holiday season I promise to...." Roselle's card was selected from over 800 entries. Her artwork will appear on Microsoft Canada's corporate holiday greeting cards that will be distributed to thousands of Microsoft employees, customers and partners across the country. Congratulations Roselle!

Connected Health: The Future of Healthcare Delivery

Microsoft Canada Co. — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:55:00 GMT

On Tuesday December 1, 2009, Microsoft Canada played host to healthcare industry professionals at Connected Health: The Future of Healthcare Delivery at Novotel North York, Toronto. An esteemed group of presenters from both the Mayo Clinic and Microsoft delivered talks on trends shaping the healthcare industry, the 'connected' healthcare organization and technology’s role in improving primary care.

Dr. Bill Crounse, Senior Director, Worldwide Health, Microsoft Corp. has travelled extensively to discover how information technology can improve healthcare delivery and services. He determined that all healthworkers, regardless of where they practice, have common needs when it comes to improving healthcare delivery. These needs include better worker tools, improved data input options, more intuitive user interfaces, healthcare solutions for mobile devices and the importance for all systems to be interconnected and interoperable.

Thanks to the internet, the system of healthcare delivery has become more democratic as patients are empowered with access to more information than ever before. In order to match patient expectations and improve one-on-one time spent with patients, health centres are moving towards a consumer-centric model of healthcare. This also applies to primary care and private practices who can now utilize practice platforms such as HelloHealth.

One major healthcare provider leading the charge in healthcare information technology is the Mayo Clinic. Dr. Rajeev Chaudhry heads Health Information Management System for the clinc and utilizes Microsoft Healthvault to power the Mayo Clinic Health Manager, for patients and Amalga, for practioners, to improve the quality and delivery of care to patients. While wait times are shortened and redundant appointments eliminated, perhpas the most important improvement is the ability to practice preventative care thanks to a system that identifies when a patient is due for updated testing.

Dr. Todd Taylor is the Physician Executive for Microsoft Corporation and has studied the Amalga Unified Intillegence System in depth. Dr. Taylor highlighted the importance of integrating technology worldwide, espcially wireless technology for countries high in mobile device users. Amalga and Health Vault allow patients and practioners to navigate complex helath ecosystems, the first step in the future of healthcare delivery.

Language Interface Pack (LIP)

Microsoft Canada Co. — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:58:00 GMT

(The Pirurvik Centre for Inuit Culture Language and Wellbeing in Iqaluit, Nunavut)

It is vitally important for aboriginal communities to preserve their cultures, and one way to do that is through language.

While Inuktitut is one of the healthiest indigenous languages in Canada, English language computer software posed a major problem. If Nunavut’s ancient tongue was to survive computers needed to speak Inuktitut.

“We know computers are important to our young people’s academic success and for readying them for the job market,” says Leena Evic, founder of the Pururvik Centre. “But without Inuktitut as a basis for learning, our language will gradually disappear. That is why getting computers to speak Inuktitut is so important to our community.” Read Leena Evic’s Heroes profile here.

In 2004, Microsoft Canada teamed up with the Pirurvik Centre for Inuit Culture Language and Wellbeing in Iqaluit, Nunavut to translate Windows and Office into Inuktitut using Microsoft’s Language Interface Pack (LIP). There are seven dialects in the language of Inuktitut in Nunavut, and six of those are written in the syllabic system, shown below.

The Pirurvik Centre worked with the community to choose each of the 700,000 words and phrases in the LIP. English speakers may take the words “hyperlink” and “Internet” for granted, but these words simply did not exist in Inuktitut. It was up to Leena and her team to create words in Inuktitut that would make sense to the communities that use it.

Today, the government of Nunavut and schools in Iqaluit use their native tongue when they go online and use the computer:

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Language Interface Packs are available for Microsoft Windows programs. They translate languages so that users are able to “localize” their desktop processes, including email, databases and menus. There are dozens of LIP versions available for regions all over the world.

“It makes a huge difference to be able to use Inuktitut in all the computer programs that we use daily,” says Gavin Nesbitt. “It means we are always immersed in our language, always learning it and not forgetting it.”

Inuktitut is the first aboriginal language in Canada to be translated for Microsoft software. Download the Inuktitut LIP here.

Public Notice: Bing Maps brings street level imagery to Vancouver and Whistler

Microsoft Canada Co. — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:58:00 GMT

Public Notice

Microsoft is helping bring the world to Vancouver and Whistler! To celebrate the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, Microsoft and Bing Maps have chosen Vancouver and Whistler as the first Canadian communities to be profiled with our new street-level imagery technology.

By collecting street level images in metropolitan Vancouver and Whistler, including the areas near Olympic venues, and making them available on bing.ca, Microsoft will help celebrate what you already cherish about your communities - their natural beauty, cultural diversity and the remarkable facilities that have been built for the Olympics.

While Microsoft wants to help the world discover British Columbia's many charms, we also respect your privacy. Microsoft has built extensive privacy protection features into our technology and we'll always be here to listen if you have any questions or concerns.

Microsoft will be shooting street level imagery in areas surrounding Olympic venues between November 19 and December 19, 2009.

For more information, please read these Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: What is street level imagery?

A: Street level imagery enables map users to experience Bing Maps from street level. Street level imagery will supplement maps, directions and local search. Imagery is collected using a 360 degree camera typically mounted on a car or SUV.

Q. When does this launch?

A: We don't have specific details to share regarding availability but will share more when we do.

Q. Where will imagery be collected?

A: Microsoft will begin collecting street level images on public roads, primarily in commercial areas in Canada near venues associated with the 2010 Winter Olympic Games including the Vancouver and Whistler area.

Q: Where specifically will vehicles drive to collect imagery in Canada?

A: An initial pilot will include commercial areas and Olympic venues in the Vancouver and Whistler areas.

Q. What classes of roads will we drive in Canada?

A: We only drive public roads and we intend to drive non-residential streets only, with our initial focus on streets with businesses and points of public interest. At times, due to a connecting road or traffic, we may drive residential areas as well.

Q. How and when will images be created in Canada?

A: The images will be created using cameras placed on marked cars that will travel through the above-noted areas in the late November to early December timeframe.

Q: What kind of notice will be on the vehicle?

A: The vehicles will be clearly marked with Microsoft or Bing Maps logos.

Q: When will imagery be collected?

A: We've been collecting imagery in metropolitan areas of the United States for the past year or longer, depending on location.

Q: How long will street level images be retained?

A: We keep original imagery captured in Canada for up to one year after publication to www.bing.com/maps in order to assist with continued development of street level imagery technology and privacy algorithms.

Q. In what ways is street level imagery different from competitive offerings such as Google's Street View?

A: The user interfaces differ, but from an imagery standpoint, they are very similar.

Q: Doesn't Street level imagery violate the privacy of individuals?

A: As with all Microsoft technology, street level imagery and Bing maps were designed with security and privacy concerns in mind. We have reviewed Canadian privacy rules and regulations to ensure that our street level imagery activities comply with applicable laws governing the acquisition and publishing of imagery. We are also (have) reaching (reached) out proactively to the Canadian privacy community to inform them about this project and our approach.

Q: What do we blur?

A: We use industry-leading automated software and advanced algorithms to detect and blur faces and license plates. The automated software and advanced algorithms are based on years of Microsoft Research investments in computer vision techniques.

Q: How accurate is the blurring?

A: Our internal tests have shown that our privacy algorithms and detection rate are consistent with the success rate in the industry. As with all automated approaches, there is a chance that some images may come through that should have been blurred. In those instances, we allow people to identify and report to us any published images that may be of concern to them.

Q: What happens if someone requests an image be removed?

A: We have individuals that review every request. Depending on the content of the imagery we may remove it entirely, blur a portion of it or take no action if no identifying features remain visible.

Q: What takedown requests will we honor?

A: We accept requests to blur or remove images of faces or persons, homes, cars, acts of violence, nudity and unlawful material.

