New Educational Program To Benefit Technology-Driven Communities Across CanadaTrained Network Administrators will Help Build New Infrastructures and Keep High-Tech Sectors GrowingTORONTO, ON - June 3, 1998 - In a national news conference today, educators and industry announced the Cisco Networking Academy program, a new program to teach high school and college students to design, build and maintain computer networks capable of supporting new network infrastructures being established by many communities across Canada. The program is also designed to encourage and assist students to pursue post secondary engineering and technology education which will help increase the number of graduates being sought by Canada's high-tech sectors. "Sudbury is transforming itself into a technologically advanced community. Education is critical to this transformation," stated Jim Gordon, Mayor of the City of Sudbury and leading advocate of the city's technological evolution. "It is imperative that our children have the necessary skills to compete in the knowledge-based economy. The Cisco Networking Academy program will play a crucial role in this transition, and is a natural move to support Sudbury Hydro's city-wide intelligent network that is built on a Cisco platform." All Sudbury high schools will be participating in the Academies program starting this Fall. "The Internet is removing the barriers of geography," said Robert Lloyd, general manager, Cisco Systems Canada Co. "It is providing remote communities the opportunity to play a vital role in the global information economy and diversify their local economies. The Cisco Networking Academy program will provide these communities with the business leaders and builders of tomorrow by teaching students the skills they need for this new reality." By the programĠs first anniversary in June 1999 more than 1,200 students from 30 schools across the country will have gained the necessary skills to begin working in the Information Technology field. Academy graduates are also eligible to build their networking training by pursuing advanced education in the sciences and engineering fields at colleges and universities. "We are overwhelmed by the student and parent response to the Cisco Networking Academy program," said Dale Halcrow, principal of Chilliwack Senior Secondary School in Chilliwack British Columbia. "The first semester is already completely full and the program doesn't start until the fall! Even some of our high school's graduates are returning to participate in the program. Students recognize this program will launch them into the career opportunities of the next millennium and they are eager to be a part of it." "It's no secret the technology sector in Ottawa Carleton is booming," said Randy Baker, Human Resources Manager for Cisco Research and Development Centre in Nepean Ontario. "What is not as well known is that we simply do not have the trained people to sustain this growth. The training provided by the Networking Academy is going to play an essential role in the future success of our community." "By adopting the Cisco Networking Academy program, the Ottawa Carleton District School Board is responding to the needs of industry in our community," said Greg Marshall, Manager of Information Technology, Ottawa Carleton District School Board. "With the highly successful information technology industry in Ottawa Carleton, no school board in Canada has more of a responsibility to prepare its students to become vital members of the local economy. The Networking Academy program is helping us meet this goal." About Cisco Systems Canada Co.Cisco Systems Inc. is a multinational corporation with more than $6 billion (U.S.) in annual revenues and more than 13,000 employees worldwide. Cisco Systems Canada Co. (formerly Cisco Systems Canada Ltd.) was established by Cisco Systems in 1990 and is the 12th largest IT company in Canada. Headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, the company has more than 140 employees in Canada with regional sales and services offices in Dartmouth, NS; Moncton, NB; Quebec City, PQ; Montreal, PQ; Ottawa, ON; London, ON; Winnipeg, MB; Calgary, AB; Edmonton, AB; and Vancouver, BC. Cisco produces networking solutions for enterprise organizations, service providers and small/medium businesses. With 80 per cent of the backbone of the global Internet built with Cisco Systems, Cisco is empowering the Internet generation. Cisco also uses the Internet to conduct a substantial amount of its own business. Cisco provides more than 70 per cent of its customer support over the Internet and since August of 1996, the value of Cisco product orders handled over the Internet have surpassed the $1 billion (U. S.) mark. Additional information on the company and its products can be accessed on the Internet at http://www.cisco.com or /global/CA/. Contact:
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