TOGETHER WITH
Welcome to this week’s Sunday Briefing. In this issue:
VIATEC honours tech sector at annual gala
HiBoop partners with mental health platform
Douglas Magazine names 10 to Watch winners
Now on to today’s briefing.
-Emily, [email protected]
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UVic secures $5.4M for space cluster and AI disaster mapping
Credit: Armando Tura
Federal funding announced at the end of March will help University of Victoria researchers build Western Canada's space industry infrastructure and develop autonomous systems for assessing natural disaster risks. The $5.43-million investment from PacifiCan supports two separate projects that bridge civilian and defence applications.
The larger chunk—$4 million—goes to Afzal Suleman's Centre for Aerospace Research to create a regional hub where companies can test satellites and access ground stations without building their own infrastructure.
The centre, which previously launched B.C.'s first CubeSat satellite, will now provide small and medium businesses with testing facilities, satellite data access, and connections to skilled personnel across sectors from clean energy to marine robotics.
The remaining $1.43 million funds Homayoun Najjaran's lab to build an AI-driven drone system that maps terrain and structures with accuracy down to a few centimetres.
The technology targets flood and wildfire risk assessment for communities that can't afford traditional surveying, particularly remote and Indigenous areas, while also offering potential defence uses like border monitoring.
The announcement, made March 31 at the Centre for Aerospace Research in North Saanich, was part of a broader $13.8-million PacifiCan investment in five B.C. defence and dual-use technology projects.
SPONSORED BY PHS COMMUNITY SERVICES SOCIETY
Victoria Companies: Run (or Partner) with Purpose
Join PHS Community Services Society in the 2026 Under Armour Eastside 10K on Sunday, September 27 in Vancouver—or participate virtually from Victoria anytime between September 1–30.
We’re inviting Victoria-based companies to form run teams and help us raise $30,000 for essential funding towards our Food Program that provides over 2,000 daily meals for supportive housing residents at PHS. Click here to register today, or donate to our PHS Run Team to help reach our goal.
Can’t field a run team? We’re also seeking business partners committed to making meaningful, community-level impact. To explore partnership opportunities, please contact [email protected].
Run. Partner. Make a difference with PHS.
📰 More Victoria innovation news
🎉 We are the champions: VIATEC celebrated Greater Victoria's tech sector at its annual Awards Gala, with over 500 guests honouring 14 category winners including Atreides Caseri, MarineLabs, and Dr. Karolina Valente.
🤝 Come together: Victoria's HiBoop partnered with Cherry Health to bring measurement-based care into clinical practice, helping mental health providers reduce administrative work and deliver more timely patient care.
🌟 The future's so bright: Douglas Magazine announced its 2026 10 to Watch Award winners, celebrating 10 innovative businesses under three years old with exceptional growth potential across multiple sectors.
🌿 New from Mateína: A zero sugar, organic yerba mate that delivers clean, balanced energy — no crash, no weird ingredients. Just plant-powered fuel that works.*
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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:
Account-based marketing specialist at ShipConstructor Software Inc.
DevOps engineer at Open Ocean Robotics
Junior IT support and security operations coordinator at The Strategic Alliance of Business Technology Disciplines
Hiring in Victoria? Reply to this email and let us know!
🗓️ Upcoming events
April 10-May 22 | HR Happy Hour at Fort Tectoria
VIATEC is hosting HR Happy Hour, a drop-in series for tech leaders looking for practical, judgment-free advice on the people side of running a tech team. Fractional HR professionals will be on hand to field questions on hiring, retention, leadership, performance, and culture. No registration required — just show up, grab a drink, and connect with peers. Sessions run April 10, April 24, May 8, and May 22.
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.