report to the community 2018 - tech manitoba€¦ · 20% memberships growing 1700 ... creating more...

REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY 2018 Delivering Value

03 About ICTAM

04 Message from Our CEO

05 Message from the Chairman, Board of Directors

06 Highlights

07 Thank you to our Members

08 Tech West Canada

10 MAVEN

12 ICTAM Events

13 ICT Community Dinner 2017

13 Annual General Meeting 2017

14 DisruptED 2018

16 The Innovators 2018

18 Tech Mash Up

21 Learn to Code

22 Bridges to Tech Talent

23 Building a 21st Century Workforce

24 Upskilling the Tech Workforce

26 Building Connections

27 TECNA CEO Retreat

Building Connections

ICTAM is proud to serve as the voice, connector and activator in Manitoba’s tech ecosystem. Our community approach has resulted in

meaningful collaborations with business, government and education to ensure this sector has the resources and opportunities to thrive. Through

programming, events and strategic initiatives, we deliver on objectives important to the ICT industry. From developing tech talent to connecting

entrepreneurs to new markets to advising government on policies to support scaling innovation in our province, we believe in creating the conditions that will make Manitoba the centre of ICT in Canada. With your support, our member organizations and partners, we strive everyday to make this

vision a reality.

Mission Statement:

Make Manitoba the ICT centre of Canada, helping member companies thrive and grow. ICTAM

connects and collaborates to elevate Manitoba’s tech industry.

3ICTAM Report to the Community 2018: Delivering Value

When I meet new people or connect with members, they often begin a conversation with, “So, what’s ICTAM been up to lately?” This is such a loaded question because, seriously, where do I begin?

Our two areas of focus, talent and markets have kept me and the entire ICTAM team hopping for the past 12-months – with no signs of slowing down. In fact, we’ve grown from 9 to 14 talented, creative and switched on staff. Our programming has expanded exponentially as well with new offerings to access markets through a wide range of international events. On the talent side, we continued to move ahead with the Pathways to Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) – an initiative that will transform high school and prepare students for new collar jobs in Manitoba’s tech sector.

The results of our efforts to facilitate connections for international business have been more successful than we ever could have imagined. In the past year, our team lead over 160 companies from across Western Canada, including Manitoba, to nine global events. We’ve leveraged our networks and resources to assist participants in achieving approximately $400 Million in sales and investment since launching Tech West Canada three years ago. Tech West Canada, which now includes Clean Tech, has a highly effective model for providing a seamless approach for tech companies to optimize their potential opportunities in international markets. This partnership with Western Economic Diversification and the four Western Provincial Governments proves private public collaboration can make a world of difference in strengthening our competitive advantage on the global stage.

We are incredibly excited about the launch of our gender parity initiative – MAVEN. So far, its going gangbusters. In terms of creating a stronger talent pool, we know that including more women in tech is not only the right thing to do, it’s also the smart thing to do. Currently, women comprise 27% of the over 33,000 professionals working in our sector. That’s 2% higher than the national average. Over the next 3-years, we want to make Manitoba a leader in gender-parity by reducing the barriers women face to entering and thriving in ICT careers. We know we can count on our members to work with us to make this happen.

In addition to these important initiatives, there’s the over 30 events we present annually. From The Innovators to DisruptED to the monthly Tech Mash Up and a number of targeted training sessions, the team has our members covered when it comes to coming together for networking and learning.

From connecting members to new markets, talent and with each other, it was another banner year at ICTAM. We know you can’t possibly keep track of everything we’re up to here at ICTAM. Trust me, as you’ll see there’s a lot going on. Hence, the reason behind us creating this handy report. Now, all in one place, is the story of the year that was and we want to share it with you. We’re striving to make Manitoba the ICT Capital of Canada. And all of the activities we engage in are directly aligned with that vision. So next time you’re asked, “What’s up at ICTAM?”, like me, you’ll have a few stories to pass along yourself.

Kathy Knight Chief Executive Officer, Information & Communication Technologies Association of Manitoba

Message from the CEO

4 ICTAM Report to the Community 2018: Delivering Value

On behalf of the entire Board of Directors I want to thank-you for your engagement with ICTAM throughout the past year, including participation in the various events, educational seminars, conferences and fun get-togethers.

The Board and I are excited and inspired by the growth that the tech community of Manitoba is experiencing right now. We’re proud, as an association, to represent a sector that celebrates innovation, supports inclusion and that is ambitious about building a thriving community.

ICTAM’s vision is to make Manitoba the ICT centre of Canada helping member companies thrive and grow. As a result, membership is growing at an unprecedented pace as more future-minded individuals and innovative companies choose to build community by aligning with each other and with our province-wide technology association. Each member plays an important role in helping to build a strong, relevant and sustainable organization.

We know, from our discussions with Manitoban employers, that diversity is a source of strength and opportunity. There are many conversations happening globally when it comes to the participation of women in tech and pursuing STEM education. ICTAM’s new Maven initiative is addressing solutions in creative and practical ways and we seek your participation to ensure that we will ultimately achieve parity. You’ll find an overview and contact information within.

Unrest and excitement about the future of work is also a pressing issue both locally and on the global stage. Check out the DisruptED conference highlights, where you’ll see that the conference tripled in attendance from the first year to the second. Be sure to join us for our next conference and participate in the conversation among educators, students, government and employers.

As we move forward with our programs, projects and initiatives, ICTAM always has in mind how to best serve our members and build a stronger community. Let us know how we can make a positive difference for you and your organization.

