YTA News

Enter your nomination for the YTA Technology Leadership Awards and join in the celebration!

January 13, 2012, Markham – The Greater Toronto Area is a world-scale technology and innovation hub. And on May 24, 2012 the York Technology Alliance (YTA) is recognizing the companies that are leading the way.

If you are a technology leader, or know of a great tech company in the GTA, you are invited to complete a nomination form for the YTA Technology Leadership Awards.

“These awards are part of the celebration and recognition of local tech company success. The YTA serves as a hub for encouragement and recognition of sustained business success in the technology sector” says John Kitchen, VP and General Manager of Esri Canada and Chair of the YTA.

Atin Gupta, Lead Partner, Technology at MNP offered his firm’s encouragement to nominees,

“MNP is pleased to once again support the YTA Technology Leadership Awards as Platinum Sponsor and Awards Auditor. The YTA Awards recognize community-nominated leaders as Most Promising Tech Start-Up; Scale-Up Company of the Year; and Technology Company of the Year.  This is the third year MNP has taken a lead sponsor role.”

Previous winners of the YTA Technology Leadership Awards include Canadian tech stars gShift Labs; MySpark Technologies; Real Matters; DVS Sciences; Compugen; and Platform Computing.

You can nominate someone today

Join the YTA in celebrating tech sector success in Canada and fill out a nomination form at www.yorktech.ca/awardnomination.

About the Awards

YTA Technology Company of the Year

This award recognizes an organization that has demonstrated business leadership and excellence in innovation and a commitment to the knowledge-based sector in the Greater Toronto Region and possibly throughout Canada. Consideration in this category requires increasing profitability, community involvement and thought leadership, and demonstration of sound business fundamentals. A minimum of eight years in business is required for judges to investigate the organization’s growth and track record. A confidential process will be used to validate key performance data.

 

YTA Scale-up Company of the Year

This award recognizes an organization that has demonstrated excellence in innovation and a commitment to the knowledge-based sector in the Greater Toronto Region while consistently reaching new customers or delivering new services within an existing customer, increasing revenues, adding employees, encouraging community involvement and embracing sound business fundamentals. A minimum of three and maximum of ten years in operation is required for judges to investigate positive growth and a proven track record. A confidential process will be used to validate key performance data.

 

YTA Most Promising Tech Start-up

This award is presented to a Greater Toronto Region based organization that has the greatest potential to demonstrate excellence in their business, and while embracing a commitment to the knowledge-based sector have steadily increased revenue, added employees, and embraced sound business fundamentals including the addition of an advisory board or board of directors. This category is reserved for operations that have been established for three years or less. A confidential process will be used to validate key performance data.

 

About the YTA – 30 years of innovation.

The York Technology Alliance is a hub for knowledge mobilization committed to fostering a collaborative community where technology companies connect and grow.  This is achieved through Peer To Peer networking; practical learning programs such as tech Learning Labs; and Keynote topical issues sessions delivered on behalf of member companies. The YTA, established in 1982, has continuously innovated to meet the learning and growth interests of its technology company members at the centre-point of the Ontario tech corridor.

 

About MNP

Our suite of accounting, consulting, and tax services combines industry expertise, market knowledge and professional insight to identify opportunities to take your business to the next level. Read more about our available services.

 

YTA Contact Info

Patrick Shaw

Executive Director

905-415-4558

patshaw@yorktech.ca

www.yorktech.ca

TORONTO, Nov. 10, 2011 - North York General Hospital (NYGH) was awarded the Innovation in the Adoption of Health Information award and, together with Cerner Corporation, the Project Team Innovation & Care Delivery award, at the 7^th annual Canadian Health Information Awards Gala last night in Toronto. The gala is co-hosted by the Information Technology Association of Canada (ITAC), and Canada's Health Informatics Association (COACH).

The award was presented to NYGH for the second phase of its eCare project that achieved several Canadian firsts, including the launch of a computerized provider order entry (CPOE) system that integrates the latest clinical evidence from medical literature into clinicians' workflow. NYGH was also the first hospital in Canada to implement barcode scanning that uniquely identifies each medication and each patient, across all of its medical, surgical and critical care units. This milestone will reduce the risk for medication errors by alerting healthcare providers if they are about to make an error when administering a medication.

"This award and the positive impacts eCare has made are the result of outstanding teamwork involving informatics personnel, nurses, pharmacists, physicians, dietitians, physiotherapists and more," said Dr. Tim Rutledge,President and CEO, North York General Hospital. "Our eCare Project has benefited all of our patients by improving patient safety and the quality of care we provide."

