KAST is now accepting resumes for the position of Project and Administrative Assistant, for a fun, creative and demanding working environment. Preferred qualifications for the position are as follows:

• Excellent computer skills, including knowledge of computer software programs Word, Excel, and other software including familiarity with databases.
• Strong Internet, internet research methods, and email skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and team skills.
• Advanced verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to quickly learn the operations, policies and procedures of the organization.
• Ability to work independently with limited direction.
• Ability to multi-task, meet schedules and time lines.
• Knowledge of modern administrative office practices and procedures.
• Valid BC driver’s license, and access to a vehicle as required.

Position will be based out of the KAST office in Rossland.

Preference will be given to candidates who have been connected to the EI program within the last three years.

Resumes and cover letters may be mailed to KAST at Box 119, Rossland, BC, V0G 1Y0, or emailed to kelvin@kast.com.

For more information you can contact the KAST office at 250-483-5052.

Closing date for applications is June 6, 2008.

We have determined our Winners for the KAST Spirit of Innovation Awards. We are grateful to all of the finalist. We can all be incredibly proud of the breadth and depth of the innovation community in our region, as demonstrated by these winners.

Each of the 35 nominations received in the four categories were, without exception, extremely well qualified. It was a challenging process, for our judging panel, to select the four finalists in each category, and then narrowing the field down to one winner per category. After much deliberation by our judges, here are the winners.

Innovative Company Award Finalists

D-Pace (Dehnel Particle Accelerator Components and Engineering, Inc.)


Innovative Organization Award Finalists (non-profit & public organizations)

The Centre for Innovative and Entrepreneurial Leadership (CIEL).


Innovative Individual Awards Finalists

Selena Davis (Selena Davis & Ass., Health Informatics Consulting)


Most Promising Emerging Company Award Finalists

AC Global Systems


Thanks again to all of our nominees, nominators, finalists and congratulations to the winners!

KAST also thanks our Spirit of Innovation Awards & Conference sponsors including:

Spirit of Innovation Award Sponsors:
Teck Cominco Metals Ltd. - Applied Research & Technology Group, Columbia Power Corporation, Columbia Basin Trust, Scotia Bank
Conference Title Sponsor: FortisBC
Gala Sponsors: Chinook Scaffolding Systems, Hall Printing, Venture Mechanical Systems
Contributing Sponsors: Firebird Technologies, All Hit KBS, The Western Star, Trail-Rossland News, Business Development Bank of Canad,  Dillon Consulting 

Today the BC Government launched the anticipated $90 million Renaissance Capital Fund (BCRCF) and announced an impressive roster of six top-tier institutional venture capital fund managers, who will represent the fund and will leverage the growth. The announcement was made by the Honourable Colin Hansen, Minister of Economic Development, this morning. Press release here.

This fund is a significant step forward for the technology industry as it adds to the depth of our current angel and early stage VC financing in BC. It also provides the mechanisms and support to grow our companies so we can better compete in a global market, establish larger anchor companies and continue to grow our industry beyond a broad base of start-ups to an industry of mature, commercially successful companies. Without sufficient capital, tech companies are often forced to seek acquisition, making it difficult for the industry to progress and remain headquartered in the Province.

The BCTIA commends the BC Government for recognizing the need to escalate the level of capital and managerial expertise in the province in order to help the technology industry reach its potential, and for taking action to address this need.

BCTIA is also impressed with the calibre of top-tier institutional venture capital fund managers representing this fund. We believe our industry will benefit tremendously from their access to funds, global experience, and their know-how in growing emerging companies into industry anchors.

As the voice and advocate of the technology industry, BCTIA has, in the context of the Provincial Technology Strategy, consistently advocated to establish a larger pool of capital to power the growth of our industry. We included this as a key recommendation of our submission to the provincial competition council in 2006.

I firmly believe that the Renaissance Fund provides us with additional access to capital, mechanisms, and support to grow our tech companies to more advanced commercialization stages so that we can compete more effectively in a global market, establish strong anchor companies and accelerate our growth.

The government has listened and delivered and it is now up to us, the technology industry, to take advantage of the opportunities this creates and build a stronger sector in BC.

For more information visit the BCTIA Website.

