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.

“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.

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.

Application involves a two-step process. Interested organizations should first register their intent with Genome BC. Competitive projects that meet all thematic criteria will then be invited to apply.

Complete program guidelines are available here (pdf).

The application form is available here (doc).

Please direct all queries regarding this program via email to sofi@genomebc.ca.

“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.

About Vancouver Island Technology Park

The Vancouver Island Technology Park, a University of Victoria Enterprise, facilitates the growth of technology on Vancouver Island by providing physical infrastructure linking local, provincial, national and international resources with emerging or growing tech companies.  VITP is a highly acclaimed centre of hi-tech excellence for world class science and innovation.  Today, the existing 191,000 square feet facility is a proven model which is fully-leased to 29 hi-tech companies. VITP is home to 1,300 highly-skilled and educated workers who contribute in excess of $280M annually to the economy of British Columbia.

About RevenueWire

RevenueWire Inc. is a global e-business company supporting affiliate marketers and merchants of high-quality digital products. Based in Victoria, British Columbia, RevenueWire has quickly grown into one of the industry’s leading e-commerce platforms, driving top-line revenue for merchants and affiliates in 74 countries around the world. The company is dedicated to providing its customers with highly productive online marketing services including access to a global affiliate network and a top converting shopping cart. RevenueWire’s performance-based platform ensures revenue is maximized for affiliates and merchants alike and they receive the best value possible.

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Media Contact:
Av Hundle                                                                                                          Bobbi Leach
Manager, Business Development and Marketing                               General Manager
Vancouver Island Technology Park                                                       RevenueWire
P: 250.483.3228                                                                                            P: 250.984.1131
E: ahundle@vitp.ca E: rleach@revenuewire.com

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.

So folks, here is the deal. Please pass this email on to the people who know Dale and Dan and please make a donation at http://www.canadahelps.org/gp/7203 Help our youth and Dale Gann  and Dan Gunn overcome their fears of heights and let’s see them jump out of a plane.

PLEASE NOTE All money goes directly to the youth and families of our programs

“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.

A defining characteristic that helps sustain employee involvement and engagement at Advanced Solutions are employee-driven, self-directed teams that focus on a variety of fundraising, employee recognition, sustainability and health and wellness activities throughout the year. Advanced Solutions’ performance development program is focused on helping employees with career planning.

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.

Please note that although the course content is categorized as beginner, the learning tempo/rate of delivery of the course is advanced.  Therefore, we recommend that candidates have a solid theoretical foundation as well as considerable practical experience when considering boot camp enrollment.

We are pleased to offer a 25% discount to all VITP members!

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.

About Maxxam

Maxxam Analytics is Canada’s largest independent analytical laboratory services company, with expertise in environmental laboratory services, petroleum services, food safety and sciences, and pharmaceutical, forensic and DNA services. The company has approximately 1,800 employees and operates at 30 laboratory and service centre locations. Website: www.maxxam.ca.

OMERS Private Equity manages the private equity activities of OMERS and today has in excess of $4 billion of investments under management. OMERS Private Equity investment strategy includes the active ownership of businesses in North America and Europe. Website: www.omerspe.com.

OMERS is one of Canada’s largest pension plans, with more than $43 billion in assets invested around the globe in publicly traded investments, real estate, infrastructure and private equity. It provides retirement benefits to over 390,000 current and former employees of more than 900 municipal governments, school boards, libraries, police and fire departments, children’s aid societies, and other local agencies throughout Ontario. Website: www.omers.com.

“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.

ICE Fund support of $2.1 million goes to SWITCH Materials Inc., developers of thin films based on patented organic materials that “switch” optical properties by darkening automatically when exposed to sun, and rapidly bleaching on command when stimulated by electricity. The project will commercialize “smart” windows using this technology, creating 11 jobs immediately and more than 60 jobs by 2017.

“With ICE Fund support, we’re now in a position to accelerate the commercialization of our technology, showcasing its performance benefits and energy savings to buyers and investors,” said Doug Wiggin, CEO of Burnaby-based SWITCH. “We are proud to contribute to clean-energy solutions for British Columbians and to B.C.’s growing reputation as a global leader in clean tech.”

Another $4.5 million will help the University of British Columbia and its project partners, Nexterra Systems Corp., GE Energy and FP Innovations, develop a system that uses biomass to create synthetic gas, which will be fired directly into a gas engine to produce both heat and energy for UBC’s Vancouver campus. The project will create 50 jobs immediately and almost 900 jobs by 2016.

“Partnerships are key to building B.C.’s clean-energy future, and with this funding from government we will set a new global standard for small-scale biomass systems that generate both heat and power,” said UBC president Prof. Stephen Toope. “Immediately, our project will create jobs and lower greenhouse gas emissions by 4,500 tonnes per year. Looking ahead, we hope to see similar plants operating in B.C.’s remote northern forest communities and public institutions around the world.”

The funding for the biomass-fuelled heat and power system followed an MOU between the ICE Fund and Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC), an arm’s-length, not-for-profit corporation created by the Government of Canada.

“By working together to identify high-calibre clean tech projects in B.C., SDTC and the ICE Fund are contributing to develop the province’s clean-tech sector,” said Vicky Sharpe, president and CEO of SDTC. “The funding awarded to UBC, Nexterra and GE, by both organizations, is a great example of this partnership.”

The ICE Fund supports new pre-commercial technologies in the electricity, alternative energy, transportation and oil and gas sectors, as well as commercial technologies not yet used in B.C. The government’s $60-million dollar investment to date has supported projects worth more than $235 million.

The fund was created to help solve the pressing environmental and energy challenges in B.C. identified by government. It helps B.C. companies showcase their technologies to international markets and demonstrate the commercial viability of new energy technologies. The third call for funding proposals closes on July 5.

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.

The donation further cements Gustavson’s relationship with UVic. He sits on the business school’s advisory board and chairs the Distinguished Entrepreneur of the Year Award event, which he helped establish in 2004.

“I’m hoping that this motivates others who are contemplating making a donation to the university and to any other good cause to step up and say, ‘Yes, I’m going to do that,’ ” he said.

Gustavson said his relationship with UVic began when he hired graduates who impressed him with their skills.

“As I became more involved with the school, I realized that some of its challenges could be resolved with more resources. At the time I did not have the funds, but now I do and want to ensure more students can benefit from UVic business’s innovative programming.”

University president David Turpin said Gustavson’s donation will transform the business school and benefit generations of students.

“This gift will turn our already remarkable business school into an internationally renowned centre of excellence for business education.”