Q: How long will it take to respond to a request to remove or blur an image?

A: Depending on the nature of the reported image in concern, the reaction time may vary from 30 to 60 days.

Q: Google has taken a lot of criticism from privacy advocates for Street View. What do you plan to do differently?

A: We are working with privacy advocates in Canada to ensure residents are aware of our plans to capture and share street level imagery.

Q: Will you notify communities that you will be filming in their neighborhoods? Will camera cars be clearly marked?

A: Microsoft will provide broad notification of filming locations and dates through local newspapers. Camera cars will be clearly marked with the Microsoft or Bing Maps logos.

Q: Can home and business owners request that images of their home or business be removed?

A: We accept requests to blur or remove images of faces or persons, homes, cars, acts of violence, nudity and unlawful material. These requests will be determined on a case-by-case.

Q: Where will the images be posted?

A: The images will be made available as part of Microsoft's online mapping service at www.bing.com.

Q: Any plans to drive in other Canadian communities?

A: We have no additional plans to share regarding capturing street level imagery in other Canadian communities at this time. We will be sure to communicate out further plans in a similar manner when we're able.

Eric Gales' Can>Win Video Blog

Microsoft Canada Co. — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:40:00 GMT

Sharpening Canada's economic edge has never been more important than it is today. This challenge brought together some of our best business leaders, academics and politicians for our sixth Microsoft CAN>WIN summit in Toronto in October, 2009. We discussed opportunities for Canada to compete and win when the global economy emerges from recession.

The Honourable Bob Rae, Liberal Foreign Affairs Critic and former Premier of Ontario, opened the day and Prime Minister Stephen Harper closed it. In between, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer spoke of the critical role of technology in innovation, and experts from the private and public sectors shared their insights about our challenges and how they might be solved.

I want to share some highlights of the day including video clips from the speeches as well as interviews with panellists.

Allan Gregg, a well known broadcaster and political commentator, moderated the day and set the tone. Allan has been the CAN>WIN facilitator for five years and he told the audience there is a remarkable consensus about what needs to be done to close Canada's productivity gap, an ongoing and key obstacle to Canadian competitiveness. He noted the obvious solutions: more research and development, better access to venture capital, better relationships with our universities, recognizing credentials of new Canadians and eliminating regulatory overlap.

If we know the problem, and we know the answer, why aren't we seeing great productivity improvements? Here's Allan:

(Please visit the site to view this media)

I couldn't agree more. And I said so when I welcomed everyone to our event.

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Urgency and action were central themes at CAN>WIN 2009. Perrin Beatty, President of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, our co-sponsor, didn't mince his words:

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Mr. Beatty asserted that Canada lacks vision and will. And Mr. Rae agreed we lack strong political leadership on these issues. He identified the need for our federal and provincial governments to set aside their differences and work for the common good and called for a change in the culture that permeates Canadian leadership circles.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Our panellists, leaders that they are, focused on problem solving.

The world has changed, said Elyse Allan, President and CEO of GE Canada. GE is keenly aware of this. She said the company keeps its focus on performance and what contributes to its business success. It survives and thrives by being flexible, doing things differently, constantly changing.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

So what can Canada do better? According to Ms. Allan, we can do a lot. She urged business leaders to put more emphasis on growing our manufacturing base.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

An educated workforce comfortable with innovation and technology is surely the key to closing Canada's productivity gap. That recipe is missing to a significant extent in our energy sector, which is a major driver of the Canadian economy. Listen to John Manzoni, President and CEO of Talisman Energy, one of Canada's largest oil and gas companies:

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Capacity building, training, education - we get some of it right, but according to Indira Samarasekera, President of University of Alberta, the strength of our university system is fragile. She sounded alarm bells regarding the underfunding of our universities.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

The Canada brand, or lack thereof, was certainly on the mind of Trish Wheaton, the Chief Marketing Officer for Wunderman, a global marketing company. Ms. Wheaton, who is also the Chairperson of Wunderman Canada, cited international research that ranks Canada poorly when it comes to communicating our positive attributes. Listen to this fascinating segment which describes how poor brand recognition impacts all Canadians.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Despite some brand issues, Canadian companies are heading out to grow market share around the world. Shauneen Bruder, RBC's Executive Vice President of Business and Commercial Banking, contends that mid- and large-sized Canadian companies that have successfully managed through this period of volatility in currency markets, and are now learning to live with an expensive loonie, have used this period to introduce efficiencies. As a result, they are emerging from this economic downturn stronger than ever.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Michael Kergin, former Canadian Ambassador to the United States, reminded us that trade between Canada and the United States is becoming more challenging by the day. One way to penetrate that thickening border, he said, is for all Canadian governments to present a united voice when dealing with the United States on these important issues.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

During a Q&A with Allan Gregg, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer spoke about government's role in addressing a productivity shortfall and emphasized that investment in education is paramount to success. He also praised Canada for creating a climate that attracts the best and brightest to live and work here.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Staying on the education theme, Allan asked Steve about improving relationships between corporate Canada and our universities.

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Wayne Wouters is a long time senior public servant and now Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet. Mr. Wouters listened to Steve Ballmer's remarks and saw how governments, federal and provincial, could benefit from sharpening their own IT edge.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Mr. Wouters was very frank when it came to identifying the problems facing Canada. We do have a productivity gap, he said, which will become more serious as our aging workforce retires, as trade with the U.S. declines and as we confront our growing commitments to a cleaner environment. On all this and more, he said the government needs closer collaboration with its stakeholders.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

This CAN>WIN conference had a note of urgency to it. The public and private sector must find ways to become more globally competitive even as the recession has put huge pressures on our balance sheets. Government must fully embrace the advantages of information technology, Canada must improve its marketing, focus more on manufacturing and our educational institutions. There were lots of concrete solutions offered over this very interesting and intense day. I hope you found the comments we selected valuable.

Everyone left energized, undaunted by the work that lies ahead. And hopeful that come CAN>WIN number seven, we will be reporting great progress.

Partners in Learning

Microsoft Canada Co. — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:24:00 GMT

(Canada's 2009 Innovative Teachers at the Innovative Education Forum in Salvador, Brazil)

Partners in Learning

Partners in Learning (PiL) is a global initiative designed to actively increase access to technology and improve its use in learning. Since 2003, PiL has launched in 110 countries and has impacted almost 130 million students. At the heart of the program is Microsoft's firm belief that education and access to technology are key to economic development and competitiveness.

Innovative Schools - This program helps build communities of schools with a common interest in transforming education and preparing students for the rapidly changing, connected world. Microsoft offers technology expertise, development tools and online and regional training.

In Ontario, the York Region District School Board was named one of 12 international boards chosen to host an Innovative School. The Literacy @ School program brings 20 classrooms across the region together to demonstrate innovative ways to use high tech in the classroom.
In October 2009, École Régionale-de-Saint-André, was named a Microsoft Pathfinder School. These schools have demonstrated strong school leadership with a proven record of innovation and successful change implementation. Saint- André is an Entrepreneurial community school that in addition to basic academic subjects, allows students to manage micro-businesses to develop entrepreneurial skills. Please see below for a video of this Pathfinder School:

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Innovative Teachers - Informed and empowered teachers are at the heart of meaningful and effective teaching and learning. More than a million Innovative Teachers worldwide share great ideas, best practices, and professional development resources through Innovative Teachers Forums and the Innovative Teachers Network.

Every year Microsoft Canada recognizes a select number of Innovative Teachers for their groundbreaking work in integrating technology into the classroom to prepare students for today's and tomorrow's workforce and for a lifetime of learning. These teachers have the opportunity to participate in Worldwide Innovative Teachers Conferences.
Canada's Innovative Teachers traveled to the Worldwide Innovative Teachers Conference in Salvador, Brazil from November 3-6, 2009. Click here to read their blog and click here to download a list of all of Canada's Innovative Teachers: (Please visit the site to view this media)

(Mr. Nathan Toft, grade five teacher from A. Lorne Cassidy Elementary School in Stittsville, Ontario, presenting at Microsoft's Innovative Education Forum in Salvador, Brazil)

Innovative Students - The program aims to provide students with access to programs and curriculum to help integrate technology into learning at home and school. Initiatives include Digital Literacy Curriculum, Microsoft DreamSpark and Beginner Developer Learning Centre.

