IN THE KNOW:
Ocean tech at the forefront during Demo Day
COAST has announced details of its inaugural Ocean Tech Live: Demo Day event, is set to take place on October 28, 2025 from 2 – 5 pm at Ship Point Pier in Victoria’s inner harbour.
The free event will showcase early-stage ocean technology companies demonstrating their innovations live in front of investors, industry stakeholders, and the broader business community.
It aims to highlight cutting-edge marine and ocean tech solutions across sectors like marine robotics, sustainable fisheries, ocean data analytics, and environmental monitoring, all critical to fostering growth in Canada’s blue economy, and includes Douglas magazine 10 to Watch alumni Ocean AID and Barnacle Systems, among others.
To register and for details, visit the event page.
The next day, COAST will host its annual Pitchfest competition as part of Investor Day, which aims to connect early-stage ocean ventures with investment opportunities.
Victoria businesses among top ranked in Canada
Douglas magazine 10 to Watch alum joni has been ranked 19th on the Globe and Mail’s Top Growing Companies list for 2025, marking a major achievement for the period care company. The ranking adds to its recent list of accomplishments, which include fulfilling its social impact goal of donating 1 million and the naming of CEO Linda Biggs as one of Toast’s Top 25 Women in Tech.
Other notable companies making the list on Vancouver Island are ALUULA Composites, MarineLabs, Open Ocean Robotics, Redbrick, VoxCell BioInnovation, Certn, Peloton Technologies, HiBoop and Solaires.
Ecostar Awards honour local sustainability champions
Finalists have been named for the 2025 EcoStar Awards, which celebrate environmental leadership on Vancouver Island.
Held this year on November 13 at the Inn at Laurel Point in Victoria, the awards highlight businesses, nonprofits, and individuals making impressive strides in sustainability and climate action across sectors like the circular economy, clean oceans, ecological stewardship and experiential tourism.
For the full list of finalists, visit the event page.
Forestry industry hit hard by tariffs
The U.S. has added another round of tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber, increasing the total import duties to 45 percent—as high or higher than tariffs the U.S. charges Russia, and much steeper than the rates for European suppliers.
This new ten percent levy, ordered by President Trump and effective October 14, comes on top of long-standing duties that have been haunting B.C.’s forestry sector for years.
The move is intended to help boost American lumber producers, but economists point out it’ll also drive up costs for U.S. homebuilding and worsen affordability pressures on both sides of the border.
Premier David Eby, union officials, and industry heads issued urgent calls for support at a recent press conference, warning that hundreds of towns and thousands of jobs across B.C. are now at risk.
In response to industry crisis, B.C. is accelerating approvals and permits for major provincial projects—an initial list valued at $20 billion—to stimulate the economy and create more than 8,000 jobs, focusing on helping rural and forestry-dependent communities.
Premier Eby has established a new trade and economic security task force alongside a B.C. softwood advisory council aimed at developing targeted diplomatic and trade strategies.
The province is also expanding the mandate of BC Timber Sales (BCTS) to support jobs, diversify manufacturing, strengthen First Nations partnerships, and guarantee more fibre supply for value-added forestry operations, with new supports and streamlined access to resources for small and local businesses.
BCGEU strike strains economy, workforce
The expanding union worker strike across British Columbia now involves nearly 25,000 members of the BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) and Professional Employees Association (PEA), who are participating in job action at over 470 worksites province-wide as of mid-October 2025.
Job action includes picket lines, overtime bans, and a recent escalation by the PEA after talks with the provincial government failed and a wage offer of 3.5% over two years was rejected.
Union members are seeking a general wage increase of 4% per year for two years, citing inflation and service delivery concerns, while the government’s latest offer remains below that target.
The strike has significantly affected government services and businesses in the region. Ministry offices, Crown corporations, BC Liquor and Cannabis stores, as well as Service BC counters are among the locations experiencing shutdowns or disruptions.
Restaurant and hospitality businesses, in particular, report lost sales due to limited access to liquor and slow permit processing. Additionally, picket lines have been set up at more than 60 sites in Victoria alone, with over 127 picket lines province-wide as of October 2025.
This is the largest BCGEU-led public service strike in more than 40 years, according to union president Paul Finch. More than 10,000 union members and allies marched at the legislature in Victoria on October 6, calling for a fair wage offer—an action echoed by rallies across the province.
Negotiations are currently stalled, with no resolution yet in sight according to both union and provincial government leaders.
FROM THE PAGES OF DOUGLAS:
We explore the reasons behind – and potential impact of – VIATEC’s new BOOST program.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR:
OCTOBER
October 26 – 29: Ocean Floor Explore Conference
October 28: Ocean Tech Live: Demo Day
October 28 – 30: VIEA ‘State of the Island’ Economic Summit
NOVEMBER
November 12: Westshore Chamber of Commerce AGM
November 13: EcoStar Awards
November 15: Colourful Business Expo
November 17 – 21: Victoria Tech Week
November 18: Chamber Marketplace Mixer
Douglas Weekly brings local business news, insights and community spotlights to keep Victoria and Vancouver Island In the Know. Got a story tip? Email us.
