The energy in Calgary last week was truly incredible! Events were back in a big way and opportunities to connect were abundant during the greatest outdoor show on earth. We were proud to host the tech community during our Stompin’ Stampede event on July 14, 2022 at cSpace Projects and would like to thank everyone who chose to spend their evening with us!
So what does a Stampede event have to do with IoT?
Alberta IoT is on a mission to create a supportive community here in Alberta for IoT and emerging tech companies to thrive. Showcasing our western hospitality and bringing together industry partners for a night of networking is really one of the best ways we can think of to form those connections and support our ecosystem. IoT, after all, is all about the power of connection!
Missed the event? Check out some of the highlights.
Thank you to our annual sponsors for making events like these possible. A special shout out to our Gold and Silver Sponsors, EY, Rogers for Business, Telus, SAIT, MNP, clearmotive, mCloud, KPMG, goodlawyer, and Amplify Advisors.
Alberta IoT is a non-profit, member-based association that exists to nurture and support the growth of Alberta’s Internet of Things and emerging technology sectors. Our mission is to position Alberta as the worldwide leader in IoT and emerging technology.
Supporting the Alberta IoT Fast Track Program and Science Park initiative, the funding received by PrairiesCan and Alberta Innovates will create immense opportunity for the growth of IoT and emerging tech in Alberta
Alberta IoT is pleased to announce funding received from PrairiesCan and Alberta Innovates in the total amount of $1.57 million for the advancement and support of Internet of Things (IoT) and emerging technologies in the province of Alberta.
A federal investment of $970,000 through PrairiesCan will be allocated towards the Fast Track Business Accelerator as well as the New to Canada Startup Visa (SUV) program over the next three years. Both programs focus on development and training to support market expansion and growth of scale up companies developing or implementing technologies related to IoT.
“It is immensely rewarding to see the impact that the Fast Track Program has had on businesses here in Alberta. This funding allows us to make improvements and ultimately support more companies in their scaling journey through IoT. Moreover, the inclusion of the New to Canada Program means an opportunity to attract more businesses to Alberta for the benefit of our province and country.”
– Brenda Beckedorf, Executive Director
In addition, funding will support the Alberta Science Park – a new initiative spearheaded by Alberta IoT that provides industry with the ability to collaborate with post-secondary institutions and other industry players. This structured environment will incorporate faculty, students, researchers, and industry all working together on projects that push the boundaries of innovation.
“From autonomous farming equipment to wearable health monitors, Internet of Things technologies present an enormous growth opportunity for Alberta technology firms developing new applications in this field. Our government’s support for Alberta IoT provides small- and medium-sized firms with a leg up in their journey to bring their ideas to market through coaching, mentorship, and other resources, creating jobs and retaining talent and expertise in the province.”
– The Honourable Daniel Vandal, Minister for PrairiesCan
“Alberta’s tech firms are international leaders in emergent technologies, products and services to meet global demand while creating high quality jobs here at home. Our government’s collaboration with Alberta IoT will bring Alberta-made solutions to a broader market, while providing our innovators with key resources to support their competitiveness and growth.”
– The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance
ABOUT ALBERTA IOT
Alberta IoT is a non-profit, member-based association that exists to nurture and support the growth of Alberta’s Internet of Things and emerging technology sectors. Our mission is to position Alberta as the worldwide leader in IoT and emerging technology.
ABOUT PRAIRIESCAN
PrairiesCan is the federal department that supports economic growth in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Its programs and services help businesses, not-for-profits and communities grow stronger. Its mandate is to support economic growth and diversification in the Prairie provinces and advance the interests of the region in national economic policy, programs and projects.
Please see below resources compiled specifically for support of Ukraine employees. Alberta IoT will do our best to update this post with further information when available.
FOR EMPLOYERS SEEKING UKRAINIAN EMPLOYEES
The Government is waiving fees and prioritizing applications for permanent residency under the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program. More on that here.
The federal government department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has established a dedicated service channel for Ukraine immigration enquiries available for clients both in Canada and abroad at 613-321-4243, with collect calls accepted. Clients can add the keyword “Ukraine2022” to the IRCC crisis web formwith their enquiry and it will be prioritized.
in the interim and for EMPLOYERS ONLY, we have been provided a direct contact at IRCC to direct questions regarding job opportunities for the people in Ukraine. Those employers may connect directly with Mr. Gregory Sharun at Sharun@cic.gc.ca as the central point of contact for now to help them with the types of questions you are getting.
