Creating Next Generation Of New Media Entrepreneurs

    McGuinty Government Funds New University Of Waterloo Campus In Stratford

    TORONTO, March 27 /CNW/ -

    NEWS

    Ontario is investing $10 million to help the University of Waterloo to
create a new Stratford campus focused on global business and digital media.
    This campus will generate the next generation of digital media
researchers, entrepreneurs, products and services by bringing together
Stratford's renowned strengths in arts and culture and the University of
Waterloo's strengths in technology.
    Areas of digital media research and development at the new campus will
include mobile, wireless, sound, video, gaming, web design and animation.

    QUOTES

    "Ontario's entertainment and creative cluster is a cornerstone of
Ontario's new innovative economy," said Minister of Research and Innovation
John Wilkinson (http://www.mri.gov.on.ca/english/about/MinisterBio.asp).
"Today's investment is about building on our strengths, forging synergies and
supporting strategic partnerships to ensure that when the next Google is
developed, jobs will be created in Ontario."
    "Few regions and countries have generated the creative and collaborative
synergies necessary to capitalize on the unprecedented opportunities allowed
by the Internet and the rapid development of digital technologies. Through the
strategic leadership of the McGuinty government, the City of Stratford
(http://www.city.stratford.on.ca/site_ourcitylife/uw_stratford_campus.asp),
and Open Text Corporation
(http://www.opentext.com/corporate/our_history.html), the dream of the
UW-Stratford Campus is today closer to reality." - University of Waterloo
(http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infopres/HTML/president.html) President David
Johnston.

    QUICK FACTS

    -  The new Stratford campus will be housed in a new, 6,500 square metre
       facility and the university anticipates that an initial class of
       125 students may commence as early as 2009.
    -  The campus will eventually grow to 500 students, 25 faculty and
       15 support staff.
    -  Ontario's entertainment and creative cluster is the third largest in
       North America by employment after California and New York.

    LEARN MORE

    -  The McGuinty government is supporting the digital media sector
       through:
       -  Next Generation of Jobs Fund
    (http://www.premier.gov.on.ca/news/Product.asp?ProductID=1997)
       -  The 2008 Budget (http://ontariobudget.ca/english/bk5.html), which
          proposes to enhance the Ontario Interactive Digital Media Tax
          Credit and provide $7 million over four years for
          the Interactive Digital Media Fund.
    -  The Ontario Media Development Corporation
       (http://www.omdc.on.ca/Page3256.aspx), an agency of the Ministry
       of Culture, is the central catalyst for the province's cultural media
       cluster including interactive digital media.

                                                  ontario.ca/innovation-news
                                                      Disponible en français

For further information: Sandra Watts, Minister's Office, (416)
314-7067; Perry Blocher, MRI Communications Branch, (416) 326-7717