Microsoft Canada Co. Applauds 12 Canadian IT Companies At Second Annual Innovation Awards Ceremony

Awards honour top Canadian technology companies and solutions 

February 4, 2002

For Immediate Release

MISSISSAUGA, ON - February 4, 2002 -- Microsoft Canada Co. announced the winners of its second annual Microsoft Canada Innovation Awards at a gala dinner in Toronto last night. Twelve companies were selected from 44 finalists in four major categories including Solutions of the Year, Industry Solutions of the Year, .NET Award, and Organizations of the Year, which included a new Community Leadership award created to recognize outstanding contribution to community service. Microsoft Canada president Frank Clegg was on hand to announce and congratulate winners.

The nationwide awards program, introduced last year, recognizes outstanding innovation, industry partnership and leadership within the ranks of Microsoft Canada's channel. The awards are open nationwide to Microsoft Certified Partners, Certified Technical Education Centres, Independent Software Vendors, and sales organizations (Distributors, Large Account Resellers, Value Added Resellers, Original Equipment Manufacturers, and System Builders).

"We received an impressive number of entries this year - even more than last year - and were overwhelmed with the innovation and expertise these companies have shown using Microsoft technology as a foundation to solve our customers' business challenges," said Frank Clegg, president of Microsoft Canada. "Partners are an integral part of our business model and these winners are a testament to the excellent work they consistently deliver."

Microsoft Canada congratulates the following Innovation Award winners:

Solutions of the Year

    Enterprise Application Integration

    Corporate Portals

    Business Intelligence

    Platform

    E-Business

Industry Solutions of the Year

    Government

    Financial

    Retail

    Healthcare

.NET Award

Organization of the Year

    Services Organization of the Year

    Microsoft CTEC of the Year - Visionary Award

    Microsoft CTEC of the Year -Enterprise Award

    Northern Lights

    Community Leadership

The winners of the Innovation Awards receive a crystal trophy and photograph, an electronic icon to include on their company collateral and/or Web site, and will be featured on the Microsoft.ca website. They will also be given the opportunity to be highlighted in a number of Microsoft Canada promotional vehicles including an advertorial and a joint case study on the winning solution or initiative. The Community Leadership Award winner will receive a donation of $10,000 from Microsoft Canada to the charity/not for profit organization of their choice.

The Innovation Awards Program is part of Microsoft Canada's ongoing commitment to support a wide group of channel partners and to strengthen and broaden these relationships through the development of new initiatives aimed at helping to grow their business.

The Innovation Awards ceremony is held in conjunction with the Microsoft Canada Technical Briefing (MCTB) and Solutions Summit in downtown Toronto from February 3-5, 2002. For complete list of all Innovation Award category descriptions, please visit: http://www.microsoft.com/canada/awards/.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software - any time, any place and on any device.

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