A community blog celebrating Victoria's booming tech sector
Our Tectorian of the Week is an entire force! The following will be exhibiting in Discover Tectoria‘s Video Game Lounge at Crystal Garden on February 19th, 11am to 6pm.
PLUS, the following partners: School District 61, Loading Ready Run, Camosun Graphic Novel Program, IGDA, UVIC Game Dev Club, Agog Labs
Check out the video below for a glimpse into the excitement these companies will bring to this event!
Discover Tectoria 2013 from VIATeC on Vimeo.
Our Tectorian of the Week is: Net² Victoria!
Net² Victoria helps nonprofits use technology to run their organizations and tell their stories. The group puts on seminars on a monthly basis with the venue space sponsored by Fort Tectoria.
Some of their most recent topics included “Social Media Surgery: Hands on advice & help” and “Collaborate Effectively and Develop Your Work Flow”.
Their events are becoming more and more popular as the content, speakers and format are spot on.
The next event is this Monday, January 11th at Fort Tectoria from 5:30pm to 7:30pm and the topic is “Resolving the Design & Content Challenge: Automated and Curated Newsletters”
Suggested donation is $5 and you can RSVP here. We hope to see you there!
SCHEDULE:
5:30-6:00: Doors open, schmoozing, coffee, and snacks
6:00-6:05: NetSquared welcome and program updates
6:05-7:00: Presentation by Jonathan Stoppi and Q&A
7:00-7:05: Net2Vic Needs Parade
7:05-7:30: Mingling, talking about next steps
Our Tectorian of the Week is: Carmanah Technologies!
Carmanah Technologies won first place in both categories of the 2015 VIATEC Food Bank Challenge: Greatest Overall Contributor and Greatest Per-Employee Contributor (supporting the Mustard Seed). Having received second place by just $300 during the last challenge, they were determined to come in on top!
2015 Winners
Greatest Overall Contributor
Greatest Per Employee Contributor:
This Tectorian of the Week’s recognition is approximately 2,808 weeks overdue. Ian Barrodale has been a professor, successfully started and grown his own business, inspired many future Tectorians, and sees no end to loving his work, or this city.
Beginning in academia…
Ian has been involved with the University of Victoria (UVic) since the beginning. “I graduated in the UK with a B.Sc. in Mathematics in 1960, and immigrated to Canada in 1961 to begin work at Victoria College as an Instructor in Mathematics. The University of Victoria was established in July 1963, so I took leave for a year at UBC where I first began programming in order to complete my thesis for a M.A. in Mathematics. This extra degree was still not sufficient to maintain my position at UVic, so I took leave again and enrolled at the University of Liverpool, where I graduated with a Ph.D. in Computer Science in 1967. I have been a faculty member (of some type) continuously since 1961; my current appointment as an (unpaid) Adjunct Professor expires in 2017 – which will then be 56 years in total.”
Venturing into business…
Fuelled by an effortless and enduring interest in mathematics and computing, and the excitement of interacting with almost every student, Ian has successfully earned a living by pursuing his interests. When he began feeling that he lacked relevant “real-world” experience (having been in academia since high school), Ian set out to rectify this situation by forming a consulting company in 1978 with his wife Sheila. “This entity slowly blossomed, and eventually I was faced with the significant challenge of choosing between full-time work in our company or continuing on full-time at UVic. The Computer Science department came into being in 1980 (I was the founding Chair) and I was then able to work there half-time for two years, quarter time for two years, and finally I went off salary at UVic in 1984; by this time our company had a dozen staff. So, ironically, my decision to acquire real-world experience in order to enhance my effectiveness as a professor eventually led to leaving my employment at UVic (albeit remaining as an Adjunct Professor).”
His academic and real-world experiences have made Ian and his company Barrodale Computing Services known world experts in numerical analysis. “Barrodale Computing Services has completed more than 450 projects for many different customers and application areas; almost all these projects required novel software development. The ready availability of bright and well educated personnel from UVic as staff members was crucial to the success of our company. We started primarily as a defence contractor involved with submarine and naval mine detection (during the Cold War), ventured into applications in hydrography, forestry, seismic processing, astronomy, and materials science, and eventually into geospatial database applications involving BC watershed mapping, fast delivery of mission-critical customized weather forecasts around the world, timber supply modelling including the effects of mountain pine beetle infestation, and development of an integrated digital electoral atlas used in managing BC provincial elections.”
