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  • 15 Dec 2021 by DigiBC


    This year has been busy for creative technology, with the demand for interactive entertainment soaring across video games, animation, visual effects and mixed reality. Here at DigiBC, we have also been busier than ever!

    During 2021, we celebrated the publication of our first-of-its-kind study, Benchmarking the Creative Technology Ecosystem in British Columbia, which was produced over 18 months in partnership with the Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) and BC’s Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training (AEST). With the active participation of our member companies along with post-secondary programs, the study yielded important recommendations to ensure the future growth of creative technology in the province. As a consequence, DigiBC revamped its strategy to be laser-focused on three pillars for the sector: Securing Job Growth, Expanding the Talent Pipeline and Increasing Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI).

    With this renewed focus, we established an Education Steering Committee and an EDI Steering Committee. We also continued to work closely with federal and provincial government partners, advocating for the creative technology sector on topics ranging from tax incentives and immigration to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Further details on what we were able to accomplish over the last 12 months within each of these pillars can be read in the summary below.

    In closing, we encourage you, if you're reading this and are not already a DigiBC member or you have let your membership lapse, to sign up or renew. Together we are stronger, so join us as we continue to grow and ensure a healthy future in the province for this fabulous sector.


    Sincerely,

    ~ The DigiBC Team 

     


    Over the course of 2021, DigiBC continued to work closely with government partners as the voice of the creative technology industry. Our work included specific programs to measure the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, along with plans for industry recovery and rebuilding post-crisis. We also had ongoing consultations with the government to ensure the continuation of the IDMTC, which is up for renewal in 2023.


    ►2022 Provincial Budget Consultations
    DigiBC presented in-person to Chair MLA Janet Routledge (NDP), Deputy Chair Ben Stewart (Liberal Party), MLAs and committee members.

     


    ►Canadian Interactive Alliance / L ‘Alliance Interactive Canadienne (CIAIC)
    DigiBC is a member of the CIAIC, which is a not-for-profit trade association that serves as the voice of Canada’s interactive digital media industry. It is made up of eight provincial industry associations from across the country (DigiBC, Digital Alberta, SaskInteractive, New Media Manitoba, La Guilde du Jeu Vidéo du Québec, Interactive Ontario, Videogames PEI & Interactive Society of Nova Scotia), and some of the highlights of the work we did in 2021 included:

    - Consulting with the Canada Media Fund (CMF) and proposing a new funding model which included increases to funding for IDM production and early-stage IP development and prototyping, as well as reconsidering recoupment. We also consulted with and provided feedback to Valerie Creighton (CEO & President, CMF) for a Q&A with Minister Steven Guilbeault addressing Canada’s commitment to gaming and “where gaming video content and interactive media fit into the future of the Canadian screen-based production sector.”

    - Rebranding of the canadagamesonline.ca website to videogamescanada.ca and having it used for promoting international trade missions.

    - Working with CanExport to secure federal funding for coaching and subsidized registration to:

    • PG Connects 2021 trade mission (virtual)
    • Devcom / Gamescom 2021 trade mission (virtual)
    • GDC 2022 trade mission (in-person)

     
     


    DigiBC + A/VFX Education Steering Committee

    This was established to work on strengthening industry relationships with the post-secondary ecosystem across BC. The committee consulted on the development of novel micro-credential programs, and connected our member companies with funding opportunities for work-integrated-learning (WIL).
     

     Funding & Grant Programs
    • Micro-credential programs with universities and colleges
    Mitacs x ECU: Animation & VFX Internship Grant Program
    Innovator Skills Initiative
    ICTC WIL Digital Program
    Centre for Digital Media R&D Projects


    ►DigiCamps for Underrepresented Youth

    DigiCamp was created to give underrepresented youth in the province opportunities to learn skills, build confidence and broaden interest in careers within the creative technology sector. We’re happy to report that the first-ever DigiCamp: Online Game Development Camp for Girls which took place in July and August was a success! We developed this in partnership with Under the GUI (UTG) Academy and had IUGO Mobile Entertainment on board as the sponsor. Going forward, we plan to hold this camp again and expand it to include other groups of underrepresented youth as part of our strategic goal of creating an inclusive, diverse and equitable creative technology sector.

