The Canary Derby provides an opportunity for Vancouver Island Companies to join forces with the Canary Foundation and BC Cancer Foundation to help support early detection of cancer research within BC.

Join us at the Vancouver Island Technology Park on Saturday for a fun filled day of laughs, BBQ, Kids zone, beer garden, and live music brought to you by Southern Urge! and live DJ.

The soapbox cars start racing at 1100 hrs.

The Victoria Derby is comprised of two race categories:

1. Canary Speed: Teams are judged on speed
2. Canary Style: Teams will negotiate a FUN obstacle course and will be judged on three criteria: — Creativity and showmanship — Corporate participation — Successful completion of the obstacle course.

The University of Victoria’s Technology Parks is pleased to welcome C.S.S.F. as its newest tenant to the Marine Technology Centre.

“I would like to welcome C.S.S.F to the Marine Technology Centre,” said Dale Gann, President of UVic’s Technology Parks.  “This announcement is hopefully the beginning of a critical mass of ocean and marine companies that will locate at the Marine Technology Centre.  ”

The Canadian Scientific Submersible Facility is a nationally registered not-for-profit corporation. Established to manage and operate the ROPOS system once the Department of Fisheries and Oceans could no longer fund underwater research vehicles, the CSSF successfully transferred the ROPOS operation from government to the private sector.

CSSF works mainly through contracts with small local companies. Fielding a consistently successful team for operations and maintenance of the system, CSSF has earned strong client support. Working relationships have been established with the University of Victoria, University of Washington, the NOAA Vents program and the NOAA West Coast Undersea Research Center, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), GEOMAR (a German research support agency) as well as Natural Resources Canada and several other Canadian universities.

In a move to accelerate research with strong commercialization potential in local companies, Genome BC has launched a new funding competition entitled, Strategic Opportunities Fund for Industry (SOFi).

The fund is designed to support small to medium-sized life science enterprises (SMEs) incorporated in BC working on genomic applications relating to agriculture, bioenergy, environment, fish and fisheries, forestry, human health and mining.

The SOFi program has a budget of at least $8M, with $2M from Genome BC, and will focus on supporting projects of approximately $400,000 to $1,000,000. Up to 25% of approved eligible costs of a project will be covered under this fund for a maximum of two years. The fund is open to SMEs operating in BC in the pre-commercialization stage in all the life science sectors. However, national and international collaborations are strongly encouraged. Read more

The Vancouver Island Technology Park (VITP) is pleased to welcome one of Victoria’s highest revenue producing hi-tech firms as its newest tenant. RevenueWire, the recipient of the 2009 VIATeC Emerging Tech Company of the Year Award and a nominee for the 2010 VIATeC Company of the Year Award, will soon call VITP home later this year.

“To say we are excited to secure a company of the calibre of RevenueWire would be an understatement,” said Dale Gann, President, UVic Technology Parks.  “RevenueWire’s decision demonstrates how much value companies take in being immersed in an environment as stimulating and nurturing as the one that exists at VITP.  We look forward to a long and healthy partnership with one of Victoria’s elite hi-tech firms.”

“To be part of a culture that is supportive with like-minded individuals and companies was instrumental in our decision in choosing VITP,” said Bobbi Leach, General Manager, RevenueWire.  “We like the sense of community that the tech park creates for companies such as ours, and feel that this is the right place to foster a passionate and engaged team.”

RevenueWire, a comprehensive e-business platform for affiliate markets and merchants of digital products have signed a 3 year lease agreement for 9,000 square feet of high-tech space.  Employing approximately 35 knowledge-based workers, RevenueWire will take occupancy in November 2010. Read more

The Dan and Dale Deal from Media One Multimedia on Vimeo.

Please help Power To Be in its fundraising campaign www.powertoplay.ca to see Dale Gann and Dan Gunn jump out of a plane. As you may be aware Dale and Dan are TERRIFIED OF HEIGHTS.  Next Sunday,  Dale will be racing in Power To Play and as part of his fundraising efforts Dale and Dan have agreed to step out of their comfort zone (ie. cushy executive offices) and to take one for the team and do it for the kids.

1)      If the VITP racing team raises $5,000 Dale and Dan Gunn will do the King Swing at Wild Play Element Parks.

2)      Should one person feel generous and write a cheque for $10,000 Dale and Dan have agreed to bungy jump.

3)      The overall fundraising goal for Power to Play 2010 is $100,000.   Dale and Dan have agreed that if the event exceeds that goal and raises $130,000 they will take the ultimate challenge and go SKY DIVING.  Power To Play have raised $80,000 to date with one week left to go. Read more

Advanced Solutions, An HP Company has received the American Psychological Association’s (APA) 2010 International Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award (PHWA) at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. on March 6. One of five employers from across North America to receive the award this year, Advanced Solutions won in the medium for-profit company category. Advanced Solutions is a previous winner of the British Columbia Psychological Association’s Provincial-Level Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award, which permitted qualifying for the APA award.

