TOGETHER WITH

Welcome to this week’s Sunday Briefing, brought to you by Boast. In this issue, Nadia Tatlow preps for her grandest role yet, Island innovators are in the (sea)weeds, The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce touts the benefits of drinking local, and plenty more.

Now, onto today’s briefing. It’s 884 words, a three-minute read.

-James, @jimmermatthews

P.S. Have you registered for Victoria Tech Morning Coffee or grabbed your tickets to Jason Fried live in Vancouver yet?

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Provincial funding will help local oceantech continue to EXCEL

New funding for UVic’s Experimental Ocean Climate Change Lab (EXCEL) will support research on the impact of climate change on the environment and the promotion of resilience and sustainability for B.C.’s marine sector.

As part of the B.C. Knowledge Development Fund, the province is providing $175,000 to establish EXCEL, which will use state-of-the-art equipment to measure the effects of marine climate change on organisms. Analyzing which species of B.C.’s coastal ecosystem are most sensitive to changes in ocean conditions is crucial to identifying vulnerabilities, enhancing fisheries, and protecting biodiversity.

“Understanding the effects of climate change on our coast will help us better protect our fisheries and aquaculture, and the people who rely on them,” said Brenda Bailey, minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation. “Our government supports this vital research, which will help secure fish and crustaceans as valuable food sources, boost productivity, and contribute to the resilience of the province’s economy.”

At EXCEL, UVic researchers will use experimental aquariums that can regulate temperature, oxygen levels, and pH in a controlled environment to create scenarios for predicting marine climate change. This will allow researchers to study species abundance, geographic shifts, food web models, and biodiversity change.

“The current marine heat wave and its impact on ocean ecosystems is one example of why we need research to mitigate the consequences of climate change. UVic has been a leader in climate research for three decades,” said Lisa Kalynchuk, vice-president of research and innovation at UVic. “We are grateful for this investment in the Experimental Ocean Climate Change Lab, which will creatively probe causes, impacts, and solutions for these devastating, climate-linked events.”

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🏙️ Community catchup, powered by VIATEC

Remote Work Policies & Best Practices (September CEO Breakfast Club) | Sept. 8

What’s the best way to succeed in today’s tech remote environment? Learn from Victoria’s experts on remote work policies and best practices; including tools, tracking, formal policies and mandates, what success looks like, and what still proves to be challenging:

• Noah Warder, head of people, Guusto

• Erika Riviere, people and culture manager, AOT Technologies

• Robert Cooper, founder, PlusROI Online Marketing

• Shannon Parker, assistant director, talent consultant, EY

📰 More Victoria innovation news

👶 Caregiver needs: Nadia Tatlow, the CEO of Shift, unpacked the biases against entrepreneurial mothers while calling on the tech community to enact meaningful parental leave policies:

🍃 In the weeds: Douglas Magazine did a deep dive on seaweed, featuring Island innovators like Diane Bernard, Amanda Swinimer, and Mike Williamson.

🍺 Good deeds: Kristen Needham, founder and CEO of Sea Cider; Jim Lister, president and GM of Phillips Brewery and Soda Works; and Bruce Williams, CEO of The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, discussed the importance of support local craft beverage makers on the Chamber Chats podcast:

🕴️ Tech jobs of the week

Find your next career:

• Marketing and Communications Coordinator at Scale Collaborative

• Accounting Technician at Westin Bear Mountain

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

📅 Upcoming events

Sept. 6 | ICT Sector in India: Market and Opportunities: Are you a B.C.-based company looking to explore new horizons and opportunities in the ICT sector in the Indian market? Look no further! The British Columbia Trade and Invest India team is thrilled to invite you to an exclusive webinar.

Sept. 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…a connection to theatre fans

A reader is looking for members of the Victoria tech community who are also fans of the theatre. Sound like you? Send an email to [email protected] and we’ll connect you.

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!