Worldwide sales for companies specializing in biofuels, wind farms, solar panels and fuel cells grew 40 percent in 2007 to reach $77.3 billion, according to an annual report issued by Clean Edge, a research firm that studies the green technology industry.

Realizing the growth and investment in this industry, Economic Development Marketing (EDM) has developed a proprietary database of green energy related companies. EDM recently implemented a prospect development campaign for a leading economic development agency targeting the green energy industry and using this database.

The results??? Ten highly qualified prospects within one month.

If your goal is to attract this very promising industry to your area, please contact Don Flor at 1-800-595-7052. EDM is eager to put our experience to work for you.

Click Here to read our "Green Technology" blog.

If you’re planning a trade mission into the US we can help you develop and deliver your message to key decision makers and schedule face to face meetings with companies that meet your criteria.

Creative marketing ideas are absolutely essential if you want to achieve any type of dominance in your target industries in the US. We can help you in the development of a multi-channel marketing plan that ties into your business strategy.

Economic Development Marketing (EDM), an iGroups company has been assisting cities, counties, regional economic development groups, states, and provinces throughout the US & Canada develop marketing strategies to attract new investment since 1997. We are a single source for marketing strategies, target market studies, and investment attraction.

How you can Leverage Market Trends read more>

For more infomation contact:
Don Flor
1-619-585-7052 ext 2
1-800-595-7052
flor@econdevmarketing.com
www.econdevmarketing.com

The National Research Council Canada - Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC‐IRAP) Pacific Region is collaborating on a new initiative with Simon Fraser University (SFU) with the objective of further encouraging collaboration between SFU and small to medium‐sized technology companies in BC (SMEs).

The objective of this nitiative is to promote active interaction between SMEs in BC and the SFU community, to increase and enhance SME growth. It is intended to streamline the process of SMEs who would like to establish working relationships with SFU, including consultation by SFU faculty, researchers and staff. The initiative will help to raise mutual awareness by providing an introduction and facilitation between both the SMEs and the SFU community.

It is anticipated that a greater degree of interaction between the SFU community and the SMEs will result in further collaboration and joint development projects from the various activities of this initiative.

Benefits for SMEs:
• Establish key contacts with the appropriate resources in SFU;
• Access relevant SFU expertise through obtaining consultation, technical evaluation or product analysis services with minimum delay or paperwork;
• Obtain immediate benefits from the R&D capabilities at SFU that relate to product or service development and commercialization;
• Overcome the critical initial barrier preventing SMEs from seeking SFU assistance in technology development. There is an initial one‐stop shop contact point through the involvement of the SFU-TIME Incubation Centre;
• Benefit from marketing and business development assistance through the SFU MBA-MOT (Management of Technology) Program.

The initiative can provide the opportunity to MBA candidates to develop a marketing strategy or business plan.

How and What:
SME can obtain consulting expertise (for a limited number of hours), student assistance or use of some of the specialized facilities at the SFU locations (Burnaby, Surrey, Vancouver).

Some of the specialized areas of expertise include, but are not limited to:
• Design/User Interaction • Kinesiology/Human Mobility
• Imaging/Visualization • Life Science
• Environmental/Geography • Medical Devices
• Wireless Sensor Networks • Small Business Consulting

For More Info contact:
Elmer Sum
778-782-7750
elmers@sfu.ca
or
Justine Bizzocchi
778-782-7508
justine@sfu.ca

After a few delays, a refurbished tester and over 60 applicants the results or the 2008 APEG Popsicle Bridge Competition Results are in!

The winners are:

Cameron Nagle MacLean Elementary 8 years and under
AJ Pellizzari Fruitvale Elementary age 9 ~ 12
Ryan Sahlstrom Kinnaird Elementary age 13 ~ 18
Mike & Robyn Thomas over 18 years

 

To see pictures and all the test results visit the APEG website.

Or click on the below attachment. 