     



    ►Sector Labour Market Partnership (SLMP) Project

    Beginning in January 2020, DigiBC undertook a year-long research project to benchmark the creative technology industry in BC, and this was done in partnership with the Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) and BC’s Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training (AEST). The first-of-its-kind study includes over 70 interviews with industry and academic organizations to provide a comprehensive overview of the creative technology labour and education ecosystem in BC. The results of this study can be found in our final report, Benchmarking the Creative Technology Industry in British Columbia, which was released in October of this year. It examines both the job development potential and demand for talent in the province, along with current post-secondary training opportunities.

     

     


    ►EDI Steering Committee

    This was established to provide programming and resources to support our members’ EDI policy and commitments. The committee has also formed strategic partnerships to help ensure opportunity for underrepresented groups, and is developing a charter and action plan for 2022.


    Indigenous Collaborations
    DigiBC met with the Seabird Island Band (Stolo First Nation) to discuss common ground and potential opportunities to work towards an MOU.


    The Government of Canadas 50-30 Challenge
    DigiBC signed on to this and is one of 1,391 companies participating in the 50-30 Challenge. The goal of the program is to challenge Canadian organizations to increase the representation and inclusion of diverse groups within their workplace, while highlighting the benefits of giving all Canadians a seat at the table.

     


    Women in Creative Technology Event Series
    We launched this series in partnership with WIGeh & WIA Vancouver to support women in the sector. The first event took place in August and was an online panel discussion featuring some of the sector’s most influential trailblazers. They shared valuable advice and insight on topics such as the basics of networking, knowing your worth, how to handle bullying/sexism, and influencing skills. It was facilitated by Cathy Lim (HR Director, PopReach) and the list of panelists included Heidi Eaves (COO, Relic), Karen Addison (Development Director II, EA), Sara Maseko (Director of Finance, SkyBox Labs) and Jennifer Twiner McCarron (CEO, Thunderbird / Atomic Cartoons).

     

     

    Membership, Community Building & Events


    We had
    24 new members join the association this year, and we added two new membership perks by establishing partnerships with S+F Group Benefits Inc (health benefits) and Waypoint Insurance (home/business/auto/recreation).

    We updated our sizzle reel and unveiled it to coincide with Creative Industries Week & Creative Technology Day. This reel represents BC's entire creative technology sector from VFX and animation to video games and VR/AR/XR, while showcasing some of the spectacular content that is made by a number of our member studios.

    DigiBC's Executive Director, Loc Dao and board members, Jon Lutz (EA), Sharon Taylor (Animal Logic), Kay Wong-Alafriz (Kabam) & Nick Facey (Unity) were named in the BIV BC500 2021 List. This list features business leaders who have a notable impact and influence on BC’s communities, industries and economy. 

    DigiBC was proud to be a sponsor of the Spark CG Society and the 2021 Vancouver Asian Film Festival.


    ►Games From British Columbia Steam Page

    We kicked off our 'Games From British Columbia' Steam page project, which is being done in collaboration with Creative BC. This is open to all BC-based video game studios that have titles on Steam, and the page will be launched in March 2022. It's a great opportunity for us to showcase the province's video game industry talent while providing a promotional tool for studios to promote their work.

     



    2021 Events

    03.11: SLMP Benchmarking the Creative Technology Industry Presentation
    03.12: TELUS EPP Info Session
    03.31: Meet the New Executive Director &  Virtual Trivia Night

    04.12-16: Creative Industries Week
    04.14: Creative Technology Day
    05.18: Calm the Chaos: Managing Stress Workshop
    06.02:
    Approach to Return to Work & Vaccines
    06.29: ICTC WIL Digital Program Info Session
    07.12-16: DigiCamp: Online Video Game Development Camp for Girls
    08.12: Empowering Women in Creative Technology Panel
    08.09-13: DigiCamp: Online Video Game Development Camp for Girls

