SARS won’t stop Canadian New Media Awards, says organizer Froman

The chief organizer of the annual Canadian New Media Awards vows the show will go on as scheduled in early June despite worldwide anxiety over the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Toronto. Several high-profile events in the economic centre have already been postponed due to the health scare, including the annual conference of the Canadian Cable Television Association, but organizer Adam Froman tells Canadian NEW MEDIA he won’t let the hysteria surrounding the mysterious illness derail the show. Listing SARS, the war in Iraq, and an ongoing economic malaise as strains on the new media sector, especially in the Toronto hub, he says the quality of finalists for this year’s awards still indicate resilience in the industry that dovetails with the awards’ decision to press on despite such pressures as an earlier World Health Organization advisory (since lifted) against travel to Toronto. “It’s showing that the industry is still strong with all these things that are continuing to hit it,” he says. “The awards have to happen for when we planned them because we need to keep the inspiration for all those people who are holding on. There are some people who are doing well in the industry still, and we need to recognize them and use them as an inspiration for others who are trying to maintain their passion for new media. It’s such a difficult time.” This year’s finalists in such categories as new media visionary, educator of the year, company of the year, industry advocate of the year and others belie the difficulties faced by the sector. With companies such as Blast Radius Inc., Collideascope Digital Productions Inc. and Radical Entertainment in the company of individual finalists such as Roma Khanna, Steven Comeau, Mark Bishop, Dan Fill and others, at least some parts of the industry are expanding and doing well. “The producers have already been through that gulch, and things are holding and slowly moving ahead. It’s nice to see the awards validating that.” Froman says he’s not worried about attendance at the event, which will be held June 2 at the Winter Garden Theatre and hosted by Jian Ghomeshi. “I think our attendance will be strong. I hope that people from outside Toronto recognize that a lot of this was hysteria. You can use it as a benefit. Where may have been concerned about the cost of getting to Toronto, I’m sure they can get great deals…Now more than ever is a great time to visit Toronto.” More finalists than ever will likely be travelling to the awards show since the list is more regionally representational than in previous years. In fact, none of the finalists for the company of the year award are from Ontario, and most categories include a mix of Upper Canadian, Quebec, B.C., Alberta and Montreal firms. Some of that is likely due to the regional mix of the selection committee across each of the categories. Canadian New Media Awards Finalists (a full list is available here)Company of the YearBioWare Corp., EdmontonBlast Radius Inc., VancouverCollideascope Digital Productions Inc., HalifaxCritical Mass, CalgaryRadical Entertainment, VancouverIndustry Advocate of the YearAnna SerranoAurel LangloisKeith ClarksonRoma KhannaSteven ComeauProducer of the YearDan FillJustine BizzocchiMark BishopRaja KhannaRob McLaughlin

SARS won’t stop Canadian New Media Awards, says organizer Froman

News | 05/01/2003 4:00 am EDT

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