NEWS
Discover the latest news from SOMA, our clients, relevant industries and beyond.
New Vancouver conference created to support Indigenous tech community
An inaugural tech conference created by and for Indigenous communities is bringing industry leaders together to propel others forward. As CBC's Pinki Wong tells us, organizers call this the largest gathering for Indigenous tech innovation in Canada.
ITC says Canada’s largest Indigenous tech conference aims to break down silos
Next week, the Indigenous Tech Circle (ITC) is hosting its first Indigenous Tech Conference. Set to take place on Jan. 20 and Jan. 21 at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel, ITC expects the inaugural event to bring together more than 250 Indigenous founders, tech professionals, investors, community partners, allies, and policymakers, which it says would make the conference Canada’s largest gathering dedicated to Indigenous folks in tech.
Why Lubricant Packaging Needs its Own EPR Pathway
As more states consider their own EPR laws, they should look closely at what the lubricant industry has built. When it comes to EPR, one size does not fit all, and the systems that perform best are those designed by the people who know the materials best.
ThinkLabs AI Teams with Southern California Edison to Deploy Scalable Grid Solutions
ThinkLabs AI, a company specializing in AI-driven grid solutions, today announced results in collaboration with Southern California Edison (SCE), using physics-informed AI digital twins to model and analyze electric distribution and sub-transmission networks. This technology enables AI-powered automation of grid energization requests, accelerating connections and enhancing reliability.
Food Waste Innovation
SOMA worked with one of Light House’s Circular Construction Accelerator (CCA) companies, Ergo Eco Solutions, to raise awareness of a pilot project delivered in partnership with the Malahat Nation on Vancouver Island.
Global News: Holiday recycling
The holiday season can be the both the busiest and confusing time of year for recycling. What gift wrappings can be thrown out into the trash and what can be recycled? Ann Goulding from Recycle BC joins Global News Morning to guide us through the process this Christmas.
Millionaire Lottery dream home blends Shaughnessy’s heritage with sleek Scandi style
Winning the grand prize residence at Whitford Shaughnessy in the 2025 VGH+ Millionaire Lottery would realize a dream of not only having a home in the pricey Vancouver real estate market but also one in the prestigious west side neighbourhood.
Myriad Uranium Corp: Could This Be North America's Largest Uranium Find
SOMA recently secured a media opportunity for Myriad Uranium with StockBox Media, a leading platform for investor-focused interviews and market insights. In the feature, Thomas Lamb, CEO of Myriad Uranium, discussed the company’s ambitions to develop one of the largest uranium projects in the United States.
AI-powered project at Vancouver hospital aims to transform heart failure detection
A Vancouver-based research team is using artificial intelligence to change how doctors detect and diagnose heart failure—a condition experts say is becoming increasingly common across Canada.
Dr. Christina Luong, a cardiologist and co-director of the VGH-UBC Artificial Intelligence Echo Core Lab, is leading the study, which is funded in part by proceeds from the VGH Millionaire Lottery.
Canada rallying G7 countries around a new critical mineral alliance
Energy Minister Tim Hodgson is set to announce a new alliance to secure critical minerals for G7 countries, a source told CTV News.
The goal of the alliance is to “secure transparent, democratic, and environmentally responsible critical minerals for G7 partners,” according to the source who spoke on background. They described it as a central outcome of Canada’s G7 strategy.
South Surrey home featured as a grand prize in lottery
This year's lottery features 10 grand prize options — the grand prize winner can choose from home packages in South Surrey (12686 25 Avenue), Langley, Vancouver, Burnaby, Kelowna, Courtenay, Sooke, and Colwood, with packages valued at more than $3.3 million — and the winner also has the option of $3 million tax-free cash, the largest cash prize ever offered in a B.C. lottery, a lottery release noted.
Dream Lottery’s support of research and care at BC Children’s Hospital
SOMA secured a Global News interview for Dream Lottery, featuring Kai and his mom, Jen. The story highlighted Kai’s journey with epilepsy and the vital role BC Children’s Hospital has played in his care.
The interview helped raise awareness of how Dream Lottery proceeds directly support life-saving research and innovations at BC Children’s Hospital.
Oil packaging group’s individual program plan approved for Colorado EPR
The Lubricant Packaging Manufacturers Association, which was founded by petroleum companies last year in response to state EPR laws, hopes there will also be alternative pathways in other states.
Cheering for the Cougars, Canucks and for life, two-year-old Mavrik’s cancer battle update
While most two-year-olds live care-free, delighting in playtime and toy-filled adventures, Mavrik from Prince George, has been overcoming challenges far greater than most could imagine. Diagnosed with high-risk neuroblastoma just after his second birthday, Mavrik’s resilience and spirit have touched everyone at BC Children’s Hospital, where he’s been receiving life-saving treatments since October 2024.
How confusion and inconvenience are filling B.C. landfills with recyclable plastics
The organization behind B.C.'s recycling system wants residents to do more to keep plastics from going to landfills or ending up as litter — as only 45 per cent of plastic packaging used by residents is recovered for recycling.
"There's been a lot of hesitancy around recycling, but our model proves that you can have a system that responsibly manages and recycles these plastics," said Sam Baker, executive director of Recycle B.C.
Likely landfill received replacement oil recycling container
Earlier this week the Likely Landfill received a replacement 10-foot sea container and an 1,100 litre tank for used oil collection.
Pitching in: Cleaning up the ocean to preserve nature in B.C.
Chloe Dubois and her partner James Middleton were watching a documentary several years ago about the plight of albatrosses on the Midway Atoll in the Pacific Ocean, a collection of islands that have become a collection point for mountains of plastic waste.
The couple were living on a boat in British Columbia at the time and their lives revolved around sea life. He was a boat captain and she worked in environment and resource management.
Canucks: B.C. cancer initiative hits home for Kirk and Genevieve McLean
One in two British Columbians will face a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime, so ensuring specialists and superior resources are present to combat the disease is of paramount importance. VGH is the largest and most advanced hospital in the province, but there is an urgent need to expand capacity to better address cancer cases.
The campaign has a goal of raising $35 million to produce treatments for patients across B.C. The initiative aligns with the provincial government’s 10-year Cancer Action Plan announced in 2023. Community support and donations are also essential to help deliver world-class care and drive the next generation of cancer-fighting technology and treatments.
There's a new way for Yukon residents to recycle household hazardous waste
There is a new way for Yukoners to recycle certain household hazardous waste, after Interchange Recycling opened a new collection site at the Whitehorse waste management facility on Friday.
The site accepts lubricating oil, antifreeze, diesel exhaust fluid, oil filters and all automotive containers.
Interchange has partnered with local company KBL Environment to operate the new site. After KBL collects the material, it will be shipped to processors outside of the territory.
Jenn Robson, the director of operations at Interchange Recycling, said the new collection site will ensure hazardous materials are disposed of responsibly.
AI for Grid as Canada’s New Superpower
We’re in the era when energy underpins economic progress and competitive advantage. From integrating distributed renewables to energy storage, enabling electrified transportation to powering data centres, and powering remote microgrids to urban load centres, the electric grid has long been the backbone of industrial society.
The next great Canadian innovation story won’t come from oil or minerals but from electrons, and more importantly, from the intelligence that controls how they flow. With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) as its brain, and clean, reliable, affordable energy as its heart, the smart grid is no longer a technical ambition. It’s an economic imperative.