2008 Sci-Tech North "Excellence in Innovation" Awards Announced

Technology Application in Business Award: Awarded to an enterprise that applies technology to a process, system, or procedure that creates an effective, efficient outcome when applied to their business.

1.    North Peace Air Services – The North Peace Airport serves BC's largest farming area and is the main transfer station for the gas and oil industry in Northeast BC and has been serving the region since 1942. In their commitment to client services NPAS is now providing wireless internet service throughout the terminal building and has developed a business centre “quiet area” for cell and internet use.

2.    **WINNER** 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.

3.    energeticcity.ca – A brand new website has been launched providing a new venue for media and web communications and it is all about Fort St. John!  Energeticcity.ca is updated hourly with the latest news and sports from Moose FM. The site also features provincial and national news, classified ads, upcoming events, blogs from local community groups, weather, and movie listings. They have already logged days with 4500 unique hits to the site!

4.    Motion Media – is a full service media company offering their 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!   The Motion Media is committed to using technology in all their in-office business applications from the most mundane support tasks such as time-keeping; to the use and development of innovative software; and their use of cutting edge hardware such as digital signage.

5.    North Peace Cultural Center – There is currently a calendar of 20 events on the NPCC menu.  All are available through their convenient new online ticket sales.  Visit their new web site and take a look at the upcoming entertainment and education opportunities.  The Cultural Center is dedicated to enhancing the experience of theatre and arts for their patrons throughout the region and they are integrating technologies aimed at reaching that goal. They host hundreds of events every year, and are home to the Fort St. John Community Arts Council, The Peace Arts Gallery Society, internationally renowned Watt School of Irish Dance and a resident Community Choir, the Northern Community Singers. The Stage North Theatre Society produces three or four major drama productions annually and the local School District utilizes it for school shows and cultural performances.

Technology Support Award: Awarded to the company, individual, or organization that provides technology support to other enterprises and in doing so, fosters a greater understanding of technology.

1.    iSolutions Consulting – Proprietor, Adrian Telizyn is our local resource for navigation in the Apple universe.  A long-time Fort St. John resident and Apple user, Adrian is always available to provide his trademark friendly and efficient service to the Fort St. John area.

School District 60’s Wireless Writing program has put Apple laptops in the hands of Grade 6 & 7 students and in support of that program, Adrian makes his experience available to parents wanting to be able to help their children with homework on their laptop.  He provides mobile, home/office and oil patch consulting assistance.

2.    PRIS – There can be no question that the greatest enabler to technology development in the past two decades has been access to the Internet... to do research, collaborate on innovative concepts, and to share new technological tools and techniques with the world.

In 2008, the Peace Region Internet Society continued the work of connecting families, businesses, and organizations of the Peace to the Internet, and increased the number of rural Broadband connections it provided by 25%.  PRIS has just been informed that a new funding program, for which they lobbied, has been announced.  The program will enable accelerated Broadband rollout for rural and remote areas in the coming days for the Peace, and for the Province as a whole.

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.

Innovation at Work Award: 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.

1.   **WINNER** 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 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”. 

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 – a customized, inter-connective capable 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.

2.    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.

3.    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.

4.    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: 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.

1.    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.

2.    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!

3.    **WINNER** 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.  

4.    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:  To be awarded to the company or enterprise that has elevated its production through the use of innovative processes, systems, or procedures.

1.    Spectra Energy – This nomination was for Spectra’s proposed Carbon Capture and Storage project at Fort Nelson which has the potential to significantly advance BC’s climate change objective of reducing CO2 emissions – to the equivalent of taking 250,000 cars off the road annually! The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recognized Spectra Energy Transmission as a world leader in carbon capture and storage this year (2008).  The project under exploration would see carbon capture and sequestration done utilizing deep saline reservoirs near the existing Fort Nelson gas plant.  Spectra Energy currently does CCS at 7 facilities in BC and Alberta.  The largest North American example using CCS technology is their Kwoen Plant south of Chetwynd.

The nomination, in fact, was made for a future implementation …

2.   **WINNER**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.