Gilray Densham, owner and CEO of CAST Group, has won an Ernest C. Manning
Innovation Award, a prestigious innovation award in Canada.
Densham has been awarded the David E. Mitchell Award of Distinction, the second
highest achievement of the Ernest C. Manning Innovation Awards, and a sum of
$25,000 in recognition for BlackTrax real-time motion tracking system that offers
production professionals with six degrees of freedom, including 3D and rotation.
To date, BlackTrax has been used in the world’s most dynamic and exciting projects
ranging from Cirque du Soleil productions, Marvel Universe LIVE! and Disney on Ice.
It is also currently part of the Harry Potter production in London’s West End.
Densham established CAST Group 22 years ago and the current portfolio includes
BlackTrax realtime motion tracking system, wysiwyg lighting design and
previsualisation software and Vivien virtual event designer. Each company has
made an array of cutting-edge technologies designed to enhance artists’
performances in the entertainment and production industry.
Densham and BlackTrax have employed local people training them on the latest
visual technologies, working in a global economy and creating valuable knowledge
resources and money back into the Canadian economy.
Densham’s creativity and ingenuity allows artists to bring their vision to life on
stage. During his previous 20 years as a lighting assistant with Canadian
Broadcasting (CBC), he learned the intricacies of lighting design and installation and
began developing technologies that would improve what lighting made possible on
stage.
In winning the award, Densham said: “Canadians do amazing things and these
awards help highlight that.’
The award was presented to Densham at the Foundation’s 35th Innovation Awards
Dinner in Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia on October 20th 2016.
The Manning Innovation awards were created to honour and support their home-
grown innovation heroes, particularly those who have recently demonstrated
innovative talent in developing and successfully marketing a new concept, process
or procedure, and especially those who improve the lives of Canadians and others
worldwide through their commercialized innovations.
Foundation President Jennifer Diakiw said: “The Ernest C. Manning Awards
Foundation is helping build a culture of innovation by encouraging and rewarding
outstanding Canadian innovators. Our Awards celebrate innovators for the value
they add to our provincial and national economies by creating jobs and wealth, and
positioning our country as a global competitor. We consider them Canada’s most
valuable resource.’
