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Correction The article Hot tub gets heavy duty heater (News, Feb. 3) should have stated the hot tub at Panorama Recreation Centre is expected to reopen on Feb. 15.
Seeking winning words Every year, the Victoria Writers’ Society hosts a writing contest to find the best original, unpublished work from writers on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. Successful entries will be published in Island Writer Magazine. The entry fee is $15 for members and $20 for non-members. Deadline for entries is May 1. Cash prizes will be awarded to winners. For complete contest rules and categories, go to www.victoriawriters.ca.
Victoria’s Annual Seed & Garden Show
February 18 • 10- 4
Victoria Conference Centre • $7 (U-12 free) www.jamesbaymarket.com/seedysaturday
BC JOBS PLAN: TECHNOLOGY Technology is a fast-growing sector of the B.C. economy. The industry is a magnet for highly educated professionals attracted to world-class high-tech clusters including the life-sciences, digital media and wireless, information and communications technology, ocean sciences and motion picture production. The average wage of $63,440 is more than 52% above the average for all jobs in British Columbia, which makes this sector even more attractive to job seekers. In 2009, the high-tech industry provided 84,000 jobs with a total salary bill that added up to $5.3 billion, up from $4 billion in 2007. The job growth will continue, with a projected 57,000 technology jobs opening by 2019, and an annual growth rate of 2.2%. British Columbia attracts global technology leaders, including Pixar, Disney, Boeing, MDA, Microsoft, Sierra Wireless, SAP, Dolby Canada, and Intel. These major technology companies look for a stable economy with a supply of experienced employees and a supportive government. British Columbia has both. It helps that the University of British Columbia is rated No. 1 in terms of technology licensing, an indicator of a high level of success and a culture that nurtures innovation. A healthy high-tech sector also attracts investors who are impressed by the industry’s performance. Revenues have more than tripled in the decade leading up to 2007, and were up another 4.4% by 2009, to $18.9 billion. Currently, investors receive a 30% refundable tax credit, supporting up to $100 million in investment every year. The provincial government, seeing the role they can play in this fast growing sector, will increase the value of this program by $3 million, allowing more individuals known as ‘angel investors’ to put their own capital directly into eligible small business, and to offer strategic expertise. B.C. firms attracted more than 19% of Canada’s venture capital investments in 2010, with B.C. the top province in life sciences venture capital investments. High technology wears many hats. The BC Cancer Agency is a world leader in cancer research, and B.C. is North America’s third-largest centre for film and TV production, averaging $1.2 billion in spending per year, 80% of which is foreign money. The global entertainment and media industry is expected to grow by five per cent a year to 2014, when it will hit $1.7 trillion. B.C. is well positioned to take advantage of this growth. The high-technology industry is not an island. This sector supports B.C.’s entire economy by helping other industries become more innovative, productive and globally competitive. Digital media and interactive gaming technologies are being used in education, agriculture, mining and health care. A perfect example of technology being developed to save a B.C. treasure is a company fighting a yearly nightmare. Every British Columbian is totally aware of the danger of wild fires to one of our most treasured and valuable assets, our magnificent forests which stretch through every corner of our province. Forest Technology Systems, based in Victoria, is a world leader in the design and manufacture
of remote weather monitoring equipment used to predict, prevent and manage wildfires. They are the single largest fire weather-monitoring network in the world. You see examples of their work every day when you see the fire danger signs on the roads across North America. The data used to provide the info on those signs is from their equipment. During forest fires, their equipment is used to help forest agencies fight the fires and know where to deploy resources. It makes perfect sense that one of their oldest customers is the BC Ministry of Forests. This highly successful British Columbia company has had phenomenal growth over the years with a staggering 68% growth in sales in 2011, this despite the slow down of the world economy. The company is still maintained as a private company with 50 employees and growing and with up to $10M in annual sales. Not to rest on their laurels, FTS is expanding into global markets including Germany, Korea, Japan, China and Australia. This expansion requires recruiting new employees to fill good, stable, high-level jobs. The future is very bright for FTS Other impacts are more global. With an estimated 5.3 billion mobile phone subscribers worldwide – India and China added 300 million subscribers in 2010 alone – the demand for digital, wireless and screen-based entertainment is immense. These two countries, India and China, are undergoing mass movements to urbanization, which also gives B.C. opportunities to offer them clean, efficient energy, waste reduction and health-care solutions. B.C. is perfectly aligned to supply a healthy portion of this demand in the coming years. Airplane sales around the world are expected to reach $US3.6 trillion over the next 20 years to replace aging planes and expand fleets, providing opportunities for our advanced manufacturing sector. Plus, as a climate change leader, we are at the forefront of renewable energy technology development. Finding new markets for our solar, wind, biomass and other technologies can help turn B.C. into a cleantech powerhouse. As Canada’s Pacific Gateway, B.C. is strategically located to reach growing global markets. In addition, B.C. is close to technology and entertainment hubs in Los Angeles, Silicon Valley and Seattle. Under the BC Jobs Plan, the provincial government will work with the federal government to meet our workforce needs and expedite the immigration process for researchers and scientists in other parts of the world who want to bring their expertise to British Columbia. B.C.’s fast-tracked immigration process through the Provincial Nominee Program encourages firms to locate in B.C. so they can hire experienced business immigrants. The B.C. government’s focus on this sector, identified as one of the eight key sectors with the greatest opportunity to bring new dollars into our economy from our most important trading partners, helps nurture an industry that has immense potential to accelerate growth throughout the province.