The Government of Canada has announced the launch of the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET), a special, accelerated temporary residence pathway to welcome Ukrainians and their families to Canada. With the CUAET, Ukrainians and their immediate family members of any nationality may stay in Canada as temporary residents for up to three years. Applicants who are overseas need to apply online for a Canadian visitor visa and provide their biometrics (fingerprints and a photo). Applicants are encouraged to apply for a 3-year open work permit at the same time as their visa application.
Employers who wish to support Ukrainians with offers of employment should register on Job Bank’s Jobs for Ukraine webpage. You can find additional information about these measures in the Government of Canada’s news release.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Alberta Government Information on Immigration Information
VanHack (https://vanhack.com/ ) has a database of over 300,000 tech talent globally. For those looking to hire Ukrainians, they are waiving their one time 20% fee to help get companies connected to those who need jobs.
Process for companies interested in hiring Ukrainian talent is:
The vacation rental company announced that it will offer short-term housing to up to 100,000 Ukrainian refugees. The stays will be funded by the company itself and donors to the Host Refugee. People are not only encouraged to donate money but also to open their homes to the vulnerable refugees. Anyone interested can learn how to get involved through their website- airbnb.org/help-ukraine.
When it comes to daily conveniences, IoT is at the forefront of your absolute favourites. Whether you are working in tech or not, IoT is something we all care about even more than we may realize.
Consider this year’s gift list:
How many loved ones requested the latest Google home or Alexa device?
A wearable watch or a car starter?
Smart thermostats, home security, and intuitive appliances fall into the category of Internet of Things.
Your home automations, car key fobs, smart locks, homes, watches, and more… IoT connects us all through our objects, spaces, and places. But IoT is so much more than even that!
Traffic light solutions that improve flow of vehicles, crime rates, city parking, green initiatives, and so much more all depend on the success of IoT to bring it all to life.
Geographically, North America is expected to continue experiencing IoT growth with the adoption of connected cars, smart energy projects, automation, and a focus on smart manufacturing. So beyond the obvious reasons to care about the progress of IoT, here are a few other reasons that you should care.
Go where the growth is:
In the recent 2021 Alberta Technology Deal Flow Study by Alberta Enterprise they identified 3000+ technology firms in Alberta which is a 233% increase from 2012. In their study they identified 38% were generating over 1 million in revenue, and 43% had raised over $1 million USD.
These numbers tell us that Alberta is making a major comeback! Making the decision to settle down in a province on the rise is not too bad of a plan. Alberta IoT is actively recruiting tech elites to our programs.
Investment opportunities:
With the above knowledge, it only makes sense to invest in an industry that is taking huge strides in the market. Companies such as InvestorPlace are making stock recommendations in IoT and we’re not surprised. That’s why Alberta IoT continuously invests in Alberta businesses looking to make major strides in their industry.
In demand job market:
Job creation and opportunity are strong indicators of current and future growth of the Alberta technology sector, as is the diversity with which the market serves. As highlighted below, the IoT market in Alberta is serving many sectors.
According to Mordor Intelligence, IoT is a focal area for development, production, and management of supply and logistics. Shifts in manufacturing are being driven by the adoption of IoT to advance production.
Customer experience improvement:
Beyond production, manufacturing and supply chain, IoT is experiencing retail sector growth, particularly with the rise of e-commerce. Operational efficiency and enhanced customer experiences in the sector are attributable to the rise of IoT solutions in the sector. This means you can expect improved shopping experiences in an endless variety of industries.
When you consider the dynamic role IoT plays in our life, it’s no wonder organizations like Alberta IoT are making waves. From The Centre of Excellence to the Fast Track program, Alberta IoT is prepared to be not only a trend-setter in IoT, but also a hub for those looking to shake up the industry.
The IoT industry is a trillion-dollar industry globally and Alberta IoT’s goal is to dynamically support the growth of Alberta based firms to capture 1-2 % of this market. Connect with us to learn more about how Alberta IoT is supporting tech, IoT, and small business in Alberta!
On September 18th, in partnership with Alberta Innovates, Aruba Wireless, iON United, MNP, ROGERS, and SAIT, Alberta IoT hosted our first annual Golf Tournament at Apple Creek Golf Course. We were completely sold out of sponsorships and golfer spaces a week before the event, proving that Alberta’s IoT community truly is ready to get back to business. It was a beautiful day to be outside, and lots of new connections were made among members.
