First Annual Smart Awards Banquet

Master of Ceremonies  First Annual Smart Awards Banquet:  Warren Wilson,  Chair of Smart Winnipeg

Education: InForm Net

InForm Net is an Internet-based alternative learning environment where students participate in online learning experiences to achieve credits in high school courses approved by Manitoba Education and Training.

A consortium of four Manitoba School Divisions InForm Net works in to provide a quality learning experience to students in Winnipeg and throughout the Province of Manitoba.

Presenting the Smart Award for Education is Norm Lee from Manitoba Network for Science and Technology and accepting the Smart Award for Education on behalf of InForm Net is Fran Fredrickson, Past Chairperson of the InForm Net Board and Laureen Goodridge, Chairperson of the InForm Net Board.

Community: Centre for Aboriginal Human Resource Development 

The Centre for Aboriginal Human Resource Development Inc is a non-profit, registered, charitable organization governed and operated by the Aboriginal community. CAHRD as it is otherwise known, has been providing the urban Aboriginal community with quality employment, education and training services and programs for over 26 years.

CAHRD is located in the former CP rail station at Higgins and Main, now an historic site renamed the Aboriginal Centre of Winnipeg.

View www.cybercentre.org, a portal into the Aboriginal community, for a tour of the cyber centre. The Aboriginal cyber centre is leading the way for Aboriginal people to become active participants in the many careers and opportunities that we know exist today.

Under the leadership of their Executive Director, Marileen McCormick, and through her Director of Programs and Development, Larry Wucherer, they have begun to set in motion a project that will yield many positive results not only for their people but for all of us.

Presenting the Smart Award for Community is Doug Stewart from Wardrop and accepting the Smart Award for Community on behalf of the Centre for Aboriginal Human Resource Development is the Director of Programs and Development, Larry Wucherer.

Research: TRLabs 

TRLabs, Canada's leading information and communications technology research consortium, was founded in 1986 as an applied research consortium based on industry, university, and government collaboration. Its goal: to enhance Canada's ICT expertise and improve its global competitiveness. With 40 members and $12 million in revenues, TRLabs operates research laboratories in Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatoon, Regina, and Winnipeg, and has two affiliate labs - the New Media Innovation Centre of British Columbia and TechnoBridge, a joint venture with the Centre of Wireless Communications of Singapore. TRLabs currently employs 58 people in its Winnipeg lab, present here since 1994.

Presenting the Smart Award for Research is Alfonz Koncan from Western Economic Diversification and accepting the Smart Award for Research on behalf of TRLabs are Mr. Glenn Rainbird, President and CEO Dr. Roger Pederson, Vice-President, and Director Edmonton and Manitoba Operations Dr. Jose A. Rueda, Research Scientist

Innovation: 
Frantic Films

Frantic Films is one of Canada's leading producers of creative animation and visual effects for film and television. Founded in 1997, Frantic has experienced tremendous growth and critical acclaim.

Frantic was nominated for an Emmy in 1998 for visual effects work on Stephen King's Storm of the Century. For excellence in commercial design and production, Frantic has received five Signature Awards, A Canadian Broadcasters' Association "Can-Pro" Award, a Blizzard Award, and two ProMax Awards (gold and silver). Frantic's owners also received recognition in 1999 as the Business Development Bank of Canada's Young Entrepreneurs of the Year. Frantic has also recently extended its in-house expertise. Jamie Brown, formerly of Sullivan Entertainment, Nelvana Limited and Credo Entertainment, and who most recently created and executive produced the highly successful television series, Pioneer Quest: A Year In The Real West, recently joined Frantic as CEO and Executive Producer.

Presenting the Smart Award for Innovation is Pat Colpitts from National Info-Tech Center and accepting the Smart Award for Innovation on behalf of Frantic Films is Ken Zorniak

Business: Encore Business Solutions 

This award culminates a number of extraordinary years for this leading-edge business solutions software company - growth, new offices, new hiring, and expansion into global markets! Established in 1990 and headquartered in Winnipeg, Canada, Encore is part of the Microsoft Great Plains worldwide network of independent partner organizations. Encore's Systems Integration division sells and implements Microsoft Great Plains' powerful business solutions to mid-sized firms within the Canadian Prairie Provinces with assistance from branch offices in Saskatoon and Edmonton.

Ranked in 2001 by 'Manitoba Business Magazine' as Manitoba's 9th fastest-growing business (up from 18th a year prior), Encore has grown from 8 employees in 1997 to its current highly skilled contingent of 32, all of whom hold post-secondary education and/or professional designations.

Presenting the Smart Award for Business is Al Hykaway from the City of Winnipeg and accepting the Smart Award for Business on behalf of Encore Business Solutions are the five members of the management team

• Marc Labossiere, President 

• Rene Desaulniers, VP of Product Sales 

• Ric Borlase, VP of Systems Integration 

• Ken Chartrand, Director of Finance & Administration 

• Debbie Guenette-Lavigne, Director of Marketing

Recreation & Culture:
Flin Flon Public Library; Gretta Redahl 

Gretta Redahl has held the position of Library Administrator for the past 19 years in Flin Flon. Her philosophy of establishing the Library as a community resource has been a dream that has been fulfilled. The many partnerships that Gretta has fostered have resulted in increased resources for the Library and have contributed to the success it has enjoyed in the community.

Kathleen Delgatty Kathleen serves as the Special Projects Coordinator in the Flin Flon Public Library. Born and raised in Flin Flon with a Scottish and Icelandic heritage she developed a love of reading and lifelong learning. Kathleen has served as a registered nurse, a nursing administrator and has completed special project work in community development related to health care. These experiences have provided the foundation for her current work.