WednesdayFebruary February8, 8,2012 2012 --PENINSULA PENINSULA NEWS NEWS REVIEW REVIEW Wednesday,
POLICE NEWS IN BRIEF
Pound of pot pulled in Police round up teen Pat Bay Hwy traffic stop B&E suspects A pair of men face drug charges after Sidney North Saanich RCMP stopped a red BMW Sunday, Feb. 5 around 4:30 in the afternoon. They stopped the car on Highway 17 as it left Sidney, for a violation of new driver regulations. Subsequent dealings with both the driver and the passenger led to them being arrested for possession. Police searched the vehicle and found just shy of a half kilogram of marijuana in the trunk. Police say the street value of the weed is $2,500. A baseball bat was within reach of the driver. The vehicle and pot were seized. The Victoria man driving, 21, and the Central Saanich man, 22, in the passenger seat were held in custody for court Monday to face charges of possession for the purpose of trafficking.
When owners of a house in the 11000 block of Dunne Road stepped out to run errands Saturday, they returned to chaos. Around 12:30 p.m. on Feb. 4 they returned to their North Saanich home to find someone had entered through an unlocked door and stolen money, liquor and a laptop computer. A neighbour gave police descriptions of four youth seen leaving the property. Sidney North Saanich RCMP officers found two teens matching the description leaving the area. Police said the Sidney teens aged 13 and 14 were carrying bottles of liquor stolen from the house. Later that afternoon, police identified two other boys believed to be involved. Two 15-year-old boys from North Saanich were arrested at their
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homes. All four were released to their parents after a bail hearing.
Firearms stolen during daytime home break-in
Central Saanich police are hoping to find witnesses to a daytime break and enter last Wednesday. Sometime between 8 a.m. and noon on Feb. 1 someone broke into a house in the 7400 block of East Saanich Road. It appears the thief or theives forced open a window. Police say the house was ransacked. Shotguns, ammunition, computers, electronic games and jewelry were taken and carried out in a large green Rubbermaid container. The firearms and ammunition had been lawfully stored. Central Saanich police are asking witnesses to call police at 250-652-4441 and ask for the watch commander. Peninsula Players is seeking talented actors to perform in their spring production of...
“How the other half Loves” directed by Sid Clarke.
Audition Dates: Thursday, Feb. 9, 16
Saturday, Feb. 11
7:30 p.m. Mary Winspear Centre 2243 Beacon Ave., Sidney
2:00 p.m. Mary Winspear Centre 2243 Beacon Ave., Sidney
CAST REQUIREMENTS: 3 Women (20-40), 3 Men (20-40), Stage Manager, Producer More information call Sid Clarke at: 250-656-8975
? E N E C S E M I IS THIS A CR No one should ever be pressured, forced or tricked into giving money — even to loved ones. If someone you trust is taking advantage of you, help is out there. Learn the signs of financial abuse to protect yourself and the people you love.
To find out more from the Government of Canada about preventing elder abuse, visit www.seniors.gc.ca or call 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232) TTY: 1-800-926-9105