The eighth annual newMedia Conference and Trade Show will take place in Toronto June 1-4 and is set to offer its largest array of seminars yet, divided into four themed tracks.

newMedia 99 is designed as a comprehensive multimedia and new media event and will feature over 110 seminars covering animation, education, design, printing and Web issues as well as an exhibition featuring 200-plus equipment and service providers.

The keynote lineup includes Dr. John Warnock, cofounder of Adobe Systems; Frank Casanova, director of QuickTime Marketing at Apple Computer; and Rob Burgess, president of Macromedia.

The four conference tracks are Imaging and Design, Multimedia Communications, Showcase on Production, and the World Wide Web.

The Imaging and Design program is directed at photographers, graphic artists, designers, illustrators and publishers, and covers areas such as lighting design, digital imaging and branding with new media tools.

Multimedia Communications is aimed at the sales and marketing, education and development side and focuses on selling new media, finance and classroom applications of new media.

Showcase on Production covers production issues, including audio and video for the Web, modeling and animating live objects, digital audio, lighting for 3D graphics, multimedia writing and other topics.

The Web stream offers seminars on various levels of html, buying online media, streaming and other Web-related topics.

Exhibitors this year include equipment suppliers such as Avid, sgi and Apple as well as Toronto companies like Precision Camera and The Vivid Group, which will showcase its Mandala virtual reality system, as well as industry groups like the Interactive Multimedia Arts & Technologies Association.

Industry association SMART Toronto will have a dual presence at the show, with a booth dedicated to the New Media Trainers Alliance, an initiative which unites some of the main new media education facilities including Sheridan, Centennial, Ryerson, Seneca, the International Academy of Design and the First Interactive Computer College in international promotion efforts.

smart will also have a booth showcasing the works of various members. The organization has recently been reviving its efforts to create a high-speed network to support the city’s post-production industry.

newMedia 99 will feature a new award for female accomplishment in new media with the inaugural Canadian Women in New Media Awards. The event, being held June 4 at the show, will recognize three women who have made outstanding contributions to the Canadian new media industry.

Wendy Mesley of cbc’s Undercurrents will host the event at which three awards will be presented: The Pioneer Award, the Outstanding Young Woman Award and the Outstanding Volunteer Award.

newMedia 99 is being run this year by Cleveland, Ohio-based Advanstar Communications, which acquired Concord, Ont.’s Multimedia Trade Shows last year. mts, founded by Bruce and Jai Cole, had been responsible for the show since its inception in 1984. Bruce Cole joined Advanstar as regional manager, Canada – Information Technology Events Group.