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A publication of the Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance,
the GTA HotNews is an e-Newsletter designed
to keep you current on the GTMA’s programs
and initiatives. It also promotes the activities and regional
economic development efforts of our public and private sector
partners.
SUBMIT NEWS! We welcome your news items and will make every effort to publish all responsible submissions in a timely manner. If you have an interesting news item, announcement or event that you would like to promote in the next edition of the GTA HOTNEWS, please contact Tony Romano, Director, Corporate Affairs at tromano@greatertoronto.org or 416-360-5758. Copy deadline for the June 2007 Edition is June 18 .
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GTMA Activities & Announcements:
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“Forging Global Relationships” – Theme of GTMA’s 9th Annual General Meeting
The GTMA’s 9th Annual General Meeting focused on the organization’s long term success in Forging Global Relationships. It was standing room only on May 25th at the Ontario Investment Service, as David Gavsie, Chair and Karen Campbell, President & CEO delivered the annual report to GTMA members and stakeholders.
“The GTMA’s network of domestic and global relationships combined with a strong targeted marketing program has been the foundation for the GTMA’s success in attracting over 56 new foreign companies to the GTA and building the GTA brand,” commented Karen Campbell, President & CEO. 2006 marked another solid year of success across a diverse range of industry sectors and geographic markets, including new investments by Mobiletron (Taiwan), Arkadin (France) and Uline (U.S.A).
The AGM was also an opportunity to acknowledge the GTMA’s retiring board members and welcome our newest directors including:
- Rebecca McKinnon, Executive Chairman, Timothy’s Coffees of the World Inc.
- Gregory Davis, President, DELL Canada
- Michael Ras, Vice President, Public Affairs, Hill & Knowlton Canada
- Paul Green, Director, Market Development, Enbridge Gas Distribution
“We’re delighted to have attracted such high calibre individuals to the Board with a broad range of business expertise and knowledge. I also want to acknowledge our outgoing directors and our Chair David Gavsie for their leadership and commitment in fostering regional unity and in promoting the GTA internationally,” remarked Lou Milrad, Incoming Chair, GTMA Board.
David Gavsie will continue to serve on the Board as a Past Chair.
Retiring Board members:
Councillor Michael Feldman City of Toronto 2001-2006
Glen Grunwald Toronto Board of Trade 2005-2006
Lino Luison Enbridge Gas Distribution 2005-2007
Robert MacIsaac (former Mayor) City of Burlington 2001-2006
Mayor Steve Parish Town of Ajax 2004-2006
Janet Richards Herman Miller Canada 2004-2007
Mayor Frank Scarpitti Town of Markham 2005-2006
View the 2006 - 2007 Annual Report |
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GTMA Mission to Denmark, Sweden and Holland, June 9-23, 2007
The GTMA and partners from the Regional Municipalities of Durham and York, in partnership with Norditrade and the Netherlands Consulate in Toronto have developed a unique two-legged Business Mission to Sweden, Denmark and The Netherlands on the theme of Sustainability and EN2: Energy and Environment. To date, 27 participants are involved in the mission, which will examine the Scandinavian and Dutch sustainability models as well as business opportunities in their markets. Members of the delegation include Durham Regional Chairman, Roger Anderson, Mayor David Ryan and Mayor Steve Parish, several Economic Development officials from across the GTA, as well as private sector businesses. The program will include visits and meetings with representatives, architects and developers of some of the world's best examples of a sustainable future. Room is now tight, but if you are keen to join this delegation, contact the GTMA as soon as possible. Click Mission Program for additional details. |
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GTA Launch of the BRANHAM 300 – Canada’s Leading IT Companies
Event Sponsor:
On April 26th the GTMA was pleased to co-host with the York Technology Association the GTA launch of the Branham 300 – a ranking of Canada’s leading IT companies ranked by gross revenue. The event was a sell-out, with over 220 registered guests from the IT community, government and academia attending the luncheon presentation in Markham. Now in its 14th year, the Branham 300 is considered the authoritative listing of Canadian software and IT services firms and represents a truly unique piece of intelligence on the Canadian Information Technology market.
