Welcome to this week’s Midweek Memo. In this issue, learn about Victoria's 24-hour healthcare hackathon, celebrate local women in STEM, and see how the region can adapt to climate change.

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Island Health hosts Code Hack, Victoria's healthcare hackathon

Vancouver Island's health agency recently hosted a 24-hour hackathon to tackle problems in healthcare, awarding the top teams cash prizes and an opportunity to continue developing their solution with Island Health's Innovation Lab.

The event brought together local innovators eager to improve healthcare, regardless of whether they worked in the sector or not. Participants had the opportunity to access technologies such as 3D printers and programmable wi-fi microchips. Check out the winners below:

• First place, Team ERGO: With a multidisciplinary team that included a physician, an engineer, and a student, this team presented bedside toilet alternatives that would help manage patient washroom functions and mobility issues. The group won $1,500.

• Second place, Team MyER: The group pitched a mobile app to help users understand perceived wait times for procedures and curated information related to their reason for admission. The group won $1,000.

• Third place, Team End PJ Paralysis: This team developed a hardware and software solution that tracks patient movement to encourage physical activity when recovering from illness or injury. The group won $750.

#VicTJtalks | Victoria: On the Climatetech Frontier | April 12

Our first #VicTJtalks event is live! On April 12, we're bringing together entrepreneurs, executives, talent, investors, and tech community members to network and learn from Victoria leaders in climatetech.

Local innovators are tackling climate change head on with technology to face a warmer world. From using the ocean to remove atmospheric greenhouse gas emissions to creating a climate-friendly built environment, there’s something special about the climate solutions in made in Victoria.

• Space sponsor: VIATEC

📰 More Victoria innovation news

💰 To more women in tech: STEMStruck, the fashion show fundraiser in support of iWIST, raised $9,000 to seed a scholarship fund that will help women access opportunities in STEM. Check out all of the supporters here.

👩‍💻 Words from wise women: Nadia Tatlow, CEO of Shift, was featured in an International Women's Day video produced by Redbrick, speaking to dynamics of power, gender equality, and navigating the workplace as a woman in tech. Watch on YouTube

🌊 Why better ocean data is better for us: Scott Beatty, CEO of MarineLabs, spoke to the importance of real-time wind and wave data, and the long-term insights it provides to coastal communities as they plan for changing climatic conditions. Tune in to the full conversation here.

🤝 A signal to government: Following the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, a group of Canadian tech hubs, including VIATEC, proposed a list of actions for the government to take to lessen the fallout. Learn more here.

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🕴️ Tech jobs of the week

Find your next career:

First Light Technologies is hiring for a number of positions, including the ones below:

• Technologist

• Electronics Engineer

• Sales Development Representative

• Accounting Clerk

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

📅 Upcoming events

April 12: #VicTJtalks: Victoria: On the Climatetech Frontier

March 22: F*ckUp Night VOL 15

March 30: Compensation Trends with Benchmarket

April 5: Cash Management: Strategies to Extend your Runway for SaaS Founders & CxO's

Have an upcoming event? Reply to let us know.