Golf. The pinnacle of outdoor social distancing and the godfather of networking. It’s been a long year and we just can’t think of a better way to get the IoT community together!
Last year we had an absolute blast golfing, laughing, chatting, and getting to know Alberta IoT businesses.
Who Should Come? If you design, implement, sell, or service Internet of Things solutions, you don’t want to miss the exciting opportunity to network and collaborate with key industry players and decision-makers. A casual round of golf followed by dinner and drinks is a great way to get to know your peers in Alberta’s IoT space while getting some fresh air and exercise.
The Course
Lynx Ridge is an 18-hole golf course with a stunning terrace restaurant, a public driving range & pro shop. As one of Calgary’s most exciting golf courses, Lynx Ridge features remarkable views of the Rocky Mountains and downtown Calgary. But this course isn’t just something pretty to look at – it also offers challenging play for golfers at every skill level.
Not a golf pro? No sweat! Ryan Hnetka is volunteering his time and golf expertise to assist anyone looking to improve their game or even learn the basics. There is no better time to work on your swing and hone your putting skills.
Sponsorship
Want to get some visibility on your brand? Check out our wide variety of sponsorship opportunities to highlight your IOT solutions. This is a great way to promote your company or learn about the latest IoT trends in Alberta. A lot has happened in IoT and there will be countless industry events and opportunities cropping up in the future. Hear about them first through a wide range of industry experts and solution providers all here to network with you!
What to Expect
Registration is $225 per player and includes 18 holes of golf, cart rental, and
dinner.
BYOC – Bring your own clubs, or check in with Lynx Ridge to inquire about rentals.
After you arrive at the course we will get you signed in, provide you with keys for your golf cart, and point you in the direction of your beverage of choice! With a shotgun start, teams will begin their afternoon of fun in the sun! Just before dinner, we will meet back up for a casual cocktail hour before settling in to eat, network, and give out some prizes.
12:00pm – Registration Open
1:00pm – Shotgun Start
5:00pm – Cocktail Hour
6:00pm – Dinner
Not a bad way to spend a Friday night, right?
What About Covid?
Socializing has been a little different and Alberta IOT is confident that we can create a safe, fun, and memorable outdoor environment for everyone to enjoy. Our Lynx Ridge will also have policies in place to help create a fun and safe place to play. For the Lynx Ridge Golf course considerations & COVID-19 policies please visit their website here.
Alberta IoT Annual Golf Tournament wouldn’t be possible without our Title Sponsors. This event is proudly sponsored by Alberta Innovates, Titan Logix, Socium Law and Rogers. Thank you for the support in bringing Alberta’s IoT community together.
What are you still doing here reading this? We’re already 75% full and you don’t want to miss out! Click here to register
When most people think “Tech & Innovation Hub”, they think Silicon Valley. And they wouldn’t be wrong. This small chunk of Northern California is the HQ of a number of successful high-tech companies, and seemingly countless tech start-ups. With such an incredible hold on the tech market, this area has been able to employ millions of people in the industry. As Alberta continues to invest in the IOT sector, Alberta as a tech hub seems less and less like a crazy idea. In fact, at Alberta IoT, we think it’s a damn brilliant one.
The Alberta IoT Association is a nonprofit consisting of organizations with a vested interest in the success of the Internet of Things in the province of Alberta. We know, with the right community support and access to the very best resources, Alberta has the tech brilliance to make IoT happen here too. Many Alberta IOT companies have already joined us and have felt the benefits and reaped the rewards of being part of this thriving, and focused community. Aside from the many member benefits we offer here are some additional reasons to join a business community today!
Comradery
A sense of fellow-ship, community, and friendship is integral to us as humans. Sure, you have a network of friends, but entrepreneurship can be particularly isolating. Long work hours make scheduling social time a challenge for many business owners. Bringing comradery into your work day allows you to build relationships with people who understand your busy lifestyle, and how important your work is to you. When our social needs are met, we are more productive and inspired. Speaking of inspired:
Inspiration
Good ideas aren’t born in a silo. Inspiration comes from community. Actively participating in your industry’s community can help you get the wheels turning on your next big idea, or even help you stay up to date in a rapidly changing sector. The businesses within the Alberta IOT community are nothing short of inspirational. Standing out from the crowd with big ideas, new collaborations, and developing world leading solutions.