Ryan Klassen Chair, ICTAM Board of Directors Vice President of Business Solutions, Bell MTS

President Ryan Klassen, Vice President Business Solutions, Bell MTS

Past President Christian Dandeneau, Founder & CEO, ID Fusion Software

Vice President Mike Langedock, Vice President IT, Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Corporation

Treasurer Susan Thompson, Partner through Corporation, BDO Canada LLP

Secretary Lydie Toupin-Mulvihill, Group Manager, Microsoft Corporation

Director Howard Burston, Director of Operations, Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre (MFNERC)

Director Sandra Foster, Managing Partner, Capstone Ridge Group

Director Patrick Molloy, Chief Innovation Officer, Workers Compensation Board

Director Andy Neale, Senior Vice President IT and Corporate Projects, Princess Auto Ltd.

Director Perry Poulsen, CIO, Manitoba eHealth

Director Tedda Sandercock, Assistant Vice-President, Career Centres, Great-West Life

Director Joel Semeniuk Founder, Executive Director, Horizon Three

Director, Ex-Officio Laurenda Madill, Manager, Industry Partnerships, Manitoba Education and Training

Honourary Counsel Catherine Hamilton, Thompson Dorfman Sweatman

Message from the Chairman, Board of Directors


Board of Directors

Increase in Memberships20%

GROWING

1700+Twitter Followers

168 Tech Companies to 9 International Events

•GOING ABROAD•

2000+ Event Attendees

Networking Events36

REACHING HEIGHTS42 New Member Companies


THANK YOU TO OUR MEMBERS


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Western Canadian Tech Companies Going GlobalIn 2015, ICTAM received $2.4 million of funding from Western Economic Diversification Canada to provide support to technology companies in Western Canada at select international events over a 3-year period. At these events, ICT West collaborated with the governments of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and the Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership (STEP). Through this project, we organized, coordinated, and delivered a program that established Western Canada’s position as an emerging regional tech hub and increased opportunities for local tech companies.

From 2015-2018, ICT West exceeded their projections by working with 168 companies

From 2015 to 2018, the project exceeded its initial projections by working with 168 companies who reported back $400,764,154 in investment and sales as a result of attending Web Summit, CES and/or Mobile World Congress as part of an ICT West delegation. Many of these companies also grew in size and scale; creating more local jobs and attracting foreign investments to their provinces and to Canada as a whole.

INTERNATIONALEVENTS ATTENDED9

In Sales + InvestmentGenerated and counting…

CAN$400,764,154

500Messages

sent on tech directory 233

People on slack channel

735Recipients on

mailing list

846Followers on Twitter

900ICT West

socks given away

ICT West was also developed to showcase Western Canadian technology companies as global players in the technology ecosystem and build relationships with key contacts from around the world. Over the past three years, the ICT West brand built pride in Western Canada, told the story of Canadian innovation and collaboration on the global stage and promoted the West as a region where technology companies can grow and thrive.

3 YEARS OF PROGRAMING

ICTAM Report to the Community 2018: Delivering Value

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Western Canadian Tech Companies Going Global

Engaging Small to Medium-Sized Tech Enterprises

YEAR ONE Learning what works, setting up and building a brand.ICT West worked with our many stakeholders, from provincial reps and trade commissioners to the companies themselves, to understand where our support could leverage the highest returns.

YEAR TWO Making it happen and hitting the ground running.ICT West delegations to Web Summit, CES and Mobile World Congress grew exponentially and so did our global network of Trade Commissioners and Multinational Enterprises.

YEAR THREE Refining our services to meet the companies’ needs.Throughout the project, ICT West continually adapted to provide delegate companies with strategic guidance, business development support and valuable introductions. Companies who participated in more than one show refined their processes, cultivated relationships and saw exponential increases in deal flow. By removing barriers and providing an ever-increasing network of support, ICT West has enabled Western Canadian companies to excel at using international events to build relationships and grow their business.

PRESENT Meet Tech West Canada.New name, growing team, expanded program. With Tech West Canada, we have expanded our offering to include Clean Tech events along with a few new ones of the ICT variety. As always, companies who join our delegations have access to opportunities created to enhance their experience. The future is international – we’ll see you there.


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MAVEN - Attracting,Retaining and Advancing Women in ICTFor the past three years, ICTAM has convened a dedicated group of volunteers gathered to discuss, brainstorm and implement change for gender parity in the tech sector. This year, these efforts resulted in achieving significant traction with a new brand, a new plan and a new funding commitment.

In July 2018, MAVEN received a major lift with the confirmation of funding from Status of Women Canada. The Hon. Maryam Monsef came to Winnipeg to announce this exciting 3-year project to increase gender parity in Manitoba’s ICT sector. She was joined by Robert Falcon Ouellette, MP Winnipeg Centre and Terry Duguid, MP Winnipeg South and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Status of Women. At the media announcement, Minister Monsef sat down for ‘fireside chat’ with ICTAM’s Chief Executive Officer, Kathy Knight and Chief Marketing Officer, Lori Wheeler. During this conversation, Minister Monsef underscored the theme of MAVEN. “ Gender equality is about fairness” she said. “It is the right thing to do. We also know it is the smart thing to do.”

A key component of the MAVEN initiative is the formation of a Leadership Council. The Council members are high profile leaders and influencers from industry and education who will examine how to impact change through policy as it relates to attracting, retaining and advancing women in tech. Beth Bell, VP, Enterprise and Commercial Leader, IBM Canada, and Paul Vogt, President, Red River College are co-chairing the Council. Confirmation of the Council members will be made in Fall, 2018.

Meanwhile, following the excitement of the announcement, the MAVEN Action Committee got busy in August to discuss plans upcoming year. This included helping to shape, plan, and execute on-going Maven roundtables and events.

