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Prank radio rant lifts tech group food drive

A prank that got radio air time Friday morning may have inadvertently helped the local high-tech sector’s annual food bank challenge.

A prank that got radio air time Friday morning may have inadvertently helped the local high-tech sector’s annual food bank challenge.

An impostor claiming to be Victoria Innovation, Advanced Technology and Entrepreneurship Council chief executive Dan Gunn called into Gregor Craigie’s On the Island show on CBC and, after talking about the challenge, went on a foul-mouthed rant.

“It definitely wasn’t me,” said the real Dan Gunn. He said publicity that surrounded the stunt — Gunn received a slew of emails, texts and tweets after people heard the show — resulted in a number of tech companies coming up with more donations for the Mustard Seed Food Bank.

Gunn said as long as it helps feed the less fortunate he’s all for it. “I tweeted out earlier that if we raised $250,000 I would read a transcript of what the impostor said at the next VIATEC awards,” said Gunn with a laugh.

Using the hashtag #therealdangunn, Gunn pointed out that since the prank aired, Rasool Rayani and Heart Pharmacies pledged $3,000 and 100 pounds of food, Latitude Geographics stepped up with a $2,000 donation and start-up AOT Technologies pulled together $500.

It wasn’t clear if Gunn would have to go through with his pledge to get a tattoo of the VIATEC insignia if the challenge raised in excess of $100,000 for the Mustard Seed food bank. Late Friday, the total came in at $60,000.