Since the launch of the second phase of eCare (October 2010), 92 per cent of physician orders are entered via CPOE and 1,300 potential medication/patient mismatch errors have been averted.

eCare is a multi-year project that leaves behind manual systems vulnerable to errors and summarizes mountains of medical literature for healthcare providers, all to benefit patients. Phase two of the eCare project resulted in NYGH achieving a Stage 6 designation from HIMSS Analytics, the research arm of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS). NYGH is one of only three hospitals in Canada to have a Stage 6 designation.

NYGH's eCare Project has been possible through the support of many dedicated partners including Cerner, Zynx Health, Dell, IBM, Motorola and Rubbermaid.

North York General Hospital, affiliated with the University of Toronto, is one of Canada's leading community teaching hospitals. We offer our culturally diverse community a wide range of acute care, ambulatory and long-term care services across three sites. The hospital embraces health by providing innovative and compassionate care for the whole family at every stage of life.

New York, NY - November 9, 2011; gShift Labs, the creator of patent-pending Search Engine Optimization (SEO) software that gives marketers control over their organic search campaigns, today announced the release of an online SEO scoring tool, gShift Score™. Available immediately at www.gshiftlabs.com/gshift-score/, any organization can add a few details such as domain name, keywords and competitors and receive a measurement of their web presence based on gShift's powerful Web Presence Optimizer™ software. The announcement was made from Innovation Alley booth #19 at ad:tech New York.

gShift Score provides a single measurement of a web presence based on how a website ranks across search engines. Businesses can achieve a high gShift score by ranking on the first page of a Google search for their target keyword phrases. A higher score would have a ranking in the top three listed sites for the searched keywords. A company with a superior score would have multiple URLs in the top 10 search engine results for the keywords plus a strong social media presence.

GTA companies, including five from York Region, make up strongest geographic contingent in Deloitte’s annual list of fast growth companies.

October 26, Markham – The Greater Toronto Area adds to the recognition of its role as Ontario’s tech hub with an impressive 18 Area companies named to the Deloitte Fast 50.

Four of the Fast 50 companies: Real Matters Inc.; Doxim Inc.; Complete Innovations Inc.; and Nightingale Informatix Corporation are York Technology Alliance (YTA) members with headquarters in York Region.

“It is terrific to see the national recognition for our local companies provided in the Deloitte Fast 50” said Pat Shaw, YTA Executive Director. “These are innovative and exciting organizations thriving in local, national and global markets”.

He continued, “There is a clear correlation of the increase in successful companies and the availability of support and access to collaborative community resources. It’s great to see Real Matters, recipient of the YTA Scale Up Company of the Year Award two years ago making the Deloitte list – in fact being recognized as the #7 fastest growing company in North America! With their YTA peers, many achieving remarkable rates of growth in their own right, they help mark the Region of York and the GTA as the geographic and growth centre-point of the Ontario Tech Corridor.”

Chris Rasmussen, President and CEO of Doxim Inc. also emphasized the value of location to their business, saying, “It’s a great location to source the technology talent we need as our business grows. It’s perfectly located to access pretty much all of the GTA and the rents are significantly lower than downtown Toronto. It all adds up to a great mix of benefits for a growing technology company.”

“The Deloitte Fast 50 is an important catalyst for knowledge based growth firms and provides the type of recognition from their peer community and clients alike to help propel them to the next level of growth,” said Jeremy Laurin, CEO of ventureLAB and YTA Board Member; “Advocating for our members is a key goal of the YTA and the Deloitte recognition helps the YTA and its membership accomplish this goal.”

About the YTA

The York Technology Alliance is a hub for knowledge mobilization committed to fostering a collaborative community where technology companies connect and grow. This is achieved through PeerToPeer networking; practical learning programs such as tech LearningLabs; and Keynote topical issues sessions developed on behalf of member companies. The YTA was established in 1982 and has continuously innovated to meet the learning and growth interests of its technology company members at the centre-point of the Ontario tech corridor.

OpenText VP, Anthony Gallo, to outline how tech companies can make innovation work for them, no matter what their size, at YTA Keynote Luncheon

Can a company with more than 4,400 employees; offices in countries around the world; and revenues of US$1,033.3 million still be a nimble and innovative organization? How does a company this size innovate at a pace that keeps it relevant?

On September 22, Anthony Gallo, VP of OpenText, will outline how OpenText, Canada’s largest software company, has leveraged the velocity of innovation to build its business.

