BIV Today

Canada and its neighbour to the south have had some bumps in the road in recent years when it comes to trade relations. Everything from steel tariffs imposed by the Trump Administration to U.S. President Joe Biden’s “Buy American” push have left many businesses concerned. And on Canada’s part, trucker blockades at the border haven’t helped much either. The fact is, th...

Many folks might have some anxiety about automation and whether their own jobs could become redundant as technology takes over many more of roles in the workplace, be it bookkeeping or manufacturing. But are those worries really justified? Are robots really coming for our jobs? Jim Stanford is a labour economist and director at the Centre for Future Work. His new report – Where are the Robot...

John Bromley, CEO of the donor-advised fund Charitable Impact that recently surpassed the $1 billion mark in funds, discusses the decline in Canadian giving and how donors are responding to opportunities to better manage their funds. He is in conversation with BIV publisher and editor-in-chief Kirk LaPointe. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Megan Conway, the CEO and President of Volunteer Canada, talks about the opportunities for business and policy to support volunteerism. This is National Volunteer Week. She is in conversation with BIV publisher and editor in chief Kirk LaPointe. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Major Appliance Recycling Roundtable (MARR) has helped British Columbians safely recycle their large appliances and has made British Columbia a leader in fashioning national standards to keep these items out of landfill. Michael Zarbl, MARR's executive director, discusses the challenges and achievements of the roundtable. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vancity, the country's largest customer credit union, has taken a leadership role in supporting investment in clean technology and in pursuing a net-zero carbon economy in all its activities. Jonathan Fowlie, Vancity's chief external relations officer, discusses the challenges and the accomplishments that position Vancity as a leader among financial institutions. See omnystudio.com/listener for pr...

FortisBC, the natural gas and electricity utility, faces the challenge of developing a renewable source of energy in order to help industry and individuals meet the climate change goals. Joe Mazza, FortisBC’s vice president of energy supply and resource development, discusses the challenges and the achievements positioning FortisBC as a North American leader. See omnystudio.com/listener for...

Elizabeth Coulombe, the founder of Tero, discusses a poll commissioned by the composting device company for Angus Reid Forum that suggests young people are quite worried about the health of the planet. She is in conversation with BIV publisher and editor-in-chief Kirk LaPointe. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

B.C.'s economy continues to move at a clip as it bounces back from the outset of the pandemic. Still, businesses are dealing with pressures from inflation, supply chain disruptions and access to labour. B.C.'s booming construction sector is no stranger to those same challenges, despite new data showing significant growth over the past five years. Chris Atchison, president of the B.C. Construction...

On this episode of EDI on BIV, guests from the UBC-based non-profit Blueprint discuss corporate leadership in the wake of #MeToo and Black Lives Matter. Blueprint founder Dr. John Izzo, and director of engagement and partnerships Nicky Dhaliwal, discuss their research with KidSafe CEO Chantelle Krish and BIV executive editor Hayley Woodin. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Retail Insider's Craig Patterson joins BIV Today to discuss why Jollibee is such a phenomenon in Vancouver, plus inflation pressures on the retail industry and whether Huawei can make a comeback in Canada. Tyler Orton hosts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sai Huda, CEO of CyberCatch, is an author of national cybersecurity standards for small- and medium-sized businesses in Canada. He recently partnered with the Surrey Board of Trade to raise awareness and security among its membership. He talks about the new environment and the challenges for business in protecting data. He is in conversation with BIV publisher and editor-in-chief Kirk LaPointe. Se...

On this episode of EDI on BIV, the Honourable Janet Austin, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, discusses why equity, diversity and inclusion is a priority area, and how industry can lead when it comes to supporting diversity in business. Chantelle Krish, CEO of KidSafe, joins BIV executive editor Hayley Woodin as a co-host. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Be it a bad call or an uncanny goal, sports fans are always all over Twitter with their takes (good or bad). Engagement on the social media platform has been changing in recent months, though, after Ottawa gave provinces the power to regulate single-game sports betting. B.C. was among the first to allow such wagers and new changes rolling out this week in Ontario have the potential to shake u...

Prem Gill is the CEO of Creative BC, an agency promoting everything from the film and TV sector to the music industry here on the West Coast. She joins BIV Today to discuss a new initiative aimed making the film sector better reflect what B.C. looks like. Tyler Orton hosts.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2020 Super Bowl champion Dr. Laurent Duvernay-Tardif talks about his decision to sit out a year in the NFL to minister to a long-term care home in his native Quebec and about his new commitment to helping young people as a brand ambassador with Sodexo Canada to be physically active and make the best nutritional choices. He is in conversation with BIV publisher and editor-in-chief Kirk LaPointe. Se...

The Globe Forum is set to return to Vancouver next week after two years. It's one of the biggest conferences in the world focused on sustainability. Everything from electric cars to climate tech will be getting a showcase. But as countries try to attain net zero goals, should we be taking a closer look at off-setting emissions through vehicles powered by hydrogen? Matthew Klippenstein of the...

South Surrey-White Rock Conservative MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay discusses the Liberal-NDP pact, its impact on the Conservatives, and the Canadian response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. She is in conversation with BIV publisher and editor-in-chief Kirk LaPointe. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As unicorn after unicorn emerges from B.C. during the pandemic, these $1-billion tech companies are increasingly turning to Ireland to meet demand for talent and business know-how. Deirdre Moran, vice-president of technology and consumer services at Ireland’s International Development Agency (Canada), joins BIV Today to discuss why West Coast companies are tapping the island nation as a gate...

For many, quantum computing remains more of an abstract endeavour whose tangible impacts may not manifest for years. While advances in financial and medical applications have gotten much attention, many are still waiting for real-world applications to emerge in industries such as design and manufacturing. Zac Hudson, an associate professor of chemistry at UBC, joins BIV Today to discuss how his re...

Salesforce’s interest in the B.C. tech scene is showing no signs of slowing down. After acquiring startup Mobify and Vancouverite Stewart Butterfield’s Slack in the past few years, the CRM giant has set its sights on Burnaby software firm Traction on Demand. Traction founder and CEO Greg Malpass joins BIV Today to discuss why now was the right time to sell his company. BIV’s Tyle...

The CEO of Canada's largest cleantech accelerator joins BIV's Women in Leadership series, sponsored by PwC. Foresight's Jeanette Jackson and Rajveer Hundal, B.C. technology leader and a partner with PwC Canada, discuss leadership and mentorship with BIV executive editor Hayley Woodin. The conversation covers the importance of training the next generation of leaders, the value of bi-directional men...

An expert who helps guide ESG investing at a firm that manages nearly $200 billion in assets joins  BIV 's Women in Leadership series, sponsored by PwC. Jennifer Coulson is senior managing director of ESG at BCI. She and Shelley Gilberg, PwC Canada's leader of ESG markets and consulting, discuss environmental, social and governance-based investing with  BIV  executive editor Ha...

The first Indigenous woman in Canada to launch an airline joins  BIV 's Women in Leadership series, sponsored by PwC. Teara Fraser is the founder and lead executive of Iskwew Air. She and Brooke Ko, PwC Canada's B.C. region inclusion and diversity leader, discuss equity, diversity and inclusion with BIV executive editor Hayley Woodin. The conversation critically examines corporate l...

As we reflect on two years since the pandemic brought on lockdowns and restrictions, one demographic still carrying a heavier burden in the workforce is women. Data shows most jobs affected by shut downs and restrictions were in industries that women were more likely to work in. So where do we stand in 2022 vs. 2020? Jenny Siman, a vice-president at Canadian Western Bank, joins BIV Today to talk a...