Victoria keeps getting better…
Ian’s appreciation for the lifestyle Victoria can offer has increased year by year, and surely as he is reflecting on some of his past successes or obstacles overcome (be it while golfing, sampling local craft beer or exercising his new power washer), no achievement must make him prouder than the fact that he survived teaching a young, loud, rebellious and bratty Rob Bennett of VIATEC ;).
His journey has woven through academia, business, and even involved taming the most unruly student in UVic history – and throughout it all Victoria remained the primary backdrop. “When I arrived here in 1961 Victoria had very few restaurants, pubs, bookstores, or shopping centres, but it did have good weather and golf courses … Back then UVic was expanding rapidly (it experienced a few growing pains too), and professional collaboration with others usually involved travel on and off Vancouver Island. The internet, email and cheap telephone communication has now largely eliminated Victoria’s former isolation, so professionals and many types of businesses (particularly software companies) can thrive here as never before. Why would anyone who enjoys their work want to completely retire with all that Victoria now offers?”
Ian’s contributions to Tectoria have spanned decades and look set to continue, which makes him a true Tectorian, and our Tectorian of the Week.
LlamaZOO Interactive has had one hell of a year and although the year is coming to an end, they’ve snuck in a few more achievements…
Just last week they released their EasyAnatomy BETA to veterinary students around the world, signed multiple schools to the Design Partner Program, and closed a substantial private equity financing round!
In 2015 they also:
They’re absolutely ecstatic by the amount of support they’re receiving both locally, and from schools and students abroad.
2016 looks very promising for LlamaZOO!
Our Tectorians of the Week are: Arpix Media, Avocette, AXYS Technologies, Carmanah Technologies, FTS, Isolation Network, Planet Clean, Red Brick Media, Revenue Wire, Smart Dolphins IT Solutions, Simply Rooted Media, Schneider Electric, StarFish Medical, UNIT4, Vigil Health Solutions and xMatters!
Why? Because they’re all stepping up and raising cash and food donations for the Mustard Seed Food Bank through the VIATEC Food Bank Challenge!
Week 1 of 4 is just wrapping up today and although VIATEC won’t be posting results until Monday, we can tell it’s been a very active week. The announcement that Dan Gunn, CEO of VIATEC, will get a tattoo of the VIATEC logo if $100,000 is raised, may have upped the ante a bit! It even caused Dallas Gislason of the GVDA to raise the stakes by offering to do the same if $110,000 is raised! Arpix Media also submitted $500 on the very first day!
Week 1 was also the launch of the newly introduced weekly photo contest. Participants receive the chance at winning an addition 250 points if their pic is the best of the bunch. It also gives participants a chance to see what their competition is up to…
Red Brick Media went with a video instead of a picture in order to capture the action of their team doing push ups!
Dave Green, local serial entrepreneur, was sailing the seas in 1996 and enjoying his favourite hobby, when he kept having the same dilemma… he was repeatedly draining his sail boat’s battery by leaving the masthead light on. His internal light bulb turned on and he got the idea to create a solar self-contained LED light (inclusive of battery, light and power source) which could be used by mariners.
Carmanah Technologies was born.
CAPTAINS OF THEIR INDUSTRY
Still existing nearly 20 years later, Carmanah has established an industry-leading portfolio of rugged, reliable and marine lighting products, and is an established and trusted supplier to Coast Guards, marine authorities, navies and ports around the globe (110 countries in total)… and they’re based right here in beautiful Victoria, BC.
Specifically, they design, develop and distribute energy efficient LED solutions for infrastructure including: signalling systems for the marine aids to navigation, airfield ground lighting, offshore wind marking, aviation obstruction and traffic markets.
ADDING TO THEIR FLEET
Most recently, Carmanah completed the acquisition of the Sabik Group of Companies. Sabik had been a strong partner to the marine aids to navigation division since 2010, and they are happy to welcome them aboard the Carmanah team.
“The acquisition of the Sabik Group of Companies is an important step towards our goal of being the worldwide leader in the marine aids to navigation industry” said John Simmons, Carmanah CEO. “The acquisition also catapults Carmanah into a new market – the safety marking of offshore wind installations – which is a fast growing market.”
