Innovation + Job News

In 1975, Myron and Berna Garron lost their son to paediatric cancer. In the intervening years, the family has donated more than $1.3 million to the Hospital for Sick Children (known as Sick Kids) to support research and treatment of cancers. Now, the family has made what is thought to be the largest private donation in the field to the hospital -- $30 million.

"Our son was treated for cancer at Sick Kids for many years and we will never forget the dedication and level of care he received," the Garrons said in a statement. "We are confident this gift will help create more positive outcomes for cancer patients and their families."

The money will establish the Garron Family Cancer Centre at the hospital and will fund six jobs for researchers through research chairs and scientist/clinician positions. It will also help fund innovative cancer therapy research. "The impact of donations, such as the one from the Garron family, is immeasurable," said Dr. James Whitlock, chief of haematology/oncology at Sick Kids. "This gift helps Sick Kids stay at the forefront of paediatric cancer care and research and will ultimately help children with cancer to live longer, more fulfilling lives."

Writer: Edward Keenan
Source: Meredith Sjogren, Communications Associate, SickKids Foundation

In June, we wrote about how Toronto-based tech start-up Skymeter is poised to revolutionize the traffic industry with its innovative, GPS-based system that allows for efficient parking and congestion charging. The company, based at MaRS in the Discovery District, has a device that can track and bill drivers based on actual use of their cars.

Now Skymeter has announced that they have joined the ng Connect Program to help develop services for next-generation, high-bandwidth technologies, including 4G networks and what is called Long Term Evolution technology.

Steve West, a founding member of the ng Connect Program, said that Skymeter has much to contribute to the multi-industry initiative.
"For example, we are very interested in collaborating on services that will improve the driving experience with easy and more accurate tolls and parking payments or improve air quality through better congestion management leveraging next generation 4G/LTE networks," he said.

JD Hassan, chief commercial officer with Skymeter, said in the announcement that his company will help the company lead innovation in the transportation sector. "We look forward to helping lead this change through the ng Connect Program, where we can join forces with other industry innovators to create services that will change the way we use our vehicles," he said. "We're excited to work with other ng Connect members to support that transformation with the creation of new business models and services, delivering benefits to consumers and enterprises while addressing key business and governmental issues such as parking, congestion and infrastructure funding."

Writer: Edward Keenan
Source: JD Hassan, Chief Commercial Officer, Skymeter Corporation

Smokebomb Entertainment will see immediate growth in its development of digital entertainment thanks to a $639,044 grant from the federal government's Canada Media Fund (CMF), we reported last week. And about the time that story hit the wire, Smokebomb's parent company, Shaftesbury Entertainment, took the time to acknowledge the support it has received from the CMF since its founding in 1987.

"Without the support of the Government of Canada through the CMF and tax credit programs, Murdock Mysteries would not exist," said company CEO Christina Jennings. She was referring specifically to one of Shaftesbury's most popular programs, now entering its fourth season, which has been licensed in more than 100 countries around the world. The occasion was a visit to the set from Prime Minister Stephen Harper, reportedly a fan of the program.

The company says that since 2003, Murdoch Mysteries alone has created 5,000 jobs in the local television industry, and that the company as a whole employs roughly 3,500 people every year across its various productions.

Writer: Edward Keenan
Source: Katherine Wolfgang, VP Communications, Shaftesbury Entertainment

Zabeen Hirji, the chief human resources officer of RBC, says that those companies whose employees reflect the diversity of Canada see an advantage in the market. "The more employers tap the full range of capabilities of our workforce -- to innovate and adapt, develop new markets and foster new relationships -- the more competitive Canada will be in the global economy and the more prosperous we will be at home." That's why, Hirji says, RBC has been proud to sponsor the Immigrant Success Awards for its five years in operation.

The IS Awards recently issued a call for nominations for the fifth annual awards to celebrate employers who bring innovation and leadership to employing a diverse workforce. Applications in four categories can be submitted online by December 1.

"IS Award Winners have adapted to Toronto's diversifying workforce and are leaders in their industry, and we believe these two traits are more than a coincidence," Elizabeth McIssac, executive director of the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council -- which operates the awards -- said. "Of the 70,000 small, medium and large businesses in Toronto, we know there are other innovative employers and individuals, and we want to celebrate their success."