    09.15: Approach to Return to Work & Vaccines part 2
    10.01-11: VIFF Immersed Virtual Tech Crawl   
    10.21: Mitacs x ECU: Animation & VFX Internship Grant Program Info Session
    11.02: Innovator Skills Initiative Info Session
    11.08: DigiBC & ICTC: BC’s Creative Tech Ecosystem Panel
    11.30: WIGeh Lightning Talks Lunch & Learn (DigiBC supported)
    12.15: CDM Annual Food Bank Fundraiser & Charity Poker Night (DigiBC supported)


    Creative Industries Week

    DigiBC participated in Creative Industries Week 2021, celebrating film, television, creative technology, book and magazine publishing, and music in BC with government, community and industry partners. This year’s event was open to the public for the first time, and it was an opportunity to showcase BC’s innovative, tenacious and resilient creative sector as we collectively emerge from the extraordinary and challenging circumstances of the global pandemic.

    Creative Technology Day

    As part of CIW 2021, DigiBC presented Creative Technology Day where we were able to highlight some of the incredible stories behind our province’s diverse and talented creative tech industry.

    VIFF Immersed Tech Crawl

    As part of VIFF Immersed, DigiBC presented the VIFF Immersed Tech Crawl which brought together members of BC's XR community and attendees got to know some of the province's top XR creators in this virtual trade show. Genius XR provided their immersive platform Congrego.Tech for the event which ran from October 1-11. The participating companies were Splash Mango, IM4 Media Lab, Inscape Studios, Strawberry Fields Interactive, Hammer & Tong, Re:Naissance Opera.

     

  • 24 Nov 2021 by DigiBC

    Telefilm Canada, in partnership with the Trade Commissioner Service, has organized the Meet the Producers SXSW 2022 Mentorship Program. They are accepting applications from Canadian production companies specializing in film or VR/AR production and planning to attend SXSW 2022 for the first time.

    The initiative will enable a maximum of 10 producers to benefit from exclusive and personalized guidance (networking, B2B meetings, market preparedness, etc.) to prepare for SXSW 2022. This will take place from January 15 to March 20, 2022 and programming leading up to the B2B event at SXSW will be virtual.

    The program will include:

    • Prep for international markets (DALAS, ROs, Telefilm) [virtual]
    • Pitch development session [virtual]
    • SXSW 101 session, hosted in partnership with SX staff [virtual]
    • B2B program at SXSW 2022 [in-person]
       

    ►Deadline for submission is Friday, December 3

    Click here for more info on eligibility requirements, selection criteria and process


     

  • 23 Nov 2021 by DigiBC

    Discover what’s on the horizon for the digital economy at Canada’s 2022 Digital Future Summit this February, featuring perspectives from global and community leaders on business trends, markets, policy, and best practices.
     


    ICTC Horizon will be the largest virtual summit of its kind, drawing over 3,000 participants, including industry leaders, policy makers, innovative thinkers, and community participants.

    Internationally renowned keynote speaker, Dr. Roberta Bondar, the first Canadian woman in space, will kick off the summit. A roster of other insightful keynote presentations will include Johan Rockström, internationally recognized scientist on global sustainability issues; Ron Keller, expert on international financial, economic and geopolitical matters who was the former Dutch Ambassador in Russia, Turkey, China; and Hon. Perrin Beatty, President and Chief Executive Officer Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
     

    CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

    Virtual | Free Admission
     

    World-Class Speakers
    You’ll hear diverse perspectives from 50+ global and community leaders that have an eye on the horizon.
     

    Exclusive Interactivity
    We’re not just talking about Q&A sessions. Meet the speakers in exclusive breakout rooms, network with thought leaders, and be part of a real-time discussion about the future of our digital economy.

    Community

    Keep the conversations going after it’s all done and revisit your favourite talks and content.
    Register today for ICTC Horizon to gain exclusive access to global leaders with an eye on our changing economic horizon!


    DigiBC is a proud community partner of ICTC Horizon.

     

  • 20 Nov 2021 by DigiBC

    DigiBC members have the opportunity to connect with the Centre for Digital Media on R&D projects with their Master of Digital Media (MDM) students. This is a win-win scenario where companies can have R&D/proof-of-concept/playable demo work completed in a cost-effective partnership while assessing potential talent to hire. In turn, students make connections and can get real-world industry and portfolio experience. Check out the video below to hear about testimonials from past industry project clients.


