Winter 2010
Welcome to the winter edition of the TRRA e-Newsletter. For more information on any topic that interests you, please click on the appropriate headline or tab.
| Features |
TRRA Update
Message from Courtney Pratt, Chairman and CEO
TRRA welcomes the following companies as stakeholders: Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Cisco Systems Canada Co., Telus, and Sanofi Pasteur. Through productive meetings with these new partners and our entire stakeholder group, we are jointly identifying opportunities to work together on building the case for R&D investment in the region. We continue to welcome the involvement of new stakeholders.
This issue of TRRA e-Newsletter contains summaries of international lead generation trips that TRRA has undertaken to cultivate and draw R&D investment to Toronto Region in our priority sectors. TRRA's involvement in such targeted marketing activities on behalf of the region has been unprecedented through the September to December period. Our activities have also been backed by heavy emphasis on establishing the linkages between our region and these potential international interests. Our extensive trip to Asia, for example, holds significant potential for Toronto Region and has been a first for TRRA. See the Investment Attraction section for more details on this initiative or contact Sam Lee.
TRRA was involved in two significant conference events in late 2009. First, TRRA was a lead sponsor of the third annual Toronto Forum for Global Cities in November. TRRA noted the continued growth of the forum, both in terms of attendance and the level and expertise of attendees locally, nationally and internationally. TRRA was delighted to chair the IBM panel on Smart Cities and also to sponsor a lunch and on-stage interview with Robert Reich on issues of economic prosperity and competing in an innovation-intensive economy. A professor at the University of California at Berkeley, former U.S. labour secretary and current economic advisor to the Obama administration. Reich is a consummate speaker who provided a very important perspective on the U.S. and world economies.
Second, TRRA participated in the 10th anniversary of the Canadian Urban Institute's conference, Competitive Cities 10 Years Later: Is the GTA ready to compete? The alliance presented on the inception and achievements of TRRA, and on Toronto Region progress in R&D activity and investment, which must greatly accelerate and expand.
TRRA Congratulates George Hanus on his new role with GTMA
TRRA congratulates George Hanus on his new position, effective January 18, 2010, as President and Chief Operating Officer of the Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance, an economic development agency built on public/private partnerships. For 2 ½ years, Hanus held the post of Director, ICT and Advancement Manufacturing in Investment Attraction at TRRA. His first priorities include partnership development to expand the private sector roster of services to be promoted to companies that are considering locating sales or manufacturing operations in the Greater Toronto Area. While George's expertise will be missed, the activities of the two agencies serve common goals for Toronto Region. "I look forward to continuing to work closely with my colleagues at TRRA in this new role," he says. If you have questions about any projects or files that George was working on, please contact Courtney Pratt.
TRRA welcomes new students from the University of Waterloo
Geoffrey Wu joined TRRA in January 2010 for a 4-month co-op placement. Geoff is currently in his first year of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Waterloo and this is his first co-op work term. He will be collecting and analyzing data for the Research team and Investment Attraction team. Contact Geoffrey Wu
David Lowrie also joined TRRA in January 2010 for a 4 month co-op placement. David will be entering the second half of his first year of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Waterloo. As the research analyst, he will be collecting and analyzing data for the Research Team & Investment Attraction Team. Contact David Lowrie
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