New Brunswick:

The Province of New Brunswick and Microsoft Canada announced a renewed partnership in early 2009. The Department of Education will develop an innovative learning zone in school districts and two schools will be designated Innovative Schools. Schools and educators will also have access to an online network complete with teaching aides, professional development tools and a live web portal.

(Left to Right: The Honourable Kelly Lamrock, Minister of Education, overlooking, the Honourable Shawn Graham, Premier of New Brunswick, and Mike Parkhill, Director of Academic Sector, Microsoft Canada)

In 2004, Microsoft Canada donated software and teacher training valued at $250,000 for the province’s Dedicated Notebook Computer Research Project. The project was designed to help the New Brunswick Department of Education determine how computer technology affected the learning experiences and teaching in middle school. Five hundred grade 7 and 8 students and teachers were given laptops and were tracked for two-years. The project was highly successful and resulted in a significant level of sustained student engagement between students and teachers.

Manitoba:

In April 2009 the Province of Manitoba and Microsoft Canada signed Phase II of a five year agreement which includes elements of the three PiL pillars with a particular focus on math and science. In addition to helping the province develop an Innovative School, Microsoft Canada is providing licenses for MARVIN educational software to support Indigenous students and students with special needs.
Manitoba was the first jurisdiction in North America to become involved in PiL in 2004 The program has supported the integration of technology into Manitoba schools in tangible ways including, training over 5000 teachers, providing the opportunity for educators to participate in educational leadership programs around the world and hosting Canada’s first Innovative Teachers Conference.

Microsoft Canada and Education

Microsoft Canada Co. — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:00:00 GMT

Education

At Microsoft Canada, we believe education is a fundamental human right and is the single most important investment in the future of individuals, communities, the nation and the world. We also recognize that the true heroes in education are educators and students. Our ultimate goal is to help educators make learning personal for students and the classroom even more motivating and engaging. While technology helps drive significant advances in education we continually look for opportunities to use our software, services and expertise to help educators inspire students to continuously learn, explore and achieve.

Why we do it

Digital literacy is a critical component for success in the 21^st century workplace. We believe that the evolving demands of the global economy make education vital to sustainable social and economic success. Educators take the lead in teaching our children but they cannot do it alone. Working with educators, students and policymakers to bring education-specific tools and technologies into the classroom, we are committed to helping better prepare young Canadians for the future.

How we do it

Participate in developing and cultivating innovative teachers and schools
Increase access to technology to help improve teaching and learning via Partners in Learning
Introduce opportunities for education and innovation via Microsoft Unlimited Potential
Work with local, national and international education communities to create technology, tools, programs and solutions
Improve access to education for hospitalized children and the visually impaired
Develop technology that enables aboriginal youth to learn in their own language
Encourage Microsoft employees to volunteer in community and education programs
Address the critical IT skills shortage in Canada through programs like DigiGirlz

How we think about the future

Technology offers the ability for elementary through post-secondary students to connect and collaborate with their peers around the globe, inspire creativity and learn the technical skills required for the 21^st century workforce. Although it's impossible to predict the exact ways that technology will help shape education in the future, we think about what a technology-rich education might look like in just a few years. In fact, some of what you'll see in these videos is already possible.

The Economic Edge '09: Sponsored by Microsoft Canada's CAN>WIN Initiative

Microsoft Canada Co. — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:07:00 GMT

Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft was in Toronto on October 21 to deliver a luncheon keynote at The Economic Edge. He will be discussing the opportunities for Canada to compete, and win, as the global economy emerges from recession.

Presented by Microsoft Canada's CAN>WIN initiative and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, The Economic Edge is a national business summit for Canada's most influential business leaders, politicians, academics and some of the world's most important thought leaders to discuss Canadian competitiveness, our ability to innovate and become more productive, and the economic prosperity of all Canadians.

Since 2001, Microsoft Canada has hosted CAN>WIN events. In addition to guest speakers like Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer, Microsoft has also hosted a Canadian Prime Minister, several provincial Premiers and Cabinet ministers, public sector representatives from Ireland, Sweden and the United States, and numerous Canadian business leaders. This is the sixth CAN>WIN presented by Microsoft Canada.

For more information on CAN>WIN, please click here. To follow Microsoft Canada's updates at The Economic Edge, follow us on Twitter @MicrosoftCanada and join in the conversation using #CANWIN.

Read Steve Ballmer's op-ed - Investing in Innovation will Fuel Canada's Economic Growth - Globe and Mail, October 19, 2009

Opening // Welcoming Remarks

"Canada is in the middle of a global competition to grow, retain talent and attract investment. To stay in the race, a baton must be passed from one generation to another, from one government to another. It's time to pick up the baton, and get running." Eric Gales, President, Microsoft Canada

Welcome to the Economic Edge '09, sponsored by Microsoft Canada's Can>Win initiative. Throughout the day we will be providing summaries of panel discussions on topics important to business, academic and government elites.

It is generally accepted that Canada weathered this storm better than others. Canada has a high quality of life, we can attract the best and the brightest from around the world. But we've got a long way to go.

There is plenty of research to support the fact that we have a productivity problem in Canada. There are a myriad of solutions to this problem: we must do a better job funding innovative startups, deepening relationships between businesses and research universities, and the list goes on. We have experienced a decade of inertia and inaction. But there is a consensus. Today we are here to ensure that Canada is well-equipped to handle the challenges that lie ahead.

Session 1 \\ Canada on the World Stage: Keys to Success

The Honourable Bob Rae, MP, Toronto Centre

Canada's position in the world is unique in two major ways. First, we are profoundly dependent on international trade and investment for our well-being. Second, the world is in us - we have made ourselves an international society that literally renews itself every year. We accept more immigrants in Canada than any other industrialized country.

We are living in a world of rapid change. What we've seen in the last 40 years is nothing compared to the change we'll see in the next 40 years. This gives us great opportunities and at the same time, poses great challenges.

Canada has been slow to understand and embrace change. We tend to downplay the role that government can play in the effort to improve our national well-being. We tend to think that social, environmental and economic agendas exist in silos when in fact, they are all important pieces of the puzzle of our global competitiveness. This was evident during the economic turmoil of the last few years, when the world came remarkably close to a dramatic meltdown. We cannot allow this to happen again.

We are going to have to work harder to build an international architecture that contends with the pace of changes underway.

Session 2 \\ Keys to Identifying and Taking Advantage of the New Rules for Profitability and Success

Speakers:

Ms. Elyse Allan, President and CEO, GE Canada

Dr. Indira Semarasekara, President, University of Alberta

Trish Wheaton, Chief Marketing Officer and Chairperson, Canada, Wunderman

Can>Win's first panel discussion offered three views on the new rules for profitability and success through the eyes of experts in business, academia and global marketing. All three speakers agree that corporations and universities are operating amidst a fundamental reset in the way business is conducted.

Globalization, the importance of human resources over natural resources, demand for affordable healthcare, the growth of developing markets and the need for a systematic approach to research and innovation all emerged as global trends that affect Canada's position in the new economy.

The need to invest in technology surfaced as a theme in all three presentations. Collaboration among the private sector and universities to fund and conduct "blue skies" research is significantly weaker in Canada than in countries that are outperforming us.

The consensus among panelists is that Canada must build a distinct brand to encourage investment and solidify its place in the global order. We must differentiate ourselves as a technologically savvy, culturally diverse nation to attract the best and brightest and we must all get "on message" to communicate our potential.