Committee members include people currently working in tech, people who have exited the sector and post-secondary educators. Their collective life experiences and long-time advocacy for women in tech makes the Maven Action Committee a huge asset to the project. ICTAM is thrilled to continue working with the group as they evolve and grow. Watch for news and updates as this exiting initiative moves ahead.

ICTAM celebrated the launch of Maven at La Carnita in early August. Approximately 45 guests turned out to join in the festivities in support of this important initiative. In addition to the great conversations at the event, attendees shared thoughts on improving gender equality through an online survey. Some of the suggestions were: encourage girls to join technology-based classes early on, offer specialized

training and mentorships, hire more women in leadership roles and declare the end of “Manels” the all-male panels that one attendee said are prevalent. We are excited about working with this engaged tech community and can’t wait to see everyone at upcoming Maven events.

Maven Launch Party

Group photo with several Maven Action Committee members from the August 24 meeting.

Pictured from photo left: Cori Krut, Jessica Watson, Lydie Toupin-Mulvihill, Amanda Emms, Marnie Groeneveld, Nusraat Masood, Lindy Schultz & Jennifer Burdette.


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The Current State of Women in Tech Across Canada Women in Tech World (WiTWorld), in co-ordination with partners ICTAM, Women’s Enterprise Center of Manitoba, Horizon 3, iQmetrix, ALT Hotel and myCEO presented Driving Women in Tech in Winnipeg. The community-based research tour was initiated by WiTWorld to better understand and support women in the technology industry in Canada. Beginning in Vancouver, the cross-Canada tour stopped in 30+ cities, for community driven activities that helped define and understand the experiences of women in the tech industry. In Winnipeg, ICTAM member and Director of WISE Kid-Netic Energy Nusraat Masood delivered the keynote speech. The Community Conversation was moderated by Lois McGill, Director of Academics at Balmoral High School. Participants discussed the need for a shift in discourse with a focus on encouraging girls to pursue and enter STEM fields. Masood stated that educators need to make changes to ensure that post-secondary education is more enjoyable for a diverse student body which creates a more creative workforce. The findings from this research tour, Canada’s largest qualitative data set on the experiences of women in tech, will soon be published by WiTWorld as Canada’s Gender Equity Roadmap.

International Women’s Day Keynote from Microsoft’s Vaz RosarioICTAM co-presented with the Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology (MITT) an International Women’s Day event featuring a keynote from Vaz Rosario, Senior Service Engineering Manager at Microsoft. 200 attendees gathered at MITT to participate in a global celebration of women’s accomplishments and to strengthen the call to action towards gender parity. Rosario’s inspiring presentation gave attendees insight into the many obstacles she overcame at school and work, where her resilience, determination and consistent delivery of intelligent solutions garnered respect from her peers, as well as 9 promotions within the organization.


ICTAM Events

ICTAM Open House September 14, 2017

New connections were made, and old ones strengthened at ICTAM’s annual Open House. On September 14th, ICTAM toasted its membership at Rudy’s Eat & Drink with cold drinks and tasty wings while mingling with other ICTAM members and staff. Attendees got a chance to catch up on the latest news in the tech community and find out what’s on the horizon for this expanding community of innovators and game-changers. There was even time to raffle off a few Jets tickets!”

Every year ICTAM hosts events with industry leaders who are inventing the future, organizes training sessions where members boost their skills and champions causes that are important to the tech industry.

Hack the House Curling BonspielOctober 14, 2017

ICTAM hosted a curling bonspiel on Saturday, October 14, at the Granite Curling Club for an afternoon of fun, food and friendly competition. Teams from BellMTS, Cambrian Credit Union, NetSet Communications, Economic Development Winnipeg, Stoneage, Imaginet as well as ICTAM members from Broadview Networks, U of W, Neovation and Solara Data joined in on the games for prizes and a chance to network in a positive lively atmosphere at the founding curling facility in Manitoba.


13

One of the most popular events in the ICTAM calendar, the ICT Community Dinner brings together over 150 business and tech leaders from across sectors for an evening of lively conversation, cool libations and delectable dining.

This invitation only dinner, is held exclusively for members to meet and mingle with professionals from around Manitoba’s tech sector. While many of our guests hail from different backgrounds, they all contribute to elevating Manitoba’s innovation ecosystem. The ICT Community Dinner is one way we celebrate this sector’s contribution to the overall economic well-being of our province.

GreetingsRyan Klassen, Vice President, Bell MTS Business Solutions & General Manager, Epic Information Solutions, President, ICTAM Board of Directors

Ray Karasevich, President & CEO Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology

Brenda Slauko, Technology Industry Regional Director, BDC

ICT Community Dinner 2017

November 23, 2017 Qualico Family Centre

Annual General Meeting 2017/2018Our guests heard from keynote speaker, Jean-François Barsoum, IBM, Senior Managing Consultant of Smarter Cities, Water and Transportation, Innovation and Research & Development. Barsoum provided insights on the future of transportation and the impacts of disruptive technologies from his over 20 years of

experience working in developing smarter and more sustainable cities.

Thank you to everyone who attended the 2017/2018 AGM – your feedback and presence is valuable in shaping the future of our association to benefit you as members of the tech community.


February 1 & 2, 2018 RBC Convention Centre, York Ballroom

DisruptED: The Future of Work is a 2-day conference driven by community partners and powered by ICTAM. This unique event is a platform to stimulate insights into the new world of work – insights that lead to action. It brings together stakeholders to jumpstart meaningful discussion among business executives, educators, students, (K-12 and Post-Secondary) and government leaders not just about how to survive in the future but also how to thrive in it.