Anthony Gallo, champion of innovation at OpenText, joined the company when his social media company Vizible was recognized as an important innovative addition to the value OpenText could deliver in meeting the emerging needs of its customers. He will share the insights gained by OpenText as they embraced and acquired numerous companies, with each offering a unique success story of innovation that added to real value – for the company and the user.

“Anthony provides a great perspective on the build or buy debate. He has seen the spectrum of innovation as a founder of a tech start-up who then stayed on to champion innovation within the company that acquired it,” said Pat Shaw, YTA Executive Director. He continued, “Anthony’s insight on not just approaching innovation, but mapping its value to the customer will be valuable to tech companies of all sizes.”

The YTA is launching it’s new Learning Labs education series on Sept. 22 as well, leveraging the information shared during Anthony’s luncheon keynote to define practical innovation practices that will help attendees grow their own businesses. For more information on the YTA Learning Labs series, visit yorktech.ca/learninglabs.

Event Details 
September 22, 2011 
Richmond Hill Golf & Country Club 
8905 Bathurst Street 
Richmond Hill, ON 
View map.

YTA Keynote Luncheon with Anthony Gallo, VP at OpenText 
Build or Buy – either way you must innovate for continued growth in your tech business. 
11:30 am – 2:00 pm

YTA Learning Lab – practical approaches and tools to drive productive innovation in your business. 
2:00 pm – 5:30 pm

Register at www.yorktech.ca.

About the YTA 
The York Technology Alliance is a hub for knowledge mobilization committed to fostering a collaborative community where technology companies connect and grow. This is achieved through peer networking; practical learning programs such as tech-business focused Learning Labs, Keynote Luncheons and topical peer to peer sessions developed on behalf of member companies. The YTA was established in 1982 and has continuously innovated to meet the learning and growth interests of its technology company members throughout the GTA. Anchored through the involvement of nearly 15,000 hours of senior industry volunteers, the YTA connects with over 3000 participants at events each year. For more information, visit www.yorktech.ca.

About OpenText 
OpenText, a global ECM leader, helps organizations manage and gain the true value of their business content. OpenText brings two decades of expertise supporting 100 million users in 114 countries. Working with our customers and partners, the company brings together leading Content Experts to help organizations capture and preserve corporate memory, increase brand equity, automate processes, mitigate risk, manage compliance and improve competitiveness. For more information, visit www.opentext.com.

Technology business hub vice chair to represent corporate members; lead 30^th anniversary programs

August 2^nd  , Markham, Ontario -- The Board of the York Technology Alliance has unanimously elected Dan Duffy to the role of Vice Chair of the organization for 2011.  Dan is a leader with the credentials and corporate stature able to direct and assist the YTA in its community building and growth objectives. Dan is an active participant in the YTA Tech CEO Peer Group, and has presented leadership insights as a speaker in the Lightening Lecture series at the YTA Solutions Showcase.

“Dan is a respected leader amongst his CEO peers and throughout the community and he brings a great track record of contributing to the tech ecosystem”, said Pat Shaw Executive Director of the York Technology Alliance, “This role positions Dan for election to Chair next year and we look forward to his leadership in that role throughout 2012 – the 30^th year of operations for the YTA”.

Dan Duffy, YTA Vice Chair and President of Mid-Range Computer Group Inc. offered his comments on his election, “It is an honour to be welcomed into this leadership role at the YTA.  The organization has adapted and served the tech sector for nearly 30 years and I in turn welcome the opportunity to help grow membership and further position YTA services and programs to assist tech growth companies for years to come”.

Dan has served as a board member for the Toronto Users Group for Mid-Range Systems (TUG), the Eastern Canada Regional Users Group (ECRUG), the Cornell Club of Toronto and numerous IBM Business Partner Councils including the Business Partner of the Americas Advisory Council. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Cornell University.

Dan is the president and co-founder of Mid-Range Computer Group Inc; the leading technology business he has guided and grown for 24 years. His background includes selling ERP solutions, hardware and managed services. He has overseen the building of three Mid-Range data centres in York Region, the most recent being the 29,000 square foot state-of-the-art centre at Woodbine and Idema Road in Markham designed to meet Uptime Institute's Tier II standards.

Mid-Range is 100% Canadian owned and profitable every year for 20 years. The company is one of IBM Canada's largest business partners for pSeries, xSeries, Blade Center, SAN and data storage and has been an IBM Premier Business Partner - Systems for 10 years in a row. Mid-Range is a multiple  Industry Award Winner too - including Profit Magazine Fastest Growing Companies in Canada designation. The company is a Certified Oracle Integration Partner.

