Microsoft Canada celebrates its best and brightest 14 November, 2008 By Steve Wexler

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"We have the greatest partner ecosystem," said Microsoft Canada president Phil Sorgen, "and these are the best of the best." He was also upbeat about the market opportunities of Microsoft and its channel. He said sales for the first four months of the company's fiscal year have been strong and the pipeline is full.

"I truly believe we have never been in a better position . . . to address the needs and opportunities of Canadian customers."

In addition to celebrating success, the Impact awards also serve as a way to differentiate a company from its peers and open doors to new business, according to Peter Carson, president of Mississauga-based Envision IT. A previous Impact runner up and winner, the company, which specializes in the information worker/SharePoint market, has added to its laurels by taking home the trophy for this year's Custom Development Solution of the Year category.

He said winning immediately raises a company's credibility. "We let the clients know we're not only a Microsoft Gold partner, but recognized by Microsoft for excellence." References become less important, and business can get signed faster. It can also make it easier to partner with other partners, like CMS Consulting, another winner at this year's ceremonies.

Here's a list of the other 27 categories with winners (and runners-up):

*Advanced Infrastructure Solution of the Year -- Horn IT Solutions Inc., (ProServeIT Corp. and WolfBridge TSS);

*Business Intelligence Partner of the Year -- Systemgroup Inc. (Ideaca Knowledge Services Ltd. and The Catalytics Group Inc.);

*Community Leadership Award-Mercer -- MacKay Solutions Inc. (Infusion Development and Softchoice);

*Custom Development Solution of the Year -- Envision IT (KnowledgeTech Consulting Inc. and Systemgroup);

*Customer Experience Award -- TGO Consulting Inc. (IT Matters Inc. and Strophe Inc.);

*Data Management Solution of the Year -- JMP Engineering Inc. (MRS Company Limited and Point Alliance Inc.);

*Information Worker Solution of the Year -- Ideaca (Concept Interactive Inc. and NetDexterity Inc.);

*ISV/Software Solution of the Year -- Varicent Software Incorporated (GaleForce Solutions Inc. and Orion Technology, a division of Rolta Canada Limited);

*LAR of the Year -- Program Excellence -- Compugen (Acrodex Inc. and Softchoice);

*LAR of the Year -- Licensing Revenue -- Softchoice (Dell Canada Inc. and Insight Canada Inc.);

*Learning Solution of the Year -- Nexient Learning Inc. (CTE Solutions and HiTech Institute);

*Licensing or Software Asset Management Solution of the Year -- Softchoice (Buchanan Associates and Dell);

*Marketing Innovation Award -- Enterprise-Softchoice (Ideaca and Orangutech Inc.);

*Marketing Innovation Award -- Small, Medium Business-Broadview Networks (CDW Canada Inc. and IT Matters);

*Microsoft Business Solution of the Year -- Burntsand Inc. (pavliks.com and Second Foundation);

*Mobility Solution of the Year-SOTI Inc. -- MobiControl, By SOTI Inc. (Gavel & Gown Software Inc. and OpenNETCF Consulting);

*Networking Infrastructure Solution of the Year -- IT Matters (IT Matters and ITL Calgary  Integrated Software Technologies Ltd.);

*Security Solution of the Year -- CMS Consulting Inc. (NCI and Sentry Metrics);

*Small Business Specialist of the Year -- ITnorth.ca Network and Consulting Service (IT Matters and ProServeIT Corporation);

*SOA and Business Process Solution of the Year -- Dapasoft Inc. (KnowledgeTech and TGO);

*Unified Communications Partner of the Year -- MTS Allstream Inc. (CCSI Technology Solutions and CMS);

*Winning Customer Award -- Mytrak Health System Inc. (Cactus Commerce and ComputerTalk);

*Distributor of the Year -- OEM-Ingram Micro (Synnex and Tech Data);

*Distributor of the Year -- Finished Goods-Synnex (Ingram Micro and Tech Data);

*Microsoft Business Solutions Partner of the Year -- License Sales-Ideaca (Second Foundation and Xapt Business Solutions Ltd.);

*Microsoft Business Solutions Partner of the Year -- Customer Adds-BDO Dunwoody LLP (Progressive Solutions Inc. and The RSC Group); and,

*Reseller of the Year -- Open License Revenue-Programmer's Paradise (Bell Canada and WBM Office Systems).