Welcome to this week’s Sunday Briefing. In this issue, find out which two Victoria entrepreneurs scooped a prestigious award, local business owners’ problems with Shopify payout funds, and a Vancouver Island-born first-in-Canada company when it comes to AI services.

Now on to today’s briefing. It’s 939 words: a three-minute read.

-Emily, [email protected]

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Victoria leader takes the reins at Innovate BC

Last week, Innovate BC announced Elizabeth Dutton as its new chief operating officer. Innovate BC is a crown agency focused on innovation and economic growth in the province.

Based in Victoria, Dutton previously served as vice president of digital operations at Black Press Media, and is also a founding partner of Women’s Equity Lab: a series of international women-led venture funds across Canada and the United States representing over 400 female investors globally.

“British Columbia is home to a vibrant innovation community, and our startups are evolving industries and solving our toughest challenges on a global scale,” said Dutton. “Innovate BC plays a crucial role in advancing entrepreneurship within the province — a vital part of creating jobs and strong industries — and I am excited to join the team and support their efforts in providing B.C. companies with more opportunities, more resources, and more success locally and globally.” 

Dutton also also held senior roles at Used.ca and Amazon, and provided strategic planning support and leadership education to CEOs through Lawrence and Company Growth Advisors.

📰 More Victoria innovation news

🏆 I’m on top of the world, ‘ey": Andrew Wilkinson and Chris Sparling, co-founders of holding company Tiny, have been named the UVic Peter B. Gustavson School of Business 2025 Distinguished Entrepreneur of the Year Award recipients. Tiny co-founder Andrew Wilkinson is an owner of Overstory Media Group, Victoria Tech Journal’s parent company.

🐶 Hello, it’s me: The owners of North Saanich’s Higgie’s Pet Mercantile called out Shopify for holding back payout funds, continually requesting additional documentation, and failing to have an actual person (as opposed to automated customer service) available for support.

👀 I hear you calling: Victoria-based digital agency PlusROI Online Marketing launched what the company says is Canada’s first AI Search Optimization service. The service is intended to support businesses as online users begin searching for answers through AI platforms like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini instead of traditional search engines.

🕴️ Tech jobs of the week

Find your next career:

• Managed services: operations tier 1 at WBM

• Staff scientist at Ocean Networks Canada

• Accounting and compliance officer at University of Victoria

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

📅 Upcoming events

February 7 | X-ray Detectors for Photon-Counting Computed Tomography Medical Imaging

Computed Tomography (CT) has grown from the first commercial X-ray CT machine in the 1970s to become a leading non-invasive imaging technology, with around 300 million scans being done across the world per year. This talk will be focused on the remarkable fusion of different technologies that make a CT system work, including the detectors that convert X-rays into electrical signals.

February 20-21 | 6th Western Angel Investment Summit

Presented by Angel Forum with the support of VIATEC and the National Angel Capital Organization, the theme of this year’s Western Angel Investment Summit is “B.C. Be Bold.” Targeted at angels, founders, funds, and accelerators, the event will explore how B.C. founders and investors should be ready to take centre stage.

February 24-25 | 9th Annual BC Communications Forum

Join the BC Communications Forum, the premier gathering for communication professionals across the province. This is your opportunity to connect with industry leaders, exchange ideas with peers, and dive into the latest insights that can transform your day-to-day work.

March 4-6 | Rising Economy Conference

Now in its fifth year, the Rising Economy conference is a highly anticipated “business conference for business insiders.” Rising Economy features a curated selection of in-person and online events designed to guide businesses and other organizations to meet the challenges and pursue the opportunities of the 21st century. With an A-list of exciting keynote speakers and panelists, Rising Economy explores topics critical to Greater Victoria, British Columbia, and the world around us.

Have an upcoming event? Reply to let us know.

🙋 I need a…

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