Lightyear’s Showcase CIT in Surrey, British Columbia:

In 2010 Lightyear donated to Simon Fraser University (SFU) in Surrey, British Columbia (www.surrey.sfu.ca) a world-class showcase high-definition digital demonstration research and development theatre. This took the form of a retrofit to their existing 200-seat theatre located on the university campus. This showcase is a prototypical Lightyear CIT and will be used for demonstration purposes.

Having a CIT demonstration venue in the heart of one of Canada’s most venerated learning institutions is a huge benefit for Lightyear as SFU is home to the School of Interactive of Arts and Technology (SIAT), an institution that plays a leading role in the creation of new media and new technologies. Lightyear and SIAT are excited at the prospect of being able to work together for the advancement of talent in the graduate and under-graduate degree programs.

The SFU campus is exceptionally well connected. There is immediate access to SkyTrain and its rapid 35 minute transit service to downtown Vancouver and Vancouver International Airport (YVR). The Canada/US border crossing into Washington State and Interstate 5 is a 25 minute drive.

Lightyear has committed to distance learning being one of the primary functions of its CIT program and distribution network. This is enhanced by the opportunity for Lightyear to work with the students of the cutting-edge SIAT, where they have programs such as Media Arts. This program involves the creation, analysis and understanding of digital media. The SIAT digital film studios, close to the theatre, are used to explore new forms of digital videography, video games, immersive virtual reality and sound synthesis. The SIAT design studios work with new media and interactive applications. The students from these programs now have the opportunity to work with a world-class digital theatre. The main focus of SIAT is concentrated on how people use technology in their lives to create better interactions exactly the philosophy of a CIT.