Past winners include Xerox Research Centre of Canada, George Brown College, CIBC and others -- 20 in total.

Writer: Edward Keenan
Source: Claire DeVeale-Blane, TRIEC

Sheridan College in Oakville set up the Elder Research Centre (SERC) in 2003 to conduct research into helping older Candians as they age. Earlier this week, the federal government announced a $2.3 million grant to the centre as part of the College and Community Innovation Program.

The money will support the centre's groundbreaking "Aging in Place" project, which the school's release says, "will see SERC collaborate with small and medium-sized companies in the research and design of technology applications that promote cognitive health and social inclusion. Ten founding partners will work together with Sheridan researchers, faculty members and students; the partners include Acclaim Heath and Community Care Services, Cerebral Vortex, pigeon*branding + design, PointerWare Innovations, Posit Science Corporation, Recreational Respite, the Region of Halton, Retire-at-Home, Schlegel Seniors Villages and Symetric Productions."

In announcing the grant and 10 others in the program, federal Minister of Industry Tony Clement said "These new partnerships will provide skills training for the communities in which they are based, position Canadian colleges as a destination for top research talent and give local businesses in communities across the country access to the knowledge and resources they need to innovate and commercialize new products and services."

"This is an important announcement for SERC, Sheridan and the broader communities we serve," Jeff Zabudsky, Sheridan's president and CEO, said. "By collaborating with regional companies, we can help to foster innovation and economic development at a local level."

Writer: Edward Keenan
Sources: Susan Atkinson, Sheridan College; Lynn Meahan, office of Minister Tony Clement

According to organizers of the first MaRS Innovation Summit to be held Oct. 28, Toronto is an innovation hub and thus a fitting venue for a gathering of entrepreneurs form around the world. "We anticipate a prosperous day of networking and sharing ideas as we showcase start-ups in the bio-tech, pharma and hi-tech industry," The Hon. Jerry Grafstein, a co-host of the summit, says in a statement. "It will be a practical guide for venture capitalists and start-up entrepreneurs alike to navigate their way to capital and markets in order to create jobs in the knowledge economy that knows no borders."

The one-day event will include presentations by Gordon Nixon, President of the Royal Bank; Provincial Minister of Innovation and former Winnipeg Mayor Glenn Murray; Paul Chipperton, Ceo of Profound Medical; and Amar Varma, co-founder of Xtreme Labs, among others.

Raphael Hofstein of MaRS says the event will bring together players to examine growth. "The goal of our inaugural MaRS Innovation Summit is to bring together dynamic entrepreneurs with industry innovators and thought leaders of today, as we examine the aspects of economic growth in tangible terms."

Registration for the event is open to the public and costs $199, through the website.

Writer: Edward Keenan
Source: Hon. Jerry S. Grafstein

A Toronto-based company that has developed a new disease diagnosis device that could be used for cancer and other genetic diseases has drawn $1.04 million in financing for commercialization of its project. Xagenic was created by U of T researcher Dr. Shana Kelley as a spin-off from the university to commercialize the research.

Funding comes from several sources: $500,000 from MaRS [pdf], a $300,000 loan from the government of Ontario's new HTX commercialization program, $200,000 from the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research and $40,000 from the Ontario Centre of Excellence for Commercialization of Research.

According to a statement from Dr. Kelley, the funding "will enable Xagenic and its clinical development partner, the University Health Network, to confirm critical clinical sensitivity and specificity parameters for the technology." HTX estimates that Xagenic will create five jobs during the immediate commercialization process, with more expected later.

An announcement from Rafi Hofstein, CEO of MaRS Innovation, said that this is the first of several announcements from the business incubator of new investments over the next several months. "MaRS Innovation is very excited about the potential of the Xagenic technology. It is still early days for this company. This investment, however, sends a strong signal to researchers working in our partner institutions. MaRS Innovation wants to help develop Ontario technology to its fullest potential,right here and right now."

Writer: Edward Keenan
Sources: Rafi Hofstein, CEO, MaRS Innovation; Marcelle Mundle, Marketing and Communications Manager, HTX

Last week, the Canada Media Fund announced the recipients of its first round of "Experimental Stream" funding for innovative media projects. A total of 27 projects across Canada will receive a combined $12.9 million in production financing. Projects from four Toronto companies will receive $1.92 million of that money:

*The CBC -- the national broadcaster headquartered in Toronto -- will get $434,400 for Kids' CBC Augmented Reality, which will allow children to "explore augmented reality and ... interact with 3D images rendered on screen by their own movements through a webcam and digital marker."