Session 3 \\ Keys to a Thriving Global Economy: Expanded Trade vs. Protectionism

Speakers:

Parker Mitchell, Co-CEO, Engineers Without Borders

Shauneen Bruder, Chair, The Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Executive Vice-President, Business & Commercial Banking, RBC Financial Group

Michael Kergin, Former Ambassador of Canada to the United States of America and Senior Advisor, Corporate, Bennett Jones LLP Ottawa

"What are the defining challenges that your grandchildren will have wanted you to solve? Is GDP really a sacred indicator of quality of life? What will motivate skilled employees to want to work at your company?"

These are some of the thought provoking questions that opened this panel discussion from Parker Mitchell, Co-CEO, Engineers Without Borders.

All three panelists expressed the need to move away from protectionist policies as the world becomes increasingly globalized. The public and private sector in Canada must work on their ability to work with other countries to solve large global challenges, be open to risk in order to foster entrepreneurial spirit through government policy, and be proactive in taking advantage of Canada's potential.

In other words, we must find the delicate balance between competition at the individual and national level that drives innovation and the collaboration that drives solutions to global challenges.

Can>Win Keynote: Innovation - Key to a Successful Business Strategy

Steve Ballmer, CEO, Microsoft Corp. delivered the luncheon keynote to an audience of 350 business, academic and government elites.

See below to watch the keynote address on Innovation - Key to a Successful Business Strategy:

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Session 4 \\ Good Government as a Competitive Advantage

Speakers:

Wayne Wouters, Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet

Tony Dean, Fellow in Residence, University of Toronto, Former Secretary to the Cabinet, Head of the Ontario Public Service, Clerk of the Executive Council

Michelle d'Auray, Secretary of the Treasury Board

According to panelist Michelle d'Auray, the success of Canadian business lies in the efficiency and regulation of good government and rides directly on the backs of its public servants.

Canada needs its best and brightest in the public sector but as a 'zero growth' labour shortage looms on the horizon, it's up to government to train, retain and recruit public and civil servants.

The public sector is only as effective as its governing body. Panelist Tony Dean emphasized the importance of public sector and service leadership and a need for autonomy; "Public servants need a clear sense of priorities and permission to act".

While Canada's financial sector has performed well in the downturn, panelist Wayne Wouters touted the importance of spending in research and development and infrastructure when moving forward out of the recession. Productivity and innovation in Canada can only improve as the labour force grows.

The panel came to the consensus that there needs to be better utilization of IT services in government, national policies driven by intergovernmental collaboration and the need for partnership with internal and external stakeholders when building a better government for businesses in Canada.

Session 5 \\ Canada's Environmental Regulatory Framework: Advantage or Hindrance to Global Leadership

Speakers:

John A. Manzoni, President and CEO, Talisman Energy Inc.

David Mondragon, President and CEO, Ford Motor Company of Canada ltd.

The Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister, Environment Canada

Canada's environmental regulatory framework produces headwinds and advantages for Canadian business, as outlined by a panel of energy and auto industry representatives and the Minister of Environment Canada, Jim Prentice.

The issues of industry, environment and economy are critically linked. The key is to take a holistic approach, harmonizing environmental policies across industries, provinces and the U.S.

In the energy sector, Canada has a resource base that is in demand but faces a serious cost disadvantage. A coordinated approach to tax and fiscal structure would help ensure this sector's future success.

The auto industry remains closely aligned with U.S. emission and safety policy. A single North American emission standard would level competitiveness and Canadian and American governments are working toward this shared goal.

Canadian environmental policies and standards are a unique reflection of our country and while we don't need to wait on the U.S. to move forward on regulations, harmonization with our southern neighbor will aid industry in the transition.

**All photo credits to Stan Behal Photography

Microsoft Canada and the Local Software Economy

Microsoft Canada Co. — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:50:00 GMT

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Canada is consistently ranked as having one of the best standards of living in the world. This isn't because Canada is lucky, it's because Canada is an economically prosperous country that enjoys comparatively high levels of job creation, employment and tax generation.

Industry plays an enormous role. Microsoft's industry, the Information Communication Technology sector (ICT), and Canada's local software economy are key drivers of the country's overall economic success.

Microsoft is part of a large and vibrant ecosystem in Canada where IT and innovation spur growth and employ highly skilled and educated people who contribute significantly to the economy and the communities in which they live. According to a recent IDC study, the partner ecosystem - a myriad of Canadian companies that innovate, create and sell applications and technologies using Microsoft products - employs more than 332,000 hardware, software, services, and channel employees - making up 39% of all ICT workers in Canada. Microsoft-related taxes compromise 43 per cent of all taxes coming from the ICT industry.

To view press materials for the launch of the 2009 IDC research please click here

To view the 2009 IDC Canada research please click here (Please visit the site to view this media)

To view the 2009 IDC Global Whitepaper please click here (Please visit the site to view this media)

Microsoft supports its partners in many ways from providing license grants and marketing support to training and education at TechDays. The company is also heavily invested in promoting the technology industry as a sector that offers exciting and viable careers for many Canadians. You can read more about the various programs below:

See the video below for video commentary from Microsoft's partners:

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Blog: Eric Gales on Kennedy-Eglinton ProTech Media Centre Launch

Microsoft Canada Co. — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:52:00 GMT

Recently I had the pleasure of participating in a launch event to announce that ProTech is expanding to three additional neighbourhoods in the Greater Toronto Area.

It was incredible - a packed room filled with members of the community, government stakeholders, media and, most importantly, local youth. The best part was seeing how eager the youth were. They couldn't wait to get their hands on the technology and explore, create and learn.

Today's youth are natural collaborators who push the boundaries of how we share and experience our lives. They're also incredible innovators, using technology to change the way we interact with each other.

I sat beside one young lady who showed me some of her recent work. She told me that even though the centre had only been open for a couple of weeks, she'd already stacked her calendar with a number of varied workshops - web design, digital editing and lessons in business productivity tools. She's endlessly enthusiastic.

That's why expanding ProTech is so rewarding. More youth will be exposed to technology and education. Hopefully this program inspires some to think long-term about their future and education. Maybe some will decide on pursuing a career in the technology industry.

This initiative would not have been this successful if we didn't have amazing partners joining us on this journey - Mayor David Miller and the City of Toronto, Tropicana Community Services, Centennial College, Toronto Public Library and Renewed Computer Technologies continue to help us move ProTech in a great direction.

You can read more about our other partnerships with the public sector here and here and read about Melodie Downey who has been leading our first ProTech in Rexdale. You can also find additional information at Microsoft Canada's News Room.

Below is a video from the ProTech launch event on August 10, 2009:

(Please visit the site to view this media)

More photos from the Kennedy-Eglinton ProTech Media Centre Launch:

(Left to Right: Ann Buller, President, Centennial College; Eric Gales, President, Microsoft Canada; Jason Sinclair, local youth; Mayor David Miller, City of Toronto; Jane Pyper, City Librarian, Toronto Public Library; Sharon Shelton, Executive Director, Tropicana Community Services)

Eric Gales, President, Microsoft Canada watches a demonstration by local youth at Kennedy-Eglinton ProTech Media Centre in Toronto

EVERYDAY HEROES: Melodie Downey, Director, Rexdale ProTech Media Centre

Microsoft Canada Co. — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 18:37:00 GMT

"I know it's an unrealistic dream to think guns will ever disappear in this neighbourhood as a result of our work at the ProTech Centre. And while we can't offer a solution to end the violence on the streets, we can offer a safe place for local youth - a place where they can learn new skills and feel positively connected to their neighbourhood."

Melodie Downey is the first to admit she was 'flying-by-the-seat-of-her-pants' when she opened the Rexdale ProTech Media Centre in the summer of 2007. This was a new initiative, in one of the 13 Priority Neighbourhoods identified in Toronto Mayor David Miller's Community Safety Plan, and she knew there was a lot at stake.

More than a year later, Melodie is soaring on the success of the centre. Since opening in July 2007, she has registered 1069 members and managed more than 9,607 repeat visits from local youth.

