Technology Entrepreneur of the Year: Recognizes an organization or an individual that has commercialized new technology.
Castaway Ventures Ltd. – A Farmington company, Castaway Ventures has developed a unique boat designed for the ATV industry. Adventurous people with the urge to access remote areas will appreciate this innovative, light weight craft which also functions as a clam-shell storage unit. The concept is the brain child of Dan McLean and Ed Oltmanns. The overall business operation is under the management of Dan’s son, Shawn McLean. The boat is currently being fabricated at a rotational moulding facility in 100 Mile House, however, plans are in place to have the entire process completed in the Peace region creating local employment.
Technology Leadership Award: Awarded to an individual who has demonstrated leadership and mentorship in developing, applying and promoting science or technology; and who actively contributes to their community.
Edward Stanford – Edward is an urban designer based for the past 10 years in Fort St John with Urban Systems Ltd. and working throughout BC and Alberta assisting small and medium sized communities with visioning, revitalization and enhancement projects.
At Urban Systems part of Edward’s role is to promote technology careers. He regularly presents at conferences and trade shows as well as going to high schools, colleges and universities to promote the role, responsibility and contribution of Technologists. He promotes parallel career tracks for Technologists with peer engineers and planners through coaching, Personal Development Plans and continuing education initiatives. Edward encourages and assists young Technologists to network within the communities where they live and work; and to contribute as volunteers on social, cultural and arts initiatives.
Edward is the past president of the Charlie Lake Conservation Society and was a founding member of the Peace-Liard Watershed Council; and he sat on the Northern Lights College advisory committee when they were developing their land and resource course. Edward is a member of the Peace Region Professionals and the Central School Parent Advisory Council. He volunteers with the North Peace Search & Rescue and is active in the Whiskey Jack Nordic Ski Club.
Innovation at Work: Recognizes the company, individual or organization that has implemented an innovative process or product created within the workplace that promotes efficiencies or introduces new processes within the operation.
District of Chetwynd: Airport Project - In an effort to find solutions to construction difficulties encountered when designing a new airport terminal, the District of Chetwynd partnered with Northern Lights College through their residential construction program to both lower costs and provide a worksite for the program that graduates skilled workers for the region. They accessed Gas Tax Agreement funding allocated to municipalities to assist in the construction of a zero-emission facility. The new building uses a geo-thermal system to provide ambient heating and cooling as well as pre-heating for the hot water system. The building also incorporates high efficiency windows, waterless toilets and low flow fixtures, making it a model of small, sustainable construction.
Innovation in Education: Recognizes a non-profit organization that is committed to excellence in the development, promotion and use of technologies, practices and policies that foster enhanced access to learning for all students in all contexts.
Northern Lights College – Northern Lights College has the largest college region in the province of British Columbia. Access to training is a challenge for those living in smaller communities so developing their videoconferencing capabilities expands delivery of programming. The videoconferencing technology, maintained by the Education Technology department, enables NLC to host courses and guest lecturers from around the world as well as share their expertise. Teaching over videoconference systems has been an incredible success at the College growing from one class in 2004 to over 20 classes in 2009.
Presenters can send video and audio, PowerPoint presentations, images from a document camera, computer screens, and DVD and VHS video over the systems. Course materials are available inside the College’s online course delivery system which is accessible from anywhere in the world.
The system, in place at four of the College’s campuses also enables the Board to meet via videoconference thus reducing travel costs and the use of fossil fuels.
Innovative Youth of the Year: Recognizes a creative young person (up to the age of 26) who has taken the initiative to develop innovation, teamwork and social responsibility.
Taneille Johnson – Currently taking her grade 12 at North Peace Senior Secondary in Fort St John, Taneille is a SMARTS BC Provincial Coordinator. This program is designed to promote science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to students in grades 7 to 12. She is also the Science Education Expert member of the Youth Advisory Group to the Canadian Commission to UNESCO.
Taneille has developed a science exploration program for Grade 3 to Grade 7 students with an emphasis on Science Fair participation which includes an instructional component for teachers. She told us, “I very strongly believe that science is about personal and intellectual discovery, regardless of the academic level one is at." Her program is both novel and inspirational – it gives a new perspective on science to a new generation of learners. Taneille volunteers her time to present her program throughout SD60 and will be presenting it at SD59’s Aiming for Excellence conference later this month.
At 15 years of age Taneille spent three weeks studying biochemistry and genetics at UNBC with Dr Chow Lee, a Biochemistry and Molecular Biology professor who is also a researcher with the National Cancer Institute of Canada. She has pursued research at the University of Calgary and at the University of Lethbridge.
The calibre of her Science Fair project is amazing. She is examining the relationship between human telomerase gene and the growth of cancer cells. Taneille was one of 16 students chosen to represent Canada at the 2009 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair where she won a Fourth Place Grand Award in Cellular and Molecular Biology.
Innovative Action for the Environment: Recognizes committed individuals or organizations for creating solutions to protect the environment and promote ecological sustainability.
Arthur Hadland – Arthur Hadland is many things: a Director on the Peace River Regional District; the owner and operator of InterAg Consulting, a consulting and appraisal company active in the agricultural and oil/gas industries; and a man with strong political views. He is also a farmer and was nominated as such. He and his wife Laurel, own and manage a 2700 acre grain and grass seed farm in Baldonnel which includes land his grandfather settled in 1928.
A farmer needs to make informed decisions on best practices for crop management throughout an entire season, from seeding to harvest. To be a successful farmer it means thinking beyond this season and into the next, and the next after that, and the next after that. It means thinking about what you can do to get the best possible crop today while protecting the land resource for future generations.
Sustainable farming practices maintain and improve the health and vitality of the entire farm environment: soil, water, air, plants, animals, and people. Arthur uses progressive practices that include conservation tillage (direct seeding/zero till), ensuring clean seed supplies, being vigilant in monitoring for pests and disease, researching and planting resistant varieties, minimizing erosion with the development of water course buffer zones that also provide animal and bird habitat…
A few examples of the benefits of his practices: crop rotation helps break disease and insect cycles, control weeds, and improve overall soil health. Crop rotation statistics indicate that the average weed density in cereal after cereal crop rotation is 106 plants/m2 but weed density in cereal followed by a forage crop rotation is only 48 plants/m2 ! An impressive argument. And fewer diseases and fewer insects mean minimal use of pesticides (herbicides, fungicides and insecticides).
Some crops, specifically legumes, are chosen for rotation because of their ability to generate nitrogen in the soil. A natural addition of nitrogen equals a reduced need for synthetic fertilizers but you also need to understand nitrogen movement in soil as the goal must also be to eliminate nitrogen leaching into ground water… and this balancing act is all part of responsible farming. Yes, farming is a science; a science complicated by Mother Nature.
Innovation in Industry: Recognizes the company or enterprise that has increased its production through the use of innovative processes, systems, or procedures.
Energetic Services Inc. – Energetic is a 100% owner/operator run corporation servicing Northern British Columbia and Northern Alberta. They have introduced an innovative sealed environmental waste container with a 27 tonne capacity able to be transported by truck, rail, ship, and air. The containers are easily manoeuvred and certified to be stacked 9 high when fully loaded. The lid is fully gasketed to prevent spills and secured with marine grade fasteners ensuring a water tight seal. Energetic has incorporated manual hydraulics rated for temperatures of -60 as a safety feature to protect handlers from the inadvertent free fall of the lid. These containers lend themselves to innumerable applications.