DAILY NEWS Sep 25, 2008 7:53 AM - 0 comments

National Digital Media Day Dawns

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Interactive digital media professionals are gathering across the country today in support of the future of Canada's creative economy.

As a part of the first-ever National Digital Media Day, professionals working in everything from videogames to elearning companies are gathering to share ideas on how to strengthen Canada's digital media sector amidst
growing global competitiveness and the imminent federal election.

"A number of people in the industry have teamed up to launch what we hope will be an annual occurrence: National Digital Media Day," explained James Lewis, Executive Director
Canadian Interactive Alliance/
Alliance interactive canadienne (CIAIC).

The Alliance represents roughly 1,000 Canadian companies working in interactive digital media.

"Its aim is to entertain and enlighten Canadians using all the best talent and ideas our home-grown companies have to offer, and hopefully leave people with a sense of just how awesome and all-pervasive this rapidly growing industry is becoming," Lewis added.

Digital industry practitioners point out that one significant source of funding (the Telefilm Canada New Media Fund, or CNMF), dedicated to supporting interactive digital media projects, is being retired on March 31 next year.

Over its lifetime, the industry has grown to offer more than 52,000 full-time, part-time and contract jobs, and contribute more than $5 billion annually to the Canadian economy, thanks in no small part to the CNMF.

World-class properties such as Flickr (well, Game Neverending - the forerunner of Flickr) received funding from the CNMF at the vital early stages of their development, usually when no other investors would touch them, CIAIC points out.

With an inpending election set, the country's digityal industry wants to impress upon Canadian politicians the importance of this industry: it creates good-paying jobs, has a low carbon footprint, and has virtually unlimited potential for growth.



Worldwide, the digital media sector is one of the
fastest growing industries in today's knowledge economy, and its double-digit growth rate will help drive the global media market up to US$2.2 trillion in the next five years, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers' Global Entertainment and Media Outlook: 2008-2012.

Canada has arguably been a hot bed for digital media production but industry experts say that success is starting to erode.

"We have the opportunity to be a world leader in this sector, but we're quickly losing ground," says Lynda Brown-Ganzert, an industry veteran who is spearheading the day along with a national committee of industry professionals. "Other countries are implementing aggressive strategies to build their digital media sectors because of the long-term, eco-friendly and knowledge-worker nature of
digital media production. September 25th is all about profiling the strengths of the sector here in Canada and rallying for its need to be strategically included in the federal innovation agenda."

"The industry is concerned about a lack of recognition and support for the sector from Ottawa," adds Ian Kelso, President of the Canadian Interactive Alliance, a national industry association that serves as the authoritative voice for Canada's interactive digital media industry. "If we don't do something now to ensure the viability of a truly Canadian interactive digital media industry, and support a vision of a future Canada that nurtures a strong and competitive creative economy, then we lose our ability to lead and
prosper in this growing industry.

"We certainly do not want to become a cheap production centre for other peoples' ideas. We want to cultivate a bold vision that positions Canada as one of the very best places in the world to create and develop digital media products," Kelso continued. "We want to engage with all of the political parties to alert them to this opportunity to become a world leader."

Organizers of National Digital Media Day have planned activities in major cities across the country.

At the national level, a Mobile Mass Mob in cities across Canada will stage this country's largest collective public kiss and upload photos of the event at the same time, creating an intimate portrait of those passionate about digital media. Bloggers in many of the cities will also be passing on as-it-happens
reporting of activities.

Other events taking place across Canada include:

CHARLOTTETOWN: Industry networking event, Atlantic Technology Centre

MONTREAL: Industry networking event

TORONTO: Kensington Market block party, featuring demos of a 3D digital graffiti tagging system and a Skype megaphone, as well as a writing for digital media event at 1028 Queen Street West

WINNIPEG: Keynote by Robert L. Peters, former president of the International Council of Graphic Design Associations, and networking event at the Pastry Castle Café

SASKATOON: BarCamp Saskatoon, at The Cellar, Senator Hotel

EDMONTON: DemoCamp Edmonton

CALGARY: DemoCamp Calgary

VANCOUVER: New Media BC annual general meeting and New Forms screening event


Interactive digital media, often called new media, is digital content and services. It?s the stock forecast on your Blackberry, the photo sharing application on your computer, the 3D imaging software used for medical modeling and the simulation tools used for environmental analyses. Digital media includes mobile
content, e-learning, interactive design, Web 2.0, digital film and animation, video games, digital entertainment and groundbreaking products for medical simulation, defense applications and lifelong learning. Interactive digital media content and services are pervasive and impact the lives of Canadians
every single day. It is also one of the fastest-growing, most profitably promising sectors in the world.

There are over 3,200 companies in Canada that employ more than 52,000 people and generate annual revenues of more than $5.1 billion dollars to the Canadian economy.

Many major international interactive digital media companies have chosen Canada for their operations, such as, Electronic Arts, Bioware, Disney, Ubisoft, THQ, Microsoft and Vivendi Universal Group. However, most Canadian-owned
companies in this sector are small-to-mid size enterprises (SMEs) whose ideas are capitalized on by others due to a profound lack of research partnerships and commercialization guidance within this relatively new sector.

The interactive digital media sector in Canada is growing at an estimated 5.9% CAGR compared to the US at 5.6%. While Canada's industry is prospering, there is increasing competition from Asia, Europe, and the United States. Asia Pacific is the fastest growing region, with China in the lead and India presenting massive market opportunities.

Countries such as China, India, Korea, France, Ireland and Australia have all increased government support for interactive digital media infrastructure, commercialization and capacity building. Singapore alone will invest more than $200 million dollars in interactive digital media over the next three years.

Industry data and information provided by National Digital Media Day organizers.
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