Hall of Fame Quarterback Doug Flutie Becomes Brand Ambassador for Local Company Canuck Play’s Maximum Football Title - 2018-11-20
Canuck Play, the local video game company that has gained international coverage for its one-of-a-kind football games announce Doug Flutie as an ambassador for the Maximum Football franchise. Doug Flutie, considered one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, will be a brand ambassador for the only video game on the market that allows gamers to play with US College, Canadian, and U.S. professional styles of play.
Canuck Play and partner Spear Interactive, an indie game publisher based in Hamilton, are excited to have Doug Flutie come on board.
“We’re extremely excited to have Doug on board,” says David Winter, President of Canuck Play. “His accomplishments at all levels and styles of gridiron football are well known, and he is the obvious natural fit for our title.”
Doug Flutie’s Maximum Football will feature Doug as a playable character and include multiple new game play features.
“I’m basically a kid at heart, who lives for playing sports in person or on the screen. This partnership gives me the chance to join the video game space and I’m looking forward to helping grow the Maximum Football brand,” says Flutie. “What drew me to Maximum Football was the innovative concept of including three different styles of football in the game.”
Canuck Play, a client of the Innovation Cluster, has developed their games within Peterborough, launching their first title in downtown Peterborough in July 2017.
“This is a game changer for the the Peterborough-based game development company,” notes Michael Skinner, President & CEO of the Innovation Cluster. “Doug Flutie embodies the Canuck Play brand and we are excited to see a local company bringing on such a prominent figure in their industry.”
Maximum Football 2018 is now available on PlayStation and Xbox digital download stores.
Trent University’s Newly Launched Bata Library Gains Entrepreneurship & Social Innovation Centre to Support Aspiring Entrepreneurs - 2018-11-19
Trent University’s Bata Library had a grand opening on Friday, Nov. 16 to celebrate the renovated space. Community members, donors, and partners including the Innovation Cluster were present to celebrate the launch. With new features, the library is now a host of the Entrepreneurship & Social Innovation Centre located within the library, a collaborated initiative between the university, FastStart Peterborough and the Innovation Cluster.
The centre, which is located at the main entrance of the Bata Library, will focus on supporting students aspiring to enter entrepreneurship right on campus. An Innovation Specialist from the Innovation Cluster will be on site every Friday, and over time skills training, workshops and other events will be implemented.
“The new Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation Centre will allow Trent students to have access to community resources on campus that will both bring awareness to entrepreneurship opportunities as well as implement skills training,” says John Knight, Manager, Research Partnerships, Trent University.
The focused landscape for the centre is to build awareness, create inspiration, implement skills training and expand social innovation.
“Through this new centre, students at Trent University will be able to access an environment of entrepreneurship on campus, and have mentorship available to kick-off their initial business planning,” says Michael Skinner, President & CEO, Innovation Cluster.
Innovation Specialist Braden Clark of the Cluster will be present in the centre every Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Innovation Partner Highlight: Gastle & Associates - 2018-11-19
We are excited to highlight an Innovation Cluster member – a Knowledge Partner this year to The Cube: our business incubator for technology start-ups and early-stage companies: Gastle & Associates!
For over 13 years, Gastle and Associates’ clients have entrusted them with the care of patents, industrial designs and applications for both, in the fields of Engineering, Computer Software, Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Science. You can find them at their head office, located in the beautiful Kawartha Lakes region of Central Ontario in Lakefield, conveniently between both Ottawa and nearby Toronto.
With the tagline “with success brings balance”, the firm focuses on services including Corporate In-house Disclosure Program Development, Corporate Transaction Support, Litigation Support and Patentability Investigations.
Gastle and Associates focuses on over 25 areas of practice including Biomaterials, Medical Products, Automated Packaging & Assembly Systems, Financial Management Systems and more.
James Gastle
Jim is an idea guy at heart. Back in the ‘90’s, after Engineering school and stints in IP in Montreal and Toronto, Jim came back to his roots in 
Lakefield and developed a line of veterinary gurneys (with the help of dedicated local Peterborough manufacturers), which were later featured in the SCHEIN veterinary medical catalog. Fascinated with the power of creating “intellectual” property with patents, Jim dedicated the next 25 years to building his IP firm GASTLES in Lakefield. Since then, GASTLES has worked with 750+ clients in the care of 1750+ patents, industrial designs and applications for both.
A member of the Innovation Cluster board, Jim is keenly aware of the value of mentorship and is happy to give time to Cluster clients, all with the aim of raising practical IP awareness among local entrepreneurs.
Visit http://gastle.com/ to learn more!
Our Innovation Partners have the opportunity to immerse their brand into the Innovation Cluster network, drive innovation and expand their own network. They help companies jump-start their businesses, lay the foundations for future growth, and succeed.