12 October 2016 / #kanata north Kanata North Business Association to host international tour and dinner_ (press release) _ ** Ottawa, ON **– On Monday, October 17 th 2016 , from 2:00 pm – 8:00 pm the Kanata North Business Association will host their 2 nd annual Diplomatic tour and dinner reception . Close to twenty-five representatives from Ottawa’s Canadian embassies, diplomatic community, and economic and foreign affairs representatives in Canada, will be attending the event. The purpose of the event is to broaden awareness of the Kanata North business community and help facilitate commercial and professional relationships with foreign ambassadors and diplomatic representatives . Members of the business community will have an exclusive opportunity to network with the international delegates, as well as other invitees that will include business leaders, technology executives, provincial and federal government officials, academic leaders and Ottawa _ City Councillors _. “We are excited to be hosting this event for a second year, and shining a light on the tremendous amount of innovation happening in the Kanata North Tech Park.” said Je nna Sudds , Executive Director of Kanata North Business Association. “The Kanata North technology community has been enjoying impressive growth with many companies being recognized on the global stage as leaders in their fields. This event provides a wonderful opportunity for our business community to meet with international delegates and strengthen those relationships.” Ambassadors and politicians will spend the afternoon touring three local technology companies including [ Flex ](https://www.flextronics.com/), [ BlackBerry/QNX ](http://www.blackberry.com/)and [ Youi.TV ](http://www.youi.tv/). Once the tour is completed they will be escorted back to the Brookstreet Hotel to join local technology executives for an exclusive networking and cocktail reception followed by dinner. Guests will have the opportunity to learn more about the businesses in Canada's Largest Technology Park and hear a welcome address by Ottawa’s Mayor Jim Watson, and keynote address by Associate Deputy Ministry of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, Kelly Gillis. Kanata North features some of the fastest-growing and innovative technology companies in Canada. With many being internationally recognized for their game-changing _ technologies. This event provides an opportunity to highlight the tremendous success of the region _with the diplomatic community. **** **** ** About Blackberry **BlackBerry secures, connects and mobilizes the enterprise. For today’s enterprise of things, BlackBerry provides devices and a software platform that enables and manages security, mobility and communications between and among hardware, programs, mobile apps and the internet of things. Founded in Waterloo, Ontario in1984, BlackBerry operates in North America (including from its facilities in Kanata North), Europe, Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific and Latin America. The Company trades under the ticker symbols “BB” on the Toronto Stock Exchange and “BBRY” on the NASDAQ. Visit [ www.blackberry.com ](http://www.blackberry.com/). **** ** About Flex **Flex is a leading sketch-to-scale™ solutions company that designs and builds intelligent products for a connected world. With more than 200,000 professionals across 30 countries and a promise to help make the world Live smarter™, the company provides innovative design, engineering, manufacturing, real-time supply chain insight and logistics services to companies of all sizes in various industries and end-markets. Visit[ www.flextronics.com ](http://www.flextronics.com/).**About QNX Software Systems **QNX Software Systems Limited, a subsidiary of BlackBerry Limited, is a leading provider of operating systems, middleware, development tools, and professional services for connected embedded systems. Global leaders such as Audi, Siemens, General Electric, Cisco, and Lockheed Martin depend on QNX technology for their in-car electronics, medical devices, industrial automation systems, network routers, and other mission- or life-critical applications. Visit[ www.qnx.com ](http://www.qnx.com/). **About You.i TV **You.i TV is a privately held company serving TV and media companies worldwide with a multi-screen video app platform that creates fans, engages users and converts consumers. The platform, You.i Engine, lets brand owners build personalized, profitable experiences quickly on all platforms – mobile devices, set-top boxes, consoles, and streaming devices – from a single code base. You.i TV products power some of the most popular TV applications in market today for Sony Crackle, Turner Broadcasting, and Corus Entertainment, and You.i Engine has been licensed in all industry sub-segments: entertainment, kids, sports, and news. Visit[ www.youi.tv ](http://www.youi.tv/).** About the Kanata North Business Association (KNBIA) **The Kanata North Business Association is committed to representing and advocating for the best interests of the over 500 member companies located in Canada’s largest Technology Park. As a critical part of Ottawa’s economic development future and a renowned hub of technology and innovation, the Kanata North Tech Park is a robust and vital region. KNBIA fosters success for its constituent companies by having a strong voice within the city of Ottawa and its partner organizations, with focus on enhancing a vibrant ecosystem that supports growth, collaborations and talent for member businesses, in addition to building awareness about Kanata North as a center for innovation and destination for business. For more information, visit [ www.kanatanorthbia.ca ](http://www.kanatanorthbia.ca/).