"The Best of the Best" -- CEOs Win Prestigious CATA Innovation Awards

23rd Annual CATA Innovation Awards Gala features President of Discovery Channel and General Manager of Cognos

Ottawa, June 10, 2008 -- The nation's most promising entrepreneurs and innovators received Canada's "innovation all-stars" awards in a Gala ceremony on the evening of June 10th. The 23rd annual awards ceremony is presented by Canada's oldest and largest high tech association, CATAAlliance. The Gala dinner at the Chateau Laurier in Ottawa featured a champion of Canadian creativity and innovation, Paul Lewis, President and General Manager of Discovery Channel Canada. Mr. Lewis has been the driving force behind the acclaimed series' "Race to Mars", and "Mars Rising", a Canadian project that has been broadcast around the world to rave reviews and huge audiences.

The Gala's theme this year was Northern Light -- a celebration of those stand-out companies that give Canada its collaborative edge. The collaborative edge comprises the ripple-chains of expanding value that unite Innovators, Commercializers, Users, and Professionals, and these Canadian companies are the "best of the best" in global collaboration chains.

A special award was named after a program designed to launch Canada's technology reputation to new heights. "Northern Light" will place a Canadian spacecraft on the planet Mars -- making Canada only the third nation in the world to have achieved that goal. "We think it is a very appropriate title for the 'best of the best' award," said CATA President John Reid.

This year's award winners include:

• Sarah Kirke Award for outstanding woman in technology innovation and corporate leadership: two winners: Dale Gantous, CEO, InGenius; and Dr. Veena Rawat, President, Communications Research Centre.
• Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa, Award for Private Sector Leadership in Advanced Technology: Peter Sandiford, President, Level Platforms. The Award was presented by Dean Michael Kelly.
• CATA ICT Health Award: MediSolve. The Award was presented to President Dr. Gorsev Pristine.
• Ericsson Award for Outstanding Product Achievement in the Content and Application Mobility Industry: EMS Satcom's eNfusion Broadband. The Award was presented by Pierre Boucher of Ericsson.
• Gowlings Clean Tech Award: Nexterra Energy Corp. The Award was presented by Andrew Foti, Partner, Gowlings.
• ICTC Award for Information Technology Strategic HR Leadership : Accenture, accepted by France Cyrenne. The Award was presented by Paul Swinwood of ICTC.
• Deloitte Award for Chief Information Officer Leadership : Dr. Catherine Boivie, Senior VP, IT, Pacific Blue Cross. The Award was presented by Duncan Stewart of Deloitte.
• High Road Communication Award for Excellence in Science and Technology Reporting: Matt Hartley, Senior Reporter, Globe and Mail. The Award was presented by Sarah Burns, Senior VP, High Road.
• 3M Canada Award for Excellence in Emerging Technology: Ground Effects Environmental, accepted by President Sean Frisky. The Award was presented by Elise Maheu, Business Director Government Markets and Public Affairs.
• Telus Award for Public Sector Leadership : Ron McKerlie, Corporate CEO and Chief Strategist, Government of Ontario. The Award was presented by Telus' Vice President - Ontario Public Sector, Nick DiGiovanni
• Northern Light Award: "Best of the Best" was presented to Ground Effects Environmental, by Dr. Brendan Quine, President of Northern Light.

The evening also featured a panel discussion on "How Do you Win in a Slow Economy?" with a panel including: Robert Ashe, General Manager, BI and Performance Management, Cognos, an IBM Company, Rod Bryden, President & CEO, Plasco Energy Group, Dr. Brendan Quine, Northern Light, Dale Gantous, CEO, InGenius (Innovation Award winner), and Gary Hebb, Vice President and General Manager, EMS Satcom (Innovation Award winner).