News Releases

WATERLOO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Sept. 13, 2011) - BMO Financial Group, the Institute for Research on Public Policy / Policy Options Magazine and Perimeter Institute are sponsoring Innovation Nation, a half-day symposium on what it takes to have a more innovative Canada.

The symposium, to take place at Perimeter Institute in Waterloo, ON, will feature presentations and panels on more innovative business, universities and government, and how to build bridges between them.

WHAT:	Innovation Nation Symposium
WHEN:	Friday, September 16, 2011, noon to 5:30 p.m.
WHERE:	Perimeter Institute, 31 Caroline St. North, Waterloo, ON

Key agenda items are as follows:

• 1:00 p.m. to 1:45 – Innovative Government:
  • Speech by Hon. Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance
  • Q&A moderated by L. Ian MacDonald, Editor-in-Chief, Policy Options Magazine

• 2:05 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. – Innovative Universities:
  • Elizabeth Cannon, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Calgary
  • Feridun Hamdullahpur, President, University of Waterloo
  • Sheldon Levy, President, Ryerson University
  • Gary Polonsky, President Emeritus, University of Ontario Institute of Technology
  • Harvey Weingarten, President and CEO of the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) and former President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calgary
  • Moderated by L. Ian MacDonald

• 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. – Innovative Companies:
  • John Weigelt, National Technology Officer, Microsoft Canada Co.
  • Suzanne Fortier, President of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)
  • Iain Klugman, President and CEO, Communitech
  • Ali Asaria, CEO Well.ca, inventor of Brickbreaker
  • Bill Currie, Vice-Chair Deloitte
  • Moderated by Hon. Kevin Lynch, Vice Chair, BMO Financial Group

• 4:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. – An Innovative Nation:
  • Speech by Tom Jenkins, Executive Chairman and Chief Strategy Officer, Open Text

After the conclusion of Innovation Nation, a full weekend of activities will follow to celebrate the grand opening of the new Stephen Hawking Centre at Perimeter Institute – with Sunday events viewable online and on television in partnership with TVO, Presenting Media Partner.

Media wishing to attend Innovation Nation may contact Peter Scott at 416-867-3396 to register.