Semi-finalists Announced for the 2012 Spirit of Innovation Awards!
By KAST
The West Kootenay-Boundary region is full of innovative entrepreneurs, businesses and organizations who have the passion to dream, the courage to pursue those dreams and the dogged determination and willingness to sacrifice what many would not to drive those dream into reality.
Now is our chance to recognize and thank those innovative, enterprising businesses and organizations that are driving our community forward.
This summer, KAST put out the call to hear who you thought should be recognized in the categories of Most Innovative Company, Most Promising Startup, Innovative Individual and Innovative Organization.
From the highly competitive nominations received, KAST is pleased to announce 16 semi-finalists vying for the top prizes.
Winners will be announced at theSpirit of Innovation Awards Gala on Thursday, October 25th in Nelson.
Much like the Olympics, this anticipated event returns only once every four years, and features astonishing feats of strength! Unlike the Olympics, these are feats of entrepreneurial strength put forth by a talented “kast” of creative science and technology businesses, organizations and innovators right here in the West Kootenay-Boundary.
The awards honour local businesses, organizations and individuals in four categories: Innovative Company, Innovative Individual, Most Promising Startup, and Innovative Organization.
Nominees are adjudicated on innovation, community impact, leadership and sound business practices, and the four winners will receive a half-page feature profile in BC Business Magazine, as well as a coveted Spirit of Innovation trophy and plenty o’ bragging rights.
The Spirit of Innovation Awards gala evening will feature “The Myth of Multitasking”, a keynote address by Tod Maffin, one of North America’s leading digital communications experts, recognized as a thought-leader in business innovation and strategy, trend-spotting and technological advancement.
Join KAST to celebrate local Champions of Innovation on Thurs, Oct 25that the Prestige Lakeside Resort in Nelson.
Date: Thursday, October 25th
Time: 5:00pm
Location: Prestige Lakeside Resort, Nelson
Tickets: $50 – CLICK HERE
or visit www.kast.com for more info.
Innovator- sponsored by TECK
Fiona Richards – Cartolina Cards – Nelson – http://www.cartolina.com
Since 2007, Cartolina has used innovative solutions, creative business management and a uniquely recognizable product to maneuver the Cartolina brand from start-up to one of the stationery industry’s most respected and progressive independent brands. Fiona Richards and her team have developed one of Canada’s best-selling greeting card lines and the number one rated, mobile greeting iPhone app.
Cam Shute – G3 Genuine Guide Gear – Nelson – http://www.genuineguidegear.com
Relocated to the backcountry skiing paradise of the West Kootenay in 2008, Cam works as a project manager and product development engineer for G3 Genuine Guide Gear. Since his arrival in our region, Shute has invented four major backcountry skiing products and is currently working on a major top-secret new innovation.
Wayne Kelly – Wayne Kelly / On Air Publicity – Montrose– www.onairpublicity.com
Best known in the Kootenays as an on-air host at EZ Rock, Wayne also runs a successful online coaching business specializing in coaching authors, public speakers and entrepreneurs. Utilizing innovative social media and online marketing, Kelly has worked with clients around the globe, helping launch and accelerate others careers from his home in the Kootenays.
Dr. Delia Roberts – Selkirk College – Nelson – http://www.selkirk.ca
Through the application of her research, Dr. Roberts has been able to significantly decrease workplace injury rates and lower overall health and safety costs incurred in the workplace in a number of industries including forestry, tourism, transportation and medicine. The programs have now been packaged and are being implemented across Canada ad beyond, garnering international recognition for their innovation and effectiveness.
Most Promising Start-up- sponsored by BCIC
Timely – Nelson – http://time.ly/
Demonstrating innovation through research, development and application of software technology, Timely has built the foundation of a global event network that is revolutionizing how people discover, share and create events. Over 30,000 websites have adopted the plugin in 12 languages, and the system features more than 750,000 upcoming monthly events. 250 WordPress developers have given it a five star rating, and it has shot to the #1 most downloaded WordPress calendar plugin.