 

www.yorktech.ca

The York Technology Alliance is a hub for knowledge mobilization committed to fostering a collaborative community where technology companies connect and grow.  This is achieved through peer networking; practical learning programs such as tech Bootcamps and seminars; and topical issues sessions developed on behalf of member companies.  The YTA was established in 1982 and has continuously innovated to meet the learning and growth interests of its technology company members from throughout the GTA. Anchored through the involvement of nearly 15,000 hours of senior industry volunteers, the YTA connects with over 3000 attendees at events each year.

 

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TORONTO, June 20, 2011 – York University President & Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri and the Hon. John Milloy, Ontario Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, announced a $50 million capital investment today for a new engineering building at York’s Keele campus. One of the largest expansions in the University’s history, the project is expected to have an important impact on the future academic landscape of the University.

Click here to view the release.

Technology business hub to strengthen focus on knowledge mobilization and building partnerships    

June 9, 2011, Markham, Ontario -- The York Technology Alliance (YTA) today elected its 2011/2012 Board of Directors, a solidly diverse and representative group of technology companies.  John Kitchen, Vice President and General Manager at ESRI Canada, advances to the role of YTA Chair.  A long-time member and previous Vice Chair of the YTA, he successfully led the membership committee in driving increased participation in the alliance’s programs.

"We welcome John Kitchen as Chair of the YTA Board.  His YTA experience and the knowledge he brings as a technology company leader will help our organization gain prominence in the GTA as the go-to business growth hub for technology companies,” said Patrick Shaw, YTA Executive Director.  

"The YTA plays an increasingly important role in strengthening the technology sector in the GTA," said John Kitchen, YTA Chair.  "I’d like to thank the previous board under Marie Wiese’s leadership.  They set the stage for us to continue to foster a collaborative community where technology companies can connect and grow.  With the help of our new directors, I look forward to advancing the YTA as a hub for knowledge mobilization.  Building partnerships will be key to expanding our reach across the region."

Newly elected directors include Andrew Nunes (Fasken Martineau DuMoulin), Tracey Whitehouse (TGO Consulting), and Jeremy Laurin (ventureLAB).  Together with other board members from leading consulting, manufacturing, finance, marketing, human resources and government organizations, they will provide expertise to assist the YTA in expanding its programs and services throughout the GTA.

For the full YTA 2011/2012 Board of Directors see http://www.yorktech.ca/boardofdirectors.

The York Technology Alliance is a hub for knowledge mobilization committed to fostering a collaborative community where technology companies connect and grow.  This is achieved through peer networking; practical learning programs such as tech Bootcamps and seminars; and topical issues sessions developed on behalf of member companies.  The YTA was established in 1982 and has continuously innovated to meet the learning and growth interests of its technology company members from throughout the GTA. Anchored through the involvement of nearly 15,000 hours of senior industry volunteers, the YTA connects with over 3000 attendees at events each year.

YTA Awards Luncheon will share key ingredients to the recipe for success on June 14

The winners of the 2011 YTA Technology Leadership Awards have two things in common: They are all innovative tech companies from York Region; and they have taste-tested their own 'secret sauce' for success.
"We are very pleased to announce the winners of the 2011 YTA Technology Leadership Awards" said Patrick Shaw, YTA Executive Director. "These are exciting, innovative, growing companies that are creating outstanding successes in one of the most enterprising technology regions of the world. I look forward to hearing the secrets that they have to share with their peers on June 14".

The Recipients:
Platform Computing (YTA Company of the Year)
Markham-based Platform Computing is the leader in cluster, grid and cloud management software - serving more than 2,000 of the world's most demanding organizations. Platform's workload and resource management solutions have delivered IT responsiveness and lower costs for enterprise and HPC applications. Platform has built strategic relationships with Cray, Dell, Fujitsu, HP, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Red Hat, and SAS.

DVS Sciences Inc. (Momentum Company of the Year)
DVS Sciences, Inc. is an analytical equipment and reagents development company that produces and markets a high throughput mass cytometer for individual cell analysis based on a novel elemental mass-spectrometry detection technology, and the reagents related to massively multi-parametric biological assays.

mySpark Technologies(Start-Up Company of the Year)
The mySpark Education Platform is an education enabler that allows unprecedented connectivity between student and school. mySpark is dedicated to creating technology that helps our best and brightest reach their potential.

On Tuesday, June 14, the CEOs and co-Founders of these companies will be recognized at the YTA Awards Luncheon, where they will each share some of the ingredients that they have so effectively blended into their own recipe for success.