Melodie had a big mandate. Toronto's City Council has identified certain areas in the city as being in need of focused support and investment. Her community of Rexdale is one of them.

The YMCA of Greater Toronto is the operator of the Media Centre and, together with, Microsoft Canada, Humber College, Toronto Community Housing Corporation, the City of Toronto, and community groups have developed a safe, nurturing and structured environment where youth have access to a range of new media technologies.

"It's an environment of respect," explains Melodie. "The young people who come here understand this is a place where they can better themselves by learning new multi-media skills and life lessons. That's a huge opportunity for these kids."

Want to learn how to create a music video? Then you can sign-up for the 'Can U Bring It?' workshop. In 'R U 4 Reel?' more than 40 youth mastered the art of movie making, and each week members get the chance to produce a news broadcast for 'ProTech TV.'

Rather than hanging out in the streets, many youth in Rexdale are hanging around the Media Centre. Workshops expose members to skills required to be a director, set designer, special effects artist, graphic designer or script writer. A recent week-long exchange to BC and local YMCA camps also provided opportunities beyond these kids' normal experiences.

"Melodie and her team are creating life altering experiences for these kids," says Gavin Thompson, Director of Citizenship Microsoft Canada. "Because of her commitment and passion, at-risk youth have a safe place to go each day. "

Even Melodie is amazed at the positive impact the Centre has had on members. "They have more self confidence, are less fearful of new experiences and grasp new media almost instantaneously.

Melodie may not be able to stop the violence in her neighbourhood but she is making a difference in the lives of Toronto youth.

EVERYDAY HEROES: Eric Burton, Director of National Programs, Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada

Microsoft Canada Co. — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 18:25:00 GMT

"All of our kids have amazing talents - we just need to create an environment to help them fulfill their dreams."

Eric Burton always knew he wanted to make a difference. When he started with Boys and Girls Clubs, he hoped he could touch the lives of a few kids. Thirty years later, Eric makes a difference in the lives of 10,000 kids a week. What's his secret?

About a decade ago, as technology became a huge part of everyday life, Eric saw Boys and Girls Club kids falling behind. "Computer skills had become a necessity for young people but Club members simply couldn't compete. They often didn't have computers at home or in school. Their parents were not always able to help them become more digitally literate. Everyday tasks like surfing the Internet or doing homework presented challenges for Club members," explains Eric.

Eric's plan to conquer the Digital Divide between the skills his children had and what they needed was ambitious - outfit 100 Boys and Girls Clubs across Canada with computers and software. Having access to technology would help level the playing field for the 200,000 kids who visited the Clubs.

As Director of National Programs, Eric knew of some organizations willing to help. In 2002, Future Shop Canada supplied hardware and Microsoft Canada donated software and funding to develop technology centres. A program called CanTech was born. Its goal was to provide children and youth not only with access to technology, but the opportunity to learn how to apply technology tools in their daily lives. Before the centres, 600 kids a week used technology in the Clubs. A year later - over 10,000 a week or 150,000 different kids a year were participating in technology programs.

"The labs were overflowing with kids, ideas and promise. The taste of technology fueled their hunger and the children demanded more. I realized this was just the beginning," explains Eric.

Having witnessed Eric's remarkable success, Microsoft Canada extended an additional three year grant of $2 million in cash and software in January 2007 to expand CanTech and provide access to enriching programming in digital arts exploration, science and moviemaking camps and Internet safety training at CanTech technology learning centres. This initiative is enabling many more thousands of young people to accelerate their competence with technological media and expand their academic, career and life opportunities.

Any praise directed at Eric is quickly diverted.

"The kids are the real heroes," says Eric. "All they require is opportunity. They take to technology like fish to water and then share their knowledge, mentoring other club members. It's a cycle of learning and hope."

EVERYDAY HEROES: Carol White, I Volunteer, Microsoft Canada

Microsoft Canada Co. — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 18:19:00 GMT

"I have seen families without clean, running water. I have seen women and children in need of the most basic medical care. During each trip you realize that some things just aren't that important when you see what other people live through, and what they live without. These experiences put balance back into your life."

Carol White was never one for packaged resort vacations. She always wanted to meet the people, experience the culture and explore the communities of the places she visited. Her love of travel, and her desire to give back to developing communities, led her to not one but three countries in dire need of help.

Microsoft Canada's I Volunteer program gives every employee 40 hours of paid time per year to dedicate to philanthropic causes. For many volunteers, the desire to give back takes them to areas within their own communities. For Carol, it took her a world away.

Carol is the LAR Marketing Manager at Microsoft Canada. Prior to joining the company, she had spent several years volunteering in a nursery school for children with special needs (Autism, Down Syndrome and other developmental issues).

Her first large-scale volunteering experience was working in an orphanage in Guatemala City in 2006 with Cross-Cultural Solutions, an international, non-profit humanitarian agency.

That experience left her with a desire to help even more, and a year later she left for Kuching, Malaysia to build homes as part of an international Habitat for Humanity effort.

"There was no running water," she said of the small community. "It was a big learning experience for me. There were no power tools. We used hand saws. Everything was hands on. I never thought I would mix cement by hand in the jungle."

Before Carol and her team arrived, entire families were living in one-room shacks. After the build, these families were able to move into affordable, modern houses with running water.

After Central America and Asia, Carol's next stop was Africa. With an international crew, she helped to build several of the 40 adobe houses that were planned in Ethiopia. The "sweat equity" of the volunteers and all the physical labour that goes into these projects compliments the work Habitat for Humanity does on site to build communities from the ground up.

Carol would not have been able to have the kinds of life-changing experiences without the support of her Microsoft team and managers back at home, who have cheered Carol along in all of her efforts.

"Carol has shown incredible dedication and leadership in her volunteering," says Gavin Thompson, Director of Corporate Citizenship at Microsoft Canada. "She will tell you she is just doing her small part in the I Volunteer program. But the fact is Carol's work has impacted hundreds of lives. Heroes perform not when they are asked, but when they are compelled to do so."

EVERYDAY HEROES: John Hartman, Chief International Officer, Children’s Miracle Network

Microsoft Canada Co. — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:54:00 GMT

"I met a young boy named Joseph who spent hours each day watching his blood go through tubes during dialysis treatment. He was sad and in pain, it was hard to take in. Kids don't deserve to grow up like this. They should be playing with friends and having fun. Kids should get to act like kids."

John Hartman is on a mission - to change the way companies approach corporate giving. And if he gets his way, he won't be going cap in hand to corporate Canada, they'll be coming to him and asking "how can we help - how can we make a difference"?

"Companies often don't realize that what they do as part of their core business can solve challenges that appear insurmountable to the not-for-profit sector," explains Hartman. Fund raising and collaborative partnerships are critical to children's health care but many companies may not realize that they have a number of assets which can be incredibly helpful to children's health care and wellness. The key is to find the right match.

In John's work at the Children's Miracle Network, one of the biggest challenges is trying to make the hospital experience a little more bearable for thousands of sick children who endure lengthy stays at hospitals across Canada.

"Hospitals do their best to make the kids feel at home but the unfortunate reality is a hospital can be a very scary place. And while they're there, many children lose access to the technology they use as part of their daily lives. This makes it harder for them to play, learn and stay in contact with family, friends and classmates and it heightens their sense of isolation and fear. Something had to be done," he says.

In 2003, a solution presented itself after the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) approached Microsoft Canada to discuss the technical needs of some of the children in the hospital. Once the hospital and Microsoft started talking, it became obvious to everyone that technology and investment into Child Life could play a greater role in alleviating some of the isolation these sick children experience.

Children's Miracle Network and Microsoft Canada moved quickly to launch Canada's first Child Life Interactive Computers for Kids (CLICK) program at CHEO. CLICK provides wireless bedside connectivity, Tablet PCs, software and Xbox consoles and games to help kids at CHEO learn, be entertained and connect with family and friends while at the hospital.

