COAST Receives Major Funding Boost from BC Ministry of Energy, Mines & Low Carbon Innovation

The Centre for Ocean Applied Sustainable Technologies (COAST), a branch of SIPP, is pleased to announce the organization has received $2 million in funding from the BC Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation.

Provided through B.C.’s Innovative Clean Energy Fund, the investment will support COAST’s development of a world-class ocean technology innovation hub and cluster across Pacific Canada. The funding was announced by Josie Osborne, Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation on March 28 at Open Ocean Robotics, which received $1.75 million to commercially develop small solar-powered autonomous vessels for ocean monitoring.

“We are grateful to the Ministry for their investment,” says inaugural COAST CEO and Group CEO for SIPP Emilie de Rosenroll. “COAST is on an exciting journey to fulfill our 2030 vision to establish Pacific Canada as a world leader in ocean technology innovations that create scaled economic and environmental impacts, especially new technologies focused on solving climate challenges and supporting sustainability across marine industries.”

Budget 2023: Building a Stronger, More Resilient Canadian Economy

The sprawling Federal budget 2023 aims to make life more affordable, strengthen our public health care system, create middle-class jobs while protecting the environment and building an inclusive economy.

Against the backdrop of wider global inflation, the government is aiming to invest in Canada’s future prosperity while preserving long-term fiscal sustainability.

SIPP's recent outreach work with local employers shows they would have liked to see a greater emphasis on housing. This goes for all levers of government policy from local to federal.

A few highlights include:

• $5 million to Indigenous Services Canada to support the co-development of an Economic Reconciliation Framework with Indigenous partners that will increase Indigenous economic opportunities.
• Consultations on removing regulatory barriers for homebuyers to increase homeownership is a possibility for all Canadians.
• $500 million over ten years to the Strategic Innovation Fund to support the development and application of clean technologies in Canada.

Fill out the survey before it closes early next week!

Your Input Needed for SIPP Survey on Employer Challenges and Opportunities

If you haven't completed SIPP's 2023 Survey of Large (or Growing) Employers in Greater Victoria, please take a few minutes to help us understand how your business has been impacted by regional issues like hiring and retention challenges.

Your responses will be kept confidential and will influence regional economic strategy as well as advocacy efforts across all government levels.

Stay subscribed to this newsletter to receive the results.

What are We Reading?

Redefine Economic Success with Kate Raworth's Doughnut Economics

The book Donut Economics by Kate Raworth challenges traditional economic theory with a new framework for creating a sustainable and equitable society. Raworth argues that current economic models prioritize unlimited growth and consumption, culminating in severe environmental degradation and social inequality.

Instead, she proposes a new model centred around a "doughnut," which focuses on finding a compromise between what our planet can sustainably provide and the social foundation for people to live a life of dignity.



The book explores seven guiding principles to maintain this delicate balance between sustainability and a thriving life. Three of these principles include:

1. Nurture human nature

Promote diversity, participation, collaboration and reciprocity. Strengthen community networks and work with a spirit of high trust. Care for the well-being of the team.

2. Think in systems

Experiment, learn, adapt, evolve and aim for continuous improvement. Be alert to dynamic effects, feedback loops and tipping points.

3. Be regenerative

Aim to work with and within the cycles of the living world. Be a sharer, repairer, regenerator, and steward. Reduce travel, minimize flights, and be climate and energy smart.

BC Cleantech Awards Celebrate Climate Solution Innovators

The 2023 winners of Foresight Canada's BC Cleantech Awards, announced on March 30, are individuals and organizations creating critical climate solutions across the province.

Winners include a variety of cleantech champions including innovators, academics community builders and more.

Winners include:

- Basma Majerbi, Associate Professor, UVic's Gustavson School of Business, and Director, UVic Impact Investing Hub, for Educator of the Year.



- Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions led by SIPP-member University of Victoria for Training Institution of the Year.

Become a Web Developer in Three to Six Months with Tech Bootcamps

UVic, in collaboration with Lighthouse Labs, is offering a series of fully funded web developer programs to start or advance careers in web development. These programs cater to people with non-traditional backgrounds to fill critical workforce needs. Applications are now open.

The accelerated 12-week Web Development Bootcamp and the 30-week Web Development Flex Program gives students the fundamental knowledge, real-world experience and critical soft skills they need to kickstart a rewarding career as a full-stack developer.

These two programs exist to accommodate diverse lifestyles and priorities so that students can strike a balance that works for them without compromising on quality.

Did You Know? 🚲

• Victoria is the most bikeable city in Canada, according to real estate company Redfin, with hundreds of kilometres of cycle paths, bike lanes and routes in the city. - Destination Greater Victoria

News from the SIPP Ecosystem

COAST Talks Explores Unlocking the Power of AI in Ocean Tech

Artificial Intelligence has been touted as a superpower that can leapfrog ocean companies into a new world of connectivity and discovery. How are Canadian companies leveraging machine learning to propel innovation and solve climate problems? And why is AI a game changer in our ocean economy?

Ocean Startup Project Executive Director Don Grant moderates a compelling conversation with ocean tech leaders who’ll share:



• How they’re applying AI data to make decisions, optimize operations, and create new products, processes or services
• What startups need to be aware of when building their own AI-driven tech
• How AI powers climate change solutions in our oceans
• Why it’s an essential component in bridging the gap between expertise and data

Panelists:

• Jennifer LaPlante, Executive Director of DeepSense
• Alexander Dungate of OnDeck Fisheries AI
• Eric Enno Tamm, Founder and CEO of This Fish 

Host:

• Jason Goldsworthy, COAST

Watch a video podcast of this compelling virtual conversation

Healing Through Reconciliation: In Conversation with Chief Leanne Joe

On March 29, the Indigenous Prosperity Centre (IPC) welcomed Sxwpilemaát Siyám (Chief Leanne Joe, Squamish Nation) for a vital conversation with Executive Director Christina Clarke.

This in-depth conversation focused on:

• what it takes to enact mindful, ongoing and authentic reconciliation  
• the importance of engaging in economic reconciliation as a practice, not a final product
• what it takes to build and sustain relationships, building capacity and skills that support Indigenous self-determination 

At a Glance 👀

🎟️ Hear from Brenda Bailey, Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation at this Chamber of Commerce event.

🏠 Colwood approves changes to ease restrictions on secondary suites - Goldstream Gazette

In the Media 📰

Fund supports robot marine monitoring, ‘blue’ economy - BC Government

Two Victoria companies receive funding for ocean projects - CHEK News

Saanich ocean drone builder gets $1.7M boost from B.C - CTV News

B.C. low-carbon initiatives getting millions in grants from province - Times Colonist

Get the latest information from SIPP's branches

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