More than 800 members of Victoria‘s thriving high-tech sector made it under the big top Friday night as the Victoria Innovation Advanced Technology and Entrepreneurship Council held its 16th annual awards show.
The show to honour the best and brightest in the technology sector was done in carnival style this year with popcorn, trapeze artists, live music and jugglers bounding into the Carson Hall at the Victoria Conference Centre.
It’s the largest show yet, with a record number of attendees, and that has pushed VIATEC chief executive Dan Gunn to make sure there’s something for everyone during what amounts to a four-hour party.
“It’s great to see how the tech sector has taken hold in our region and it is our honour to recognize the people, products and companies that are reshaping our community,” said Gunn. ‘‘Like the tech sector, our once-little event has grown into a significant production and we truly appreciate how much our members and guests enjoy the night.”
The “gritty carnival” theme also included a guest appearance by Shaun Verreault of Wide Mouth Mason and performers from Island Circus Space.
A total of 15 awards were handed out to winners chosen from 189 nominations.
Jim Hayhurst, the CEO of Pretio Interactive, was given the sector’s highest honour, the Colin Lennox Award, as technology champion. The award is named after the mentor to tech companies who died in 2004.
Gunn said Hayhurst has played a key role in the tech community as a leader of initiatives and a role model.
Ladies Learning Code won the VIATEC member of the year award, and Schneider Electric, Go2mobi and Flytographer were given awards as technology company of the year in three employee-size categories.
THE WINNERS
Technology Company of the Year (50+ employees)
Schneider Electric
Technology Company of the Year (11-49 employees)
Go2mobi
Technology Company of the Year (1-10 employees)
Flytographer
Emerging Technology Company of the Year
Stocksy United
Startup of the Year
Green Sky Labs
Product of the Year
Checkfront
Innovative Excellence
Software or Service
Echosec
Innovative Excellence
Hardware
DreamCraft Attractions
Executive of the Year
Brianna Wettlaufer,
Stocksy United
Employees of the Year
Aurora Walker and
Rob O’Dwyer, Pretio Interactive
Team of the Year
StarFish Medical
Employer of the Year
Carmanah Technologies
Creative Excellence
Victoria Hand Project
The Colin Lennox Award for Technology Champion
Jim Hayhurst,
Pretio Interactive
VIATEC Member of the Year
Ladies Learning Code