The keynote address by Wayne Gudbranson, CEO of The Branham Group, looked at how the IT industry has evolved and adjusted to Canadian and global economic climates, examining export data of companies involved in IT hardware, professional services, software development and xSP. This year’s Top 250 organizations collectively generated over $65.0 billion in revenue, an increase of 10.7% over 2005. Ontario leads all other provinces with over 55% of the 250 companies profiled this year located in the province, followed Quebec (16%) and British Columbia (15%).
The GTA accounted for 55% of the growth of all Top 250 companies. With over 40 percent of the TOP 100 Canadian technology companies and 90 percent of the TOP 25 multinational tech companies, the Greater Toronto Area continues to be one of the world’s technology hotspots.
“Information & Communications Technologies is one of the GTMA’s key sectors that we actively promote internationally. Having such a large concentration of Canada’s top technology companies in the GTA presents a compelling message, and one that we will continue to deliver to international investors from the U.S., India, Europe and China,” said Karen Campbell, President & CEO, Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance view Branham 300 Presentation |
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GTMA Helps Taiwanese Firm Choose the Greater Toronto Area
“All of them!”
Those are the GTMA services that Mobiletron Electronics says it needed to set up its operations in the Greater Toronto Area.
“We had no idea how to get our foot in the door and set up a business in Canada,” said Mobiletron Electronics Canada Director Karin Kessler, leader of the company’s new Canadian operation. “The GTMA was able to advise us and link us with the expertise and resources we needed to get going quickly and efficiently.”
Mobiletron Electronics is a division of the More Group, a Taiwanese manufacturer of quality automotive electronics and power tools, more than 1,500 products in all. The company employs 1,800 people in factories in Taiwan and China, sales and distribution offices in the UK, U.S. and Canada, and its head office in Taichung Ta-Ya, Taiwan.
Established in 1982, Mobiletron places heavy emphasis on product design, engineering and manufacturing quality. The company operates its own stamping, mould-making, moulding and machining operations, and maintains certified quality assurance witness testing departments.
Mobiletron’s contact with the GTMA began in April 2006 through the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei. The manufacturer had been working for 5 years with a major Canadian national retailer, and was looking for a location in Canada that would enable it to service the account. The company also has its eye on expanding its sales in the Canadian marketplace. It asked for information about locating in the GTA.
“The GTMA made a great presentation,” Kessler said. “They outlined the business advantages of the southern Ontario area, and convinced our directors to locate here.”
Once the decision was made, the GTMA connected Mobiletron to a panoply of resources. GTMA’s network of partners helped the company to find a location (J.J. Barnicke), navigate immigration issues (Green & Spiegel), handle the legal aspects of setting up a business (Gardner Roberts) and build an accounting system (BDO Dunwoody). “The GTMA was able to pre-screen partners and put us in contact with the appropriate resources,” Kessler said. “We could not have found such excellent professional resources so quickly without the GTMA’s help.”
Mobiletron Electronics Canada Co. Ltd officially opened the doors to its Brampton office in August 2006. Kessler anticipates that the company’s operations in Canada, while initially established to provide product and customer support for one account, will expand its sales and distribution business in the Canadian market and in the north-eastern U.S. |
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The Power of Partnerships: Enbridge & GTMA
Growth is good. And in the case of the Greater Toronto Area, growth is best achieved through partnership.
Enbridge Gas Distribution is a founding member and continuing supporter of the Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance (GTMA), a unique group of private and public sector organizations working together to bring foreign investment and jobs to the Greater Toronto Area. It is the only organization of its kind in the region.
Enbridge supports the organization through its membership and sponsorship of various GTMA networking events.
“Enbridge has an important role to play in the community,” says Paul Green, Director, Market Development, Enbridge Gas Distribution. “As a member and sponsor of the GTMA, we are proud to help foster the economic development of this region.”
Paul is serving a three-year term on the organization’s Board of Directors.
