Cisco Launches Search for Canada’s Thought-Leaders and Visionaries

Transformational Canadians: Program recognizes 25 Canadians, over the past 25 years

TORONTO, ON - Cisco Canada, is launching Transformational Canadians, a program that will recognize 25 notable Canadians. These individuals have, through their vision and leadership helped to transform the lives of others in Canada and around the world. Nominations for the program will be open to the public and can be submitted online at twentyfive.ca and 25visionnaires.ca beginning today. Nominees must fall into one of the following 6 categories: business, science & technology, environment, education, healthcare and community.

Beginning October 5, 2010, a judging panel comprised of journalists and business leaders will select and profile up to three Transformational Canadians each week. Those chosen will be profiled at twentyfive.ca and 25visionnaires.ca, in print and online in The Globe and Mail, Cyberpresse and on CTV’s CANADA AM.

Once the 25 Transformational Canadians are chosen by the panel, CANADA AM will produce a series of 11 profiles starting Oct 5th. During the week of January 3, 2011 the Globe and Mail will print a 4 page special feature highlighting the 25 Transformational Canadian honorees.
About Transformational Canadians:

* The judging panel will convene throughout the nomination period to select the 25 Transformational Canadians. The panel judges include:
o Elena Cherney, editor, The Globe and Mail’s Report on Business,
o Seamus O’Regan, co-host, CTV’s Canada AM
o Pierre Duhamel, journalist
o Christy Clark, host of CKNW’s Christy Clark Show
o Ratna Omidvar, president, Maytree Foundation
o Nitin Kawale, president, Cisco Canada
* Nominations can be submitted at twentyfive.ca or 25visionnaires.ca.
* Close for nominations is November 26, 2010.
* All nominees must be a living Canadian citizen residing in Canada or abroad. Nominations are made based on work or impact in Canada or internationally.
* In recognition of the 25 Transformational Canadians efforts, Cisco will donate up to $25,000 worth of technology to the non-profit or charitable organization of the winner’s choice.
* The technology will be donated in partnership with Allstream. As Canada’s all business communications solutions provider, Allstream has experience with innovation and is always looking ahead. Allstream will help to ensure the organizations receiving the gift of the technology on behalf of the 25 Transformational Canadians will be able to leverage it in the fashion that suits them the best.

“In 2010, Cisco celebrates 25 years of leading and shaping the way the world interacts, shares ideas and solves problems,” says Nitin Kawale, president, Cisco Canada. “And while the network makes collaboration possible, it’s individuals who are transforming businesses, lives and communities. The 25 Transformational Canadians program will encourage a national dialogue to recognize leading Canadians who are making a real difference here at home and around the world.”

“We are honoured to help Cisco celebrate 25 years of innovation and commitment to the Canadian marketplace,” says John Stackhouse, Editor-in-Chief, The Globe and Mail. “Together, we begin our journey to identify the most notable milestones and achievements in Canada’s past and invite all of Canada to join the conversation and nominate the best of Canada.”

“These Canadians have helped shape our country,” says CTV’s Seamus O’Regan. “They have made a difference, contributing to our successes in business, science and technology, environment, healthcare, education and community work. I am delighted to be part of recognizing and rewarding the passion for change and the remarkable results that have changed Canada and, indeed, our world.”

“We’re asking all of Canada to stand up and share their thoughts on Canada’s true leaders who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to Canada, the community and the future of our country,” says Pierre Duhamel, Cyberpresse. “We are proud to partner with Cisco to recognize Canadians and Quebecers who have left a legacy to Canada.”

About Cisco

Cisco, (NASDAQ: CSCO), the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate, this year celebrates 25 years of technology innovation, operational excellence and corporate social responsibility. Information about Cisco can be found at http://www.cisco.com. For ongoing news, please go to http://newsroom.cisco.com.

About The Globe and Mail

The Globe and Mail, Canada’s national newspaper, is a division of CTVglobemedia, a dynamic multi-media company, which also owns CTV Inc., Canada’s number-one private broadcaster.

About Cyberpresse

With close to 1,900,000 unique visitors each month*, Cyberpresse is the benchmark news site in Québec with content provided by the most important network of French-language newspapers in the country (including La Presse and Le Soleil). Cyberpresse is owned by Gesca, a subsidiary of Power Corporation of Canada that specializes in the publication of newspapers and in news websites.
www.cyberpresse.ca