Attachment	Size
2008 West Kootenay Popsicle Bridge Results.pdf	13.17 KB

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LifeSciences BC Announces Recipients of the 2008 LifeSciences British Columbia Awards

Vancouver, British Columbia, March 14, 2008 – LifeSciences British Columbia today announced the recipients of the 2008 LifeSciences British Columbia Awards (previously known as the British Columbia Biotechnology Awards). They are:

• Dr. Don Riddle for Genome BC Award for Scientific Excellence Award
• Pyng Medical Corporation for Medical Device Company of the Year Award
• Bob Rieder for Executive of the Year Award
• Dr. Bernie Bressler and Roger Foxall for Lifetime Achievement Award
• Dr. Martin Taylor for Leadership Award
• Lignol Energy Corporation for Emerging Life Sciences Company of the Year Award

These awards are presented annually by LifeSciences British Columbia to recognize individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the development of British Columbia’s life sciences industry, and to increase public awareness and understanding of life sciences in the province.

“The strength of the life sciences community in BC is exemplified by this slate of impressive award recipients, who represent the remarkable breadth of talent found across the many sectors in our province,” commented Karimah Es Sabar, President of LifeSciences British Columbia.  “We’re delighted to be making our 10th annual awards this year, and that the achievements being made here are so strong and reflective of our diversity in the life sciences.  We extend our warmest congratulations to this year’s winners.”

The awards will be presented at a gala ceremony April 10th in front of an audience of approximately 600 biotechnology, medical devices and greater life sciences and public policy leaders at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Vancouver (please visit www.lifesciencesbc.ca for full details on the receipients of the awards as well as the awards ceremony).

Selkirk College's Digital Arts and New Media program is readying itself for another end-of-year exhibition, and it promises to be an unforgettable celebration of student ingenuity and hard work. Students have spared no expense in terms of talent, energy and technical know-how in order to present a new, edgy, interactive experience.

Their obsessions with design, photography, coding, editing, animating, filming, compositing and more will be on full display and leave onlookers amazed by what can be accomplished.

This year’s Digital Arts and New Media Year End Show will take place on Friday, April 18 from 6-9 p.m. at Mary Hall, which is situated on the Tenth Street Campus in Nelson. Admission is free and complimentary food and refreshments will be provided. A special opening for high school students will begin at 1:30 p.m. and provide an opportunity for those with interest in new media to talk one-on-one with current college students and instructors.

The highlight of the show is the always entertaining class demo reel, which consists of more than 20 minutes of visual mind candy. However, numerous installations showcasing student work in web design, video, animation, 3d modeling, print design, graphic design and motion graphics are bound to grab attention as well.

Additionally, industry experts Wendy Boylan and Sean Smillie will be speaking at the show.

Boylan possesses nearly 20 years of public relations and marketing experience in the entertainment industry, working with global leaders such as Sony Pictures, 20th Century Fox and Walt Disney. She has been involved in the Toronto International Film Festival and has created national promotions for a variety of film launches. She is currently marketing director of Action Pants Inc.

Smillie has been involved in the gaming industry since 2001. He has worked for Buena Vista Games, Electronic Arts Canada and currently serves in the role of senior writer and creative designer for Action Pants Inc. He has worked as a game tester, intern, freelance writer, assistant and associate producer, game designer and associate director.

Selkirk College’s Digital Arts and New Media Year End Show is expected to be a intriguing experience of the latest in the digital arts and new media as well as refreshing, good entertainment.

 

For more information contact Jason Taylor at Selkirk College

Calling all submissions...

Now in its 15th year, BCTIA's Technology Impact Awards is the largest and most inclusive technology event in the province, involving all BC technology companies.
 
Those who participate in the TIAs benefit through:

• Recognition as a leading technology company who demonstrates extraordinary excellence. Set yourself apart from the competition and become a 2007 TIA Finalist or Winner!
• Exposure via media distribution channels and the year-round marketing communications program delivered by BCTIA to showcase all Finalists and Winners. Finalists and Winners will also take part in our monthly Impact Speaker Series Program, putting their company in front of potential mentors, partners, investors and advisors.
• Opportunity A recognized TIA Finalist or Winner catches the searching eye of many. Investors look for quality assurance and available tech talent looks to work for companies that inspire. Give them the reason they need to keep your company at the forefront of consideration.

This program is open to technology companies whose head office is based in British Columbia, or whose parent company has established a significant operating division, including senior management, in British Columbia.
 
Technology companies of all sectors and of all sizes are encouraged to submit their application to the Technology Impact Awards by March 7.
 
The awards celebration will be held June 12.
 
Full details of the awards categories can be found at www.bctia.org/awards or call 604-683-6159 for more information.