Defining Geek..

What is a geek? My definition of geek is anyone who works in a field of expertise which results in a transfer of knowledge. Thousands of Atlantic Canadians work in a number of careers that deal with the exchange of knowledge. Call center, IT, engineering, sciences, legal, insurance, banking and consulting careers all qualify as "geek" professions because they are linked to the knowledge economy.

In the 1990's, local leaders envisioned that the road to prosperity for Atlantic Canada was thru a knowledge based economy. The knowledge economy would leverage our region’s human capital and transform us into a "have" region. While much work does remain, we have had success. To celebrate our accomplishments, I felt that the region needed an event where knowledge industry professionals or "Geeks" could gather and meet. My ultimate goal was to promote and create a healthy elitism attitude about our knowledge economy. Geeks on Ice and Geeks Golf serve that purpose.

People often ask me how a hockey and golf tournament will accomplish my goal. It’s actually quite simple. These events engage the public, whom is otherwise unaware of the thousands of jobs that exist in Atlantic Canada. The public often views the knowledge economy as simply IT related jobs within IT companies and associates the knowledge economy with the dot-com crash of 2000. Geeks on Ice and Geeks Golf showcase the many firms from our region that not only survived the crash but also prospered long after it. GTECH (formerly Spielo) and Whitehill Technologies are a few examples of New Brunswick firms that have recorded record growth while others like knowledge industry pioneers Service New Brunswick have become a model for e-government initiatives worldwide.

While our event does include many information technology organizations like OAOT, Sports Direct Inc and Plexus, many in the public do not consider the large number of knowledge positions that are key roles within organizations like HRDC, Assomption Vie, Medavie Blue Cross, Property Guys, Beausejour Health and the Moncton Hospital. These roles not only consist of typical It roles like programmers and technicians, but also include sales, marketing, finance and administrative staff. All of which are vital to any healthy organization.

Yes, Geeks on Ice and Geeks Golf is serving a very necessary networking function for knowledge industry warriors from our region. They are also promoting awareness of the career opportunities within the knowledge industry to young adults who want to pursue a career and remain in Atlantic Canada. It also draws attention from knowledge industry professionals looking to come back to Atlantic Canada. Remeber, our knowledge industry needs more graduates and returning professionals to lead the region's knowledge based economy towards the next wave.

As such, I call on the thousands of call center, IT, insurance, banking, science, engineering, and consulting firms and professionals from all over Atlantic Canada to join us from April 20, 2006 through April 23, 2006 at Geeks on ice and Geeks Golf. Come celebrate our accomplishments and vision the future potential of our knowledge economy. My name is Trevor and I am a Geek!

Trevor Macausland
Geeks on Ice/Geeks Golf Organizer
W: 506-855-0005
H: 506-852-8096
Email: tmacausland@gmail.com
http://www.GeeksonIce.com

The goal of Geeks on Ice is to serve as a networking catalyst and promotion for knowledge industry firms and professionals from all over the region. The unique focus of GOI is the fact that each team must consist of players who work in an IT related profession either in IT, insurance, banking, contact centers or businesses that specialize in the transfer of knowledge.