This acquisition combined with a portfolio that includes the brands “Sol” and “Go Power!”, means they now have offices in Toronto, Florida, Finland, Germany, Singapore, Russia and the United Kingdom.
THE DECK CREW
With an impressive global reputation like Carmanah’s, it makes you wonder what’s happening behind the scenes to keep the team creative and fueled with positivity.
“Carmanah is a fantastic place to work,” commented Alison Keller, Carmanah’s Business Development & Communications Coordinator. “The culture is open and inclusive; we have monthly town halls where strategy and financials are discussed, and all staff members have the opportunity to ask the CEO and division managers anything!”
In addition to this, they have an active social committee that organizes pancake breakfasts, BBQS and even the occasional games day or sporting event.
“Because of our socially and environmentally engaged workforce our office has been waste free since 2005 and we participate in many local charity initiatives [such as] the VIATEC Food Bank Challenge and five hole for food hockey tournament. The Carmanah team is kept happy and healthy by weekly deliveries of fresh fruit, bike facilities, fitness incentives and lots of free coffee and tea.”
Last year Carmanah raised $8,658.70 (plus food donations) for the local Mustard Seed Foundation through the VIATEC Food Bank Challenge.
“Overall it was an awesome experience for us here at Carmanah,” commented Keller. “At the time of the event we had three co-op students from Gustavson School of Business. This dedicated team, plus our social committee, took charge and organized many company wide events [including] raffles, bake sales, a cake decorating contest, and perhaps even a little peer pressure. We were happy with our results, and are coming back even stronger in 2015.”
ON THEIR RADAR
Carmanah is looking forward to celebrating their 20th anniversary next year (follow them on Twitter to stay tuned on the event), but they’re more excited to be a part of a market which is primed for growth.
“The efficiency of LEDs is expected to improve by 50% over the next 5 years, meaning that we will be able to provide higher performance products that require much less power,” explained Keller. “Our development team continues to integrate Smart Technology (monitoring and connectivity) into our products, thus reducing the maintenance needs and increasing the safety and reliability of our products in the field.”
The path ahead looks clear and bright for Carmanah Technologies and Tectoria couldn’t be more proud.
Keep doing what you’re doing!
By 8am their office is alive with conference calls to their colleagues in Dusseldorf, Germany, and by the end of the day you’ll hear the cheerful sounds of ping-pong and foosball. AbeBooks was purchased by Amazon in 2008, and other than their team and their reach growing bigger, they’ve maintained their local feel and great office culture.
You may have seen their name multiple times on VIATEC’s Job Board recently with 7 different job openings.
“Hiring the best is very important to us,” commented Alicia Pagnan, HR Business Partner at AbeBooks. “We are always looking for exceptional people to join our team, including super software developers, customer support champions, UX design gurus, dedicated technical and product managers, and motivated marketers. Every employee makes a difference with our empowered style of work.”
AbeBooks is an online marketplace for books. Millions of brand new books, used books, rare books, and out-of-print books are offered for sale through the AbeBooks websites from thousands of booksellers around the world.
“Readers can find bestsellers, collectors can find rare books, students can find new and used textbooks, and treasure hunters can find long-lost books. We connect buyers and sellers via our network of websites.”
They’re known for having an office environment that has great views and is fun, challenging, passionate and sometimes loud.
“A lot of people attend the gym at lunchtime and we have social events on a regular basis,” commented Pagnan. “It’s a friendly office where we try to ensure staff meet people outside of their teams.”
Although flexible working is a part of their culture, they still trust their staff to get the job done. They also encourage communication, so if you have something to say, you can take it right to senior staff at various meetings or even over the lunch table.
The AbeBooks team can be divided into: Engineers, Operations, Customer Service, Marketing and Finance. They range from interns to staff over 60, they have about 100 people in the Victoria office and another 40 in Germany.
AbeBooks joined the #ILookLikeAnEngineer movement to help spread awareness about gender diversity in tech
To be the perfect AbeBooks employee… “You’ve got to be smart. You are going to be challenged by some bright people so that means producing very high caliber work,” explained Pagnan. “You have to be prepared to keep improving your work after absorbing all the feedback. We also like people who put the customer first and are willing to help their colleagues. A sense of humour goes a long way here too.”
