10th May 2011

iVillage Opens Neighbourhood In Canada

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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10th May 2011

Ode To A Post-It Note Wins A Webby

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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9th May 2011

IGLOO Picks Up Two Awards At Technology Services World

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

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

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

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

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

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9th May 2011

Four Recent Game Releases For iOS Devices

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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9th May 2011

Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal Presents Facebook Co-Founder Chris Hughes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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9th May 2011

Bunny The Zombie Slayer Version 1.2 Now Available

Hothead GamesHothead Games has announced a batch of updates to the popular 99 cent iOS zombie-defense game Bunny the Zombie Slayer. Released today, this update offers expanded game play and in-game improvements for additional hours of zombie killing fun.

Bunny the Zombie Slayer version 1.2 now includes:Bunny The Zombie Slayer

  • Three different modes to play
    • Classic: how many waves of zombies can you defeat with your hardboiled hand-grenades?
    • 28 Waves Later: Put your skills to the test with even more hordes of zombies and no special eggs to bail you out.
    • Time Attack: Kill as many zombies as possible in 2 minutes—aim for the head for bonus time and high scores.
  • Game Center support with leaderboards for each mode
  • Native Retina Display support
  • Automatic detection for device orientation

“Bunny the Zombie Slayer was a top 50 overall app in the first week it launched, and even with that success we still want to keep improving the game and make it even more fun for the players,” said Hothead Games producer Joel DeYoung. “We’ve listened to all the feedback that the game has received and are offering this update thanks to the comments and reviews from our customers.”

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

Bunny The Zombie Slayer is Rated 9+ for Infrequent/Mild Cartoon or Fantasy Violence and is compatible with the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. Requires iOS 3.1.3 or later.

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9th May 2011

Loblaw Chain Offers Unlimited Mobile Plans With PC Mobile

PC MobileLoblaw’s is launching a menu of unlimited monthly plans for the first time as PC® mobile products and services offer Canadian families brand name mobile phones and new options for simple, affordable plans.

“We’re offering Canadians a great selection of stylish mobile phones to choose from and the value they’ve come to expect from the President’s Choice® brand,” said Sandra Daniel, senior director, PC Telecom. “Starting this month, shoppers will have new flavours of Unlimited talk, text and tweet options to choose from.”

PC® mobile products and services are offered through many of Loblaw Companies Limited (Loblaw) banner stores across the country and now include great new ways for customers to get value for their hard-earned dollars:

  • Unlimited plans starting as low as $15 per month and the first month for free
  • Simplified plans with talk and text options to suit any budget for $15, $25 or $35 per month
  • All monthly plans include UNLIMITED regular text messaging throughout North America and Unlimited
  • PC® mobile Family Calling, letting customers reach out to other PC® mobile customers locally, any time of the day or night
  • Plans stuffed with more value so that Canadian families can talk and text to their hearts’ content, without blowing the family budget

“We want to make life easier for Canadian families,” added Daniel. “With PC® mobile products and services, what you see is what you get. There are no zones, gimmicks or hidden costs – just Unlimited calling and texting options using brand name phones, easy on-the-spot comparisons and unparalleled value.”

The PC® mobile line of products and services were introduced by Loblaw in 2005. PC® mobile customers enjoy free voice mail, call display, call waiting, call forwarding and three-way calling as well as free incoming texts. In addition to new unlimited monthly plans, Canadians can count on their PC® mobile service to keep them connected, running on a network that serves over 96 percent of the Canadian population.

New PC® mobile customers can enjoy a limited time offer: With the activation of a PC® mobile $35 monthly plan and phone by June 30, customers will receive 150 local anytime minutes each month and free unlimited incoming calls for as long as the plan is active.

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9th May 2011

GoGoNews Launches Daily News Website for Kids

go go newsToronto-based GoGoNews, the online news resource for children, has launched GoGoNews.com, an interactive web site featuring daily news for school children ages seven to 13 years old. GoGoNews.com features popular headlines from mainstream media with filtered content, informing children of global events while simultaneously protecting them from images and story details appropriate for more mature audiences. In addition to breaking news, GoGoNews covers Science, Art, Government, Politics and Geography, offering fun facts and stories that capture children’s attention and encourage exploration of new subjects.

Designed to provide parents and teachers with interesting topics to engage children in conversation and expand their knowledge, GoGoNews provides a safe means for addressing the harsh realities of today’s world. The site is organized in stories that are packed with facts but concise enough to keep young readers engaged and hungry for the next article. The news articles can be readily accessed with the site’s simple and intuitive navigation:

Headlines – covers breaking news
Cool & Fun – contains items like brain teasers, puzzles and jokes
Picks – is filled with editor’s and children’s recommendations on top books, toys, and gift ideas
Planet – feature interesting facts about space and the environment
Talk – provides a forum for kids and parents to post feedback, comments and ideas
Teach – offers  suggestions for parents and educators on how to approach difficult news topics and innovative ways to introduce new lessons

“We created GoGoNews to inform kids about world events in a safe manner, feeding their young, inquisitive minds with real news, while also protecting them from content that is too sophisticated or beyond their

Golnar Khosrowshahi

Golnar Khosrowshahi

comprehension,” said Golnar Khosrowshahi, founder and editor in chief of GoGoNews. “As a parent, I want my children to grow up and be educated in a global context; to think of countries near and far as their neighbors who do things just a little differently. I believe that the next generation of leaders will be those who have grown up connected to the world around them intellectually, academically and socially. With GoGoNews, we are creating the opportunity for children to improve their literacy, gain a new vocabulary and learn about different people, countries, and cultures in a fun and entertaining format.”

