Series begins September 13 in Fredericton, N.B. and online
September 13, 2016| Startup Canada
Startup Canada, the national rallying community and voice for Canada’s entrepreneurs, has partnered with Google Canada and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) to collect ideas from Canada’s most creative, innovative and entrepreneurial thought leaders. These ideas will contribute to a national strategy that recognizes and elevates the role of creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship in building Canada’s cultural, economic and social prosperity.
The partners will host six forums across Canada, a two-month digital consultation and one nationally live-streamed panel that will bring together entrepreneurs, students, academics, government and industry experts for a national dialogue. The digital consultation includes opportunities for Canadians to submit videos, written ideas and social media entries using the hashtag #CreativeCanada. Topics to be explored in this consultation series include development of talent, creative industries, as well as social and entrepreneurial innovation.
Regional forums and the broadcast panel are scheduled as follows:
- Fredericton, N.B., September 13, 2016;
- Montreal, Q.C., October 4, 2016;
- Vancouver, B.C., October 24, 2016;
- Calgary, A.B., October 27, 2016;
- Toronto, O.N., October 31, 2016;
- Digital Town Hall, November 14; and,
- Waterloo, O.N., November 9, 2016;
This initiative will support and inform the federal government’s current consultations in the areas of creative industries, creativity and innovation. The findings will be announced in November 2016. To learn more and to find out how to participate, visit www.startupcan.ca/creativecanada.
Quotes:
“The future of the nation is rooted in the innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurialism of Canadians. Everyone must do their part to provide the best environment for these skills and values to be developed. In doing so, we will drive new industries, multiply social impact, and will make Canadian inventions and ideas known around the world. We are thrilled to partner with SSHRC and Google to undertake these consultations that will contribute to a strategy to make Canada a rivalled destination for leading talent and investment.” – Victoria Lennox, CEO & Co-Founder of Startup Canada
“Google Canada is delighted to partner with SSHRC and Startup Canada to support this important national dialogue on the future of Canada’s creative entrepreneurs. We are happy to help give a voice to the creative and innovative community members who are leading the reimagination of these industries and creating new business models.” – Sam Sebastian, Managing Director, Google Canada.
“We are delighted to partner with Startup Canada and Google Canada on this far-reaching initiative. Training and research in the social sciences and humanities addresses the cultural, economic, environmental, social and technological issues shaping our shared future. By facilitating greater connections among students, researchers and thought leaders across government, industry and community sectors, we can better understand the value of creativity and entrepreneurial cultures to Canadian innovation, prosperity and quality of life.” – Ted Hewitt, President, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.
For more information and to schedule interviews, contact:
Kathryn Forrest
Communications, Marketing and Government Relations Manager
Startup Canada
613-627-0787 ext. 106
About Startup Canada
Startup Canada is the national rallying community for Canada’s 2.3 million entrepreneurs. Through flagship programs, digital platforms, and cross sector partnerships between entrepreneurs, private sector, and government, Startup Canada offers training, resources, and a peer network to give every entrepreneur equal opportunity for success. As members of Startup Canada, entrepreneurs are championed by the community and are given a national voice to media, industry and government. For more information, visit www.startupcan.ca.
About Google
Google’s mission is to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful. As a global technology leader, Google’s innovations in web search and advertising have made its website a top internet property and its brand one of the most recognized in the world. Google Canada has offices in Waterloo, Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa with nearly 1,000 ‘Canooglers’ working on teams across Engineering, Sales, Marketing, PR, Policy, and HR. Engineers at Google Canada work on many of company’s core products including Chrome, Safe Browsing, and Gmail; while the Sales Teams assist Canadian businesses with their digital advertising strategies.
About the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council is the Canadian federal agency mandated to promote and support postsecondary-based research and training in the humanities and social sciences. Through its Talent, Insight and Connections programs, SSHRC helps to train the next generation of talented leaders and creative thinkers; build knowledge and understanding about people, cultures and societies; and drive the innovations that address the challenges of today and tomorrow. For more information, visit www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca.