Welcome to this week’s Sunday Briefing. In this issue:

Now on to today’s briefing.

-Emily, [email protected]

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VIATEC unveiled the finalists for its 24th annual awards at a packed spring social at Fort Tectoria last week, setting the stage for an April 1 celebration of Greater Victoria's $7.9-billion tech sector. This year's "Western Neon" theme promises an evening that blends the spirit of frontier innovation with modern tech energy at Carson Hall in the Victoria Conference Centre.

Finalists span 10 categories, with multiple local companies appearing across several nominations. MarineLabs earned nods in Leader of the Year, Employer of the Year, and Company of the Year, while VoxCell landed finalist spots in Leader of the Year, Innovative Excellence - Hardware, and Growth Company of the Year. BestHuman, Barnacle Systems, and Text Groove Communications also picked up multiple nominations across different categories.

"Western Neon captures the energy of the West as a place of ideas, creativity, and reinvention," said Dan Gunn, VIATEC's CEO. "It blends the glow of modern innovation with the spirit of building at the edge—where technology, imagination, and community shape what comes next."

The evening will feature a Creative Challenge, three-course dinner, awards show, and an after-party. Recipients will be selected by delegates representing Greater Victoria's tech community organizations, with tickets and tables available until March 23 at viatecawards.com.

🤖 In control: Victoria's Shift found 32 per cent of consumers now use AI daily, though 81 per cent worry about data privacy and 51 per cent want customizable AI features, according to a survey of over 1,400 respondents.

💰 Money, money, money: B.C. business leaders raised concerns about the June 1 minimum wage increase to $18.25 per hour, warning the 40-cent hike adds pressure amid rising costs and flat markets.

🚀 The final countdown: Innovate BC's New Ventures BC Competition is accepting applications until March 12, offering early-stage tech companies mentorship, investor exposure, and over $250,000 in prizes.

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March 10-11 | Rising Economy Conference

At Rising Economy 2026, step into two days of bold thinking, sharp insights and possibility-focused conversations at a conference designed to move your organization — and our region — forward. Hear from compelling business thinkers and entrepreneurs, economic and trend experts, innovators and change-makers. Explore shifts that are redefining strategy, talent, technology, leadership and growth. Leave equipped with ideas you can act on Monday, not someday.

March 11 | Funding Your Vision: Smart Paths to Scale

The University of Victoria, in partnership with WeBC, are bringing together an exciting panel of founders, investors, and funding leaders to help you understand the funding landscape and how to navigate it with confidence. They’ll break down the types of capital available to entrepreneurs—and more importantly, when, why, and how to pursue each.

April 1 | VIATEC Awards

The VIATEC Awards bring the tech community together to connect, to celebrate, and to shine a spotlight on this year's most notable tech companies and individuals within Greater Victoria's $5.9 billion tech sector. This isn't your average award show – The VIATEC Awards are well known for its elaborate and fun production!.

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.