Welcome to this week’s Sunday Briefing. In this issue, define the term “greenhushing” with Joanna Buczkowska-McCumber, learn which store now carries Joni’s products, find which summer events to attend, and plenty more.

Now, onto today’s briefing. It’s 904 words, a four-minute read.

-James, @jimmermatthews

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Nanaimo modernizes permitting and approvals process with software from Vancouver’s Clariti

If you live in Nanaimo and have a reno planned, your life may have just become easier. The city has selected the Community Development Software developed by Vancouver-based Clariti to replace its current system. Implementation of the new platform is underway, led by Clariti’s partner Avocette Technologies.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Nanaimo to provide an easy-to-use system that will help the city meet its performance targets and development goals, said Cyrus Symoom, Clariti's co-CEO.

Currently, the city relies on a 20-year-old land management system that Clariti’s centralized community development platform will replace, enabling a fully online experience for customers and staff. It couldn’t come at a more opportune time. Nanaimo documented its second-busiest year on record for development activity in 2022, with total building permit values surpassing $410 million.

Overall, the city’s goals for the project are fourfold. First, it hopes to simplify and accelerate the permit application process for customers. Secondly, it aims to increase staff’s visibility into the approval and review process, with real-time reports and dashboards to help stay on target and clearly display areas of responsibility. Thirdly, it will streamline the plan review and approval process to reduce the time between submission, acceptance, and approval, and help the city meet its performance targets. Finally, it will modernize the inspections process using a mobile app that allows inspectors to take their office into the field. Once live, the city’s planning, building, engineering, and GIS departments will all use the system.

It’s also not the first time that tech from across the Straight of Georgia has been tapped into the city of Nanaimo. UrbanLogiq, a software company that arms its clients with ultra-specific data to help them make decisions on things like traffic or economic development, linked up with the region earlier this year. The company used the work as a case study and caught up with Nanaimo’s manager of transportation Jamie Rose and assistant manager Barbara Thomas to share their experiences.

🏙️ Community catchup, powered by VIATEC

VIATEC's Rooftop BBQ Summer Social is coming up on August 23. Here's why you can't miss this tech-tastic event:

• Rub elbows with tech titans: Meet fellow tech geeks who'll blow your mind with their genius ideas. Who knows — you might just find your next big project partner or tech BFF.

• Grill skills that thrill: Brace your taste buds for a rollercoaster of flavour, says VIATEC. The organization is serving up the juiciest BBQ delights and refreshing drinks that'll keep you fuelled for an afternoon of connections and fun.

• Views to die for: Picture this — stunning rooftop views, sunset hues, and a bunch of geeks having the time of their lives. Expect plenty of Insta-worthy moments.

📰 More Victoria innovation news

📚 Reading list: Joanna Buczkowska-McCumber, founder and principal sustainability strategist at the Ideas for Impact Sustainability Agency, published her Impact Brief newsletter: a monthly recap of social purpose and sustainability in action around the world of business.

📝 Grocery list: Joni, a local period-care startup, announced that its products are now available at Whole Foods locations across the country.

📑 List of demands: IPA, a Victoria-based biotherapeutic R&D company, issued a statement in response to a recent Schedule 13D filing.

🕴️ Tech jobs of the week

Find your next career:

• Digital Marketing Specialist at Westin Bear Mountain

• Software Engineer at SunTracker Technologies

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

📅 Upcoming events

August 23 | VIATEC's Rooftop BBQ Summer Social: VIATEC is throwing a shindig just for its members, and you're invited. Get ready for a sizzling evening of tech talk, tasty treats, and lots of laughs.

September 9 | iWIST Crafternoon & Wine Tasting at Chateau Wolff Estate Winery, Nanaimo: In partnership with the Lost Arts Club, iWIST would love it if you joined them for a fun “crafternoon” and wine tasting at Chateau Wolff Estate Winery.

Have an upcoming event? Reply to let us know.

🙋 I need…software jobs advice

Here’s your last chance to help two Victoria Tech Journal community members who are still after a lead:

• One reader is looking for their next gig. They developed for a few years for a local startup — using React, Python (Django/Flask), PostgreSQL, and AWS — but also has experience in customer-facing roles. Send an email to [email protected] with any help.

• Another is looking for advice on how to get back into the software industry. In a previous life, they had a degree in computer science and a brief career as a software developer (mostly Java, Javascript, and SQL, and a bit of scripting). Can you help them figure out how to return IT, and which skills would be worth learning or brushing up on? Let us know if you can spare some time to chat at [email protected].

And, as always, whatever you’re hunting for, let us know. We’ll post it in this section and make it happen. Email your requests to the same address!