    ►Contact Dennis Chenard (Dennis_chenard@thecdm.ca) for more info

     

     

    Click image above to view testimonial video

     


    Industry Project Details

    • Industry project partners can have R&D work completed in a cost-effective collaboration
    • Employers can develop, assess, and identify potential talent (new hires) before they graduate
    • Project partners become mentors and collaborators on the projects
    • The next round of in-house industry projects starts May 2022 (proposals due February 28)
    • Can search past database of projects by genre, client or project platform

     

    Simple 3-part Proposal Process

    1. Project high-level R&D idea(s)

    2. 1-2 team member bios and company boilerplate info

    3. Potential partnership ideas (like consider hiring grads/interns etc)

    Note: Projects must be research and development related (not work-for-hire or outsourcing but more proof-of-concept, proof-of-fun, prototype development related)

     

     

  • 19 Nov 2021 by DigiBC

    Applications are open for the Unity for Humanity Grant, as well as the Imagine Grant that was created in partnership with artist and activist, Common.

    Creators making social-impact focused projects built in RT3D across VR, video games, AR, apps or animation are welcome to apply. Grant recipients will receive funding, technical support and mentorship. Applications are being acceipted until December 3, 2021.

    CLICK HERE TO APPLY

     

  • 18 Nov 2021 by DigiBC
    DigiBC member, Versatile Media announced last month the official opening of their virtual production facility located in Vancouver's Ironworks Building. The studio serves as the company’s Canadian headquarters, and it houses two motion tracking stages (each 3,500 sq ft) running on an Unreal pipeline.
     

    If you have an animation or live-action project, find out how a real-time capture and visualization workflow can extend creative freedom and add efficiency to your production. The facility is currently open for bookings, demos and tours.
     

    CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE


     

  • 18 Nov 2021 by DigiBC

    On November 10, the HR Tech Group announced the release of their 2021 Diversity in Tech Dashboard, one of several initiatives stemming from the organization’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) Tech Project, launched in 2019 with funding from the Province of BC. The Diversity in Tech Dashboard reports year-over-year progress on representation of equity-deserving groups in the BC tech sector. The project aims to improve the attraction, retention and advancement of women, Indigenous peoples, people with disabilities, people of colour, newcomers to Canada, and individuals who identify as 2SLGBTQQIA+ in skilled technology occupations throughout the province. 

    In 2021, 171 tech employers participated in the Diversity in Tech Dashboard survey, providing industry-wide data on DE&I policies and practices and employee representation. Now in its second year, participation in this year’s survey was up by approximately 27%, from 134 employers in 2020. This year, 38% of participating organizations reported already having company-wide DE&I goals in place, with an additional 43% considering or currently working on goal-setting.

    “It’s wonderful to see the enormous lift in participation levels this year, and we’re pleased to be able to provide valuable data and insights that highlight the importance of measuring representation within BC’s technology sector,” Said Stephanie Hollingshead, CEO, HR Tech Group. “Tech companies have struggled to build strong representation of equity-deserving populations across the province. It’s essential that we invest in the recruitment and development of diverse perspectives to meet the needs of this rapidly growing sector. In order to do this, we first need to understand where our gaps are in terms of representation.”

     

    Key findings related to how employees self-identify*:  

    • 8.3% of employees self-identified as 2SLGBTQQIA+
    • 2.9% representation of people with disabilities (apparent or non-apparent)
    • 0.7% representation of Indigenous peoples in BC’s tech sector

    * Based on survey results
     

    “Supporting more Indigenous, Black, people of colour, 2SLGBTQ+, youth, and women enter the tech industry is a critical part of our work to build an inclusive and sustainable economy for everyone,” said Brenda Bailey, Parliamentary Secretary for Technology and Innovation. “Our government is committed to removing obstacles facing people from underrepresented communities, so that we can better support our growing tech sector with a workforce that represents the diversity of our province.”

