Five Canadian cities receive 2013 Google eTown Award

Independent research firm IPSOS and Google Canada recognize the strongest online business communities in Canada

TORONTO, Nov. 12, 2013 /CNW/ - Today, Google Canada announced that five communities have received a Google eTown Award for 2013, celebrating the towns and cities whose businesses are leading the way in embracing the opportunities of the Internet. These cities' businesses are investing in online tools and resources to find new customers and grow their businesses to succeed in an increasingly connected world.

2013 Google eTown Award Winners
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Saint-Sauveur, Québec
Newmarket, Ontario
Canmore, Alberta
Whistler, British Columbia

"We're proud to recognize the growing entrepreneurial spirit in cities and towns across Canada," said Chris O'Neill, Managing Director of Google Canada. "Every day, Canadians turn to the Internet looking for products and services, and it's the businesses and communities engaging with consumers online that will lead Canada's future economic growth."

Google worked with independent research firm IPSOS to analyze the online strength of local small businesses across Canada. All of the winning cities exhibited strong engagement and potential for growth within the digital economy. The cities range from rural communities to large city centres, from popular ski resorts to fast-growing suburban towns. It reminds us that with the Internet, you can be a business of any size, in any part of the country, and succeed online.

Canadian businesses need to be where their customers are, and in 2013, that's online. Still, even today, more than half of all Canadian small businesses do not have a website. According to a McKinsey study, businesses that are online grow twice as fast and hire twice as many employees as businesses that are offline. With small businesses employing close to 70% of the workforce in Canada and accounting for nearly 78% of all new private sector jobs, the potential impact of getting these businesses online is enormous. Google Canada hopes that these "digital capitals" will become an inspiration to the rest of the country of what can be accomplished by spearheading business development on the Web.

In recognition of their eTown status, Google Canada will be holding an event in each city during the month of November to celebrate their small business communities.

Photographs for download available here.

SOURCE: Google Canada

Media contact: 
Leslie Church
Google Canada
647-436-5191
[email protected]