Focus On Our 2008 ITAC Corporate IT Hero

The ITAC IT Heroes Program was created to give recognition to men, women and organizations that have employed technology to improve the quality of life of their communities.

Previous IT heroes have included the Toronto Children’s Aid Society’s Cyber Bus and the Nova Scotia Conservatory of Music. Last year we introduced you to a remarkable 17 year old computer science student, Kayla Cornale.

Now in its eighth year, 2008 was a year of revitalization for this award program. Recognizing that corporations as well as people can do incredible things with technology, we created a new category of award for corporate heroes. This new award category recognizes a for-profit public or privately owned business that can demonstrate the creative application of IT in improving the lives of Canadians.

This month, ITAC Online is focusing on our Corporate IT Hero, Telus, who partnered to create Upopolis, a unique social-networking tool that helps to ease the stress and isolation children can feel during an extended hospital stay.

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Upopolis Uses Social Networking to Help Hospitalized Children

With Files From ITWorldCanada.com Staff

Upopolis is Canada’s first private online social network for hospitalized kids, created to help children and youths, who often feel isolated, stay connected to their friends, families and teachers. Through a unique partnership with Kids’ Health Links Foundation (KHLF), TELUS donated technology services to develop Upopolis, and worked closely with KHLF and McMaster Children’s Hospital to pilot the program.

Features include a personal profile, secure mail, instant chat, discussion boards, personal blogs and links to child-friendly games with the privacy and safety that parents expect. It also features a homework application to help kids stay up-to-date with their schoolwork and links to child-friendly general health information and specific information about the tests and procedures that they may have in the hospital.

The medical content was developed by KHLF in partnership with the Hospital. McMaster Children’s Hospital was the first to launch Upopolis in December, 2007. The program will continue to evolve as it rolls out to children’s hospitals across the country in partnership with KHLF.

Telus is the 2008 Winner of the ITAC IT Hero Corporate Award

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LifeStat: Helping Patients Keep Track of Vital Health Data

With Files From Regina Leader-Post Staff

In development for the past three years, LifeStat is a remote monitoring system for chronic disease management — essentially communications equipment combined with medical devices like glucose meters and blood pressure meters.

The data from the devices is sent to a central web site where the patients entire care team has access to the information, similar to logging in to online banking.

LifeStat also allows users to customize alert settings to be sent via e-mail, text messages, fax or interactive voice response callout.

The system has been used in trials across Canada and is currently being tested in health clinics and pilot programs.

Sasktel and LifeStat were nominated for a 2008 ITAC Corporate IT Hero Award

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ITAC NEWS

RFID and Enhanced Drivers Licenses: ITAC and ACT Canada Express Concerns in Letter to Minister of Public Safety
ITAC and the Advanced Card Association of Canada (ACT) recently shared their concerns with The Hon. Stockwell Day, Minister of Public Safety. In the letter, ITAC says that the RFID technology under consideration for the next generation of electronic drivers licenses will sufficiently secure the personal privacy of Canadians. Click here to read the full text of the letter.

ITAC EVENTS

8th Annual ITAC Who’s Who in ICT Partnering Forum
Sept. 23, 2008, Toronto, ON
ITAC's Who's Who partnering forum is a gathering of small companies in an open environment designed to encourage collaboration, partnership and provides an opportunity to network with peers. Through table-top exhibits and one-minute pitches, exhibitors can quickly spread the word about their company's products and services. This years' event is being held in conjunction with Toronto Tech Week - September 22-26, 2008 For more information, contact: Micheline Levesque, E-mail: mlevesque@itac.ca - Tel: (613) 238-4822 x 245 or Barrie Marfleet, E-mail: barrie.marfleet@itac.ca - Tel: (905) 602-8510 x 228. For the event website, please go to: http://www.itac.ca/index.php/event_whos_who

ITAC’s Ontario Annual General Meeting and Reception
Sept. 4, 2008
Toronto, ON
The ITAC Ontario Annual General Meeting is a great way to spend time with your friends and colleagues in the industry. You will also have the opportunity to get acquainted with the newly elected 2008/09 Ontario Board of Directors. The event will feature Special Guest Speaker: Matthew Anderson CEO, Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network, LHIN. For more information, go to: http://www.itac.ca/index.php/site/event_details/648/

Showcase Ontario - Featuring the New ITAC Pavilion
Sept. 8 - 10, 2008
Toronto, ON
New for 2008 is the Emerging Technologies Pavilion sponsored by ITAC,
allowing first time exhibitors to demonstrate solutions and network with government decision makers to experience the many benefits of participation as a Showcase Ontario partner. For more information go to: http://www.itac.ca/index.php/site/event_details/626/

