CIPA to Induct Two Leaders into Hall of Fame

Richard Alvarez, Edward Lawlor are major builders of Canada's IT capabilities

	For More Information: Contact: norm.kirkpatrick@cipa.com (905) 952 0778

TORONTO, November 9, 2007 - The Canadian Information Productivity Awards (CIPA) will induct into its Hall of Fame two Canadians who have helped build innovative organizations for the 21st century.

Richard C. Alvarez, President and CEO of Canada Health Infoway, and Edward W. Lawlor, founder and President of DeltaWare Systems Inc. of Charlottetown, will be inducted into the CIPA Hall of Fame on November 14.

"I am proud that the Hall of Fame will give enduring testimony to the contributions of these two men," said Norm Kirkpatrick, President and CEO of CIPA. "They both deserve recognition for years of visionary work that has brought benefits to many people."

The inductions will take place during the 15th annual CIPA Gala Banquet, the largest celebration of IT-based innovation in Canada. The CIPA Hall of Fame resides on the CIPA Web site at www.cipa.ca

Alvarez has been a champion for 20 years of applying information and communications technologies to improve healthcare delivery. He forged much of Alberta's modern healthcare strategy as Assistant Deputy Minister of Alberta Health and Wellness, and left a legacy that has kept Alberta at the forefront of innovative implementations.

His most notable achievement is the key role that he played in the formation of the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), which achieved a national focus on health information and statistics. Under his leadership as the second President and CEO of CIHI, health information standards were adopted across Canada by users, vendors and governments.

Alvarez was appointed in 2004 as President and CEO of Canada Health Infoway, a federally funded, independent, not-for-profit organization that is leading the development and implementation of electronic health projects across Canada. He is directing the organization's effort to develop an interoperable, pan-Canadian health record solution and has articulated a broad vision for reforming Canada's healthcare system through innovation and technology.

Ed Lawlor has the distinction of being the first Regional Builder Inductee in the Hall of Fame. He has received numerous awards as one of the premier builders of the IT industry in Atlantic Canada.

Lawlor has worked in the information technology field for more than 35 years in a variety of roles, including software engineering, project management, senior management, educator and entrepreneur.

In 1992, he founded DeltaWare Systems Inc., an information technology company with a current staff of more than 80 employees. In 2002, DeltaWare Systems was recognized as one of Atlantic Canada's Top 10 employers by Atlantic Progress magazine, and one of the top 100 employers in Canada by Maclean's magazine.

Lawlor is a founding member of the Information Technologies Association of PEI and its first President. He is a past-Chairperson of the Holland College Board of Governors, a former board member of the Information Technology Association of Canada, and a former member of Industry Canada's Advisory Board for the Atlantic Innovation Fund.

He is the recipient of the Greater Charlottetown Chamber of Commerce Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence and a finalist for the Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Atlantic Canada in the Information Technology Category. In 2002, Lawlor was recognized as one of the Top 50 CEOs by Atlantic Business magazine and, in 2003, he was inducted into the Junior Achievement Prince Edward Island Business Hall of Fame.

Lawlor contributes greatly to his community. Among many activities, he is Vice President, Information Technology for the 2009 Canada Games and Chair of Catholic Family Services Inc. At the University of Prince Edward Island he is a member of the Advisory Committees for the School of Business and the Faculty of Computer Science. He is a certified Level III basketball coach and served on the coaching staff for the PEI Canada Games Men's Basketball Teams in 1975, 1989 and 1993.

About the Canadian Information Productivity Awards Hall of Fame

The CIPA Hall of Fame was established in 1995 as a permanent tribute to pioneers who have made major contributions to the quality of life in Canada as outstanding users or champions of information technology.

The Hall of Fame resides on the CIPA Web site at www.cipa.ca. Inductees are selected by the Hall of Fame Selection Panel of distinguished IT leaders.

To be eligible for induction, individuals must have achieved lasting influence by: advancing the theory or application of information technology; building organizations; creating products or services of economic significance, or inspiring others.

For further information, contact:
Norm Kirkpatrick
President & CEO, Canadian Information Productivity Awards
905-695-6590, norm.kirkpatrick@cipa.ca

Lawrence Moule
Director of Communications, CIPA
416-458-4410, lawrence.moule@cipa.ca