The program content is crowd-sourced through focus groups and key stakeholder sessions. This method for mining information ensures the program is topical and relevant to the diverse audience – all of whom have compelling reasons to rally around the imperative of building a 21st Century Workforce. It guides the selection of keynote speakers, panel discussions and other activities.

True to its name, DisruptED’s overall format is disruptive, eschewing the traditional multi-track conference format. Collision among the diverse delegates is encouraged and represented in the audience through a carefully curated selection of international, national and local presenters and thought-leaders to fuel dialogue, debate and action. It successfully attracted over 700 Industry executives, Government leaders, School Division Superintendents, Teachers, Professors, University/College Presidents/Vice Presidents/Deans, and students to convene and participate in conversations over the 2-day event. This is more than double the number of its 2017 debut!

In addition to the main stage keynotes and panels, DisruptED hosted an UnConference to facilitate further dialogue on important issues amongst the attendees. These conversations are recorded to contribute additional insight into how various challenges can be met through future collaborations. These views are publicly shared and published in the DisruptED final report following the conference.

Attendees broke into seven different groups for the opportunity to work and learn together to share ideas and solutions regarding the future of work. These conversations tackled such topics as, cryptocurrency, the digital divide, STEM education, women in tech, as well as technologies place in government.

DisruptED 2018 featured its largest Interactive Playground yet, with 15 participant organizations showcasing their innovative technologies. Attendees were delighted by the creative experiences they had while interacting with virtual reality, robotics, cyber-security and new ways that technology can be used for interactive learning.

Disrupted for YouthAt DisruptED 2018, ICTAM delivered programming beyond the main conference to engage our future workforce with interactive and hands-on learning. The Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR) introduced students to human rights by using social media as a platform to build empathy, promote change and become active citizens in the future of work. Ilana Ben-Ari, the founder, CEO and designer of Twenty One Toys gave a keynote address, and also engaged students in a workshop and dialogue session on the future of work and the Empathy Toy. DisruptED Cyber Day saw grade 7, 8 and 9 students introduced to CyberTitan, a national cyber defence competition and education initiative through the Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC). Through workshops, participants covered the basics of tech and cyber-security during a Mini Tech Camp, followed by a CyberTitan competition in the afternoon. Cyber Day partners included ICTC, Red River College’s Applied Computer Education team, Sisler High School, and the Winnipeg School Division.


720 Total Attendees (including 180 Youth)

520 Conference Attendees (216 Industry, 166 Education, 104 students, 34 government)

15 Interactive Playground experiences

12 Sponsors & 2 Event Supporters

2 Workshops

SOCIAL:

Over 1,500 tweets using #Disrupted18

2.9 million total impressions

#Disrupted18 was trending locally during the conference

DisruptED by the Numbers


The Innovators 2018 Thursday April 26, 2018 RBC Convention Centre Winnipeg

The Innovators brings together both current and future members for ICTAM’s annual signature event. In an evening of bold ideas and thought-provoking conversation, guests experienced an event that entertains and elevates Manitoba’s ICT sector.This year’s special guest was Lawrence Levy. As the former CFO of Pixar, Levy was at the leading edge of innovative entertainment and digital media creation. He shared his experiences from Pixar and working through the highs and lows from building the first blockbuster animation studio from the ground up to eventually selling to The Walt Disney Company for $7.4 billion in 2006. Ultimately, Levy stepped away completely from the busy life of the entertainment industry once Disney acquired Pixar. His message and ideology now is the importance of a balanced work life and work environment. Gaining an interest in Eastern philosophy led him to co-found the Jupiter Foundation, a non-profit organization that helps bring meditation practices and eastern philosophy practices into contemporary workplaces to create a healthy work environment.


Guest: Lawrence Levy, Former Pixar CFO + EVP, Author + Business Strategist

Between 1994 and 2006, Lawrence developed and implemented the strategy that would transform Pixar into an entertainment powerhouse. Since then he explored and devised innovative strategies and tactics that enable us to realize our potential as individuals and create human-centered organizations that foster creativity, dignity, and excellence.

Host: Kevin Newman, Host + Managing Editor, W5

One of Canada’s most authoritative voices in news, Kevin Newman is a household name and has been well-known to viewers in Canada and the U.S. for more than 30 years. He was named Host and Managing Editor of CTV’s award-winning investigative series W5 in 2016, after appearing as a correspondent and co-host on the program since September 2012. Newman also currently serves as a fill-in anchor for CTV National News.

“ Everywhere we went, people would say, ‘Wow! Disney made Toy Story and it’s so great, and you guys did the technology!’ ” Levy recalled. “We’d say, ‘No, we made the whole film!’ So both strategically and emotionally, we ought to get the credit for the work we did.”

How Pixar’s leadership learned to invent the future

Jason Halstead, Bell MTS

“ It’s the need for a balance between the two sides that exist in all of us that is the key to realizing our potential as individuals and create human-centred organizations that still foster creativity, dignity and excellence.”

Former Pixar CFO embraces Buddhism in quest for balance

Martin Cash, Winnipeg Free Press

TECH MASH UP Members showcase thought leadership (sandwiches included)

What can you see when the lights go out?Sept 2017 | Presenter: Bill Yeager, Bell MTS Data Centres

Uninterrupted access to data is essential to do virtually all of our work. Is the actual value in data itself, or is the value derived from our ability to access it? That value only exists when the data is intact and accessible without interruption, explained Bell MTS Data Centres’ Bill Yeager, who presented on the true costs of network downtime. Consumer loyalties are very fragile and episodes of inconvenience can shatter them quickly. Mitigating the risks of outages from small startups to large corporations translates to business value. Yeager discussed different solutions to protect your business from unexpected downtime, and stressed that the key consideration is not only storing and backing up your data, but making sure you can access your most valuable asset when the lights go out.