Event Details     
Tuesday, June 14     
Richmond Hill Country Club     
11:30 am - 2:00 pm
Additional information and registration available at http://www.yorktech.ca/awards.


ABOUT THE AWARDS
Nominations for each category were solicited from the Board, members of the YTA and from the community at-large; as well the call was shared through Twitter and posted on tech community sites covering the GTA.
All nominations were vetted by the YTA Awards Committee and followed a detailed analysis and assessment to determine the unanimous selection of the recipients.

A special thank you goes out to MNP for their contribution to this event as Platinum Sponsor, event chair, and for providing the accounting, valuation and business expertise to evaluate the award nominees.

YTA Company of the Year
This award recognizes an organization that has demonstrated business leadership and excellence in innovation and a commitment to the knowledge-based sector in the Greater Toronto Region and possibly throughout. Consideration Canada in this category requires increasing profitability, community involvement and thought leadership, and demonstration of sound business fundamentals. A minimum of 8 years in business is required for judges to investigate the organizations’ growth and track record.

YTA Momentum Company of the Year
This award recognizes an organization that has demonstrated excellence in innovation and a commitment to the knowledge-based sector in the Greater Toronto Region while consistently reaching new customers or delivering new services within an existing customer, increasing revenues, adding employees, encouraging community involvement and embracing sound business fundamentals. A minimum of three and maximum of ten years in operation is required for judges to investigate positive growth and a proven track record.

YTA Most Promising Start-up
This award is presented to a Greater Toronto Region based organization that has the greatest potential to demonstrate excellence in their business, and while embracing a commitment to the knowledge-based sector have steadily increased revenue, added employees, and embraced sound business fundamentals including the addition of an advisory board or board of directors. This category is reserved for operations that have been established for three years or less.

Celebrate the achievements of the GTA tech sector on June 14, 2011

05.25.2011– May 25, Toronto - The Greater Toronto Area is among the top 5 world leaders in technology and innovation - This is a community filled with innovative tech companies regularly 'raising the bar and, in fact ‘changing the game’! And, York Region is home to 1/3 of the top Canadian tech companies in the GTA according to the most recent Branham report.

On June 14 the YTA will recognize three of these leading companies at the prestigious Technology Leadership Awards at the Richmond Hill Country Club luncheon.

Now in its second year, with Meyers Norris Penny returning as Platinum Sponsor, the YTA Technology Leadership Awards recognizes community nominated leaders as Most Promising Start-Up; Momentum Company of the Year; and Company of the Year. Last year's winners are among leading tech companies in Canada, with gShift Labs (Most Promising Start-up) being named to the 2010 Branham List as an Up and Comer; and Real Matters (Momentum Company of the Year) and Compugen (Company of the Year) each making the 2010 Branham list of top 250 tech companies in the country.

This year's luncheon will feature the awards presentation, followed by a panel discussion with the Founders and CEOs of each winning company. The panel will provide insights from the leaders of the company on how they have found success in today's tech business.

The YTA is pleased to present these awards as part of its effort to foster a healthy eco-system of executives, companies, technologies and services to help build sustained business success of those in the technology sector.

Event Details
Tuesday, June 14
Richmond Hill Country Club
11:30 am - 2:00 pm
Additional information and registration available at www.yorktech.ca/awards


ABOUT THE AWARDS

YTA Company of the Year
This award recognizes an organization that has demonstrated business leadership and excellence in innovation and a commitment to the knowledge-based sector in the Greater Toronto Region and possibly throughout Canada. Consideration in this category requires increasing profitability, community involvement and thought leadership, and demonstration of sound business fundamentals. A minimum of 8 years in business is required for judges to investigate the organizations’ growth and track record. A confidential process will be used to validate key performance data.

YTA Momentum Company of the Year
This award recognizes an organization that has demonstrated excellence in innovation and a commitment to the knowledge-based sector in the Greater Toronto Region while consistently reaching new customers or delivering new services within an existing customer, increasing revenues, adding employees, encouraging community involvement and embracing sound business fundamentals. A minimum of three and maximum of ten years in operation is required for judges to investigate positive growth and a proven track record. A confidential process will be used to validate key performance data.

YTA Most Promising Start-up
This award is presented to a Greater Toronto Region based organization that has the greatest potential to demonstrate excellence in their business, and while embracing a commitment to the knowledge-based sector have steadily increased revenue, added employees, and embraced sound business fundamentals including the addition of an advisory board or board of directors. This category is reserved for operations that have been established for three years or less. A confidential process will be used to validate key performance data.