    Key findings related to employee reporting on their gender identity*:

    • 66.6% self-identify as a man
    • 33.2% self-identify as a woman 
    • 0.2% self-identify as non-binary or other
    • 81% of the roles in human resources and 76% of the roles in administration are filled by women 
    • 23% of the roles in technology, design & support and manufacturing are filled by women
    • 31% of executive level roles are filled by women

    * Based on survey results


    While 41% of employees reported identifying as visible minorities, this dropped to just 19% at the executive level. The representation of visible minorities is highest in software engineer and developer roles, with 44.5% representation, relative to the 41% reported across all employees. 

    “The second year of HR Tech Group’s diversity data once again reveals the importance of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at work. It’s encouraging to see the level of employer engagement with benchmarking diversity within the sector and the genuine momentum on the activation of policies, programs and initiatives to enhance inclusion. It’s clear that we still have work to do in advancing DE&I in BC’s tech sector, but we’re headed in the right direction. Through programs like the DE&I Tech Project, we are committed to helping tech companies put programs and policies in place to continue to move the needle,” adds Hollingshead. 

    The Diversity Dashboard showcases data from HR Tech Group’s 2021 Tech Salary Survey, which is produced in partnership with Mercer and includes data from 25,353 incumbents at 184 Canadian tech employers. For more information and to explore HR Tech Group’s Diversity in Tech Dashboard, visit: https://diversity.hrtechgroup.com/diversity-tech-dashboard.

     

    About HR Tech Group

    HR Tech Group is a non-profit association for HR, People and Culture professionals in Canada’s tech sector. The group produces Western Canada’s leading Tech Salary Survey and provides thought leadership, training, collaboration channels, DE&I resources and tech sector data. Our member community is instrumental to tech industry growth, and is connected through knowledge exchange, strong professional and mentoring networks and the sharing of benchmark data. Our 700 members lead and influence the HR, people and culture practices at over 200 tech companies in all tech sectors, including ICT, VFX and animation, interactive and digital entertainment, cleantech, AI, life sciences and more.


    Contact
    Stephanie Hollingshead
    HR Tech Group
    shollingshead@hrtechgroup.com

     

  • 17 Nov 2021 by DigiBC

    The SXSW Gaming Awards celebrate the wide reach of gaming across areas such as art, design, narrative, gameplay, cultural innovation, and more. Enter any or all of the Gaming Awards categories that celebrate and recognize the best within the gaming world. Deadline to apply is December 9, 2021.
     

    LEARN MORE

    CLICK HERE TO APPLY

     

    2022 Categories

    • Game of the Year
    • Indie Game of the Year
    • Tabletop Game of the Year
    • VR Game of the Year
    • Matthew Crump Cultural Innovation Award
    • Excellence in Animation, Art, & Visual Achievement
    • Excellence in Game Design
    • Excellence in Original Score
    • Excellence in Multiplayer
    • Excellence in Narrative
    • Excellence in Audio Design
    • Excellence in Technical Achievement

    Final nominees for each category will be publicly announced in February 2022 and all nominees will receive two SXSW Platinum Registrations to attend SXSW 2022.

     

    Entry & Judging Process

    The Gaming Awards are open for entry from August to December of each year. All entries must be completed titles released during that calendar year.

    Once all entries are received, the judging process will begin for SXSW staff and an advisory board. Once the judging process concludes, SXSW will announce the final nominees for each category in February.

    Click here to view previous winners



  • 10 Nov 2021 by DigiBC

    As part of our ongoing commitment to promoting creative technology-related educational initiatives in the province, DigiBC is asking for your support through sponsorship of the BC Game Developers Innovation Award, in conjunction with the Science Fair Foundation of BC. This award is for students participating in virtual science fairs across the province in 2022.
     