8th Annual ITAC Who's Who In ICT
Sept. 23, 2008
Toronto, ON
ITAC's Who's Who partnering forum is a gathering of small and medium companies in an open environment designed to encourage collaboration, partnership and provides an opportunity to network with peers. Through table-top exhibits and one-minute pitches, exhibitors can showcase their company's products and services. For more information, go to: http://www.itac.ca/index.php/event_whos_who

Canadian Health Informatics Awards Gala
Nov. 19, 2008
Toronto, ON
Celebrating the outstanding achievements and excellence in the Canadian Health Informatics community, the CHIA Gala recognizes and honours the contributions of individuals and companies in the efficient use of information technology to improve the health of all Canadians. For more information, go to: http://www.healthinformaticsawards.ca/. For a complete, up to date listing of all ITAC events go to: http://www.itac.ca/index.php/site/events/

OTHER NEWS AND EVENTS

Canadian Information Processing Society Goes Global and Offers a New Tech Designation
CIPS recently announced that the association has taken a leadership role globally and is now offering a new, internationally-recognized professional Information Technology (IT) designation. The new CIPS professional designation will be called the Canadian IT Professional (pending final trademark approval). This new Canadian professional designation will allow senior IT practitioners to qualify for the first-ever International Information Technology Professional (IITP) designation* to be launched world-wide in 2009, and thus enjoy international professional recognition. For More Information, please go to: http://www.cips.ca/?q=node/277

Call For Nominations: Round Three of the Premier’s Catalyst Awards
The goal of the Catalyst Awards is to help build a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in Ontario by recognizing excellence and leadership in innovation. The program’s five categories are: Best Young Innovator, Innovator of the Year, Lifetime Achievement in Innovation, Start-up Company with the Best Innovation and Company with the Best Innovation. For-profit corporations or employees or directors of those corporations are eligible for this award. The Catalyst Awards provide five awards of $200,000 for developing a commercially successful new, or significantly improved, product or service based on a breakthrough technology. The deadline for the Premier’s Catalyst Awards program is 5:00 p.m., Thursday, October 9, 2008. Please visit the Ministry of Research and Innovation website at http://www.ontario.ca/innovation or contact Jenna Dunlop at (416) 326 - 8458 or awards@mri.gov.on.ca for more details.

First Annual Cyber Security Conference
Sept. 8-9th, 2008
Hyatt Regency, Calgary, AB
Focusing on Cyber Security and Critical Infrastructure Protection for Energy and Communications, this conference will look at understanding the current threats facing the industry, and will explore the myriad of solutions available. Delegates will enjoy fantastic networking opportunities and hear internationally acclaimed subject matter experts. The private sector will also be showcasing their newest innovations and cutting edge technologies in cyber security, through the conference exhibition and interactive management and technical track sessions.
For more information, go to: http://www.rebootconference.com/security2008

The Art of Sales
Sept. 25, 2008
Telus Convention Centre, Calgary, AB
As the author of The Sales Bible, a book that has sold more than 150,000 copies and was named as one of "The Ten Books Every Salesperson Should Own and Read" by the Dale Carnegie Sales Advantage Program, Jeffrey Gitomer draws upon his own prolific business background and instructs audiences on how to improve their personal development, sales strategies, and performance. ITAC has secured the discounted rate of $249 (regular rate is $399). For more information please go to: http://www.theartofproductions.com/events-salesCalgary.html

Power Within Leadership Conference: Featuring Barbara Walters
Oct. 21, 2008
Metro Toronto Convention Centre
South Building - 222 Bremner Blvd.
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
ITAC Members will be given discounted rates
Experience the power Within. A leadership conference featuring leaders who will transform your business, professional and personal performance. To view the event flyer, go to: http://www.powerwithin.com/pdf/Toronto_2008_MM.pdf. To
register with the ITAC Member rate of $189+GST, contact: Miriam Mandel, Account Executive Power Within Inc., Tel (416) 591 - 4000 x244, E-mail: miriam@powerwithin.com

IIC Presents: Trends in Global Communications Capturing the High Ground in an Uncertain World
Nov. 3 - 4, 2008
Hong Kong
Developments in communications are transforming people’s lives, altering the media landscape and exerting a ‘multiplier effect’ on national economies. Mobile telephony has dramatically altered the economic prospects of millions, particularly in the lesser-developed world. The new mobility coupled with broadband is changing how people interact socially and professionally; it is transforming their access to media content and services. The economic and social impact of the coming generation of high-speed fixed and mobile network technologies will be profound. For further information on the event or to receive a registration form contact Sebastian Mann at s.mann@iicom.org.

Technology World - Meet With Prospective British ICT Partners
Nov. 17 - 18, 2008
Coventry, UK
Following the success of Technology World 2007, this is a great opportunity for those looking to do business in the UK. For more information,
go to: http://www.technologyworld08.com

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