Sci-Tech North serves the Peace-Liard-Stikine regions of Northeastern BC working to create a culture of innovation and entrepreneurial success by supporting economic development and diversification through the use of science, technology and innovation.
Sci-Tech North presents the annual “Excellence in Innovation” Awards to recognize exemplary people, practices or programs in one or more of the following areas:
The 2008 ceremonies featured keynote speaker Trend Hunter, Jeremy Gutsche, an innovation expert and futurist who, in a tailored presentation, discussed creating a culture of innovation, the innovation process and the latest trends! Gutsche holds an MBA from Queen's University, studied innovation at Stanford, is a Chartered Financial Analyst, and a former Management Consultant. He brought us a rare perspective on how to unleash innovation within a business contex. He presented to an audience of Northeastern BC's business and industry leaders who came together to honour the nominees and ultimately the winners in each of the seven award categories.
To be awarded to the non-profit organization that has taken steps to create a culture of innovation within the region. This organization has applied technology to their processes, systems, or procedures that fosters a greater understanding of innovation.
North East Native Advancing Society – for implementing Go Karts 4 Girls, a trades program aimed at developing skills in Aboriginal girls between the ages of 11 and 15 that are traditionally seen as “male” skills/tasks including design, cutting, welding, small engine mechanics and driving. The girls also learn the importance of working as part of a team, work ethics, self esteem and confidence building.
Over the last two summers, the NENAS presented the “GO KARTS 4 GIRLS” trades program and Community Race-Off with partnership funding from various organizations including the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, Core Pipelines, Talisman Energy and BC Hydro. The “Go Karts 4 Girls Project” was a nine to ten day summer program aimed at promoting female involvement in trades.
Each year’s program was delivered, by qualified instructors, in four northeast BC urban centres, including Fort St. John, Dawson Creek, Fort Nelson and Chetwynd. Each group successfully built a “Community’” go kart.
The end result of each year’s program was four “Community” go karts featured in a community celebration and race off. The far end of the Northern Lights Raceway was utilized for the community race-off, where a temporary track was set up. The general public and sponsors were invited to attend and cheer on the girls. This unique project brought families and communities together to celebrate the successes of youth.
To be awarded to the company or enterprise that has elevated its production through the use of innovative processes, systems, or procedures.
Gate to Plate – following their development of the first line of CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) inspected mobile slaughter units in Canada offering custom slaughter services, Gate to Plate has expanded to retail with the opening of Peace Country Meats providing customers with traceable home-grown meat products. The company offers custom slaughter services to producers and processors across BC and Canada.
This technology of mobile slaughter facilities is revolutionary for the meat industry. The service ensures the most humane slaughter available by eliminating the transport of animals, an innovation that positively affects the quality of the meat by eliminating the bruising and release of stress hormones associated with transport. A major benefit of the unique service Gate to Plate offers is that of disease control. Wherever a unit operates, the CFIA will be present to perform inspection, ante and post mortem. Should a disease be discovered, containment is immediate. Because the animals never leave the farm, cross contamination and the spread of disease is avoided.
With humane slaughter available, producers and processors can access the markets of their choice without fear of any future international issues that may affect the livestock industry. Gate to Plate services offer producers the option to have their products specialty certifications including organic, biodynamic, kosher, and halal.
To be awarded to the young person (up to the age of 26), who has taken the initiative to apply an innovation to a process, system, or procedure that has affected the way something is done. This innovation can be industry related, education related, or related to everyday activities.
Andrew Tylosky – an accomplished entrepreneur with progressive vision and management style, his recent involvements include the development and launching of energeticcity.ca and Synergy Under 35, a young professionals division of the Fort St John & District Chamber of Commerce. Born and raised in the Peace Country, Andrew is the founder and CEO of Motion Media a full service media company offering clients a range of media solutions that help businesses and organizations get their message out: web development; publications and marketing; digital signage; video production; if it relates to media – they’re involved! He is the host of Issues & Answers, a Monday morning radio show (Moose FM) and pod cast that is a venue for discussion of local issues.
Awarded to an enterprise that applies technology to a process, system, or procedure that creates an effective, efficient outcome when applied to their business.
Lake View Credit Union – for their utilization of technology and innovation: Lake View Credit Union, like many credit unions has developed its own website and online blog in-house. This site has attracted attention all over Canada is in the running for an Achievement In Marketing Excellence award for 2009. All design, programming, scripting; all photos and video are created in-house and then incorporated in the website.
In the past 2 months, Lake View Credit Union’s IT Dept setup FIBER OPTIC links on their own private network to Chetwynd and Tumbler Ridge. This was done to facilitate: server backup/ disaster recovery; IP based phones which lower communication costs amongst branches; and video conferencing capabilities for staff training, meetings, and education for members in remote communities. This system is brand new and will provide a high level of support for remote branches.
