Press Release
KIRA Awards a big boost to N.B. firms (News)
March 22, 2011
For the past 13 years, the KIRA Awards have gained an outstanding reputation for recognizing excellence in the New Brunswick knowledge industry.
To receive a KIRA award is to receive a prestigious designation. Held annually in May, the awards ceremony honours individuals and companies whose innovations or growth have contributed to the advancement of the industry in this province. The message from the KIRA Awards is that New Brunswickers are doing tremendous work in the information communications technology field, not only provincially but globally. We should celebrate and be proud of our accomplishments.
What impact can receiving a KIRA award have on an individual or for a company? It goes much deeper than the one night gala event. It is an opportunity to showcase one's achievements and to interact with others in the industry by connecting with individuals who may prove to be valuable for the growth of a product or business.
The statuette awarded to the winners can serve as evidence of success that a company can display proudly for potential and existing clients to see. Moreover, award recipients gain even more exposure through the KIRA website, www.KIRAawards.ca.
The KIRA logo and news release are visible on homepages everywhere and showcases the victory to virtual visitors. Winning a KIRA award is synonymous with being at the top of the class.
In recent years, the KIRA Awards have incorporated a video segment at the event. Formerly the responsibility of provincial film professionals, the task has since been passed on to New Brunswick's technical colleges and serves as a challenge for budding producers in the film industry.
This approach has been extremely successful in promoting the growth of industry in our province and has added practical experience to the more technical courses being offered. Furthermore, it has given students the opportunity to see the knowledge industry in the province from a different perspective. The opportunity for KIRA to include more of tomorrow's business leaders is an initiative that is growing in importance. The knowledge industry is truly a vital part of the New Brunswick economy and we need to ensure that resources are being renewed and maintained on a provincial level.
The KIRA Awards gala remains a sold-out event attended by a provincial and international audience. KIRA recipients have proven that they are leaders in their fields and their work is making a difference in New Brunswick and around the world. Many companies have used the KIRA gala as a perfect place to court potential clients or businesses. What better way to impress clients about investing in an N.B. company than by showing them how well we celebrate our own successes. In fact, some companies have located and/or relocated to our province thanks to the efforts of the KIRA Awards.
The KIRA Awards ceremony will be held May 5 at the newly constructed Fredericton Convention Centre. The KIRA planning committee is working diligently on making the transition as seamless as possible and will be using the new technologies available at the centre to wow the attendees.
The call for nominations closes March 25. This year all nominations will be completed online. All New Brunswick knowledge-based companies and individuals are encouraged to self-nominate or to have someone else nominate them or their company. For more information, visit the KIRA site at: www.KIRAawards.ca/nominations.
For information on tickets, nominations or for sponsoring inquiries, call 444-4686.
Lucas Roze is a communications officer for Enterprise Fredericton. He can be reached at lucas.roze@ent-fredericton.ca.
