Welcome to this week’s Sunday Briefing. In this issue, find out about an unexpected benefit of U.S. trade disruptions, why South Islanders are being asked to pay for their own RCMP dispatch costs, and ongoing concerns about community safety.

Now on to today’s briefing. It’s 780 words: a three-minute read.

-Emily, [email protected]

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Joni receives funding for IoT-enabled period care

Innovate BC and the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) have announced a total of $1.5 million in funding across 12 B.C.-based companies to pilot innovation projects.

Victoria’s Joni, a sustainable period-care company, is one of the selected organizations to receive a slice of that BC Fast Pilot Project money. Joni will test IoT-enabled period product dispensers in public washrooms in Victoria, Sidney, and Richmond, with the goal of increasing access to eco-friendly products in public spaces.

"The BC Fast Pilot project has been instrumental in validating our model V dispenser with organizations like a boutique hotel, an international airport, and IKEA warehouse sites in B.C. This initiative has refined our offering, strengthened partnerships across industries, and informed our go-to-market strategy,” said Jayesh Vekariya, co-CEO and co-founder of Joni. “We’re deeply grateful for the outstanding support from Innovate BC and NRC IRAP, which made this journey seamless and rewarding. Their guidance has been pivotal in advancing our innovation, execution, and customer success efforts.”

Fellow Island-based innovator Open Ocean Robotics is a program alumni, having received funding in the 2019-20 round. Since then, Open Ocean Robotics has partnered with the Royal Canadian Navy on marine innovation, expanded to Canada’s east coast, secured $800,000 from PacifiCan’s Business Scale-up and Productivity program, and landed major contracts with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

📰 More Victoria innovation news

⭐️ I’ll take care of you: In this Chamber Chats episode, Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce CEO Bruce Williams met with community organizers to discuss ongoing concerns about safety in our communities.

🤝 Together we stand: Mark Zacharias, executive director of Clean Energy Canada, issued a statement on the province’s fast-tracking of 18 energy and mining projects in response to U.S. tariffs.

🚨 Ring the alarm: Ten South Vancouver Island mayors have raised concerns about changes to RCMP dispatch costs that will see municipalities on the South Island shoulder the burden, while other regions have costs covered by the province.

🕴️ Tech jobs of the week

Find your next career:

• Firmware developer at MarineLabs

• Technical support engineer at Atlassian

• Associate, business operations at Wealthsimple

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.

March 4-6 | Rising Economy Conference

Now in its fifth year, the Rising Economy conference is a highly anticipated “business conference for business insiders.” Rising Economy features a curated selection of in-person and online events designed to guide businesses and other organizations to meet the challenges and pursue the opportunities of the 21st century. With an A-list of exciting keynote speakers and panelists, Rising Economy explores topics critical to Greater Victoria, British Columbia, and the world around us.

Have an upcoming event? Reply to let us know.

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