Additionally, a custom intranet has been created. This Intranet is used for training, staff orientation, security training, product education, anti fraud training and money laundering training. It’s very unique, very cool, and has attracted the attention of other credit unions across Canada. These are just a sample of the technology applications developed by and in use at Lake View Credit Union.
Awarded to the company, individual, or organization that provides technology support to other enterprises and in doing so, fosters a greater understanding of technology.
The Image Build Team – Shaun Whynacht, Mark Bodnar and Russell Eggleston are the Team. Their business is to help you to attract and retain business and that all starts with an image: before anything else, whether it’s a website, brochure, logo or business card……….you need the “image” to define who you are for a consistent presentation to clients and potential clients.
They do it all: logo design/ re-design; graphic design; brochures and banners; tradeshow display design; Powerpoint and Flash presentations; website design and hosting; 360 virtual tour photography and hosting; as well as comprehensive full market analysis to fine tune your overall sales, marketing, and presentation strategies. This is a dynamic team of young, creative professionals.
Awarded to the company, individual, or organization that uses an innovative process, system, or procedure that encourages and creates a greater understanding of the innovative process, systems or procedures at work.
Dunne-Za Ventures – Dunne-Za Ventures LP manages the economic development for West Moberly First Nations and is wholly owned by them. They are nominated because they actively seek green industry solutions that allow them to continue to compete in the resource industry with an unwavering and exceptional commitment to their mandate: “to protect and manage the land and environment for economic and cultural uses for future generations”.
Impressive examples of their efforts include their role in the development, use and promotion of several major innovations: self contained field office/accommodation trailers where even the grey water is contained (fabricated in BC, too); and making use of steam cleaning equipment to arrest cross contamination.
Dunne-Za is initiating use of a new type of terrain protection – an inter-connective composite mat. Dunne-Za has 
several hundred creek crossings to do on their seismic line projects so these light weight, buoyant Terrapro mats will facilitate those and protect the fragile stream edge environments. Their light weight minimizes transportation costs and makes them easy to handle; and they are non-absorbent with an easy-to clean surface that eliminates vegetative and chemical site cross contamination. Terrapro's fiberglass re-enforced plastic (FRP) matting products were chosen because of they have the capacity to maintain performance through a wide range of operating temperatures; the ability to meet existing and projected environmental standards; and the standard products have a compression resistance of greater than 3800 psi allowing them to accomodate enormous equipment weights as evidenced in this photo of a skidder barely deflecting the topline of this 40 foot long monster mat.
Sponsored by the Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of BC, and awarded to an individual who has demonstrated leadership in developing or applying technology and who has contributed to their community, especially as a role model and in promoting technology careers.
Richard McCrea and Lisa Buckley – Rich and Lisa are the leaders of BC's only vertebrate palaeontology research program at the Peace Region Palaeontology Centre where the rich fossil heritage of the region and the province is documented, studied, assessed, interpreted and protected. Rich serves as Curator of Palaeontology, Lisa as collections manager. In 2008 they supervised a wildly successful field season with the excavation of BC’s first articulated dinosaur, a hadrosaur (duckbilled dinosaur), of which over seventy bones have been removed, including some massive long bones. They are in the process of moving the Dinosaur Discovery Gallery, the public-access museum component of the PRPRC, into much larger quarters and with the move come amazing new opportunities to showcase the pre-history of British Columbia.
They are both active advocates for fossil conservation and responsible management of fossil resources, having recently served as palaeontological advisors for BC Parks. They have made substantial contributions towards developing fossil management framework legislation (initiated by the BC Government) for the province of British Columbia.
In addition to their duties as researchers and custodians of the bulk of B.C.'s vertebrate fossil heritage, Rich and Lisa are both committed to education, public outreach, and science education. Their outreach programming has been presented regionally at schools, science fairs, and other community forums. Rich and Lisa are responsible for the content of the Dinosaur Camp curriculae and are currently undertaking the design and development of a series of "Northern Wilderness" Summer Camps, a tiered non-palaeontology oriented program whose pilot camp ran in the summer of 2006.
Thanks to the successful fundraising efforts of the Research Staff of the PRPRC, two technology-oriented projects are underway. Western Diversification has provided funding for the expansion of current displays. Interactive consoles (computers with touch-screen navigation) and digital image slideshows will enable the DDG to showcase not only fossil specimens, but also the process of collecting fossils and the wonderful flora, fauna, and spectacular scenery that the palaeontologists experience while "in the field". This funding also provides for a small Gallery theatre that will be used to give visitors an introduction to and history of British Columbia's amazing fossil heritage.