    What You'll Get
    Any DigiBC member company who provides $1,000 in sponsorship will receive:

    • Their company name and logo listed on www.sciencefairs.ca
    • Acknowledgement in promotional materials
    • Acknowledgement on the Science Fair Foundation BC website
    • Acknowledgement on SFF BC social media channels


    In addition, if you would like to be involved in the fair for your region, you can help adjudicate the award, attend the virtual ceremony and help present the Game Developers Award. There are also likely to be opportunities for local media coverage. Not to mention the warm, fuzzy feeling that comes from helping students participate in science-based learning. If sponsorship is oversubscribed we plan to use the remaining funds for any or all of:

    • Plaques for student winners to commemorate their achievements
    • Additional sponsorship to the Science Fair Foundation
    • Putting funds aside to support science fairs in future years
       

    If you would like to contribute to this co-sponsored award, please contact:

    ►Christina Florian, cflorian@sciencefairs.ca
    ►Mention you are a DigiBC member
    ►Deadline to confirm a donation is November 17, 2021
    ►Deadline to pay for your donation is November 30, 2021

    We look forward to your support!



    Why Sponsor?
    The idea grew out of a discussion between Yggy King (Blackbird Interactive) and Eric Jordan (Codename Entertainment). The award represents a great opportunity to give back to our local communities, promote STEM education in BC and generate some positive publicity for BC game developers.
     

    The Award
    This will be given to the student(s) whose project demonstrates creativity and innovation in computer science, mathematics, engineering or astronomy. The award encourages the participation of women, First Nations, and others traditionally underrepresented in STEM fields.

    Open to students in grades 7 to 12, the award includes a $50 cash prize for a junior project (grade 7-8), $100 for intermediate (9-10) and $150 for senior (11-12), and will be awarded at all 13 regional science fairs.


    Science Fairs
    The Science Fair Foundation of British Columbia serves to support, organize, stage and fundraise for science fairs in BC. This extends to local, regional, national & international science fairs where students supported by the foundation have consistently produced high standard projects. In British Columbia, 13 regional fairs are part of the nearly 100 fairs held every year across Canada. Each fair is affiliated with Youth Science Canada.
     

     

  • 08 Nov 2021 by DigiBC

    GamesIndustry.Biz announced the winners of their ‘Best Places to Work Canada 2021 Awards’ today and we are proud to see some of our DigiBC member companies on this list.

    Congratulations to Relic Entertainment, Phoenix Labs and Hyper Hippo Entertainment, as well as Heidi Eaves (COO, Relic) for being named Canada's Best Boss and Hyper Hippo for picking up the Health & Wellbeing Award. 🏆

    This event is all about making the games industry a better place to work, and the bulk of the awards are based on an employee survey which covers numerous topics including working environment, work/life balance, management, diversity and more.


     

    CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL LIST
     

     

  • 05 Nov 2021 by DigiBC

    Mitacs is a national not-for-profit agency that supports and funds industry and academia collaborations through student placements. Their grant programs enable you to host student interns who are supervised by Emily Carr University of Art + Design (ECU) faculty with expertise to solve your challenges. 

    ECU is interested in piloting this program to start with 12 Mitacs internships starting in late spring of 2022. This would draw from students who are in ECU's Bachelor of Arts program and specialize in animation and VFX.
     

    Click here to view the program slide deck


    ►Questions or inquiries can be directed to:

    Kyoko Ariyoshi
    Creative Sector Lead, Mitacs
    kariyoshi@mitacs.ca

    Alan Goldman
    Industry Liaison Research, Emily Carr University of Art + Design
    agoldman@ecuad.ca

     

  • 01 Nov 2021 by DigiBC

    DigiBC is proud to be one of the sponsors for this year’s Vancouver Asian Film Festival which is celebrating its 25th edition from November 4-14. The extended hybrid festival kicks off with four days of in-theatre events (Nov 4-7), followed by six days of on-demand programs (Nov 8-13), before one final live program and the closing awards ceremony on Nov 14. Don't miss out on their biggest festival to date which has 88 films to commemorate this milestone year. The eleven-day celebration will highlight an array of unique and outstanding talent, with both emerging and established Asian Canadian and Asian American writers, producers, and directors showcasing their latest work.
     

     

    The theme of this year’s VAFF, Past, Present & Possibilities, reflects on the festival’s illustrious achievements in these 25 years, celebrates how far they’ve come in elevating the profile of Asian Canadians in cinema, and looks to the future with a mission to keep spreading a message of inclusivity and help take Asian filmmaking to new heights. To this end, the theme is at the essence of VAFF25’s Feel the Vibe-Asian campaign. Featuring a multitude of Asian Canadian talent, Feel the Vibe-Asian carries a message of originality, boldness, and vitality, with a spirit of poise and grace. 