Machine Learning, Predictive Analytics and AI TechnologiesOct 2017 | Presenters: Paul Twigg, VP of Technology, and Joy Sheldon, Lead Consultant, Sierra Systems

Sierra Systems’ session focused on machine-automated learning and AI, the options for connecting, analyzing and making optimized decisions based on data. Paul Twigg, VP of Technology, and Joy Sheldon, Lead Consultant, delved into real use cases for an everyday business in using machine learning, predictive analytics and AI technologies. Teaching attendees how to get started, this presentation covered issues such as costs and barrier of entry. Paul and Joy offered suggestions to leverage and harness data to increase workplace efficiencies in decision-making.

SR&ED Federal Tax Incentive ProgramNov 2017 | Presenter: Dr. Delmar (Del) Toth, Senior Engineer, SR&ED Services at BDO Canada

SR&ED is a federal tax incentive program designed to encourage Canadian businesses, of all sizes and in all sectors, to conduct research and development (R&D) in Canada. Each year over 20,000 Canadian businesses, 75% of which are small enterprises, file SR&ED claims worth over $3.5 billion. In November, BDO hosted a group to teach them about how companies can take advantage of, and be successful in, claiming Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) tax refunds to help recover software development costs. Bringing to light recent CRA changes and challenges businesses experience when claiming SR&ED, BDO offered tips for attendees developing new software programs or applications – as well enhancing or integrating existing ones – their eligibility for substantial refunds and tax credits.


To Chat or to Chatbot? The Rise of Marketing ChatbotsDec 2017 | Presenter: Sunil Bridgelall, IC Group

The “chatbot” is one of the most well-publicized innovations in marketing technologies today. From simple questions to complex dialogs, the “chatbot” is a system created to deliver automated conversations to users. IC Group drew on their expertise of delivering innovation for marketers for over 2 decades, by providing attendees the new and unique challenges for marketers and marketing platforms, as user interaction varies widely from the controlled traditional web context. IC Group focused on a series of chatbots they created through their exclusive and unique worldwide partnership with Twitter, for brands such as American Express, Nike, Wendy’s, Starbucks, and dozens more! During this presentation, IC Group took guests through comparisons of traditional web vs chatbots, case studies and how Artificial Intelligence will affect chatbots in the future.

How Content Marketing Can Win You ClientsJan 2018 | Presenter: Paul Provost, President, 6P Marketing

6P’s Founder & President Paul Provost shared how to educate prospects and current customers through content marketing. Paul focused on how showcasing your subject matter expertise online can position your firm as a leader in the minds of your target market. Content marketing is about aligning what you’re great at, with your audience’s needs, concerns and preferred means of information consumption. Traditional sales methods are garnering less results today than ever before. As people turn less to sales teams and obtain the information they need online, they form an opinion on the values and culture of the company before making contact with the company at hand. Companies today need to accept this new world order and take the lead on this process, rather than being reactive to it.

2018 Trends for Canada’s Technology, Media, and Telecommunications IndustryFeb 2018 | Presenters: Matt Hlynsky and Andrea Legary, Deloitte

Deloitte’s highlights from their annual prediction of key trends in the technology, media and telecommunications (“TMT”) sector drew a standing room only crowd. The theme of symphonic enterprise - an idea that describes strategy, technology, and operations working together in harmony across domains and boundaries was discussed to provide insight into transformation and growth opportunities expected to affect businesses across all industries in the future. Deloitte looked at what are now commonplace trends across all industries such as digital, cloud, and analytics. More recently, digital reality, machine intelligence and automatic platforms are gaining more traction. The symphonic enterprise highlights new business opportunities and creative problem solving by blurring the focus between line of business or isolated industries or business processes or enabling technologies.

Fun with Machine LearningMarch 2018 | Presenter: Chris Kirby, IBM

Chris Kirby from IBM Canada lead a packed house through real world examples of machine learning, how it works, and how attendees could use it to solve problems and to have fun. Within the context of examples and code, Kirby showed ways in which one could teach a machine to detect “bad” network traffic, to write Shakespeare, how to close a sale without touching the customer, how to “read” and how to recognize your cat. At the end of the session, guests were conversant in the broad topics of machine learning and armed with everything they would need to begin creating their own solutions.


Buying tickets from someone you don’t know or trust: A Practical Application for BlockchainApril 2018 | Presenter: Joel Semeniuk, Horizon Three

Highlighting a real world scenario, Joel Semeniuk from Horizon Three provided an entertaining session about how Blockchain is disrupting everything on the internet. Joel explored how Blockchain technology applies to a case such as purchasing Jets playoff tickets online from a stranger, and how Blockchain can prevent ticket scalpers from profiting from ticket re-sales. By leveraging the blockchain, an enterprise can track the entire journey of a ticket, deciding whether it can be re-sold and what happens with the profits if it’s re-sold.

Identify and Reach Highly-Qualified Leads in Global, Niche MarketsMay 2018 | Presenter: Dafne Orbach, NicheMktg

NicheMktg’s Dafne Orbach’s provided lessons and insights on how to identify and reach highly-qualified leads in target markets where prospects are anonymous, well-educated and skeptical of marketing. Dafne underscored going beyond raising visibility of one’s business online with SEO, and web design. For ICT companies to effectively connect with their ideal customers, when they don’t know who or where they are, they must be the best in breed, be relevant, know strategy versus tactics and create a fluid process.