"After CLICK launched at CHEO we all realized how powerful this program could be. And I got to thinking, why couldn't we launch CLICK at all Children's Miracle Network affiliated hospitals across Canada?" explains John.

And that's exactly what he and Microsoft intends to do. With the help of Children's Miracle Network, Canada's second CLICK program opened at the Centre Hospitalier Unversitaire du Quebec (CHUQ) in Quebec City in 2007 and at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax in early 2009. CLICK is also scheduled to open at the Alberta Children's Hospital in Calgary and will soon be working with other children's hospitals across Canada.

"I met Joseph again after establishing CLICK at CHEO. Even though he was still receiving dialysis treatment he was smiling ear-to-ear, chatting online with friends - totally distracted. He wasn't sad or in pain, he was back to being the kid he's supposed to be. My goal is to repeat the Joseph example a thousand times over in children's hospitals across Canada," says John.

Ray Ozzie on the Imagine Cup Finals in Cairo, Egypt

Microsoft Canada Co. — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:43:00 GMT

Congratulations to Canada's Byron Knoll for placing second in the Robotics and Algorithm division at the 2009 Imagine Cup. To view full results, click here.

From the Microsoft on the Issues Blog:

Posted by Ray Ozzie
Chief Software Architect

Today I had the privilege of kicking off the worldwide finals of the seventh annual Imagine Cup in Cairo, Egypt. The event is an inspiring culmination to a six-month, global technology competition that has included more than 300,000 students from over 100 countries and regions. You can read my opening ceremony remarks here.

The Imagine Cup grows each year and is one of the most powerful demonstrations of our belief that students must have the educational foundation and access to technology required to pursue their dreams and contribute to improving the human condition. Initiatives like the Imagine Cup give students the opportunities and confidence to experiment and explore what's possible.

This year, the competition challenged students to develop technology solutions that address some of the toughest problems facing us today. The energy and excitement among the students is infectious, but I'm most impressed by their unmistakable spirit of innovation and desire to make a difference. For example:

The all-female Egyptian team is developing a low-cost solution for addressing air pollution in developing countries;
A team from India has developed a solution called Pearl to address that country's high percentage of child and neonatal deaths among rural populations; and
A team from Uganda has created an innovative phone application that could help small farmers get better prices for their harvests in a country where more than 70% of the population earns less than $8 per day.

As these students are demonstrating, the great thing about software is that it's the ultimate 'pliable medium.' If you can dream it and if you can imagine it, you can build it...and the students here in Cairo are doing just that.

During his recent speech here in Cairo, President Obama said that young people, more than anyone, have the ability to re-imagine and remake this world. It's too bad he couldn't be in Cairo this week. He'd be inspired to see his words being put into action by the 444 incredibly creative and passionate students who have traveled from around the globe to share their talents for utilizing technology to address some of our world's most pressing challenges.

You can stay apprised of the competition at the Imagine Cup blog. You might enjoy it because, if you're like me, you'll come away more hopeful about our future.

Op-Ed by Phil Sorgen, President, Microsoft Canada in Policy Options - June, 2009

Microsoft Canada Co. — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 13:43:00 GMT

The New Normal: Managing through an era of tranformational change

Phil Sorgen

Policy Options - June, 2009 issue

What a difference a year makes. Twelve months ago, we were uncertain of whether we were even in a recession. Today we know. Last year, we didn't know if it was going to be long term, or just a short term adjustment. Now we know.

While there is a tendency to focus on how bad things are or could be, I think we need to be positive and optimistic about what's around the corner.

To do so, first we need to put context on exactly where Canada finds itself today. It's not all bad news, however there are some challenges we face that have been overshadowed by the immediate economic crisis.

Once we know where we stand we can then identify the opportunities that challenges present. Some of the most successful companies and brands in history were launched or came to prominence in the aftermath of previous economic disruptions.

Unfortunately, there is no simple way for Canada to benchmark itself.

One day we read about how Canada is one of the best places to live, and how we have an enviable standard of living. Then a few days, weeks or months later, we read about our poor productivity, our weak purchasing power. It's hard to tell where we stand.

Starting with the positive, Canada is a very good place to live and work. According to the United Nations' Human Development Index, we rank third out of 179 countries. This index looks beyond GDP to a broader definition of wellbeing that includes life expectancy, education, and standard of living. The United States is 15^th, also a very good ranking.

But when you dig deeper into the economic data, the picture for Canada becomes a little more disparate.

According to research published annually by OECD - the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development - we are doing poorly when it comes to improving labour productivity - in fact, we are falling further and further behind.

This is a drum that I - and many others - have been beating for a long time and, it's concerning, that we see this issue falling off the radar during this economic downturn. Labour productivity growth - which is measured by relating changes in output to changes in labour input - is a key economic indicator that closely aligns with standard of living.

In 2007, Canada's labour productivity grew by only 0.5 per cent. The G7 countries averaged 1.2 per cent growth and the United States had productivity growth of 1.3 per cent. Of the 28 countries measured, only Italy, Mexico, Denmark and Spain had lower productivity growth than Canada.

What is more concerning is the downward trend. From 1995 to 2000, our productivity growth was about equal to the U.S. In the past decade, we have fallen behind.

This has a direct correlation to another key indicator: net national income or NNI. Today, per capita, Canada's income and productivity levels are 15 per cent lower than the U.S.

In the U.S., the per capita NNI is $34,700. In Canada, our NNI is $26,900. Quite a gap.

So how do you explain these gaps?

Simply put, Canada and Canadian businesses do not invest in our economic prosperity as much as other countries, especially the United States.

I'll start with the good news. With education, we are doing well. We are about average in our spending for primary and secondary education among OECD countries, and we trail only the United States in spending on post-secondary education.

In terms of producing post-secondary graduates, we also do well. We produce one of the highest percentages of graduates and over half our population, in the 25-34 year age range, has achieved a post-secondary degree or diploma. That's good news for our next generation of business leaders. Where we are not keeping pace is in the areas of R&D, knowledge investment, and information and communications technology investment.

Canadian governments and businesses spend far less than our U.S. counterparts on R&D, and we are below the average for OECD countries. In fact, our R&D spend as a percentage of GDP has been trending downward for about five years.

Our investment in Information and Communications Technology - or ICT - also severely lags the United States and other economies like Great Britain and Sweden. And as with R&D, we are trending downward.

Investment in ICT is considered to be at the heart of economic change because the ICT-producing sectors play an important role, contributing to more rapid progress and productivity growth. Our lack of investment in this area means less ICT value is being added to our business sectors, compared to other jurisdictions.

So that's a snapshot. And it's a mixed bag.

But even with all this mixed data, there are clearly huge opportunities for us. Evolution is not a steady, incremental process that edges up at a perfect 45 degree angle. In fact, evolution often results in dramatic changes or upheavals, followed by long periods of relative stability, where very little changes. From a socio-economic perspective, think of the agricultural revolution or the industrial revolution. These were periods where dramatic change occurred in relatively short periods of time. Once it occurred things became stable again for long periods of time, but the world looked very different than it did just a few short months or years before.

I believe we are in the midst of a period of rapid and profound change - economically, technologically, socially, perhaps even politically and environmentally.

In times like these, success depends on your ability to understand what the "new normal" will look like. How will things be different when the economy stabilizes? And will you be prepared to take advantage of that new reality? Or will you be trying to compete in a world that has been relegated to the history books?

At Microsoft, our "new normal" focuses on three key pillars that we believe will have a direct impact on the success of our business. They are: the importance of innovation; the changing workforce; and the role of technology and information and communications technology.

Innovation

History teaches that there is no uniform path to economic recovery. However, businesses that take advantage of trends, that focus on just a few big bets, that are agile enough to take the next step to define the future, will thrive as the economy corrects.

Indeed, many of today's most prominent companies got their start during tough economic times.

Procter and Gamble was founded during the Panic of 1837.
IBM and General Electric came into existence during the long depression of the last quarter of the 19th Century.
And, of course, Microsoft was started in 1975 when unemployment was around 10 per cent.

