By 2005, Canadian B2B eCommerce will surpass C$270 billion — making it one of the world’s largest Internet economies. At the Forrester Research (Nasdaq: FORR) Canadian eBusiness Leadership Forum, “Canada’s Internet Future,” more than 250 senior business leaders who are setting strategic objectives in eCommerce will learn how to compete in the progressive marketplace, build strong and collaborative B2B relationships, and deliver products and services to online Canadians. The Forum is being held at The Westin Harbour Castle through June 28.

“Canada holds the opportunity to continue building on its leadership position in eBusiness,” said Jean C. Monty, chairman and CEO at BCE. “And Forrester’s Forum will allow us to further that leadership by sharing ideas and new information.”

“The Canadian eBusiness Leadership Forum is an acknowledgement of the value of the Canadian market,” said John H. Tory, president and CEO at Rogers Cable. “Over the past two years as Rogers has been building a robust cable network for this market, we have watched this market grow and become a more prominent player in the global Internet economy.”

The Canadian Forum will highlight how the Net will change and expand the delivery of financial services, retail goods, and government services to online Canadians of all age groups. In research published today, Forrester found that 68% of Canadian wired youth use instant messaging, 42% have multiple email accounts, and 48% download software — spending an average of 17 hours per week online, which is more than any other country in North America or Europe.

“Canada has a real untapped natural resource — the digital prowess of its youth,” said Bruce D. Temkin, group director at Forrester. “Canadian online youngsters tend to be more digitally active than their international peers. The trick for Canada will be to turn this teenage activity into job training for a digitally elite workforce.”

Featured guest speakers include Jean C. Monty, chairman and CEO, BCE; John H. Tory, president and CEO, Rogers Cable; Brian Tobin, minister of industry, Canadian government; Ed Kilroy, president and CEO, IBM Canada; Marty Lippert, vice chairman and CIO, Royal Bank of Canada; Mike Lazaridis, founder, president, and co-CEO, Research In Motion (RIM); John A. Macleod, president and CEO, NetThruPut, Inc., Larry Mueller, president and CEO, Ariba; Thomas P. Reeves, president and CEO, Borderfree.

In addition to Temkin, featured Forrester speakers include Paul Sonderegger, senior analyst; Jordan Kendall, analyst; James Sharp, analyst; and Matthew R. Sanders, analyst. George F. Colony, chairman of the board and CEO, will serve as the Forum’s co-host.

The Canadian eBusiness Leadership Forum is part of a series of 10 Forums taking place in 2001. Forrester Forums provide opportunities for Global 3,500 executives and senior managers, industry leaders, and Forrester analysts to develop successful business strategies, discover the latest tools and vendors, and informally share ideas.