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Local students collect birthday cards fo C stricken with cancer/Page 12“ ngm.“% Waterioo voted the smartest by some of the world‘s brightest terloo might not W the centre of the universe, but it is the world‘s most intelligent community as selected by an international thinkâ€"tank last Friday. Waterloo Mayor Brenda Halloran said there was a buzz about the city‘s bid before it was announced as the winner at the Intelligent Communities Forum in New York City, N.Y. The exciteâ€" ment was still contagigqus as local participants celeghted their selection and were reached on their BlackBerrys just moments after the announcement. "The city is proud," said Halloran. "This is a wonderâ€" ful day for the City of Waterâ€" loo. "It‘s a day we should all celebrate as a community." Of course, the BlackBerry and its parent company Research in Motion are some of the reasons Waterâ€" loo was selected to be on a shortâ€"list of seven cities up for the annual honour. The Blinds Are Us 356 Sasaga Drive at Manitou Kitchener 519.893.8687 (between Homer Watson and Wabanaki, past CAA) www.biindsareus.ca ON SALE NOW! ollecting cards By Bos VaBanac Chronicle Staff â€" mobile communication device has become synonyâ€" mous with the city as it became the tool of choice for business, government and â€" CrackBerry users around the world. However, it was the city‘s education sector and its ability to move ideas into commercial applications that has led to the highâ€"tech revolution in Waterioo. And the Intelligent Communities Forum noted that while Waterloo only accounts for 10 per cent of the labour force in Canada‘s Technoloâ€" gy Triangle, it accounts for 45 per cent of the job growth and 40 per cent of the highâ€" tech firms in the region. "Peoaple wondered how we could do so much," said Halloran, as Waterloo was once again the smallest city in the running going against areas like Ottawaâ€"Gatineau. "We were up against some huge competition." Waterloo‘s importance in the commercialization of new ideas and leadership in the knowledgeâ€"based econâ€" omy was also acknowledged +1993 Includes up to 51. of 10W30 & Standard Filter 355 Weber St. N.. Waterioo Continued on page 4 he formula for Canaâ€" I da‘s future prosperity is a little simpler than the one that Prime Minister Stephen Harper was standâ€" ing in front of Thursday at Waterloo‘s Perimeter Instiâ€" Silver Stars Shine ABSMAPSYFniors acting group puts on a musical variety show/Page 28 Prime Minister Harper launches new technology strategy in Waterloo Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his ministers Maxime Bernier, left, and Rona Ambrose met with local leaders 0f the highâ€"tech community to discuss strategies to improve the commercialization of new discoveries last Thursday at Waterloo‘s Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics. The prime minister later launched a new science and technoloâ€" gy strategy calling on industry to join government in funding new research. ane vieanat PaOt By Bos Vrmana Chronicle Staff Although he joked the advanced theoretical forâ€" mula written on a chalkâ€" board behind him might hold the secret to winning a majority government. But it was more than a preâ€"campaign stop through the region for Harper, who was joined by other highâ€" profile members of his cabiâ€" Local track athletes didn‘t let the weather stop them from setting new standards/Page 18 Record breakers net including Finance Minâ€" ister Jim Flaherty and Industry Minister Maxime Bernier. They met with local movers and shakers in the highâ€"tech community to unveil the government‘s national science and techâ€" nology strategy to strengthâ€" en Canada‘s economy Part of that strategy is left, and Rona Ambrose met with local leaders of more government support. The federal government announced $9.2 billion in funding for science and technology in its latest budget tabled in March, with $1.9 billion being rolled out this year That included $50 mil lion for the Perimeter Insti Continued on page 5 B08 VRBANAC PHOTO