CTV News anchor Lisa LaFlamme and Lionsgate Entertainment founder Frank Giustra are among 83 new appointments to the Order of Canada. Actor Donald Sutherland and filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin are being promoted to Companion status, while LaFlamme joins Quebec film, television and theatre actor Rémy Girard; documentarian Ric Esther Bienstock, puppeteer Ronnie Burkett, and antenna and satellite development researcher Lotfollah Shafai, among others, as Officers and new appointees to the Order. Additionally, actor Martin Short is being promoted to Officer. Those appointed as Members include Quebec film director and producer Fernand Dansereau; Montreal actor Michel Dumont; Newfoundland comedian and director and former CODCO member Andy Jones; Quebec costume designer Renee April; P.E.I.-based chef and Food Network Canada host Michael Smith; Dragons’ Den entrepreneur Jim Treliving; and Donna Slaight (spouse of Slaight Communications CEO Gary Slaight), for her commitment to volunteerism and philanthropy in mental health and human rights. Find the full list of appointees here.
Rural Economic Development Min. Bernadette Jordan unveiled High-Speed Access for All: Canada’s Connectivity Strategy, alongside the Liberals’ Rural Economic Development Strategy last week. The connectivity strategy repeats the Budget 2019 promise to connect 95% of Canadian households to high speed, reliable internet services by 2026, and 100% by 2030, in addition to improving mobile wireless internet service wherever Canadians live and work, and along major roadways. The report says there is still a clear divide between rural and urban Canada and to take full advantage of the opportunities offered by the modern internet, 50/10 speeds are necessary, affording the capacity to download at 50 Mbps and to upload at 10 Mbps. In 2017, only 37% of rural households had access to 50/10 Mbps, compared with 97% of urban homes. Only about 24% of households in Indigenous communities have access to 50/10 Mbps.
ENCQOR 5G (Evolution of Networked Services through a Corridor in Québec and Ontario for Research and Innovation) – Canada’s first pre-commercial 5G wireless testbed is up and running. Housed at five hub locations in Ontario (Ottawa, Toronto, Kitchener-Waterloo) and Quebec (Montreal and Quebec City), applications are now being accepted in both provinces for entrepreneurs to submit their project proposals to help accelerate the development and adoption of digital technologies.
Bell Aliant and Bell Canada have been named the fastest Internet providers in the country in PCMag’s annual Fastest ISPs of 2019: Canada report. PCMag’s testing found that Bell Aliant, which serves Atlantic Canada, offers the fastest overall internet in the country at 134.8 PSI. Bell Canada, serving Ontario and Québec customers, topped the list for the second year in a row – with speeds of 122.1 PSI – as the fastest major internet provider (over 500,000 customers). Rogers came in 11 points behind at 110.9 PSI. Telus was third at 102.3. PCMag’s results are based on 43,552 speeds tests conducted between June 1, 2018, and June 17, 2019.
Rise, a UK-based advocacy group for gender diversity within the broadcast technology, manufacturing and services sector, has launched the inaugural Rise Awards. Open to women in broadcasting at the engineering, marketing, PR, sales and executive level, the awards recognize exceptional achievement, innovation, and positive impact. The Rise Awards are free to enter and open to nominations from around the globe. The winners will be announced at IBC2019 in Amsterdam on Sept. 14. Read our Q&A with Rise director Carrie Wootten here.
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