Vancouver's data centre boom and the questions it raises

Where food industry tech is falling short of real needs

A hands-on NFC session, tomorrow

​In just 18 months, Vancouver has become one of the front lines of the AI infrastructure buildout and the questions it raises don't have easy answers.

​Join Vancouver Tech Journal to uncover where the province is headed in this sector, the sentiments and what the future holds for us.

​On September 17, explore the evolution of computer vision in a hands-on workshop with Dr. Lino Coria at the Northeastern University Vancouver campus. Compare rule-based systems, neural networks, and today's vision-language models to discover how modern AI interprets images.

​The food industry is one of Canada's largest and most complex technology frontiers, yet many still view it through a consumer lens. Behind every product on the shelf is a system powered by software, automation, robotics, data infrastructure and digital platforms—and today, that system is under pressure. Labour shortages, rising costs, supply chain disruptions, food safety risks and climate realities are forcing companies to rethink how food is made, moved and experienced.

​This session bridges the gap between BC's tech sector and the food industry. Through honest conversation between food manufacturers, foodservice operators and innovators, attendees will learn where technology can create meaningful operational impact—and where solutions risk becoming novel but disconnected from real industry needs.

​​​Vancouver Tech Days is back for round two. Vol. 1 sold out in five days and went over capacity — proof that this city's builders want more than another networking mixer. They want real playbooks from teams that have actually scaled.

​Vol. 1 speakers included Sarah Huggins (Hiive), Don Murray (Safe Software), Edward Chiang (Moment Energy), James Clift (Durable), and Gary Agnew (Ideon Technologies) — and Vol. 2 is shaping up to be even bigger.

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​NFC is in your transit card, your hotel key, your product's pairing handoff. It looks like magic right up until you understand data and energy transfer that takes place. That's the gap this session closes.

​This is an interactive session. Odi will walk through NFC from the hardware up: how a tag is powered, what actually lives on it, and how to program your own. Bring a laptop and follow along, we'll write to a tag together before the night's out.

Apply for this cost-sharing grant program that funds small, medium and large enterprises to support skills training for their workforces, including prospective new hires.