What is accessibility and why does it matter?June 2018 | Presenter: Ashleigh Lodge, Neovation

Neovation’s Ashleigh Lodge presented on the importance of accessibility and inclusive design, giving a mostly non-technical primer meant to raise awareness and interest in the topic. As an issue that’s been ignored and pushed to the side for too long, accessibility is getting more attention due to legislative changes, and the efforts of grassroots activists. Ashleigh’s talk explained why accessibility isn’t just a social, moral or ethical issue, it’s good business too. Attendees learned about assistive devices & technologies, accessibility standards & tools, and some quick and easy next steps for making sites and applications more accessible to all users, such as coding with properly semantic HTML. This effective step is imperative for improving accessibility of web sites.

TECH MASH UP continued


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Learn to Code Cracking the Code to Tech Careers

ICTAM is a proud partner with ComIT in training immigrant youth for in-demand, entry level jobs in Manitoba’s ICT sector. This year, from June 4 to September 3, with funding support from the Manitoba Government, youth ages 18-32 were invited to apply for the opportunity to learn Full Stack Java. To increase their competitiveness in the job market this program also offered classes to build important professional development skills required to be job-ready in Manitoba’s ICT sector. Participants were recruited through connections with local partners and community organizations to meet the growing needs of this high-demand industry.

Out of 300 applications, 25 participants were selected and awarded scholarships to attend. Delivered at the Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology (MITT) Henlow Campus, participants were introduced to the fundamentals of logic, algorithms, software design and the Java programming language. They also covered the concepts of the Object Oriented Paradigm, database management systems (DBMS), SQL and JDBC.

Success in tech isn’t soley based on coding and technical training. In fact, the participants were also building on team building, communication, resume writing and interview skills through interactive workshops. Beyond the lab, ICTAM member Skip the Dishes provided a tour and presentation for students in their Exchange District offices. Other ICTAM members who stepped up to support student success included guest speakers from Wawanesa, DMT, and DXC. The representatives presented an insider’s view of what it’s like working in the fast-paced, cutting-edge Manitoba tech field. 19 out of 25 students graduated at the end of September. We were thrilled to see the participation of women in the program was 40% of the class. Congratulations to the graduates and partners for another successful program!


22 ICTAM Delivering Value: Report to the Community 2018

Bridges to Tech Talent Referral Partner, Global Talent Stream

The Policy Roundtables are an exclusive opportunity for ICTAM’s CEO, Kathy Knight, to meet in our nation’s capital with her CEO colleagues from our Canadian TECNA* network. Over 2-days, this group gathers for discussions with key decision-makers from the Government of Canada. As a group, we represent regional tech ecosystems and have become a highly regarded resource to senior bureaucrats who are interested in taking the pulse on what’s happening in tech across the country. It’s through these conversations that, as a collective, we are able to identify issues impacting the growth of Canada’s tech sector.

Each year, our group is tasked with identifying one key issue that can have a lasting impact on tech firms across the country. In 2016-2017, traditional channels for international recruitment of highly qualified professionals were too slow to meet the demands for fast-scaling innovative tech companies.

We provided evidence of how fast-tracking, vetted international talent is not only good for tech companies but also good for the Canadian economy. Kudos to the Federal Government for recognizing this as a worthwhile initiative and collaborating with our group in developing the Global Talent Stream (GTS). Launched as a pilot in June 2017, the GTS is designed to give fast growing tech firms in Canada a way to expedite the hiring of unique and specialized talent not available in Canada and needed to scale up their businesses.

As a direct result of ICTAM’s contribution to the development of the GTS, we are recognized as a Designated Partner. In this regard, ICTAM can provide referrals for companies recruiting 1-2 niche candidates that fit within Category A. We have been delighted to provide our members with information on how to navigate the GTS and work with them on referrals to Category A.

Recruiting Global Talent to Scale-up and Grow: Global Skills StrategyICTAM, Manitoba Education and Training (MET) and Economic Development Winnipeg (EDW) partnered to deliver a joint-information session on what they can provide Manitoba businesses to maximize the benefits of the Federal Government’s Global Skills Strategy (GSS). Attendees considering hiring international candidates unto their team learned what makes the Global Talent Stream different. Topics of discussion included eligibility criteria to be referred to the Global Talent Stream of the Temporary as well as how to have the application processed in 10 business days. The session looked at the Immigration Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Dedicated Service Channel and how to transition temporary foreign workers through GSS to permanent status through the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP).

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*Technology Councils of North America (TECNA)


Manitoba’s Colleges and Universities are answering the call to build the 21st Century workforce that will position our province as a competitive contender in the race for talent. Many of Manitoba’s post-secondary institutions are ICTAM members, and we actively collaborate, consult and engage with them on initiatives to prepare students and employers for the future of work, equipping them with the digital skills for today and tomorrow.

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Building a 21st Century Workforce

Serving Up Solutions: Hiring Tech TalentICTAM and VanHack came together in this session to explore solutions for companies experiencing difficulties hiring top tech talent. Ilya Brotzky, CEO of VanHack, shared how to seamlessly recruit talent from all over the world and how to be strategic in sourcing the right talent. Over breakfast Ilya shared with attendees his story about partnering talented tech workers from around the world with companies in Winnipeg. After Ilya’s talk, attendees shared their insight during roundtable sessions on recruitment and training. As Winnipeg’s tech employment has grown by 58.5% over the past five years, the demand for software developers, designers and digital marketers is increasing and hiring the right person is key.

International Talent Learns Why Manitoba’s Tech Ecosystem is AwesomeIn June 2018, ICTAM’s Chief Marketing Officer, Lori Wheeler, travelled to Sao Paulo, Brazil with SkipTheDishes and BOLD Commerce for a recruitment mission.