     

  • 20 Oct 2021 by DigiBC

    Apply today for up to $10,000 in funding toward a business or tech role

    Innovate BC’s Innovator Skills Initiative offers up to $10,000 per employee, per year, for BC-based companies, startups and non-profits to hire young professionals from under-represented groups. The program connects students and people who have already graduated or have industry certifications with an opportunity to bring their skills to a company looking for help.


    Eligible employers must be one of the following:

    • A BC-based tech company or non-profit hiring for a business or tech role
    • A BC-based non-tech company or non-profit hiring for a tech role
    • A BC-based post-secondary institution hiring for a tech role
    • A BC-based local/regional authority or Indigenous community hiring for a tech role


    Employers must also:
    • Offer valuable, paid work experience to the candidate

    • Hire a candidate who self-identifies as under-represented (Indigenous, Black and people of colour, 2SLGBTQQIA+, Neuro-diverse, Persons living with a visible or invisible disability, Women, Youth from care, Non-binary, Other)


    Additionally, did you know?

    If you've hired someone on or after July 1, 2021 then you are retroactively eligible for the program

     
    Companies can receive up to ten $10,000 grants for 10 different employees per year


     
    The application requires less than 10 minutes to complete



    Ready to hire? This program is funded by the Province of British Columbia and delivered by Innovate BC. Start your application today.

    Questions? FAQ can be found here. If you have any additional questions, please contact programs@innovatebc.ca


  • 07 Oct 2021 by DigiBC

     

    DigiBC's Executive Director Loc Dao joined Business in Vancouver's Tyler Orton for the latest episode of the BIV Today podcast to discuss B.C.'s Creative Technology sector.
     

     

    [click here to listen]

     
    Covering everything from animation to visual effects and video games to virtual reality, B.C.’s creative technologies are some of the most dynamic components of the provincial economy. A new report from the Information and Communications Technology Council and industry association DigiBC sets about benchmarking where the sector stands at the moment and the challenges ahead. DigiBC's Executive Director Loc Dao joins BIV’s Tyler Orton to discuss.

     

     

  • 06 Oct 2021 by DigiBC

    Women Leading Change in STEM – special event hosted by the University of Victoria and the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia

    An evening of inspiration and empowerment celebrating women in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Industry leaders will come together for a panel discussion to share their experiences and talk about increasing equality, diversity and inclusion in STEM. The list of panelists includes:

    • Julie Angus, CEO, Open Oceans Robotics (UVic alum)
    • Mina Hoorfar, Dean of Engineering and Computer Sciences, University of Victoria
    • Sue Paish, CEO, Canada’s Digital Technology Supercluster
    • Denise Williams, CEO, First Nations Technology Council
    • Moderated by: The Honourable Janet Austin, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia


    Date: October 13, 2021
    Time: 5:00 - 6:30 pm
    Cost: Free
    Location: Farqhuar Auditorium (UVic) & livestreamed online

     


    CLICK HERE TO REGISTER 


     

  • 01 Oct 2021 by DigiBC

    The VIFF Immersed Tech Crawl presented by DigiBC brings together members of BC's XR community. Attendees can get to know some of the province's top XR creators in this virtual trade show. We will be using Genius XR’s immersive platform Congrego.Tech for the event which will run from October 1-11.

    Participating Companies: Splash Mango, IM4 Media Lab, Inscape Studios, Strawberry Fields Interactive, Hammer & Tong, re:Naissance Opera

     

    CLICK HERE TO LOG ON

     

     

     

  • 30 Sep 2021 by DigiBC

    On September 30, we honour the lost children and Survivors of residential schools, their families and communities. Like many of our member companies, at DigiBC we are using this day to learn about and reflect upon Canada’s tragic and painful history, and the ongoing impacts of residential schools on Indigenous communities.

    We know a key part of reconciliation is education, so we were glad to see many of our members sign up to attend today’s informative online industry-focused learning event, Canadian History Through an Indigenous Lens, hosted by the First Nations Technology Council, Chastity Davis-Alphonse and Shelley Joseph. We have also compiled a list resources for learning and reflection, including IM4 Media Lab founder Loretta Todd’s film Monkey Beach which airs on September 30 on APTN.