Support
When you need a helping hand, a group who knows the ups and downs of business within your industry will provide support that others just can’t. Your business in IOT faces different, and unique hurdles to other sectors. Having a supportive network that can provide the necessary tools and resources to actually lift you from hardship means your support system isn’t all talk – they walk the walk. You and your business deserve hands on support that cares about your success.
Experience
When you are part of a thriving, connected, and knowledgeable community, you have close access to a huge amount of resources. A combined knowledge pool leaves you in the position to ask people who know best, first. You don’t have time to get stuck in an endless research loop, only to question the integrity of your sources. Alberta IOT has a collective experience that your business will thank you for leveraging. Learn from the best, and save time by not reinventing the wheel in systems that work so you can move ahead further than imagined.
By joining the Alberta IoT Association, you are given the opportunity to connect with other individuals and companies that are working in the IoT space within Alberta. All members are granted access to our online communication tools, resources, regular networking events, technology showcase opportunities, as well as a listing on our website. In addition to these benefits, there are several different membership tiers outlined below that have been tailored to fit your business needs.
The Fast Track Program was designed with second stage IoT businesses in mind. Alberta IoT has created an environment for young companies (at least two years of operations) to flourish and expand globally – a feat only 2% of Canadian mid-sized companies accomplish. This accelerator program connects businesses with the tools, resources, and experts they need to take their tech ambitions to the next level. And its experts like Lucie Hamel that offer their knowledge and experience so business owners can skip the run-around and get growing now.
Lucie, an expert in strategic business planning and lean management, facilitates workshops where Fast Track participants gain insights in these areas and have the opportunity to implement these strategies in a supportive container. Lucie herself wears two hats: a Partner at Vantage Management Consultants (Vantage), as well as an instructor for SAIT’s Corporate Training program.
“Everything you do starts with a strong foundation which provides the stability required for short-term and long-term vision.”
– Vantage Management Consultants
So how do you create a strong foundation and utilize lean management in your business? First, it’s important to understand what lean management means from a Vantage perspective:
“Lean thinking is at the foundation of all that we do. We can label our mind- set in one word: Value. We collaborate with your teams to capture the current state, attain stability and achieve the vision. With a lean approach we seek to inspire a continuous improvement mindset and philosophy that will drive a culture collaboration, engagement and high efficiencies. You are unique and we have a unique solution for you, a “fit-for-purpose” approach.”
– Vantage Management Consultants
When it comes to lean management, Lucie and the team at Vantage recommend learning how to first define what is most valuable to your organization. Once you have properly defined this, it’s important to map out your value stream. This allows a company to observe each and every step of your processes from an objective standpoint and ensure a continuous flow from task to task within your efforts. With a clear map, it won’t be long before you identify tasks and processes that pull you and your team from flow.
It’s time to eliminate what isn’t working for you and strive to develop a perfect stream of execution that deeply resonates with the value you add as an organization.
Give this strategy a try within your company and see what kind of flow you are able to create within your process.
Need help? Invest your time into business growth by enrolling in the Fast Track Program. You will have access to Lucie and her wealth of knowledge, as well as countless other facilitators we will feature here. It’s time to get your business growing in Alberta and across the globe!
Without a doubt the tasks of talent creation, acquisition and retention are among the most important tasks of leadership in any organization, from sports teams to SMEs to multinationals. At Titan Logix we understand that the costs to attract and retain talent (we call them A-players), are significant; failure could be catastrophic from a financial and reputation perspective. Our leadership team along with those of the most notable corporations in existence today understand this all too well. Talent in a generic sense can have a variety of meanings so it’s important that I define it here in the context of this article.
The dictionary meaning of talent is ‘A natural aptitude or skill’. A very clear-cut definition, one that’s important in the execution of tasks at a higher level. Yet in the context of a Titan A-player, aptitude and skill play only a small part in the definition. Some of the words used by our leadership team to describe A-players are:
The ability to see the big picture and understand our vision and why we do what we do.
Our A-players exhibit and align with our corporate values. We are zealous in the over-communication of our values, recognizing and rewarding at every turn.
Encouraged to bring their ideas and diversity of thinking.
