This year we brought together the MSDN and Technet Canada awards to create the IgniteIT Awards.  This is a special award in Canada as it recognizes the hard work and innovation of the members of our IT community across Canada.

The submission periods is close and now we are on to the Voting phase.  It’s all about the community making your voice heard: who are the top IT leaders.

A few details:

• The Ignite IT Awards Voting Phase happens throughout the entire month of March, closing on March 31.
• Through a random draw, participants could win 1 of 10 4GB Microsoft Zunes just for voting
• The community can vote for the top 5 Developer submissions and the top 5 IT Professional submissions. Microsoft judges will then select the winners from those finalists.
• Voters can vote for as many of their favourite submissions as they’d like, but they can only vote for the same submission once a day.
• Voters can vote for their own submission.

Prizes will be awarded in May 2009. WINNERS RECEIVE:

Developer or
Developer Team of the Year

• Prize of $5,000
• MSDN Code Awards Crystal Trophy

IT Professional or IT Professional Team of the Year

• Prize of $5,000
• TechNet Innovation Awards Crystal Trophy

The top 5 Developers and top 5 IT Professionals receive:

• A Microsoft Software Kit including a full edition of Visual Studio Pro - an approximate value of $1,000