TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Jan. 14, 2015) - Canada's open data and entrepreneurial communities will once again come together in the second Canadian Open Data Experience (CODE) appathon, from February 20 to 22. Treasury Board President Tony Clement is in Toronto today to showcase the social and economic benefits that CODE 2015 has the promise to unlock. CODE is an example of how the Government of Canada is promoting and supporting open data for the benefit of Canadians.

The second annual appathon will challenge teams to use data available on the federal government's Open Government Portal (open.canada.ca) to provide Canadians with consumer-friendly applications designed to make their day-to-day lives easier. The top 15 teams from all regions of Canada will be invited to Toronto to pitch their apps before a live judging panel on March 6. The winners will be announced at the CODE 2015 Grand Finale on March 26.

CODE is hosted by XMG Studio, one of Canada's largest independent mobile gaming studios. Tech incubator OneEleven is supplying the venue for the Toronto road show stop and also provided a VIP hub location for last year's CODE 2014 appathon.

Quick Facts

• Winners will share at total of $40,000 in prizes, with a grand prize of $15,000. Prize money also includes $5,000 for each of the following categories:
  
  
  • Youth;
  • Commerce;
  • Quality of Life;
  • Best Student Team; and
  • Fan Favorite.
    
    
• Participants can take part in three ways: apply to attend the 48-hour event at one of three VIP HUBs in Toronto, Vancouver and Montréal; register to participate from a space made available by CODE supporters; or participate virtually online.
  
  
• CODE 2015 themes focus on Youth, Commerce, and Quality of Life. This year participants are encouraged to mash up federal datasets with those from other levels of government.
  
  
• Open Data is one of the three major pillars of Canada's Action Plan on Open Government 2.0. The others are Open Information and Open Dialogue.

Quotes

"CODE 2015 encourages data buffs, coders, and developers to seek new ways to re-purpose federal government data to create apps for Canadians. I'm inviting interested participants to join us for CODE 2015 to create apps that provide greater value to our citizens."

- Tony Clement, President of the Treasury Board

"Through policies like Digital Canada 150 and the Canadian Open Data Experience, our government has taken steps to ensure that Canada is a leader in the digital age. The developers participating in CODE 2015 will create simpler and quicker ways for Canadians to access services and information when and where they need them, through today's cutting-edge digital technology. CODE 2015 is an incredible program that showcases Canadian talent in the digital realm, and the real potential it offers for continued job creation and economic growth."

- James Moore, Minister of Industry

"Hackathons like CODE drive innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship, and they are where ideas grow into products. I'm excited to see the apps that are developed during CODE 2015, and I can't wait to see how many careers, partnerships and new businesses are started as a result of participation."

- Ray Sharma, Founder and Chairman of XMG Studio Inc.

"We were blown away by the talent and applications that were developed in 2014 and expect 2015 to be even bigger and better. To be able to hack through federal datasets and develop an application that can have a meaningful impact on Canadians nationwide is incredible. Forty-eight hours later, participants walk away with a minimum viable product that could be the seed to an entrepreneurial venture and relationships that will last a lifetime. There are few experiences like it, and we can't wait to kick-off CODE 2015."
- Bilal Khan, Managing Director at OneEleven

Related Products

- Canadian Open Data Experience {CODE}

- Open Data Portal

- Canada's Action Plan on Open Government

For more information on the CODE 2014 experience, please check out our CODE 2014 Event page. You can also read current and past blogs on CODE:

- {CODE}2014 First Place Team Member Jason Ernst Shares His Experience

- {CODE} 2014 Runner-up Kevin Quan: My Experience

- The CODE Winning Teams

- Canada's CIO Discusses the Success of CODE

- Why is CODE Important?

Associated Links

- CODE website (XMG)

- OneEleven website