AbeBooks is a past VIATEC Food Bank Challenge participant and plans on competing again November 9 – December 4.
“Our experience was very positive. We asked departments to compete against each other in terms of donations and that’s always a recipe for success with so many competitive people here.”
AbeBooks tends to always have a major project or two they’re working on, but they keep the details close to their chest and wouldn’t tell us a thing. We even bribed them with candy.
What they could tell us was that their quest to improve their business for buyers and sellers never ends. E-commerce is always developing, and one of the few constants is change.
“We love the fact that we can work for an e-commerce pioneer while living in this beautiful city,” beamed Pagnan. “We love the fact that many of us can walk or cycle to work (via Galloping Goose), that there’s a collaborative tech community, and that work/life balance is really important here.”
He’s a husband and father of three, Architect at xMatters, a member of the expert committee that designed the swagger specification for web APIs, an occasional conference presenter, leader of the local Java Users Group, an open source software contributor, and he occasionally builds things like “Glitch” in his “spare” time. Paul Hill keeps himself very busy and there’s no slowing him down. That’s why he’s our Tectorian of the Week!
Paul is a very proud Canadian, originally from New Zealand. He’s travelled the globe and lived and worked in London where he met his wife. I wouldn’t say they’ve “settled down” in Victoria, but they have chosen this city to live their very busy lives in.
Paul and his family
Paul blames his addiction for streaming games on KIXEYE Canada where he was an Architect. Today, he helps a very talented team of engineers design systems that provide feature-rich emergency notification to much of the fortune 500.
Paul has built healthcare claim processing systems, ACH cheque transaction warehousing systems, and most recently, an interactive game streaming system called Glitch.
Glitch is a place where you can go to watch live player broadcasts and mess with their game as you watch. It’s a platform where gamers can connect to an interactive audience, providing a unique level of audience participation.
In other words, it’s a stage for players to entertain viewers.
Viewers who can reach into the game and effect the player. The audience is now part of the game, and the possibilities for unique experiences are endless.
Glitch started with the idea that watching players broadcast could be more than a passive experience.
“After all, it’s a video game, it’s all ones and zeros, so why can’t I change the game? Why can’t I tie the quarterback’s shoelaces before the big play? Why can’t I help her find the resources she needs to survive the night? Why can’t I turn his plasma rifle into a banana and his armor into a ball gown?” questioned Paul.
“The idea bounced around my head for a while, and I bugged a lot of friends about it, before I decided I needed to just go ahead and build it,” commented Paul. “I believe that a great idea and $2.45 will buy you a coffee at Starbucks. I needed to put in the effort to make it a real thing. So I did.”
You can view the demo here, and Glitch itself here. It’s all powered by an API that lives here.
Paul is running a Kickstarter campaign to get a little financial boost to start the engine and then allow Glitch to grow organically. The goal is $48,000
“If I can build something that perpetually improves the lives of others then I get that warm fuzzy feeling like I’ve done something worthwhile with my skills.”
To get involved, you can visit the Kickstarter page and back the project for as little as $1.
Paul is also looking for someone to spice up the kickstarter pitch video, and local hackers who can create mods for host-your-own server games. Contact tbousfield@viatec.ca if you’d like to get connected with him.
“Folks come to Victoria on vacation just to see the place. I can work in the tech sector on leading edge technologies and jump a short flight down to head office in Silicon Valley anytime. What’s not to love?”
Rod Olafson: AKA the extraordinaire or SDG (Software Development Guru / So Damn Good). Well, he may have never been called these, but we’re labelling him now. Enjoy the titles, Rod.
If a history book were written on the growth of Victoria’s technology sector, Rod would tag along in each chapter. He’s been in the midst of it all and seen now-giant software companies at their earliest stages. He’s also been involved with VIATEC when they helped transition his company, Magic Kite Software, to a federal corporation. All of this is why he’s our Tectorian of the Week!
HIS STORY
He was born in Vancouver and spent his young, formative years in Townsville, Australia until moving to Victoria when he was 16. Since then, he’s had a life of curiosity, excitement and adventures shaping his impressive career in our technology community and growing a beautiful family in Canada’s paradise.