Enbridge’s partnership with the GTMA has given the company an opportunity to connect with business and civic leaders from 29 regions and municipalities, and to collaborate with provincial and federal government officials.
Growing the overall Greater Toronto Area ‘pie’ means more employment opportunities and enhanced economic stability for all. And with growth in the region comes the need for energy optimization – a topic close to the hearts and minds of Enbridge leaders.
Enbridge sponsored the Alliance’s GTA Energy & Environmental Industries study, conducted by Gartner Lee Ltd. and the Delphi Group, which analyzed the state of the local market and identified opportunities for investment. The study also examined consumer expectations relating to reliable and sustainable energy sources.
“Energy is a hot topic these days,” says Karen Campbell, President & CEO, GTMA. “Members of the community look to the private sector for leadership in this area, and what they see is Enbridge is taking the lead.” |
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Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) Conference in NYC (May 16-19): Building the Broadband Economy
Now in its fourth year, ICF’s Building the Broadband Economy is an international meeting place and idea exchange for local government officials and their private-sector partners in telecom, IT, finance, real estate and consulting. It is also a unique opportunity to learn from the world's most innovative communities how they have made the broadband economy work for them, sometimes against great odds. It offers a global perspective on the best ways to create broadband infrastructure, attract knowledge workers, foster innovation and implement e-government programs that contribute to economic growth and bridge the digital divide. This year’s theme was on Leadership. Speakers from the GTA included Bill Hutchison, TWRC; Sharyn Gravelle, Vice President, Wireless, Toronto Hydro Telecom; and John Jung, GTMA’s VP international Marketing, who is also the Chairman of ICF. Two Canadian Cities were up for the honor of being named Intelligent Community of the Year, namely Ottawa and Waterloo. With a global jury voting, the winner this year was Waterloo. Other cities vying for the honor this year were Tallinn, Estonia; Gangnam, Seoul, Korea; Issy-les Moulineaux, Paris, France; Sunderland, UK; and Dundee, Scotland. Other awards presented included Intelligent Facility of the Year, Intelligent Community Visionary of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Award before an invited audience from nearly 20 nations. The goal of the awards is to increase awareness of the role that broadband communication and information technology play in economic and social development worldwide. Finalists from around the world, as well as representatives from governments, businesses and institutions, were on hand. view press release
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Advantage Canada Summit-Ottawa May 29, 2007
The Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance (CATAAlliance) is holding the Advantage Canada Summit in Ottawa on May 29th and has invited Gerald Pisarzowski, GTMA Vice President, Business Development, to participate as a Discussion Leader, addressing Ontario’s advantages and the importance of globally competitive cities. Other participants on the panel include Mike Darch (Executive Director, Global marketing, OCRI), Clare Barnett (Manager, Science Technology Services, MEDT) and Bill Elliot (Director, Business Development, CTT).
The Summit will bring together a Pan-Canadian assembly of recognized public, private, academic and labour leaders to develop a Canadian Brand; a defining statement that clearly describes Canada’s value proposition as a global sourcing destination of choice and differentiates the country from competing nations. The Summit’s other key themes include: defining Canada’s national advantages in the global sourcing industry and how to best leverage them; and strong leadership drives a strong brand-success stories. This summit is the second in a series of national consultations planned to take place later this year. It’s expected that the Summit will help establish how government and the private sector can work together to promote Canada as a strategic global sourcing destination. |
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“Canadian Economic Development Matures” feature interview with Karen Campbell, GMTA President & CEO
Karen Campbell, President & CEO, GTMA and Associate Board Member of CoreNet Global was recently interviewed on the changing role of economic development professionals and the field of economic development. The article called “Canadian Economic Development Matures” is featured in the April issue of Corporate Real Estate LEADER Magazine. To read the full text of the interview click on CORENET |
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GTA News:
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Toronto and Mississauga recognized in top rankings of fDi Magazine’s “North American Cities of the Future”
The cities of Toronto and Mississauga were two of this year’s winners of the Foreign Direct Investment (fDi) Magazine’s awards for “North American Cities of the Future 2007 and 2008”.
fDi magazine is a Financial Times Business publication and has been running the "Cities, Regions and Countries of the Future" competition for five years covering almost every region across the globe. The international panel of judges faced some tough choices this year with 108 North American cities being nominated, which were reviewed on the basis of more than 60 criteria designed to assess cities’ potential to attract business investment projects, and their ranking of economic, business and financial strengths.