Other companies solidified their market position for decades by investing prudently during downturns. RCA invested in television R&D during the depression and dominated their industry for decades. Also during the depression, Sears transformed from a catalogue mail order company to one with stores in every community. They transformed retail shopping by being innovative and remain a fixture today in malls across North America.

Doubters will tell you that there won't be enough venture capital money to drive innovation spending. Wrong. Good startups are going to continue to get funded. Smart new technologies are going to continue to get funded at big companies like ours.

At Microsoft, we've had to make some adjustments in our business and in our cost structure during this recession too. But we also decided to increase our investments in innovation; we will spend more than $9 billion this financial year and next in R&D because we believe in the power of innovation and we believe that investing now will lay the groundwork for success in the future.

So good things can come out of tough times. Again, the key is that there is no silver bullet for righting our economy - it is what it is - but one staple recovery tool throughout history has been innovation that leads to improvement in productivity.

The workforce is changing - dramatically

It may seem odd to be talking about labour shortages when unemployment is at its highest point in almost 20 years, but there is no doubt that Canada has a shortage of skilled workers. And this shortage is having a profound impact on our ability to compete.

This is an important distinction. It is quite possible to have a surplus of labour and a shortage of talent.

The numbers are clear. A study from the Conference Board of Canada determined that in just one generation - by 2025 - we will have a skills gap of 1.2 million people, which could cripple our economy. This gap is not likely to be closed even with high unemployment or with increased immigration of skilled workers. It's just too big.

The challenge is especially pressing in the IT industry. The Information Technology Association of Canada (ITAC) evaluated Canadian IT job demands over the next two years and determined that approximately 35,000 IT jobs would need to be filled even though we're graduating only about 7,000 computer science, math and engineering students per year.

Declining enrolment in highly skilled professions is one part of the problem, but so too is basic demographic trends.

Here are the facts. Over the next 25 years, 80 million boomers will retire in North America. There are only 46 million in the Gen X generation following in their footsteps - that's a 34-million person gap.

However, there are another 75 million young workers, often called the Gen Y or "net" generation following in the wake of the Gen X'rs. These young workers were born in the early 1990s and they are profoundly different from generations that came before them. They will transform the workplace in ways we can't yet imagine. Thinking about them - and how they work and think differently - should be considered in almost every business decision. We need to be ready for them and we need to embrace the change that they will bring.

What makes them different?

To start, they have a natural affinity for technology. Texting, social networking, instant messaging are all simply vehicles for communications. Email is archaic and a land line is almost inconceivable to them.

Working collaboratively is intuitive to them. They see the Internet only from the perspective of Web 2.0, where participation is the norm and sharing information through wikis, RSS feeds, tagging, filtering and more are commonplace.

They demand speed and constant change. They will demand learning opportunities, they'll want frequent feedback, and will insist on a work-life balance that may make older managers bristle.

Successful organizations will learn to alter their culture and management approaches, while continuing to respect the needs of older employees. These same organizations must also accept that their young employees have as much to teach them about success as do the organizations themselves.

We're in the midst of a technological transformation

To those who claim that technology has reached some sort of zenith, where no more game changing innovation is likely I simply say - you're wrong and you will be left behind.

Consider how far we've come in just the last decade. The Internet has gone from completely rudimentary to essential in our lives. Today's mobile phones are now as powerful as PCs. Social networking has entered education, and is now entering the workforce. Alternative user interfaces, including tablet PCs, touch phones, and voice-driven search have become more commonplace.

Despite much advancement, we still have a long, long way to go. We are presented with tremendous opportunities to improve how we interact with technology, and how we do business.

Some of these opportunities are immediate and do provide relief in tough economic times.

Unified communications technologies bring voice communications, e-mail and instant messaging together to allow organizations to replace traditional phone systems with integrated software solutions that reduce hardware and maintenance costs, resulting in immediate bottom line relief.

Online conferencing lets companies cut back on travel to save money. Today, video conferencing and new collaboration tools are making virtual meetings much more like face-to-face interaction and enabling people to share and work together more effectively.

Reducing computer energy usage is one of the most effective ways to lower costs without hampering organizational capabilities. Windows Vista PCs automatically go into sleep mode after 60 minutes of inactivity. If your organization has 1,000 PCs, the annual cost savings from this feature amounts to $9,400 per year and 21 tonnes of carbon per year.

Another way to lower costs and energy consumption is through virtualization, which uses more of the computing power you already own. We're doing it at Microsoft. In 2007, our internal IT department moved 25 per cent of its servers into a virtualized environment. This resulted in savings of US$10-million and today, it takes just four people to manage the group's 3,500 servers.

Cost cutting makes sense in this environment, but these are not the ways technology is going to transform the workplace. At Microsoft, we envision a future where interacting with technology will be more like interacting with people. Voice recognition will supplant keyboards. Displays and screens will show up everywhere on every wall, every tabletop, any large surface will become an extension of your mobile device, capable of displaying information so that you can make the best use of your physical environment. These environments will make technology even more accessible, and they will unlock the potential of computing to enable individuals and communities to solve their toughest problems.

One of the best ways to articulate this vision is to imagine what the world could look like 5, 10, 15 years from now when taking into account the economic, demographic, and technological trends.

This vision should include three key elements.

The first is expression as it relates to how people create, interact and work with content.

Content will be created and communicated in simple yet expressive ways, enhancing understanding and shared experiences across cultural and skill divides.

The second is seamless and secure connections. It relates to connections across people, content and processes. All will be semantically connected. Tools and services will be dynamically assembled, and access will be implicitly authenticated across teams, organizations, and networks.

Finally, contextual and anticipative insight relates to how people will leverage information. Information will be contextually relevant, enabling search, discovery, and analysis based on user profiles and intent.

Like it or not, we are in the midst of unprecedented change, the kind of change that is not linear, is not incremental. The kind of change that creates a "new normal" seemingly overnight.

These forces of change are having dramatic impacts across our society. These forces of change do not operate in isolation. Tomorrow's workforce is demanding technological innovation in the workplace and the innovative leaders who do this will be the ones to emerge strongest from this economic downturn.

Given the economic uncertainty, it would be very easy to hunker down and wait for the storms to pass. But history tells us that those who hunker down risk being left behind. We all face this choice. For those of us who choose to lead, we will emerge from this difficult period having earned the right to define the next chapters in our history.

Blog: Gavin Thompson CLICKS at Alberta Children's Hospital

Microsoft Canada Co. — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:20:00 GMT

Robots. Holograms. Virtual classrooms. Senses stimulators. Virtual pets.

These are just some of the ideas put forth last week when I met with the Youth Council at the Alberta Children's Hospital - an amazing group of 10-19 year olds who have at some point been hospitalized. The youth council consists of David, Deb, Rachel, Nicole, Emile, Gerrin and Tyler. Over pizza, we talked about the struggles they face being in hospital and the role technology could play in alleviating the isolation felt during their stay.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

I asked them to think creatively and broadly - no idea was a bad idea - and man, did we get some "out-of-the-box" ideas! The creativity and energy in the room was outstanding and the ideas just kept flowing throughout the entire session. Everything from virtual travel experiences to playing virtual instruments to being able to talk to families and friends instantly on mobile devices was discussed. Simply put - the kids know they have to be in the hospital but they don't want to feel like they're in the hospital.

Now, with ideas in hand, I will converse with colleagues at Microsoft and see what technology we can create as part of the CLICK Child Life Interactive Computers for Kids program to help give these kids a sense of normalcy while hospitalized.

Stay tuned...

Gavin Thompson

Director of Citizenship

Microsoft Canada

To view our press release, visit the Microsoft Canada Newsroom.

To read coverage from this event in the Calgary Herald, click here.