*Toronto-based My City Lives will receive $586,686 to produce a mobile application that will let users "learn about places to visit in the city through a growing library of geo-tagged videos contributed by the user community."

*Smokebomb Entertainment Inc of Toronto will receive $639,044 for a mobile application called Big Break, which "consists of 13 original live-action 'appisodes' featuring entertainment, music, celebrity and performance themes where tweens can create their own content and share it with others within a fully moderated community."

*And Peace Point Entertainment Group, also of Toronto, will get $260,138 for an application called Olson Anytime Anywhere Recipe Maker which will generate recipes for users based on ingredients available in their kitchens.

In addition, three Toronto companies received funding for projects in development or for support in marketing.

Writer: Edward Keenan
Source: Betsy Chaly, Director, Marketing & Communications, Canada Media Fund

In February, Yonge Street reporter Piali Roy heralded 2010 as a big year for Morgan Solar, noting that the energy startup has scored over $5 million in seed funding and was preparing to produce its potentially game-changing solar energy product, Sun Simba. Now, the company has annouced that solar industry superstar Asif Ansari, formerly head of eSolar in California, will become its CEO.

MaRS cleantech lead and industry expert Tom Rand calls Ansari's relocation to Toronto "the biggest brain gain for Ontario in the cleantech sector I've seen. Ansari has enjoyed a string of successes, including eSolar, and he didn't come to Morgan to fail. The quality of Morgan's management team, with these sorts of additions, demonstrates their ability to go global on a major scale."

In an announcement, Ansari says his decision to take the job and move to Toronto was motivated by his impression that the company will transform the industry. "Morgan Solar has done something I wasn't sure was possible -- they have cracked the code for CPV  optics, substantially lowering its costs to where it can now deliver a value proposition significantly better than PV," he said. "Morgan was able to see the problem in a whole new way, starting with inventing a new optical concentrator to replace conventional Fresnel lens architectures. The potential of this technology is massive."

Currently, Ansari is focussed on securing second-round financing as Morgan Solar prepares for large-scale production in 2011.

Writer: Edward Keenan
Source: Nicolas Morgan, VP Business Development, Morgan Solar Inc.

InDanio Bioscience, an early-stage drug discovery company founded by U of T researcher Dr. Henry Krause and his colleague Dr. Jen Tiefenchach to search for human nuclear receptors through the use of genetically engineered zebrafish. The research could lead to drug discoveries serving a lucrative market already estimated at $16 billion.

Last week, the Ontario Genomics Institute announced an investment of $100,000 in InDanio under its pre-commercialization business development fund. In the announcement, InDanion board member Dr. Paul Jefferson said that the investment would allow the company to identify the function of certain nuclear receptors and "thus form the basis for establishing commercial partnerships to further characterize such receptors and develop drugs targeting them."

Writer: Edward Keenan
Sources: Alastair Harris-Cartwright, Corporate Communications Manager, OGI; John McCulloch, MaRS blog

In 1984, the Edithvale Community Centre opened in a disused Willowdale Public School. Now, more than a quarter century later, it has finally grown up into a new, innovative $14.75 million building of its own. The new centre -- the first community centre opened in the city of Toronto since 2005 -- was officially opened this past weekend. The bill for its two-year construction was funded by levees on developers of condominiums in the area.

The new building features an innovative green design that includes low off-gassing building materials, an efficient ventilation system and motion sensitive light fixtures, in addition to a green roof. To serve the community, the facility includes a gymnasium, a banquet hall, lounges, a demonstration kitchen, fitness facilities and an elevated track. The U-shaped structure was constructed around a 50-year-old tree at the centre of the site.


Writer: Edward Keenan
Source: Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation

As the election campaign comes to a close, the two candidates for mayor who have been leading in the polls have both endorsed a local software solution to make the city's website more accessible to those with disabilities.

An announcement by Riverdale-based eSSENTIAL Accessibility heralds commitments by George Smitherman and Rob Ford to make www.toronto.ca accessible to those with disabilities -- users who have trouble typing or moving a mouse or reading a screen, for instance. Both candidates display the company's blue wheelchair-and-computer logo on their campaign websites, and both claim a commitment to extending a policy of e-accessibility to city communications.

