VIATEC award finalists announced

Plus, share your thoughts on the Industry, Arts and Innovation District Action Plan for Rock Bay.

Author

Emily Edwards
April 06, 2025

TOGETHER WITH

Welcome to this week’s Midweek Memo. In this issue, have your say on the Industry, Arts and Innovation District Action Plan for Rock Bay, six new websites from a local web developer for the capital region, and why BC Ferries is calling for a fix to funding, despite approval for four new vessels.

Now on to today’s briefing. It’s 845 words: a three-minute read.

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Photo: VIATEC

VIATEC award finalists announced

The VIATEC Awards are back for their 23rd year, and the finalists for the 2025 celebration of Victoria’s thriving tech sector have been announced. Set to take place on May 1, 2025 at Carson Hall in the Victoria Conference Centre, the VIATEC Awards recognize outstanding companies and individuals contributing to the $7.9 billion impact of Greater Victoria’s tech sector.

"Since 2002, the VIATEC Awards have spotlighted the outstanding leaders, companies, and products emerging from our tech sector,” said Dan Gunn, CEO of VIATEC. “This celebration is about more than just recognition, it's also a chance for our community to come together, cheer each other on, and inspire one another.”

Finalists for this year’s awards program include Solaires Enterprises, Barnacle Systems, Ocean Diagnostics, VoxCell BioInnovation, Joni, MarineLabs, and many more.

Award winners will be selected by a panel of coalition delegates and announced at a ceremony in Victoria on May 1. Registration for the event is open until April 24.

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📰 More Victoria innovation news

📣 Won’t you speak your mind: The City of Victoria is calling for input from residents on the Industry, Arts and Innovation District Action Plan for Rock Bay. Feedback can be shared through a survey, open house events, or online information sessions.

⛴️ If the wind is right, you can sail away: The BC Ferry Commission has approved the purchase of four new vessels, but rejected the request for a fifth vessel. BC Ferries called out the need to address a systemic funding gap and provide significant investment to maintain “even the same level of service as today.”

👋 Hello, it’s me: Victoria-based website developer Upanup announced the launch of six new Capital Regional District websites.

🕴️ Tech jobs of the week

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📅 Upcoming events

Join the Chamber’s Annual General Meeting at the Victoria Marriott Inner Harbour. You'll hear about the Chamber's recent advocacy wins, a report on the year that was and receive audited financial statements. A panel discussion will follow addressing the Chamber's advocacy work to support a strong and resilient local economy. This is a timely topic in light of the threat of tariffs and a potential trade war with the United States, as well as the shifting political landscape in Canada.

The Association of British Columbia Marine Industries (ABCMI) in partnership with COAST (Centre for Ocean Applied Sustainable Technologies), is hosting the annual Innovation Forum in Vancouver. This is a great event to understand the latest innovations, technology, science, and research that is shaping the future of B.C.’s marine industry.

This event brings the tech community together and take a moment to spotlight and celebrate some of the year’s most notable companies and individuals within Victoria’s $5.9 billion tech sector. For over 23 years, the event has been produced by VIATEC, Victoria’s tech industry association.

Have an upcoming event? Reply to let us know.

🙋 I need a…

We at Victoria Tech Journal know you, our community, pretty well. Are you searching for someone in your field to have coffee with, a hiring hookup, a lead on local investors, or suggestion for a great Victoria tech tool? Whatever you’re hunting for, let us know. We’ll post it in this section and make it happen.

Email your requests to [email protected].

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.

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