Khosrowshahi started GoGoNews in 2007 for her then five-year-old twin daughters after they saw a newspaper cover with a devastating photograph of a little girl after an earthquake in Pakistan. Rather than ignoring her daughters’ ensuing questions and finding them an alternative distraction, Khosrowshahi explained earthquakes and the types of damage they can cause.

The interest, emotions and discussion that followed inspired Khosrowshahi to create a daily online newsletter for her girls. The result was a compilation of culled headlines and relevant data that encouraged conversation about what they read, learned and felt about the news. The newsletter quickly gained a following among family, friends and elementary schools and led to the creation of GoGoNews.com, which, unlike other similarly branded news sources geared for children, is updated 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Today, GoGoNews is compiled by an editorial team, with consultation and input from an advisory board that includes teachers, child psychologists, curriculum specialists and various educators who guide classroom discussion and materials and advise on the treatment of stories about natural disaster. GoGoNews is currently being syndicated to elementary schools throughout the United States and Canada via the newsletter, GoGo On The Go.

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9th May 2011

MapQuest Gets A Dot CA

mapquestDenver-based MapQuest, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of AOL Inc. has just announced the launch of MapQuest.ca to provide accurate mapping tools and directions for Canadian addresses.

“MapQuest has been providing solutions to Canadian users to meet their trip-planning needs for years,” said Christian Dwyer, senior vice president and general manager, MapQuest. “The launch of MapQuest.ca speaks to the growing needs of Canadian consumers for MapQuest tools, including search results and Canadian-specific directions providing a localized experience.”

MapQuest.ca is a key part of MapQuest’s strategy of inspiring consumers to explore and discover while on their travel journeys. MapQuest also offers tailored opportunities for advertisers looking to engage users.

According to comScore’s 2010 Canada Year in Review (published March 2011), Canadians are one of the most engaged online audiences, ranking highest among the top markets in both average hours and visits per visitor. MapQuest’s new, dedicated site provides a better experience to users through customized features including precise search, advertising messages geared toward individual inquiries and needs, and directions defaulting to kilometers.

Additional information on Canadian users:

  • Directories/Resources (where mapping is) grew 18% Y/Y and is a top category
  • Canadian males spent the greatest amount of time on Directories sites, averaging more than 94 minutes per month in Q4 2010.
  • Women spent double the amount of time on Photos and Directories sites when compared to Q4 2009

“Though Canadians have been using MapQuest for 15 years, the new site provides new inventory for advertisers looking to reach travelers in all stages of trip-planning and discovery,” said Graham Moysey, general manager, AOL Canada. “We’re thrilled to bring these enhanced, new opportunities to our current and prospective advertising customers.”

MapQuest.com also operates with 14 language localization options and 27 country-specific open-source mapping sites that harness crowd-sourced map data. The launch of the dedicated Canada site underscores AOL Canada’s continued commitment to the Canadian marketplace, coming on the heels of the recently announced IAB Portrait (formerly known as Project Devil), the new ad format that could transform online marketing and the announcement of a Canadian version of The Huffington Post.


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7th May 2011

Banff Media Festival Introduces Deal Makers Live

Banff World Media FestivalNew to the Banff World Media Festival this year is Deal Makers Live, a new pitch competition and market simulation reflecting the realities of creating, selling and making shows in 2011 that will see eight finalists pitch their concept, winning audience and judge approval. The competition is open to industry veterans, emerging producers, writers, digital thinkers – anyone who thinks they can deliver a great elevator pitch and then, if selected by the audience, hold their own in a 15-minute creative meeting with major international content gatekeepers. One gifted participant will win top marks and be named Ultimate Deal Maker in this exciting new live format, created by Allan Novak and co-produced with AllScreen Entertainment.

The eight finalists will be selected based on their response to the competition’s Creative Brief (PDF). The Brief lets you choose your own genre, star, brand partner and cross-platform approach from a short list of possibilities. These choices will form the backbone of the pitch, but turning these elements into a compelling project and selling it effectively is entirely up to the entrant. This pitch is not intended to become a real project, but is a vehicle to explore different ideas and approaches, and for the eight Deal Makers to show the audience and judges what they’ve got.

Jonathan Torrens will host the final event, when the eight pitchers will take the stage at Banff, going head-to-head in a high-profile, high-tech battle for the hearts and minds of both the expert panel and the live Banff audience.
With state-of-the-art surprises, world-class guests and exciting twists and turns along the way, Deal Makers Live promises to be an exhilarating race to the finish as the eight contestants are narrowed down to one final winner.

To format your entry, use the Creative Brief as your guide, completing the questions to create what will become your introductory pitch to the judges. Along with your entry, send the selection panel a short, one-minute video telling them why you should be chosen to present live on stage in the first ever Deal Makers Live Showcase. Show off your outstanding pitching style and creative prowess, and give the selection panel a taste of what the show’s judges and audience will be seeing on the pitching floor if you are selected. The panel has posted a sample entry form to get you started.

To enter the Deal Makers Live, you will need to create an account on the Banff World Media Festival site. Once your account is created, you can log in as necessary to revise your submission(s). In the case of multiple entries, you can share your user name and password with colleagues, so that others may also submit programs on behalf of the company.

Entries will be accepted until May 20th, 2011 and this competition is free to enter.


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