"The disability community wants to elect a mayor who understands and responds to their un-met online needs," says Spiro Papathanasakis, Director eSSENTIAL Accessibility Inc.  "The two leading candidates have demonstrated their commitment to digital inclusion and e-participation in the election process, which means Toronto will soon see the elimination of barriers to online government services that many disabled residents face."

The company provides a button that is a turnkey solution for website operators. When users with disabilities click on it, it allows them to download the assisted-browsing services they require to properly interact with the site. According a release, "As the first mayoral candidates in the world to embrace this technology, Ford and Smitherman are participating in an Online Social ResponsAbility initiative sponsored by March of Dimes Canada.  Their Toronto will be an e-City that institutionalizes these practices to achieve top rank on the global stage."

Writer: Edward Keenan
Source: Spiro Papathanasakis, Director, eSSENTIAL Accessibility

Toronto entrepreneur Josh Sookman describes his startup Guardly's first product as "basically OnStar for your cellphone." The application, planned for a launch in December of this year, aims to provide personal safety through mobile devices by allowing a panic button on the phone to instantly reach dozens of people through multiple channels, including SMS text message, voice and instant messaging.

"I always wanted to build a business that would help people. Originally, I wanted to cure cancer," says Sookman. "I still do ... but this seemed like a more immediate way." Sookman, who has worked as an analyst with RBC's Blackberry Partners Fund and in biotech venture capital, among other things, says his knowledge of the mobile industry and his personal experience -- a common one, with parents who wanted him to have a cellphone early so they could be sure he was safe -- combined to inspire the idea.

Guardly is working in development mode now, with a lean staff of two (plus one intern) as they seek seed funding. But working from the innovation hotbed at Xtreme Labs, they are currently hiring an "iPhone Rockstar" and, depending on funding, expect to further staff up as they approach release. "I'd like to have a staff of six by the end of the year," Sookman says, "although of course that's contingent on closing financing. That's life at at a startup."

Writer: Edward Keenan
Source: Josh Sookman, CEO, Guardly

On October 12, the TTC unveiled a couple new technical innovations that have long been awaited by those hoping to have a richer mobile relationship with the transit service.

One banner project that a spokesperson says has been in the works for some time (indeed, the announcement was scooped by Torontoist after a soft launch last week) is transit route functionality on Google Maps service. By pushing a small streetcar icon in the service's "Get Directions" mode, users can get directions by TTC between any two points in the city. The service functions on Blackberry and iPhone, as well as other mobile devices that host Google Maps applications.

In a related announcement, the TTC will now be releasing its schedules and its live, real-time GPS streetcar, subway and (within about a year) bus routing information as XML files at the city's Toronto.ca/open website. That service was launched in 2009 to provide municipal raw data in a format that allows private developers and citizens to use it for various forms of analysis and software applications. Just this month, toronto.ca/open earned an Award of Excellence for the City government from ESRI Canada. In accepting the award, City Chief Information Officer Dave Wallace said that such apllications are "a catalyst for innovation," and that the project "supports Toronto's vision of becoming an enabled City, where information technology is integrated with City services to provide effective local government anywhere, anytime, for everyone."


Author: Edward Keenan
Sources: Brad Ross, Communications Director, Toronto Transit Commission; Joy Chan, PR Specialist, ESRI Canada

A research team at the Hospital for Sick Children has unveiled findings that demonstrates a new laser technique significantly reduces scarring after surgery. The results of the team's research were published September 28 in the online, peer-reviewed journal PLoS ONE.

The study examined the use of a new surgical laser called Picosecond IR Laser (PIRL) as compared to other lasers and traditional implements like scalpels, and showed that in mice, use of the PIRL reduced scarring by 50 per cent and led to wounds that heal faster.

"Achieving minimal scarring is beneficial to patients, especially in cases where scarring can be particularly debilitating," Dr. Benjamin Alman, a Sick Kids scientist who was one of the study's two principle researchers, said in a release. "By reducing healing time this new surgical method could also result in increased patient comfort and lower risk of secondary infections due to surgery." The study concludes that the technique looks promising and adult trials could proceed "as early as next year."

Writer: Edward Keenan
Source: Matet Nebres, Media Relations Manager, The Hospital for Sick Children