Welcome to this week’s Sunday Briefing. In this issue, find out what’s in store for Vancouver Island following the release of the provincial budget, nominate yourself or someone you know for a VIATEC Award, and why a local digital agency was named Most Innovative Branding Development Company 2025.

Now on to today’s briefing. It’s 657 words: a three-minute read.

-Emily, [email protected]

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A new task force to face the tariff threat

In the face of the tariff flip-flopping and economic uncertainty with our southern neighbours, the South Island Prosperity Partnership (SIPP), Greater Victoria’s economic alliance, has announced a new task force.

The Rising Economy Taskforce 2.0 will bring leaders across the region together in response to threats from the U.S. administration and to address Greater Victoria’s economic vulnerabilities. SIPP’s first Rising Economy Taskforce was established in April 2020 in response to the financial repercussions of COVID-19.

“The Rising Economy Taskforce proved its value during the pandemic by uniting our community and driving actionable solutions,” said Aaron Stone, CEO of SIPP. “With new threats on the horizon, including a hostile Trump administration and global economic instability, it’s essential that we come together again to shore up our vulnerabilities and ensure our residents’ incomes are protected.”

The task force will focus on priority areas, including:

• Understanding vulnerabilities in our economy

• Building resident confidence in business and community leaders’ response

• Identifying actionable interventions in response to U.S. administration actions

• Seizing opportunities that align with federal, provincial, and municipal goals

• Reducing duplication of efforts between government and business

• Championing a diverse economy by encouraging investment

• Keeping a finger on the pulse of the economy

Coordinated by South Island Prosperity Partnership, the Rising Economy Taskforce 2.0 will begin meeting in mid-March to identify immediate actions that address the threat of U.S. tariffs and other economic pressures.

📰 More Victoria innovation news

🎶 Goin’ up on a Tuesday: The provincial budget was announced on Tuesday, with finance minister Brenda Bailey describing the budget as “very measured.” However cautious the document is, however, Vancouver Island still will receive over $50 million in funding for capital projects. Plus, the province has earmarked $30 million for innovation over three years as part of the Integrated Marketplace Initiative.

⭐️ You’re a star: Nominations are now open for the VIATEC Awards, which recognize businesses and individuals in technology in Greater Victoria. Nominations close on March 20.

💥 Simply the best: The Wayne A. Cargill Agency was named Most Innovative Branding Development Company 2025 by the Corporate Vision Awards. The Victoria-based digital advertising, branding, entertainment, and marketing agency was launched in 2007.

🕴️ Tech jobs of the week

Find your next career:

• Embedded firmware developer, senior at Rimex

• Operations manager, Sidney B.C. at Amazon

• Senior data engineer at Jacobs

Hiring in Victoria? Reply to this email and let us know!

📅 Upcoming events

March 11-13 | 27th Annual Victoria International Privacy & Security Summit

The summit, hosted at the Victoria Conference Centre, is fully in person and will welcome up to 1,000 professionals involved in public sector transformation, security, and privacy. This year’s event will highlight strategies for public sector transformation in the new world of artificial intelligence. This summit brings together visionaries, experts, and innovators to explore the intricate intersection of advanced artificial intelligence with critical privacy and security imperatives.

March 13 | RBCx Startup Tour

​Join RBCx for the Victoria stop on the company’s Startup Tour. Its startup experts are visiting communities from coast to coast to meet with seed-stage founders and innovation leaders. Attendees will learn about how RBCx supports founders and their teams by providing access to unique products and services that are specially designed to help companies grow and scale. If you are an early stage founder or a tech ecosystem influencer, this event is for you.

Have an upcoming event? Reply to let us know.

🙋 I need a…

We at Victoria Tech Journal know you, our community, pretty well. Are you searching for someone in your field to have coffee with, a hiring hookup, a lead on local investors, or suggestion for a great Victoria tech tool? Whatever you’re hunting for, let us know. We’ll post it in this section and make it happen.

Email your requests to [email protected].

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Reply or email [email protected] so we can work together to spotlight the lesser-known stories of Victoria's tech ecosystem.