With support from Manitoba Immigration and organized by ICTAM member Ilya Brotzky, founder of VanHack, a recruitment fair was orchestrated in conjunction with Skip and BOLD’s HR teams. The goal of this mission was to hire as many highly qualified software engineers as they could over a two-day period. In addition to having outstanding chops in coding, candidates were also expected to demonstrate proficient English language skills.

The successful candidates would not only be landing a new job, but a new lifestyle in a new country as well. So it wasn’t surprising they had countless questions for the recruiters. Ready to share the Manitoba story of this province’s rapidly rising tech sector, Lori and two representatives from Manitoba Immigration gladly took on the role of providing context, information and encouragement for these job candidates.

Over 100 experienced developers now work and live in Manitoba as a direct result of two of these international recruitment fairs.


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SingularityU Canada Summit: Winnipeg Satellite EventIn October 2017, ICTAM partnered with SingularityU Canada Summit to deliver this event with programming that focused on the acceleration of technology, and how our ability to understand its implications on our lives has never been more difficult – or more urgent. Joel Semeniuk, Founder and ED at Horizon Three and Founder and Chief Innovation Officer of Imaginet, and ICTAM Board Member introduced the event. Attendees were immersed in thought-provoking discussions from top talents in AI, blockchain and health innovation through panels and group discussions. Main stage events from the SingularityU Canada Summit were livestreamed, engaging attendees to discuss and learn about our future and exponential technologies from local experts and peers.

Enterprise Program Management with Dr. Donald AmorosoWhen surveyed on areas for training, ICTAM members highlighted the need for enterprise project management focused on ICT. This program was custom designed and developed to provide participants with tools they can use to optimize IT development and delivery processes across large enterprises. In addition to reviewing the fundamentals of project management applicable to IT, the course focused on how to bring IT projects online more effectively, deliver quality systems on time and on budget, and how to strategically plan for the unexpected.

The program was created by Dr. Donald L. Amoroso who consulted with 53 organizations working with CEOs and CIOs to develop and execute leadership and strategic planning efforts. He’s worked with over 600 C-level executives across the United States, Japan, Philippines, Canada and Mexico. Dr. Amoroso is currently the Lowder-Weil Endowed Chair of

Innovation and Strategy and Professor Information Systems at Auburn University in Montgomery, Alabama. In terms of training delivery, this is one of our most successful programs and Dr. Amoroso is recognized as a highly effective, credible and interactive training leader.

Engaging Girls In TechICTAM partnered with CanU Canada to deliver a free, after school Girls Tech Camp in the fall of 2017. This partnership solidifies ICTAM’s commitment to encourage girls to take an early interest in STEM, and to achieve gender parity in the tech sector. The Girls Tech Camp engaged 13 junior high school girls with fun and creative ways to solve puzzles while learning about technology using a hands-on approach. Participants worked with robots, code, and design to create their own app to help solve a social issue. Workshops included Design Sprints, Robotics, Problem Solving, Security, and VR/AR. Later in the fiscal year, ICTAM worked with Elmwood Junior High School in celebration of PiDay offering a free coding workshop for grade 7 girls from the school. Adelle Rewerts from Horizon3 gave a talk, and 40 girls participated in coding activities with WISE Kid-Netic Energy.

Trademark Law Over an executive breakfast in November 2017, Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP presented Impending Changes to Trademark Law: Why You Should Consider Registering Yours Sooner Rather Than Later at ICTAM. Attendees learned about the potential changes to Canada’s trademark laws which, if implemented, could impact thousands of Canadian businesses, crown corporations, not-for-profits and other organizations which use trade names, brand names, products or services, but are not trademarked. Risks around an influx of “Trademark trolls” and baseless “trolling” applications by entities seeking to secure rights in trademarks which they have no intention of using were discussed.

Upskilling the Tech Workforce For today and tomorrow


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Big Data Science and Deep Learning: From Academia to Industry This session with Dr. Yang Wang, Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science and Dr. Carson Leung, Professor, Computer Science from the University of Manitoba presented an introduction of the current state of big data science, computer vision, data mining and analytics, and deep learning. Attendees learned what problems can be solved by these technologies, and what are the possible difficulties of adopting these technologies in industry applications, products and workflow.

Consultation on Canada’s 4th Open Government Plan ICTAM presented a session in partnership with The Government of Canada, inviting the community to a consultation to inform Canada’s 4th Open Government Plan. Governments around the world are exploring Open Government and new modes of engaging citizens and organizations in the policy-making process. At the same time, evolving citizens’ expectations, policy problems, and new technologies are reshaping the policy-making landscape. The session started with a general presentation on what Open Government means, and then broke up into smaller thematic groups to focus on potential Open Government commitments. These thematic groups included, Open data portal and support to the private and social sectors; Financial Transparency; Data education; Inclusive policy-making; Public Engagement, and Open approaches to data, science, culture, and other fields.

Storytelling is Good for Business with Tony Chapman As part of ICTAM’s professional development mandate, ICTAM brought internationally renowned entrepreneur, marketing and brand strategist Tony Chapman to Winnipeg for a half day session that included a keynote and a perception-shifting workshop. Chapman is a member of the Marketing Hall of Legends and gave attendees an entertaining and informative talk about how to effectively use character-driven storytelling in business and communication to stand out in today’s clutter of messaging. By telling a story about a product or service that helps a character solve a problem, marketers can leverage the power of empathy and show consumers how and why their products/services fits into their lives.

