Recommended: My Favourite Canadian Internet Inventions, eh

As we approach the Canada Day festivities, I thought it would be appropriate to pay tribute to some of my favourite Canadian Internet inventions and innovators.

iPermitMail
I cannot say enough good things about this challenge-response spam blocking system; it has literally changed my life. Last month alone, this made-in-Canada service blocked over 12,000 junk emails from cluttering up my in-box, saving me an estimated 16 hours of valuable time. I honestly can’t remember the last time I saw spam; that’s how good this system is. And it only costs $5 a month!
Campaigner
In a crowded and competitive landscape, this self-serve e-mail marketing ASP (from Ottawa, originally) has done a great job of bundling a lot of sophisticated features into an affordable and easy-to-use service. For entrepreneurs and small businesses looking to create, distribute, and measure their own email newsletters, Campaigner is a terrific way to get started.
CityMax
I can hear the Web designers screaming in horror as I write this, but if someone wants a decent-looking, full-featured, multi-page Website but has less than $500 to spend, Vancouver’s CityMax is the answer. Yes, do-it-yourself Website solutions like CityMax have lots of limitations and the ‘designs’ are generic, but for some entrepreneurs and small businesses, this is the only way they would ever be able to launch their first Website.
CBC.ca
While I don’t watch or listen to the CBC that much, the CBC.ca Website has been my home page for years. One of the first broadcasters in the world to have an online presence, the CBC is continually experimenting with the online medium. Streaming, wireless, rich media, blogs, Podcasting… you name it, the CBC is usually first in line to try it, which is very impressive for a 104 year-old.
Happy Birthday, Canada!