Among the 108 North American cities reviewed by fDi, Toronto ranked second overall to Chicago as the “Major City of the Future”, while the City of Mississauga took second place for "Best Economic Potential” in the large city category. Good, affordable housing, low crime levels, strong health and education sectors, and falling unemployment helped to push Toronto, into the runner-up position. Toronto has a strong and innovative environmental programme and it topped fDi’s shortlist with the best quality of life of any major city.
In addition to the second place overall ranking, Toronto placed in the top five in the following categories:
- 1st in Best Quality of Life
- 4th in Best Development and Investment Promotion
- 4th in Best Infrastructure
- 5th in Best Human Resources
“The Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance congratulates the cities of Toronto and Mississauga for receiving this year’s prestigious fDi Magazine awards. The international recognition that comes with winning these awards is great news for the Greater Toronto Area and is a strong message to deliver to international investors,” remarked Karen Campbell, President & CEO, Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance. The announcement was released on April 27 in the U.S., European and world-wide editions of the Financial Times and the full story is featured in the April/May issue of fDi magazine.
To view the full listing and other award winners click on TOP 10 MAJOR CITIES OF THE FUTURE |
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MasterCard bets $1.4-Billion on Canada
When MasterCard Inc. created a billion-dollar global foundation last year, it could have set up shop in any city in the world, from London to Shanghai.
It chose Toronto, quietly establishing the largest foundation in Canada -- and signalling that the value of the Maple Leaf may be, well, priceless.
"Toronto is a diverse, dynamic city; it's the centre of finance in Canada and it's got a reputation as an international player," said Deanna Rosenswig, president and chief executive of the $1.4-billion (U.S.) foundation that will invest in charitable causes around the world, largely in developing countries.
"If you're MasterCard, and you're sitting in New York and saying to yourself, 'I represent MasterCard worldwide, I want this to be an international player' -- why not Toronto?" more… |
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Milton “Breaks New Ground” On Town Hall Expansion Project
The Town of Milton received a grant of $510,000 from the Province that will be used in part to ensure that the expanded Town Hall complies with LEED certification standards (Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design). This includes a variety of design features, selection of finishings, lighting requirements for all working areas, landscaping approaches and operational details.
The grant was received through the Ontario Government’s Rural Infrastructure Investment Initiative, which offered assistance to rural and small municipalities for construction-ready projects in several areas. The Town of Milton applied under two categories: sports, recreation and cultural facilities, and community energy projects.
“The expansion of Town Hall will be our first municipal construction project to pursue LEED certification, partly thanks to this grant,” said Mayor Gord Krantz. “The Town is setting an example in the building industry and to other municipalities for sustainable development and energy conservation.
“One of our highest priorities in this expansion project is to preserve the historic and cultural aspects of the existing Town Hall,” added Mayor Krantz. “The new plans also call for expanded public space, including an outdoor public square, a main lobby open to the public and a community room on the main level.”
Milton Council approved the schematic design for the Town Hall Expansion in January 2006. The design was developed and refined based on public input at four community open houses held over the fall of 2005 and in early January 2006 along with the guidance of the Town’s Steering committee for this project as well as feedback from Town staff. more…
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East Bayfront Precinct's First Employer to Bring 1,300 Jobs To Toronto's Waterfront
Mayor David Miller and John Cassaday, President and CEO of Corus Entertainment Inc., announced that Corus has agreed to be the first employer in the new East Bayfront precinct in the development currently known as Project Symphony.