“As a leading IT services company we know that we must have employees that are engaged, wanting to stay working with our company, and are willingly contributing their best,” said Greg Conner, Vice President of Human Resources.  “We are very pleased to be recognized for this award and helps to confirm we are succeeding in our unyielding focus on being labour-friendly, and creating a healthy and welcoming workplace.”

Advanced Solutions’ win is attributed to its efforts in fostering employee involvement, health and safety, employee growth and development, work-life balance and employee recognition. Extended health benefits, career planning programs and flexible work scheduling are several examples of the workplace practices that helped earn a 2010 award. Read more

ARP Technologies Inc. is a worldwide leader in business information technology training for Cisco Systems products and technologies. Certified as a Cisco Learning Partner Associate (CLPA), ARP is focused on providing exceptional, professional training to clients who need to successfully install, configure, and manage Cisco solutions.

ARP Technologies is pleased to team up with Vancouver Island Technology Park to bring you the best  in Cisco training!  We are offering our CCNA BOOT CAMP at VITP June 21 – June 25, 2010.

This intense five day course is a combination of the Cisco Certified ICND1 (five days) and the ICND2 (five days) course knowledge required to prepare for the CCNA Certification into a boot camp.  Topics covered include security, troubleshooting, and basic wireless labs with more time devoted to performance-based skills via hands-on labs.  The CCNA Certification will validate the ability to install, operate, and troubleshoot a secure, medium-size enterprise network.  The Certification will prepare students for careers in networking and provide a solid foundation for deeper study and specialized training.  Candidates for this Certification include network engineers, technicians, architects, system engineers, system administrators, and telecommunication specialists.  Networking experience is imperative to receive the full benefit of this course.  Additional experience with routing and switching is desirable.  CCNA Boot Camp assessment is available prior to enrollment. Read more

On April 1, 2010, Cantest Ltd., BC’s leading environmental, food and pharmaceutical laboratory, will officially change its name to Maxxam Analytics.

The name change is the final step in a process that began with Maxxam’s acquisition of Cantest in 2009. The two companies have been integrating their operations, systems and services over the past months, focusing on creating a seamless transition experience for customers.

“The goal of this acquisition has always been to create a growth platform in British Columbia,” explains Maxxam President & CEO Jon Hantho. “We strongly believe in the importance of providing our clients with a complete service offering and a strong presence in the marketplace. I am also excited about the opportunities the merger of the two companies creates for our employees in BC.”

Maxxam Analytics International Corporation – an OMERS Private Equity portfolio company – acquired Burnaby, BC-based Cantest Ltd., including its laboratory locations in Victoria at the Vancouver Island Technology Park and Winnipeg, in October 2009. Read more

The Province is investing $6.6 million in two cutting-edge clean technology projects – one that will create synthetic gas from waste wood to generate heat and power, and another for windows that darken in sunlight and lighten at the flick of a switch, announced Blair Lekstrom, Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources on behalf of Iain Black, Minister of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development.

“These latest investments from our Innovative Clean Energy Fund are helping to move new technologies that have been proven on a small-scale into the marketplace. This creates jobs for British Columbians and strengthens B.C.’s leadership in the world’s green economy,” said Black.

“With a total commitment of more than $60 million to 41 projects across the province, the ICE Fund is tackling climate change head-on by supporting B.C. clean energy innovators and entrepreneurs who are pioneering new technologies, new approaches and new ideas,” said Black. Read more

Written by: Carla Wilson, Times Colonist Reporter, March 19, 2010
Link to video:  UVic Business Video

When Victoria businessman Peter Gustavson gave $10 million to the University of Victoria’s faculty of business Friday he described himself as the “happiest guy here today.”

That’s because Gustavson remembers his own days as a student, working full-time while attending the University of Manitoba — with the help of $2 a week in gas money from his grandmother. “I know what it’s like to struggle to find money for tuition and living expenses.”

The contribution is one of the largest gifts ever given to the university — previous large donations include $17 million from the Michael Williams estate and $11 million from Bob Wright, head of Oak Bay Marine Group.

“Your gift will help many young women and men transform our world,” dean of business Ali Dastmalchian told Gustavson.

The donation will be used to establish an endowment for scholarships, professorships and research in the faculty of business. Dastmalchian said the contribution will allow the faculty to continue to introduce new programs, such as a new PhD and master’s in global business.

Gustavson, 52, founded Custom House Global Foreign Exchange in 1992 at Government and Wharf streets. He sold it last year to Western Union for $370 million US. Read more