FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
82000reasons.com invites Ottawa tech companies and workers to tell their stories via online blogs and YouTube videos
Sponsored by OCRI Global Marketing, the best online blog or video story contribution qualifies for flight on new Air Canada Ottawa-to-Frankfurt direct route
OTTAWA ON – February 6, 2008 – Tell your story to the world tech Ottawa! After releasing technology survey employment numbers last month that showed a record 81,910 people were employed in Ottawa’s technology sector, today OCRI announces the 82000reasons promotion campaign.
Created by market2world communications inc. in co-operation with General Assembly Productions Center, the multimedia promotion campaign integrates traditional and social media to create a growing online record of tech Ottawa’s success at 82000reasons.com. There, Ottawa technology companies and employees can profile themselves via online blogs or YouTube videos.
The best contributed stories will qualify for prizes, including round trip tickets on the new Ottawa-to-Frankfurt direct flight starting June 1st, 2008, courtesy of Air Canada, and BlackBerry Smartphones, courtesy of Research In Motion. The winners will be announced April 30th.
“With nearly 82,000 tech workers in the Ottawa region, we know there are 82,000 or more stories to tell the world about our success as Canada’s innovation capital,” says Michael Darch, Executive Director of OCRI Global Marketing. “In the era of user generated content, every one of those stories can be told, tagged and distributed online to a global audience. This campaign uses our greatest asset, our people, to tell the ‘Why Ottawa?’ story. They are better qualified than anyone to describe Ottawa’s lifestyle and technology strengths to attract the talent and investment we need.”
The 82000reasons website offers participating companies and individuals a blogging platform for text-based profiles as well as directions on how to add a YouTube video. Content templates and details for prizes are also provided. Already, companies including Enablence Technologies Inc., Liquid Computing Corp., Macadamian, March Networks Corp., Fuel Industries, and QNX Software Systems have added either blog profiles or YouYube videos to 82000reasons.com.
The 82000reasons campaign is also being promoted to the Ottawa tech community by banner ads on Facebook, plus local print, banner ad and radio advertising.
About OCRI:
OCRI (Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation), the city's economic development corporation, is leading the way for Ottawa. OCRI is the rallying point to bring business, education, research and talent together to create the winning economic conditions that allow Ottawa's technology companies to thrive locally and compete globally. At OCRI we promote sustainable economic development to maintain our high quality of life. For more information on OCRI visit our website at www.ocri.ca and for more information on the Ottawa Region please visit www.ottawaregion.com.
For information contact:
Kim Cunningham
Manager, External Communications
OCRI
Office: (613) 828-6274 ext. 256
Cell: (613) 851-0768
kcunningham@ocri.ca
Jill McCubbin
Conversation Architect
market2world communications inc.
Office: (613) 256-3939
jill@market2world.com