The most rapidly evolving markets and how photonics will provide solutions to problems of global economic importance will be topics at the fourth annual Executive Symposium on Photonics Commercialization, June 5 at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier Hotel, 1 Rideau St., Ottawa. The symposium is part of Photonics North 2008, to be held June 2-4 at the Hilton Montreal Bonaventure.Symposium participants will include CTOs, CEOs, vice presidents of engineering, high-ranking government officials, venture capitalists and industry analysts, said Jacques D. Labelle, chair of the Canadian Photonics Consortium and general manager of the Quebec Photonic Network, a cosponsor of the event. Representatives from the Optoelectronics Industry Development Association, Intel, Avanex, IPG Photonics, Oppenheimer,General Dynamics, Boreal Laser and Polyphotonics will be speakers. The symposium is being held in partnership with the National Research Council (NRC) Canada, Institute for Microstructural Sciences, Canadian Photonics Fabrication Centre, Carleton University and the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation. Sylvain Charbonneau, director, Applications Technologies, Institute for Microstructural Sciences and Canadian Photonics Fabrication Centre, NRC Canada, will be the emcee at the one-day symposium. Presenters will also discuss emerging commercial opportunities in optics and photonics and how they are changing the way we live. The Photonics North exhibition will be held June 3 from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. and June 4 from 10:00 a.m.-3:40 p.m. at the ballroom level of the Bonaventure Hilton. For more information, visit: www.photonicsnorth.com; to register for the symposium, visit: www.ocri.ca/events/photonicscommercialization.asp