Through a proposed lease with Toronto Economic Development Corporation (TEDCO), upon City Council approval, Corus would occupy a new building south of Queen's Quay and east of the Jarvis slip in late 2009. more…
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Upcoming Events:
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1st Canadian Municipal Wireless Applications Conference & Exhibition • May 28 – 30
ITAC’s 1st Canadian Municipal Wireless Applications Conference and Exhibition will not only update you on the latest initiatives of Canadian Municipalities, but will provide you with real case study insights, proven strategies, commentary from leading wireless experts and techniques for deploying wireless applications in your communities. more…
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Mayor Miller Kicks Off techweek.to • May 28 – June 1
Toronto Technology Week (techweek.to) is an exciting new week-long annual event to celebrate and showcase technology in Toronto, Canada’s largest technology hub. Highlights include Canada’s first-ever Canadian Municipal Wireless Applications Conference, Canadian New Media Awards, and a State of the Nation keynote address and discussion panel. Activities include trade association events, such as seminars and business networking functions, collaboration demonstrations, and educational forums, special exhibits showcasing innovation and excellence and other IT sector related activities. Some programs will have an admission charge while others will be free. more…
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CPA: Employment Law/Conflict Management in Call Centres • May 31
This is a one-day two-part course. In Part 1 you will be introduced to an overview of the relevant employment laws and regulations in the work place. These include human rights, health and safety, employment equity and standards, labour laws and labour practices. Expect intense interactive learning based on real-life case studies. Participants will receive resource materials to keep current going forward.
Part 2 starts with an assessment of your own personal Conflict Management style. This knowledge/awareness is complemented by a Conflict Resolution Model and applications. At the end of this session, you will come away with a much better understanding of the root causes of most conflicts, and have a process to nip them in the bud. more… |
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Luminato • June 1-10
Canada’s new annual arts festival, opens on June 1st and will run for 10 days and nights, transforming Toronto into a canvas where great music, dance, film, visual arts, literature and theatre come to life. Centred around Bloor and Avenue Road, the historic Distillery District, Harbourfront and downtown Toronto, Luminato offers entertainment to suit every appetite - from intimate theatrical, musical and literary events, to live cabaret in a European Speigeltent, to art in public spaces and giant open-air celebrations of the world’s carnival traditions, of drumming, and even of Yorkville in the 60s! The festival’s website makes it easy to browse all the offerings by genre and date and to purchase tickets - it even has an easy-to-use personal festival planner. Click on www.luminato.com now to find out about the eight world premieres, as well as all the free and family events and other festival gems you won’t want to miss!
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U.S. Franchise Trade Mission • June 6
This event is organized by the U.S. Commercial Service in Toronto, in partnership with the International Franchise Association. This trade mission will give Canadian investors the opportunity to explore six new U.S. franchise concepts that are interested in developing their concepts in Canada.
In addition, Canadian investor attendees will have the opportunity to meet individually face-to-face with each franchisor to discuss franchise development opportunities. This event is complimentary for pre-registered investors.
Click here for a list of participating U.S. franchise concepts and to register |
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BEDC Entrepreneur Hall of Fame Awards • June 7
Please join the Burlington Economic Development Corporation for its 8th Annual Signature Dinner as they celebrate and honour Michael Lee-Chin, Executive Chairman, Portland Holdings as the 2007 Entrepreneur Hall of Fame Award Inductee with keynote speaker Catriona LeMay Doan, Olympic Champion Speed Skater & CBC Analyst. more... |
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CDEA's 12th Annual Conference & Exhibition • June 13-15
The Canadian District Energy Association (CDEA) is an industry association representing member utilities, government agencies, building owners, consulting engineers, suppliers, developers, bankers, and investors who share a common interest in promoting the growth of district energy in Canada. more… |
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EECO 2007: The Industry Forum on Clean Energy, Climate Change and Clean Air • June 19 – 20
EECO Environment and Energy Conference is a unique event designed to offer valuable insight into the most pressing challenges affecting the future of the Great Lakes Region. Here you will connect with those with the influence and power to create change - and the innovators who are leading the way. more…
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