The most significant addition that the Western Diversification funding will facilitate is computer hardware and software that will enable the PRPRC to produce 3-dimensional digital image copies of fossil specimens. Referred to as photogrammetry, this technology converts 2-D digital images of large-scale dinosaur footprint sites to 3-D images that can be analyzed and displayed back in the PRPRC. Photogrammetry will allow the palaeontologists to produce digital replicas of track surfaces that are too large to replicate using traditional latex-molding methods. Photogrammetry will also provide an opportunity for Gallery visitors to view large-scale tracksites that are too remote, too fragile, or too dangerous for traditional tracksite tours on the multiple new interactive displays. It is hoped that these additions will be in place for the 2009 tourism season.
Technology Application in Business Award:
• North Peace Air Services – for providing wireless internet service throughout the terminal building and developing a business centre “quiet area” for cell and internet use.
• Lake View Credit Union – for their utilization of technology and innovation: installation of digital televisions in their branches with in-house development of the content system including flash programming, video development, web-site, and fiber optic video conferencing between branches.
• energeticcity.ca – for bringing a whole new world of media and web communications to the city of Fort St John.
• Motion Media – for their commitment to using technology in all their business applications from the most mundane support tasks such as time-keeping; to the use and development of innovative software; and the use of cutting edge hardware such as digital signage in their effort to provide exemplary service to their clients.
Technology Support Award:
• iSolutions Consulting – Adrian Telzien is a certified Apple consultant and has helped countless people with training on Macintosh computers and software.
• PRIS – for serving the northeast by providing internet service where no other company will and for their continued, committed lobbying for broadband access for the un-serviced areas within the region.
Innovation at Work Award:
• Dunne-Za Ventures – for implementing environmental standards beyond the accepted industry requirements in an unwavering and exceptional commitment to their mandate, “to protect and manage the land and environment for economic and cultural uses for future generations”.
• Alpha Safety - in recognition of their company re-branding efforts that reflect the implementation of workplace initiatives aimed at increasing the retention of employees; and for their work with the Petroleum Human Resource Council of Canada as a pilot site for the “Increasing the Talent” attraction/retention project.
• Urban Systems – recognized as one of Canada’s Best Workplaces and one of the Top 100 Employers, they have developed an in-house professional development training the “Uof U” and have received a WorkLife BC award for developing a workplace where fun, flexibility and success all come together to provide rewarding careers.
• District of Chetwynd – stepping outside the box to find solutions to construction difficulties in the building of the new airport terminal using geothermal heating/cooling systems; partnering with Northern Lights College in their residential construction program to make the building a reality; implementing additional eco-friendly solutions such as the waterless urinals and the use of eco building materials.
Innovation in Education:
• School District 60 Wireless Writing Program – the implementation of the WWP provided iBooks on a 1:1 basis to all grade 6 and 7 students with the goal of improving student achievement, motivation and learning skills through the integration of technology with writing instruction. The outcomes have shown improved student performance, attitudes, classroom learning environments and parent satisfaction with schools.
• Northern Environmental Action Team – for their public awareness campaign regarding water conservation, some of the statistics are truly remarkable such as the average Fort St John resident using 475 litres of water a day compared to an average of 340 elsewhere in Canada!
• North East Native Advancing Society – for implementing Go Karts 4 Girls, a trades program aimed at developing skills in Aboriginal girls between the ages of 11 and 15 that are traditionally seen as “male” skills/tasks including design, cutting, welding, small engine mechanics and driving. The girls also learn the importance of working as part of a team, work ethics, self esteem and confidence building.
• Peace Region Palaeontology Research Center – for their public outreach programs which are aimed at educating people about BC's fossils through their active role in developing content for the Dino Camps hosted by Northern Lights College in the communities of the north east; their professional development presentations to teachers; and their community and classroom presentations.
Innovation in Industry:
• Spectra Energy – for deploying technologies including acid gas re-injection; their pioneered use of Morphysorb®; and carbon capture and storage in their commitment to bring innovation to industrial processes to reduce emissions. (The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recognized Spectra Energy Transmission as a world leader in carbon capture and storage, 2008.)
• Gate to Plate – following their development of the first line of CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) inspected mobile slaughter units in Canada offering custom slaughter services, Gate to Plate has expanded to retail with the opening of Peace Country Meats providing customers with traceable home-grown meat products.
Youth and Innovation:
• Mike Sabulsky – started 55CHET TV as a youth in Grade 10 and dedicated 10 years of his life to developing community TV taking CHET from it’s roots in a closet studio to it’s current existence as a full blown video/film lab able to shoot, film and produce high quality videos; and having a phenomenal impact on the 18 youth who were trained in television through the growth of the station.
• Andrew Tylosky – an accomplished entrepreneur with progressive vision and management style, his recent involvements include the development and launching of energeticcity.ca and Synergy Under 35.
Technology Leadership Award:
Richard McCrea and Lisa Buckley – are the palaeontology team pivotal in the development of the Peace Region Palaeontology Centre where the rich fossil heritage of the region is documented, studied, assessed, interpreted and protected. Rich serves as Curator of Palaeontology, Lisa as collections manager.