TOGETHER WITH
Welcome to this week’s Sunday Briefing. In this issue:
iWIST announces 2026 STEM scholarship recipients
Victoria Tech Week returns September 21–25
ONC prepares to deploy neutrino experiment off B.C. coast
Now on to today’s briefing.
-Emily, [email protected]
By the way, if you're not already subscribed, you can fix that here.
Eight Victoria students to represent Canada at global robotics competition
Photo: Shift Technologies
Eight students from five Victoria high schools have been selected for Team Canada at the 2026 FIRST Global Challenge, heading to Incheon, South Korea in October to compete against teams from more than 190 countries in an Olympic-style robotics event.
This year's challenge, themed "Igniting Innovation," tasks student teams with designing, building, and programming robots to address wildfire prevention, mitigation, and recovery. The Victoria delegation draws from St. Margaret's School, Mt. Douglas Secondary, Reynolds Secondary, Victoria High School, and École Victor-Brodeur, with skills spanning mechanical design, programming, electronics, and project management.
"I never saw myself becoming so passionate about robotics until I joined FIRST," said team member Taya K. "Representing Canada in Korea is an incredible opportunity to share my passion for STEM and inspire more girls to see themselves as a part of it."
The team is currently fundraising to cover travel, equipment, and registration costs, and is seeking support from community members and organizations.
SPONSORED BY PHS COMMUNITY SERVICES SOCIETY
$8K raised to date. Run, donate or support the PHS Run Team
The PHS Run Team is taking on the 2026 Under Armour Eastside 10K with a goal of raising $30,000 to build a purpose-built kitchen and expand the PHS Vancouver Food Program.
So far, PHS has raised $8,000, but there's still a long way to go.
Every day, PHS provides more than 3,900 meals, including over 2,000 hot meals, to people living in supportive housing, shelters, and community programs. As food costs continue to rise, so does the need. This program is vital for people who don’t have access to a kitchen or cold storage.
Your support helps ensure vulnerable community members have access to reliable, nutritious food every single day.
📰 More Victoria innovation news
🎓 Girl power: iWIST announced its 2026 Redbrick and Shift scholarship recipients — UVic software engineering students Gazal Guler and Emily Murray, both working to make tech more inclusive.
🗓️ Victoria, Victoria: VIATEC announced that Victoria Tech Week returns September 21–25, with a calendar already fuller than last year's and opportunities to participate as a host, attendee, sponsor, or volunteer.
🔭 Space oddity: ONC and its partners are preparing to deploy the Pacific Ocean Neutrino Experiment's first one-kilometre subsea mooring off B.C.'s coast, following shallow-water testing covered by the Globe and Mail this summer.
SPONSORED BY MATEINA YERBA MATE
Energy that hits different.
Mateína’s new Zero Sugar line delivers smooth, organic energy from yerba mate — no crash, no weird ingredients. With clean caffeine and theobromine, it supports lasting focus and mental clarity. It’s plant-powered fuel that helps you stay sharp, alert, and energized — without the sugar. Try it out today.
Want to reach Victoria tech leaders? Advertise in the Victoria Tech Journal to get in front of founders, investors, and innovators. Contact [email protected] to learn more.
🕴️ Tech jobs of the week
Find your next career:
Senior business analyst, legal operations at British Columbia Investment Management Corporation
Threat prevention and security platforms lead at BC Pension Corporation
Senior software developer, cloud and platform at Archipelago
Hiring in Victoria? Reply to this email and let us know!
🗓️ Upcoming events
September 21-25 | Victoria Tech Week 2026
Unlike traditional single-venue conferences, Victoria Tech Week empowers local businesses to open their doors and welcome attendees inside, offering an authentic behind-the-scenes look at Victoria's thriving tech ecosystem. From startup workshops in James Bay to AI panels in downtown office towers and networking sessions in Saanich tech hubs, participants will experience the full breadth of Vancouver Island’s innovation landscape.
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.