Canadian Innovators Program - Randy Cheema

Microsoft Canada Co. — Mon, 25 May 2009 21:13:00 GMT

Helping children with auditory processing difficulties

"We've made a breakthrough that can help children overcome serious challenges to learning. This technology has the power to make a lifelong impact on children with auditory processing difficulties. I'm working hard every day to bring this technology to children around the world." - Randy Cheema

Randy Cheema understands the challenges children with learning disabilities face in and outside of the classroom. He grew up dyslexic, so tasks that were easy for other children his age, such as following a series of instructions or reading grade level material was difficult for him.

During his years at Memorial University completing a Bachelor of Science in biology and biochemistry, Randy discovered how learning disabilities are often caused by the brain's inability to process sound.

In 1994, Randy, founded a technology company called Systems 'N Solutions in St. John's, Newfoundland. Randy's company used Microsoft's .NET platform to create a program called Brain Sutra with the assistance of his wife, Dr. Sherry Cheema, an educator passionate in the field of learning disabilities. Using Windows software, Brain Sutra is able to identify auditory processing weaknesses in children ages seven to 12, and customize activities to improve processing skills and in turn learning potential.

"Brain Sutra demonstrates that innovation is happening right across Canada - not just in technology hubs like Toronto, Waterloo or Ottawa. In St. John's, Newfoundland, Randy has found a way to use Windows software to help children," said John Weigelt, National Technology Officer, Microsoft Canada. "This innovation has the potential to have an impact around the world."

Indeed, the Cheemas' have a global vision for their product. Brain Sutra is currently available in English, French and Spanish and plans are in place to expand the product to include other auditory skills that impact learning. Demand from this product across Canada and the United States has been strong.

Microsoft Canada is proud to honour Randy through its Canadian Innovation Program, where Canadian men and women are using our technology to create breakthroughs that benefit everyone. To learn more about Randy's innovation on the Microsoft platform, visit http://www.brainsutra.com

Canadian Innovators Program - Dr. Khaled El-Emam

Microsoft Canada Co. — Tue, 12 May 2009 20:03:00 GMT

Privacy and Innovation in Healthcare Information

"Information technology is the foundation for great research and development. We need technology to make the core discoveries that will ultimately protect us and save lives in the future." - Dr. Khaled El-Emam

Dr. Khaled El-Emam has been passionate about technology since he was a child. He came to Canada from Germany to work at the Canadian National Research Council in 1999 after obtaining a Ph.D. from the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, King's College at the University of London (UK).

Today, Khaled is an award-winning systems and software engineering scholar and a Canada Research Chair in Electronic Health Information at the University of Ottawa. He works in a lab at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Research Institute, leading a world-class e-health research program using Microsoft technology.

In his lab at CHEO, Khaled developed Privacy Analytics, software that helps health care providers protect personal information while unlocking data that is valuable for physicians, pharmacists, researchers, and ultimately, the patient. Home addresses, family histories and occupations are concealed by Privacy Analytics, while trends are uncovered in analysis that can help lead to important discoveries such as the real-time identification of influenza outbreaks.

"Privacy Analytics is a great example of cutting-edge innovation that has a measurable human impact," said John Weigelt, National Technology Officer, Microsoft Canada. "This type of research and development is already a priority south of the border, and it's great to see that Canada is also advancing in this area."

Balancing the privacy rights of patients with the need for information on the part of public health professionals, researchers, and governments is a contentious issue because medical histories are the most sensitive examples of personal data.

"It only takes one breach of someone's private health information before you start losing the public's trust," Khaled explains. "This can have disastrous effects on access to information, which the health care industry needs in order to innovate and find cures to protect us against life-threatening diseases and the next generation of epidemics, including bioterrorism."

Microsoft Canada is proud to honour Khaled through its Canadian Innovation Program, where Canadian men and women are using our technology to create breakthroughs that benefit everyone. To learn more about Khaled's innovations on the Microsoft platform, visit http://www.privacyanalytics.ca/

Canadian Innovators Program - Dr.Wael Badawy

Microsoft Canada Co. — Tue, 12 May 2009 19:23:00 GMT

Harnessing the power of video

"I believe technology should improve the everyday lives of Canadians. If I can reduce stress and give people a sense of security, then I feel I have made a difference." - Dr. Wael Badawy

Dr. Wael Badawy is so passionate about technology and problem solving that he has obtained four advanced Computer Science and Engineering degrees from universities in Egypt and the United States. In 1996, Wael came to Canada to become a Professor of Computer Engineering at the University of Calgary. After eight years of teaching, Wael took advantage of Alberta government business funding (AVAC Ltd.) to launch Intelliview, in Calgary, Alberta.

Intelliview employs Wael's patented cutting-edge technology to filter video footage and instantly extract the important elements (such as a description of a vehicle or snapshot of an intruder), which are then delivered to individuals via text message on their mobile device or personal computer. Sounds simple, but this new process is saving time and money for law enforcement and security professionals who would otherwise spend hours sifting through footage manually to find information to assist with investigations. With Intelliview's technology, it is possible to reduce false alarms and to receive accurate, real-time notifications of intrusions, threats and unwanted activities.

"Information is increasingly being delivered in multimedia formats. Video information is extremely valuable but can be difficult to organize in a meaningful way," explains John Weigelt, National Technology Officer, Microsoft Canada. "Wael has made this easier by reducing the time required for organizations to receive the information they need in a way that works for them, rather than sifting through hours of footage."

Wael has used Microsoft's partner program to take advantage of technical support and free development tools. "I wouldn't think of building Intelliview's products on any other platform," he says. "This is what our customers prefer, it's what IT professionals like to use. The Microsoft platform really fosters an environment of collaboration among our team, which leads to innovative products."

Microsoft is proud to honour Wael through its Canadian Innovation Program, where Canadian men and women are using technology to create breakthroughs that benefit people across the country. To learn more about Wael's innovations using the Microsoft platform, visit http://www.intelliview.ca/

Microsoft Canada makes its largest ever software donation to Canadian Red Cross passing $50 million milestone in total donations

Microsoft Canada Co. — Thu, 07 May 2009 13:36:00 GMT

On May 7, 2009 Microsoft Canada made its largest ever software donation to the Canadian Red Cross, bringing our company past the $50 million mark of donations made to nonprofits and charities across Canada since 2004.

Microsoft Canada will provide the Canadian Red Cross with more than $3 million in software and licensing to help them focus on disaster relief efforts and humanitarian aid in Canada and around the world.

For more details on this important milestone click here.

Recognizing Canadian Innovation – The Blue Sky Award

Microsoft Canada Co. — Wed, 06 May 2009 13:53:00 GMT

Last year Microsoft Canada launched the first ever Blue Sky Award. It’s targeted at highlighting Canadian software innovation – great up-and-coming software companies doing great work. SiteMasher, our winner last year is a great example of one of those Canadian innovators. We love it because we get a chance to meet and celebrate what Canadians are doing. (It is also a great way to see how companies are using our technologies in new and creative ways!!)

Hopefully the attention generated by the Award helps those companies be seen on a broader scale and that the support we provide helps them to accelerate their business plans.

Interested? Or know someone you should be - www.microsoft.com/canada/bluesky

Click here to read the full blog post by Mark Relph, Vice President, Developer & Platform Evangelism Group, Microsoft Canada Co.

Obama Names Craig Mundie to Sci-Tech Advisory Council

Microsoft Canada Co. — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 15:02:00 GMT

From the Microsoft On the Issues Blog, seen here.

We talk a lot on this blog about the intersection of technology and public policy, and Microsoft’s work to apply technology in ways that will advance public policy goals such as improving health care, education and economic growth.

The ties between the tech and government realms became especially palpable today at Microsoft when President Obama named Craig Mundie, Microsoft’s chief research and strategy officer, to his 20-member President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.

Craig is part of an impressive group of academic and business leaders that includes three Nobel laureates, two university presidents and four MacArthur Foundation Fellows. Craig and his colleagues will advise President Obama and Vice-President Biden on the formulation of science and technology policy.

For more on today’s announcement, read the White House announcement or the Microsoft statement.