Welcome to this week’s Sunday Briefing. In this issue, read about how food banks link to Island savings, what Solaires Enterprises showcased at CES 2025, and who’s been celebrating COAST’s Ocean Innovation Hub.

Now on to today’s briefing. It’s 792 words: a three-minute read.

-Emily, [email protected]

By the way, if you're not already subscribed, you can fix that here.

B.C. innovation minister receives new mandate

Last week, Diana Gibson — the new minister of jobs, economic development and innovation — received her mandate letter from Premier Eby. Like all of the premier’s documents, this one highlighted the need to focus on four “kitchen table” issues: growing the economy by creating good jobs, reducing costs for families, strengthening healthcare, and making neighbourhoods safer.

During her term, Gibson will be expected to make progress on 10 priority areas, including:

• Enhancing and expanding B.C.'s Trade Diversification Strategy — a move that comes at a time when Trump is potentially imposing new tariffs on Canadian goods and a number of companies are considering shifting away from trade with China.

• Continuing to diversify B.C.’s economy and support good jobs through the B.C. Manufacturing Jobs Fund, signaling a desire to create products locally.

• Continuing to support B.C.’s innovation, tech, life sciences, and other emerging sectors, and work with businesses to encourage AI adoption to improve productivity across traditional and emerging sectors.

• Continuing to support small- and medium-sized businesses to innovate, grow, and access global markets.

• Advocating strongly to the federal government for fair treatment of B.C. businesses in relation to economic growth and stimulus programs.

Gibson will be supported by Paul Choi, MLA for Burnaby South-Metrotown, as parliamentary secretary for Asia-Pacific trade. Choi will focus on growing ties with governments, businesses, and individuals in the Asia-Pacific region — particularly South Korea, which the mandate letter indicated is a top priority for the B.C. government.

📰 More Victoria innovation news

🙌 I’ll make you banana pancakes: In the latest episode of the Chamber Chat podcast, Bruce Williams met with the team from the Mustard Seed Food Bank and Island Savings to discuss the connection between food and finance.

⭐️ Show me what you got: Solaires Enterprises headed to CES 2025 this week to show off the company’s sustainable energy solutions and partnership with Japan’s Nichicon, a manufacturer of capacitors.

🐠 Together, we swim: The Centre for Ocean Applied Sustainable Technologies’ Ocean Innovation Hub was highlighted as a space for blue economy organizations to connect and collaborate. The location opened in Victoria in October.

🕴️ Tech jobs of the week

Find your next career:

• Senior manager, growth engagement at Wealthsimple

• Marketing communications specialist at Avua

• Project manager, II grading at Coursera

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

📅 Upcoming events

February 20-21 | 6th Western Angel Investment Summit

Presented by Angel Forum with the support of VIATEC and the National Angel Capital Organization, the theme of this year’s Western Angel Investment Summit is “B.C. Be Bold.” Targeted at angels, founders, funds, and accelerators, the event will explore how B.C. founders and investors should be ready to take centre stage.

February 24-25 | 9th Annual BC Communications Forum

Join the BC Communications Forum, the premier gathering for communication professionals across the province. This is your opportunity to connect with industry leaders, exchange ideas with peers, and dive into the latest insights that can transform your day-to-day work.

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].

Have something or someone we should know about?

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