TOGETHER WITH

Welcome to this week’s Sunday Briefing, brought to you by Acetech. In this issue, meet the local firms deemed the best employers, discover VIATEC's community catchup, and plenty more. But first, let's get into the (sea)weeds.

• James, @jimmermatthews

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Inside Cascadia’s quest for cleaner kelp

The National Research Council Canada (NRC), through the Innovative Solutions Canada (ISC) funding program, will be testing a solution to help restore kelp forests. For its part, Sidney-based climatetech firm Cascadia Seaweed will deliver a self-contained, modular Green Gravel Production System (GGPS) for testing at NRC’s Marine Research Station in Ketch Harbour, Nova Scotia during the summer of 2023. The pilot will be for a specific variety known as sugar kelp, but the technology and protocols can also be modified for other kelp species.

The green gravel method was discovered in 2020. This technique seeds natural substrates such as gravel with kelp spores in a controlled environment. Growth is then monitored until the kelp is mature enough to be planted in a marine setting. The end-goal of the method is to create a new kelp forest.

“Green gravel is a promising kelp restoration method which has gained significant international attention,” said Jennifer Clark, Cascadia’s chief scientist. “As kelp deforestation continues, immediate action is required to mitigate further declines and look towards methods that can help bolster existing kelp ecosystems. Cascadia has the opportunity to advance this technology and help green gravel meet its full potential.”

The company added that, as the largest vertically integrated ocean kelp cultivator in Canada, Cascadia Seaweed is uniquely positioned to leverage its existing scientific knowledge and engineering capabilities to commercialize this exciting technology. It was also an early adopter of the green gravel method, running a pilot in 2021.

It's clear that the feds are fans of the climatetech firm. On top of this nod from NRC, the company closed 2022 with a pair of government cash injections. Last October, it received $4.3 million from Sustainable Development Technology Canada. Then, in November, the Canadian Food Innovation Council dished $73,771 to Cascadia.

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🏙️ Community catchup, powered by VIATEC

Victoria has a long history in tech, and VIATEC has been around for much of it. Did you know the organization has been in the community since 1989? Or that it owns Fort Tectoria? Or that its goal is to get Greater Victoria’s tech sector to $10 billion by 2030?

On Wednesday February 22, you’re invited for lunch from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. to meet the VIATEC crew. Join other local leaders in the Conference Room at Fort Tectoria (777 Fort Street) to hear the who, what, why, and how of VIATEC and the technology community.

You’ll have the chance to learn more about how you can become more involved in the tech community, meet other VIATEC members, learn about membership benefits, and have your questions answered!

Register now for Intro to VIATEC 101.

📰 More Victoria innovation news

👹 Finalist: SalonMonster, a SaaS company that develops a business management toolkit for salon industry professionals, will pitch in the OKGN Angel Summit finale. Learn more.

🏢 First-rate: 11 local organizations featured on the list of B.C.'s Top Employers for 2023. Meet them.

👪 Familial: BC Public Service and British Columbia Investment Management Corporation landed on a country-wide list of Canada's Top Family-Friendly Employers. Get the full list.

🕴️ Tech jobs of the week

Find your next career:

• Back-End Developer at Momentum Dash

• Sales & Administrative Representative at Moose Mobility Scooter Corp

• .NET Framework Developer at Megabyte Programming Services

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

📅 Upcoming events

February 22: Intro to VIATEC 101

February 22: Mid-Island Tech Meetup

February 23: Western Angel Investment Summit

March 9: StemStruck

Have an upcoming event? Reply to let us know.