Like, respect and trust the entire team demonstrated through cohesiveness. They are engaged, empowered, encouraged to show up as their authentic selves. They are creative.
In short, they are fearless knowing that they are supported at every turn.
A-player creation, acquisition and retention have a common thread through all great companies. That common thread is great corporate culture. At Titan we are fanatical about our culture. Our team reads about it, takes courses on it, attends seminars, and listens to TED Talks continuously. There are literally thousands of ‘how to’ books written about the creation of culture. Some of the great works go back as far as Adam Smith, some are more recent, Simon Sinek’s The Infinite Game and Daniel Coyle’s The Culture Code. The latter 2 are required reading for our leadership.
The question is: why do so many thought leaders focus on culture? Simply put, thought leaders and Titan’s leadership, understand that A-players are created, attracted and retained through great culture, great culture leads to high performance, which leads to success for both the company and the individuals contributing to the success.
A-player creation is multi-faceted and starts with our educational institutions. Here, our future creators and leaders learn the tools of their trade, developing their aptitude and skills. We further their development by hiring them as summer and co-op students for work terms between their studies. Currently we have 7 summer and co-op students in our program. This is where we get our first opportunity to shape our future A-players and we hope they come back to join us upon graduation.
As the curators of their first work experience, it is our duty to summer and co-op students to illustrate by action, what it means to work for an organization where their skills and aptitude are valued, where they can freely say “I don’t know” without ridicule and repercussion, and where they are embraced for their diversity; for being “different”. At Titan we like to think we do a pretty good job of this. In school, our students learn from teachers, peers and from books. In our world they learn by trying new things and failing, encouraged to participate in deep practice to the point of failure, and owning that failure like a badge of honor. Knowing that we will have a celebration for having tried and failed, only to try again and succeed. Leaders of the Titan team are tasked with showing through words and action that it is okay to put yourself out there, it is okay to fail. In the words of Amy Edmondson: demonstrating to them what a ‘Fearless Organization’ looks like.
Our A-players get stronger through deep practice. We are their coaches and leaders; we create the spark that lights the fire of curiosity, innovation, and creativity.
Upon graduation the career journey starts. This is where talent acquisition begins for us. Attracting these bright, creative young minds is where we hope to have an advantage of having shaped their final school years through our training and mentorship programs. What Titan has come to understand quite clearly is that what was attractive to the generation of 20 years ago is not necessarily what attracts our A-players today. In the past it was about job stability, compensation and benefits. Today it is about purpose, vision and impact on the social fabric of our increasingly globalized world.
So how do we attract and acquire A-Players? Our actions. Titan is about more than just making money for shareholders and owners; we have a higher purpose, an altruistic cause for the greater good, we have a compelling mission and, in the words of Simon Sinek, a “corporate why” that our people can get behind and believe in. The leaders of Titan paint a beautiful vision of the future with our people in it. We have created alignment of purpose through continual communication of that purpose. It is understood by our team that our alignment of purpose is a cornerstone of our great culture. Other characteristics we exhibit regularly include shared passion and an intense sense of belonging. Any company fortunate enough to have these characteristics will find attraction and acquisition of A-players comes naturally. Our exit door is almost non-existent, and we don’t have to recruit too hard for A-players. An enviable position for any company
Retention of A-players is about walking the talk. It is the little things that make the difference. The big stuff is easy and always visible. The ‘belonging ques’ that are exhibited by the great leaders, the warm smile, leaning into conversations, the personal touch and so many more are practiced religiously by our leadership. True leadership is about being authentic. Leadership must be service-oriented. Leaders must be forever curious about the people who show up for the team. At Titan we understand that creating great culture is hard and not for everyone. Maintaining it is even harder still. It takes continuous touch, hands always on the wheel. Great culture can be fragile and must be ferociously guarded. We are always on guard, wary and focused.
I believe that all books with culture as the subject are created for one purpose and one purpose only: to provide a roadmap for us to create, attract and retain A-players.This is Titan’s A-game.
On September 18th, in partnership with Alberta Innovates, Aruba Wireless, iON United, MNP, ROGERS, and SAIT, Alberta IoT hosted our first annual Golf Tournament at Apple Creek Golf Course. We were completely sold out of sponsorships and golfer spaces a week before the event, proving that Alberta’s IoT community truly is ready to get back to business. It was a beautiful day to be outside, and lots of new connections were made among members.
According to Mordor Intelligence, 
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