     

    Resources:

    Monkey Beach on APTN: Day of Truth and Reconciliation

    Films by Indigenous filmmakers about: Residential Schools History, Personal Accounts, Experience – Indigenous Cinema – NFB

    Canadian Shame: A History of Residential Schools by Ginger Gosnell-Myers [TedXVancouver]

    Intergenerational Trauma: Residential Schools by Historica Canada

    Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action [2015]

    Lessons Learned: Survivor Perspectives [2020]

    Schedule for Truth and Reconciliation Week (General Public) - NCTR

    Indian Residential School Survivors Society (irsss.ca)

     

     

  • 01 Sep 2021 by DigiBC


    re:Naissance Opera’s IndieFest is a musical gathering that brings together artists and audiences from all walks of life to expand artistic practices, experience new works of art, and express creative voices.

    This year’s IndieFest brings Vancouver’s first Indie Opera Hackathon. Through the fast paced sprint of a hackathon, re:Naissance Opera is gathering creatives and experts from the opera, theatre, digital media, and technology sectors to build capacity and network through collaborative creation. A traditional hackathon could result in the development of web apps, mobile apps, hardware or software that address challenges in the tech sector. Opera has embraced technology since its birth, using innovation to evolve the art form through time. In this hackathon, the collaboration of the theatre and tech world will focus on finding innovative technological solutions to the challenges faced in live performance.

    This four day event will see teams of 4-5 participants work together to conceptualize and create a product that responds to an industry challenge that interests them. Through this period, they will receive mentorship from experts from both the opera and tech sector. Each participant will receive a $1,000 honorarium for their time. At the end of the four day sprint, a final presentation of the product in process will be presented to a panel and fellow participants for feedback.

     

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  • 31 Aug 2021 by DigiBC


    DigiBC’s
    DigiCamp was created to give underrepresented youth in the province opportunities to learn skills, build confidence and broaden interest in careers within the creative technology sector. We’re happy to report that the first-ever DigiCamp: Online Game Development Camp for Girls which took place in July and August was a success! We developed this in partnership with Under the GUI (UTG) Academy and had IUGO Mobile Entertainment on board as the sponsor. Huge thanks to both for helping turn this idea into a reality.

    The camp was specifically designed for girls aged 9-13 years old and students got to create an HTML5 game using PixelPAD and the Python programming language. UTG Academy instructors (Lydia Assion-Nielsen, Mia Gieselmann & Linda Lee) tuned the curriculum to ensure students had the opportunity to write code, change gameplay, design levels, update sprites, re-skin their game, and create an app that was uniquely their own. The camp also featured IUGO guest speakers, Amie Hulme (Technical Director), Thais Campos (Quality Analyst) and Reina Magica (Game Designer), who shared their experiences, tips and secrets from working in the video game industry. 

    Below are links to some of the amazing games that the campers made and the instructor’s report for the July camp can be read here. Going forward, DigiBC plans to hold this camp again and expand it to include other groups of underrepresented youth as part of our strategic goal of creating an inclusive, diverse and equitable creative technology sector. 
     

    July Final Projects

    Frances Avery Alexis Sophie Chahal Sarah C Linda

     

    August Final Projects

    Anna Amelia Bria Poppy Keira  Mia G (Instructor) Lydia A (Instructor)
       

  • 25 Aug 2021 by DigiBC

    WarnerMedia Access Canada is sponsoring five full-time scholarships to attend Think Tank Online's 16-month Digital Asset Creation Program.

     

    The program aims to advance participants careers in television, feature film, visual effects, or video games through the opportunity to develop their digital art skills.

     

    The Doers and Dreamers Scholarship is a talent development initiative focused on Canadian artists from underrepresented communities. Open to people of all genders, abilities, and identities from underrepresented communities in Canada, including members of Indigenous, Black, people with disabilities, racialized groups and LGBTQ2+ communities.


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    Applications Open: September 30th, 2021 @ 9:00 AM PST

     

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