The finalists for the 2003 Canadian New Media Awards have been announced, and as many as 12 lucky computer jockeys will leave Toronto’s Winter Garden Theatre with a Pixel on June 2.

In addition, for the first time in its four-year history, the CMNA will hold a full day’s worth of workshops with the 2003 finalists leading into the awards.

The finalists for the new media visionary award are Toronto’s Ana Serrano and Vincent John Vincent, Montreal’s Monique Savoie, Banff’s Sara Diamond and Halifax’s Steven Comeau.

Vincent is also in line for the lifetime achievement award, against fellow Torontonians Julian Wharton and Paul Hoffert, Montreal’s Nathalie Rajotte and Ottawa’s Alfredo Coppola.

Employer of the year is between Toronto new media houses ninedots, Rich Media and Snap Media, Edmonton’s Top Draw and Saskatoon’s zu.com communications.

Ottawa’s Michael Jemtrud, Calgary’s Jim Parker and Toronto’s Bradley Fortner, Mark Bishop and Serrano are vying for the educator of the year award, while Serrano, Toronto’s Aurel Langlois, Roma Khanna and Keith Clarkson are individually in contention with Halifax’s Comeau for industry advocate of the year honors.

Company of the year will be decided between Vancouver’s Radical Entertainment and Blast Radius, Halifax’s Collideascope Digital Pictures, Calgary’s Critical Mass and Edmonton’s BioWare.

Prizes will also be awarded for most promising new company, producer, graduate, volunteer, designer and programmer of the year.

Jian Ghomeshi will host the awards ceremony.

CNMA workshops are to be tied together around the theme of sustainability of the industry. Workshops will include training and education (presented by OnTarget’s program director Mark Jones); creative concept (presented by Decode convergence producer Dan Fill); intellectual property (with Goodman’s LLP’s Trevor Fencott), as well program development, skills analysis and ‘The Business Side’ (presented by Joe Oliver, senior account manager for media and entertainment with RBC).

-www.cmna.ca