Omineca Solar – Nelson – http://www.ominecasolar.com
Omineca Solar specializes in the design and installation of renewable energy systems and sustainable building systems. Designing and installing renewable energy systems including solar, wind, micro-hydro, and implementing cutting-edge practices such as Annualized Geo Solar (AGS) storage, Omineca is committed to promoting the use of renewable energy sources within the Kootenays, and around the world.
Lone Sheep Publishing – Rossland – http://www.lonesheep.ca
Lone Sheep Publishing provides a solution to preserve independent journalism in small communities in an age where the traditional delivery method of print is being consolidated into fewer hands. Launched in 2010 following the success of their flagship online newspaper, The Rossland Telegraph, these problems are addressed in an innovative and sustainable manner through the company’s network of five regional newspapers — The Telegraph, The Nelson Daily, Castlegar Source, Trail Champion and Boundary Sentinel.
Environment Depot for Wastewater to Energy Ltd. – Grand Forks – http://www.asacomp.com
Addressing and solving a growing global issue, ED provides an economical and very effective method for treating human or animal bio-matter wastewater with the technology to capture methane gas for power generation and use the outflow water for market gardening or agriculture, with the ability to apply for carbon credits.
Innovative Company- sponsored by the City of Nelson
Studio 9 – Nelson – www.studio9architecture.com
Studio 9 Architecture + Planning is a full service professional architecture and planning firm that develops energy efficient and low impact built environments that, through their articulation of high performance detailing, results in works that connects users to an inspiring, educational, and contemporary built environment based in ecology.
Mandala Homes – Nelson – http://www.mandalahomes.com
Builders of B.C.’s first ENERGY STAR qualified home, Mandala Homes creates buildings that minimize environmental impact and provide a healthy and inspiring home for their owners. Guided by principles of social responsibility, environmental integrity and financial objectives, Mandala has utilized unique manufacturing process, company management and social media to develop a world class housing product.
I/O Design & Engineering – Trail – www.iodesign.ca
Working closely with heavy industry located throughout the Kootenay Region, and farther afield, IO Design specializes in innovative, technical design and analysis of mechanical equipment. Through innovative use of communications and design technology, IO delivers high quality, cutting-edge engineering solutions, and their clients have experienced an epiphany in modern, high tech, insightful design.
Thoughtstream – Rossland – http://www.thoughtstream.ca
Thoughtstream is an enterprise software development company with a dedicated team committed to building and supporting tools for community learning, engagement and collaboration. The Thoughtstream product allows diverse communities to contribute individual thoughts on an issue and then arrive at a shared understanding by collectively assigning value to those thoughts.
Innovative Organization- sponsored by CBT
School of the Arts at Selkirk College – Nelson – http://selkirk.ca/programs/arts/
The Selkirk College School of the Arts comprises Digital Arts and New Media, Contemporary Music and Technology programs on two campuses. State-of-the-art facilities include cutting edge performance, music, arts, and digital media spaces. Program graduates have gone on to form the nucleus of a New Media and music business culture in the West Kootenay and beyond.
Christina Lake Arts & Artisans Society, for the Christina Living Arts Centre – Christina Lake – www.kettleriverarts.com
The new Christina Living Arts Centre is a hub of the community, including an Info Centre, Art Gallery, Bistro, Stewardship Society and meeting rooms. Incorporating a Solar Aquatics System for water management, the 6000 sq. foot facility is built to LEED standards and combines the beauty of arts & culture along with cutting-edge environmentally sound technology & innovation.
Selkirk Geospatial Research Centre – Castlegar – http://selkirk.ca/research/sgrc/
The Selkirk Geospatial Research Centre at Selkirk College is a centre of excellence in computer mapping that has grown into a leading edge R&D facility. The SGRC links Selkirk’s GIS teaching programs with community needs and business opportunities, has led two prominent NSERC- industry projects, and works with governments and organizations to use new methods of visualizing spatial information and interactive web maps to make this information more accessible, exciting, and useful in real life applications.
Canadian Avalanche Centre – www.avalanche.ca/cac
The CAC is a model of public avalanche safety that is unique in the world. With many public-private partnerships, they are able to deliver accurate avalanche forecasts for a vast terrain and a wide range of users. By departing from an age-old model, they have been able to innovate and create new ways of thinking about the avalanche safety problem, giving Canada an edge in the field.