Presenting the Smart Award for Recreation and Culture is Jim Bakken from the Research, Innovation and Technology Division of Industry Trade and Mines and accepting the Smart Award for Recreation & Culture on behalf of the Flin Flon Public Library are Gretta Redahl and Kathleen Delgatty.

Technology: 
Brandon Regional Health Authority Inc. 

If you were to ask the Brandon Regional Health Authority the two main factors which have contributed to their information technology successes, it would be "planning and partnering".

Depending on the service provided, the Brandon RHA has a client base as broad as all regions outside of Winnipeg for such programs as Westman Regional Laboratory; as broad as five regions in the case of many of its Mental Health programs; or in Brandon and the two neighbouring regions in the case of Secondary Acute Care. Accordingly, the Brandon Regional Health Centre must be constantly aware that its partners and clients are beyond the regional boundaries.

In all efforts, the Brandon RHA has established the principles of cooperation and participation by clients and partners as mentioned previously, and as well, has adopted some sound criteria for application and hardware selection such as due diligence, integration, functionality, flexibility and compliance with open architecture and industry standards..

Presenting the Smart Award for Technology is Keith Wilson from IBM Canada Ltd and accepting the Smart Award for Technology on behalf of Brandon Regional Health Authority Inc. is Earl Backman.

Health & Wellness: 
Town of Winkler 

The Smart Health Mall is a community-based facility developed in partnership with the Town of Winkler, the Medical Staff and private developer. It includes the Dr. C.W. Wiebe Medical Centre, Urgent Care facility and the latest "state-of-the-art" digital lab and x-ray equipment electronically connected to the regional Hospital. The facility houses a staff of 18 doctors and provides space for up to 15 health care practitioners.

Added to the Health Mall is a 71 unit condominium complex that is designed for the 55+ population with provisions for connectivity to the Medical Centre.

Presenting the Smart Award for Health & Wellness is Ken Penuita from Assiniboine Credit Union and accepting the Smart Award for Health & Wellness on behalf of the Town of Winkler is Winkler Mayor, Neil Schmidt.

Teacher in an Urban Community: 
Greg Link 

Greg Link's career in education began with a five-year trek that took him around the globe, beginning in Thompson, Manitoba as a teacher, and then moving on to a Computer Consultant position. Australia was his next stop where he served as a teacher and moved on to a Computer Development Officer position. Greg then moved home to Winnipeg and has just begun his 10th year at Tec Voc.

Students in the IT department take half of their High School program in academic studies and half in the technologies. The goal is to provide the student with the skills needed to establish and maintain an organization's "technology needs".

Students play an important role in supporting the arts and entertainment programs at Tec Voc. Last year they provided live video streaming and statistics for the Basketball tournament. This enabled parents and friends of out-of-town teams to watch games in real-time. A group of students were the production technicians for Fame - coordinating the music and special effects for the performance.

Presenting the Smart Award for Teacher in an Urban Community is Paul McGeachie from Red River College and accepting the Smart Award for Teacher in an Urban Community is Greg Link.

Teacher in a Rural Community: 
Lloyd Roche 

Lloyd Roche is presently the Technology Consultant for Evergreen School Division. He had great success as a High School teacher where his students excelled in Mathematics and Physics contests and where he coached many teams to win regional and provincial championships. From there Lloyd was seconded part time by Manitoba Education and Training and became very involved with technology and distance learning. Lloyd played a leadership role in establishing the award-winning fibre optic learning network installed in Evergreen School Division and Lakeshore School Division.

For Lloyd, the biggest reward is in seeing that he has helped others. People and businesses in surrounding communities and adults in evening classes know that he is always willing to help no matter how busy he is.

Presenting the Smart Award for Teacher in a Rural Community is Geoff Bresch from Manitoba Information Technology Industries and accepting the Smart Award for Teacher in a Rural Community is Lloyd Roche.

Youth: Tell Us About Us Inc. 

Tell Us About Us Incorporated started in 1997 and is growing as a leader in providing the latest customer feedback management tools. With the assistance of the NRC's IRAP program, Tell Us About Us has developed proprietary online, call center and IVR software.

Their programs have attracted clients across North America in the hospitality, retail and financial sector. They were winners of the 2000 Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce Innovation Award and Best Emerging Technology Award sponsored by the Royal Bank and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Recently, they have partnered with ENSIS Growth Fund to fund development in new markets.

Presenting the Smart Award for Youth is Dino Speziale from Canadian Information Processing Society and accepting the Smart Award for Youth are four of the founding partners Tyler Gompf Kirby Gompf Brent Stevenson Scott Griffith

Cyber Village Council Logo Winner:  Lisa Delmore

Keynote Speaker 
Nicholas Hirst, 
Editor Winnipeg Free Press

Nicholas Hirst was appointed editor of the Winnipeg Free Press in November 1996. Under his direction, the Free Press won a National Newspaper Award for feature writing for its coverage of the Red River Valley flood in 1997 and honourable mentions for news photography and spot news photography. The hardcover book, "A Red Sea Rising: The Flood of the Century", reported, written and published by the Free Press, hit bestseller lists in Canada selling more than 43,000 copies with the net proceeds going to the Red Cross Flood Relief Fund.

Nick started his career in journalism for newspapers in Yorkshire, England and then switched to television, working as a producer for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation on The Journal and the business program, Venture.

Mr. Hirst is presented a gift by Karen Keppler of Smart Winnipeg to acknowledge Editorial Support for the Smart Communities concept.

Smart Communities Achievement Award: Doug Hull