Seven 2009 Knowledge Industry Recognition and Achievement awards were presented last night in Fredericton

FREDERICTON - Seven of New Brunswick's best innovators and knowledge-based companies were honoured in Fredericton last night with 2009 Knowledge Industry Recognition and Achievement awards during the Enterprise Fredericton gala event.

The 11th annual awards recognize the province's best and brightest in various knowledge industry sectors. The award categories are for export, product; export, service; employment growth; most promising start-up; technological advancement, private sector; technological advancement, public sector, and industry person of the year.

"With a growing need for innovation and stimulation in today's economy, the KIRA awards are truly an event that recognizes the talent and hard work that is being done in New Brunswick," said KIRA 2009 co-chairman Colleen Benson. "With great networking opportunities and a chance for industry leaders to share ideas, KIRA 2009 is a testament to New Brunswick's knowledge industry."

KIRA recipients have proven that they are leaders in their specific fields and their work is revered nationally and internationally, she said.

KIRA began in 1998 as a way of acknowledging the knowledge industry in Fredericton.

The event went province-wide in 2001.

The award for export, product, went to Q1 Labs, a global provider of high-value, cost-effective, security information and event management solutions.

The award for export, services, went to Accreon Inc., a technology and management services company with global consulting and solutions experience.

Accreon also won the employment growth award.

The award for most promising start-up went to GreenNexxus, a global, online community focused entirely on solving environmental issues and providing networking for people for sharing of green knowledge.

The award for technology advancement, private sector, went to Chalk Media Corp., a subsidiary of RIM, the developer of an award-winning business solution for BlackBerry smartphones called Mobile chalkboard.

The award for technology advancement, public sector, went to Saint John Zone, Breast Health Program, whose breast health tracking system assures all patients are diagnosed and treated in a timely manner.

The award for industry person of the year went to Ed Barrett, co-CEO of Barrett Corp., based in Woodstock. Barrett was described as a forward thinking visionary who has changed the way New Brunswick and Canadian residents access high speed broadband internet.

Master of ceremonies for the evening was Bette MacDonald.


By Yvon Gauvin
Times & Transcript staff