Implicit & Unconcious Bias WorkshopIn accordance with ICTAM, the Canadian Centre for Women in Science, Engineering, Trades and Technology (WinSETT Centre) developed and focused this session on understanding and identifying Unconscious Bias in the workplace through discussion, self-reflection, and experience-based learning. WinSETT Centre facilitator Kandis Neth led attendees in this session to understand how Unconscious Bias works and the impact it has on workplace culture. Attendees learned how to identify stereotype threat and the myth of meritocracy and discussed how to counter the effects of Unconscious Bias. Industries in science, engineering, trades and tech depend on innovation and they need the diverse skills and perspectives of women to compete in the global economy.


Technology Councils of North America (TECNA) TECNA is comprised of more than fifty IT and technology trade organizations that represent over 22,000 companies in North America. TECNA empowers regional organizations and advocates for the industry in the growing North American tech economy. In 2018, ICTAM participated in the annual TECNA Summer Conference, a two-day event focused on emerging technologies and developing industry trends. These connections with industry associations from around the continent, helping support the Manitoba tech marketplace through partnerships and knowledge sharing.

Canadian Digital Media Network (CDMN) The Canadian Digital Media Network is a group of 26 regional innovation hubs across the country. Focused on digital entrepreneurs, CDMN – a federal Centre of Excellence in Commercialization and Research – shares ICTAM’s dedication to establishing Canada as a world leader in the digital economy. As the Manitoba Hub for CDMN, our members have the opportunity to apply for ‘Get There’, a program offering financial support for tech entrepreneurs to travel for networking and business development opportunities. ICTAM has also leveraged the ‘Passport Program’ to offer our members temporary workspaces at innovation hubs across the country. Additionally, ICTAM members can access ‘Soft Landing’, a program that connects qualified businesses with development opportunities around the world. Ask our Tech West Canada team about how to capitalize on these programs.

Information and Communication Technology Council ICTC’s mission is to strengthen Canada’s digital advantage in a global economy, and they do this in part by working with provincial tech hubs, such as ICTAM. ICTC is the trusted source for evidence-based policy advice, forward looking research, and creative capacity building programs for the digital economy. ICTAM utilizes labour market information resources compiled by ICTC to keep abreast of industry information, relevant to our members. We appreciate ICTC’s support of the DisruptED conference, specifically their investment in introducing youth to cyber security through hands-on learning.

As a member and regional representative for recognized national and international tech associations, ICTAM is your connection to resources and networks beyond provincial borders. When you join ICTAM, we amplify your voice and extend your market reach both at home and abroad.

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Building Connections Our Networks Deliver Value


ICTAM hosted the 2018 Technology Councils of North America (TECNA) CEO Retreat in Winnipeg on April 24-26, 2018. TECNA’s signature event brought together leaders from 3 countries to explore, learn and share strategies on innovation and leadership to better support tech council CEOs and the organizations they lead. The program in Winnipeg featured interactive and engaging sessions designed for leaders to swap ideas, best practices and challenges guided by experienced facilitators.

We were delighted to welcome Mark Chipman, Executive Chairman of the Board of Winnipeg Jets Hockey Club and True North Sports + Entertainment for a ‘fireside chat’ with the Winnipeg Free Press Business Reporter, Martin Cash. Mark stole the show with his humour and grounded, common sense approach to team building and leadership. Other presentations included a keynote by City of Winnipeg CIO and Startup Champion Michael Legary and Nathan Martin, Vice President of OneBeacon Technology Insurance and John Slavic, CEO of Slavic401k.

Winnipeg also made a wonderful impression (no surprise). Our team was still receiving accolades months later from those who attended and spent time in our great city!

Business SponsorsSlavic401k

Tech West Canada

OneBeacon Insurance Group

Apprenti

Reception SponsorZuman

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TECNA CEO Retreat


Finally, two words to our Sponsors:THANK YOU!Each year, movers and shakers in Manitoba’s tech industry make it possible to present events like The Innovators, the ICT Community Dinner, DistruptED and Tech Mash Up. These gatherings bring us together to celebrate our sector in Manitoba. To our annual and event sponsors: we appreciate your continued support.

PRESENTED BY:

• BellMTS

PLATINUM:

• BDO

GOLD:

• IBM

• Red River College

• Manitoba Institute of Trades & Technology

SILVER:

• Online Business Systems

EVENT SUPPORTERS:

• Imaginet

• Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP

• NetSet Communications

• Tangent Animation

PARTNERS:

• 6p Marketing

• CTV

SPECIAL THANKS:

• Unigraphics

• Anthony Allan

Annual Sponsors:• BDO


• DXC.technology

Tech Mash Up:• Norima Consulting


• Sierra Systems

ICT Community Dinner 2017:GOLD:

• BellMTS

• Epic

• Manitoba Institute of Trades & Technology

SILVER:

• Business Development Bank of Canada

BRONZE:

• 6p Marketing

• Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba

• InfoMagnetics Technologies Corporation

DIAMOND:

• University of Manitoba

GOLD:

• DXC.technology

• Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology

• Red River College

SILVER:

• AventPro

• CISCO

• DellEMC

• Intel

• Payworks

BRONZE:

• IBM

• ICTC / CTIC

• Oxygen Technical Services

• RBC

EVENT SUPPORTERS:

• Neovation

• Pembina Trails School Division

PARTNERS:

• Neovation

• Pembina Trails School

• Division

• CTV

• Mitacs

• Relish

• Anthony Allan

• Number TEN Architectural Group

• The Manitoba Government

• NSERC / CRSNG

Special Acknowledgements:• Government of Manitoba

• Government of Canada

• Western Economic Diversification

DisruptED 2018: The Innovators 2018:

435 Ellice Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 1Y6

report to the community 2018 - tech manitoba€¦ · 20% memberships growing 1700 ... creating more...

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