FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CANADA25 ANNOUNCES CALL FOR DELEGATES FOR NATIONAL FORUM ON THE ROLE OF CITIES IN BUILDING AN INNOVATIVE SOCIETY - Policy Organization Challenges Young Canadians to Examine the Way Our Cities can Attract Talent and Promote Development - Toronto, ON Tuesday April 16, 2002- Canada25, a non-partisan organization dedicated to engaging the perspectives of young Canadians in Canada's public policy debates, today announced a general call for delegates for its upcoming national forum to be held July 2002, in Victoria, BC. Canada25 also announced that the topic of this year's forum is "Canadian catalysts: The role of cities in attracting talent and promoting development." In addition to the national forum in Victoria, Canada25 will be hosting a series of regional roundtables on the same topic in eleven cities across Canada and the United States, including Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary, Winnipeg, Vancouver, Boston, Washington DC and the San Francisco Bay Area. Through this process, Canada25 will discuss the interrelations between Canadian urban economies, social infrastructures, environmental conditions and professional opportunities and examine how they influence in which cities or towns, Canadian or international, young Canadians choose to live. To research, analyze and develop perspectives and recommendations on this topic, Canada25 is issuing a general call for delegates among interested young Canadians between the ages of 20 and 35 years old. Applications can found on the Canada25 website, http://www.canada25.com and are due on May 2, 2002. "We hope to attract the participation of a broad cross section of Canadians of diverse backgrounds, experiences and philosophies," said Alison Loat, executive director of Canada25. "Canada25 wants to engage young Canadians who have a strong desire to participate in national public debate and who are be willing to undertake extensive research and develop creative solutions to these policy questions." Following the forum, Canada25 will issue a report aimed at the public, private and voluntary sectors, on how Canadian cities can become catalysts to attract talent, promote healthy urban spaces, and further drive Canadian innovation. With this report, Canada25 plans to make a constructive contribution to the evolving discussion on the important role cities have in the development of our country. "There is a new awareness of cities as catalysts for encouraging creativity and innovation in Canada, and young people are very much creators of that awareness," said Cynthia Mackenzie, a delegate from Canada25's forum last year and a member of the organizing committee for this year's effort. "Coming out of the this research, we hope to further encourage all Canadians to examine the specific ways the urban environment may contribute, or detract, from building a highly innovative, forward-thinking society." This work will build on the report Canada25 issued last year entitled "A New Magnetic North: How Canada can Attract and Retain Young Talent," which covered some of the broad issues affecting the attraction and retention of Canadian talent. This report has been widely circulated across the country, and representatives from Canada25 have been asked to draw on this research to provide further insight and recommendations into other, related initiatives. About Canada25 Canada25 is a non-partisan organization dedicated to engaging the perspectives of young Canadians living around the world in Canada's public policy debates. Founded in May 2000 by six young Canadians, the organizations is supported by its members, and by a broad range of public and private partners. Further information about the organization, including a copy of A New Magnetic North, is available at http://www.canada25.com. For more information, please contact: Carolyn Finlayson APEX Public Relations Tel: 416-924-4442 ext. 221 Cell: 416-605-3814 Email: media@canada25.com www.canada25.com Ron Piovesan Canada25 Tel: 415-365-0222 ext. 379 Email: media@canada25.com www.canada25.com