BC Business
The gala was the first virtual affair in the event's 27-year history.
TIAs co-host Riaz Meghji with the finalists
Some big names took home honours at the nonprofit BC Tech Association‘s Technology Impact Awards.
The 27th edition of the event was held virtually, drawing a record attendance of more than 800. “With members of the tech community having more reasons than ever to feel proud of their accomplishments, it was thrilling to share this pride with so many people,” said BC Tech president and CEO Jill Tipping, who hosted the TIAs with Riaz Meghji, former broadcaster and founder of Every Conversation Counts.
Viewers got to see a combination of massive companies and up-and-comers collect awards in a three-part ceremony.
Part one of the gala, titled Origin Story, focused on businesses that “are powered by purpose and break new ground, embracing what it means to think different,'” according to Tipping.
That category’s four winners, all based in Vancouver, were workforce transformation platform SkyHive Technologies (Spirit of BC Tech Purpose), agriculture cleantech firm Terramera (Excellence in Technology Innovation), medical tech manufacturer NZ Technologies (Company of the Year Startup Success) and construction equipment provider Finning (Excellence in Technology Adoption).
Part two, Growth Story, identified four companies with, as a TIA release described it, the “potential to build something exceptional.”
The Vancouver-headquartered winners: software firm Klue Labs (Company of the Year Growth Success), identity verification service Trulioo (Company of the Year Scale Success), infrastructure analytics outfit Copperleaf Technologies (Tech Culture of the Year) and biotech player AbCellera Biologics (Excellence in Global Export).
Finally, the awards “celebrated companies and individuals that lead in a way that inspires not only their teams but our whole community, building the foundation of B.C.’s future economy,” in the Legacy Story category.
To that end, household name Telus Corp. (Company of the Year Anchor Success) and landing page developer Unbounce (GameChanger: Diversity and Inclusion) won TIAs.
The only non-Vancouver-based winner of the night? That would be Jack Newton, named Person of the Year for his work as co-founder and CEO of Burnaby legal software firm Clio.
“Grounded in purpose, our ecosystem is tackling the biggest challenges of our time,” Tipping said in her closing remarks.
“As we work to make B.C. the best place to grow and scale a tech company and advance tech adoption in every industry, the community’s grit and passion have given new meaning to our annual celebration of the change makers, the up-and-comers, the innovators and the bold.”