While in Aussie land, Rod’s father worked for the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS). This is where Rod had his first opportunity to play with computers – a mainframe machine owned by the Institute and accessed via paper-printing terminals. Old school when you think of it now, but at the time Rod was intrigued and it opened up a world of possibilities.
Before he even enrolled at university, Rod managed to get into the software community by writing a commercial product for UVic’s Biochemistry Department to track grant money. Pretty impressive for a guy fresh out of highschool!
Also before university, he scored an 8-year gig working for what is now the AXYS Group. While there, he wrote QUIKMap, which he believes to be one of the first ever graphical geographic information system on a microcomputer.
“At the time, there were no GUIs and everything had to be hand-coded: printer drivers, graphical drivers, digitizers, etc,” commented Rod. “You can’t imagine the effort it took to get to the point where you could focus on the product itself!”
Rod left AXYS in 1990 to enroll at the University of Victoria.
“With several years of development experience under my belt, my experience there was a little unusual. Object oriented design was in its infancy and I was both a convert and enthusiastic advocate. I had some great relationships with several of my profs.”
Amongst his professors was Bjorn Freeman-Benson, who was also deeply involved in the Object-Oriented (OO) movement. When Rod graduated from UVic with bright, hopeful eyes, Bjorn was running an office for Object Technology International (OTI) and hired Rod as the Development Team Lead. OTI’s focus was Smalltalk development and their clients were the likes of NASA, Mitsubishi, Honda, and Credit Suisse.
IBM eventually bought OTI and the various offices were slowly closed down. Rod had an opportunity to move to an IBM office elsewhere but chose to stay in Victoria, a decision that would be repeated throughout his career. There’s no place like home!
From OTI, Rod joined Voice Mobility as the Development Manager where him and his team of outstanding developers designed an amazing new telephony system from the ground up.
After Voice Mobility, Rod continued the Development Manager role in 2000, but this time with ACD Systems (now ACDSee), one of the largest and most respected independent digital image editing and management companies in the world.
“Rod was like a machine when it came to sticking to a process; he would not deviate!” described Colin How, past Director of Operations/Globalization of ACDSee. “Many times, as an ideas person, I had been frustrated by this. But now all these years later I finally get it. Rod gets s$#t done.”
Rod moved on to start Magic Kite Software with Ben Morris, another developer.
Their biggest contract was with Streetlight Technology, who had an amazing piece of hardware aimed at saving energy in streetlights around the world. Sourcerer was Magic Kite’s product, a system to manage software development projects.
“It was at this time that I became most involved with VIATEC, who helped us connect with business mentors and coached us through the process of creating a business plan and attracting investors,” commented Rod. “For a startup, run by a couple of software guys, VIATEC was invaluable.”
Next, Rod worked at CMaeON as Chief Technology Officer with CEO Tim Vasko for six years. They developed a system for rapidly building multi-tenant, low-bandwidth, web-based applications using a gadget-based framework. (Try saying that 3 times fast). in other words, the system they created has proven itself in finance, pharmacy, and real estate.
We’re almost to present day, but let’s flash back 13 years ago just for a moment…
Remember Rod’s father that worked at AIMS? Well, he became a biochemist at UVic and was approached by three students in 2002. The students wanted to build a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) for his protein sequencing lab.
“At the time, I was asked to review what they were planning to ensure everything was kosher,” reminisced Rod. “That project eventually turned into GenoLogics Life Sciences Software, one of Victoria’s most successful ventures.”
In an odd irony, Rod joined GenoLogics in 2013 as their Director of Software Development.
“They’re an amazing company, driven by a belief that a great internal culture will lead to a better product and organization – they’re absolutely right. I couldn’t be prouder of a company and, in joining them, I feel I’ve [finally] come home.”
GenoLogics was purchased in September 2015 by Illumina, the world’s leading provider of DNA sequencing equipment.
“I love what I do and, in that sense, there will always be a blur between work and home. That said, my proudest moments are definitely focused on family. I have two amazing 16 year old guys and a 9 year old daughter. Binding us all together is my wife, Jane, without whom nothing would be possible.”
Rod has stayed in Victoria throughout his career for selfish reasons. His family, of course, but also the vibrant software community.
“Victoria is chalk full of innovators – people excited to share their dreams and aspirations. It’s the community that makes this place great.”
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