| Photos, videos and artist renderings are available for use in whole or in part without permission provided they are used unaltered. No credit line is required. |
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
SMART STREET LIGHTS
April 8, 2009
Ida Chong, Minister of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development and Vincent Krynski, CEO of Streetlight Intelligence in Victoria, tour smart street lighting technology, which deploys a wireless Internet device and central monitoring system to dim street lights when they are not needed. The technology, which received $1.3 million from the Innovative Clean Energy Fund, could reduce street light energy consumption by 40 per cent, enabling municipalities to save costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Click here for full-size photo |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
MINISTER ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF CANCER RESEARCH CHAIR
April 7, 2009
Ida Chong, Minister of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development, tours labs at the BC Cancer Agency Research Centre in Vancouver with Dr. François Bénard (standing), one of Canada's foremost nuclear medicine researchers, who has been appointed B.C. Leadership Chair in Functional Cancer Imaging. (Seated is PhD student Simon Authier.) The $4.5-million endowment for the chair was funded by the Province and the BC Cancer Foundation. Dr. Bénard will develop new radiotracers and treatments, as well as combining advanced nuclear medicine imaging with gene science to study breast cancer, prostate cancer and lymphoma. [News release]
Click here for full-size photo |
|
|
|
 |
|
Celebrating the appointment of the new B.C. Leadership Chair in Functional Cancer Imaging, from left: Denise Turner, vice-chair of the Provincial Health Services Association board; Martha Salcudean, chair of the board of the Leading Edge Endowment Fund; Ida Chong, Minister of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development; Dr. François Bénard; Brian Schmidt, BC Cancer Agency interim president; BC Cancer Foundation interim CEO Pat Jacobsen; John Hepburn, VP research at the University of British Columbia; and Richard Lee, MLA for Burnaby North.
Click here for full-size photo |
|
|
|
 |
|
Instrument specialist John Fee shows Minister Chong some of the equipment that is used by Dr. François Bénard in the lab at the BC Cancer Agency Research Centre. Dr. Bénard will also conduct some of his research at a new lab, being built across the street, which will house a cyclotron that will produce isotopes for research as well as to treat B.C. cancer patients.
Click here for full-size photo |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
B.C. LEADS CANADA WITH LABOUR MOBILITY BILL
March 12, 2009
B.C. has become the first province in Canada to introduce legislation to dismantle barriers to full labour mobility to all trades and professions.
Officials (from left to right) Jim Kenyon, Minister of Economic Development, Yukon Territory; Ida Chong, Minister of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Asia-Pacific Initiative; Joan McIntyre, Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations; Murray Coell, Minister of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development. Joining the celebration are representatives from the Association of Professional Engineers and GeoScientists of BC, the Architectural Institute of British Columbia, the British Columbia Institute of Agrologists, the Association of BC Land Surveyors, the Certified Management Accountants Society of BC, the Consumer Protection Authority of BC, the College of Opticians of BC, the Applied Science, Technologists and Technicians of BC
Click here for full-size photo
| |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
ASIA-PACIFIC BUSINESS CENTRE OPENS
March 6, 2009
Minister Ida Chong met with dignitaries for the official opening of the Asia-Pacific Business Centre, in Robson Square, Vancouver. The Asia-Pacific Business Centre is a first point of contact for B.C.-based businesses seeking strategic market intelligence, referrals and information on doing business in Asia. It will also assist incoming investors from Asia connect to business and economic opportunities in British Columbia |
| |
|
|
 |
|
(From left): Yuen Pau Woo, president and CEO of the Asia-Pacific Foundation of Canada; Ida Chong, Minister of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Asia-Pacific Initiative; Arthur Hara, past-chair of the Asia-Pacific Trade Council; Joan McIntyre, Minister of state for Intergovernmental Relations; Richard T. Lee, MLA Burnaby-North and parliamentary secretary for the Asia-Pacific Initiative.
Click here for full-size photo
| |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
MINISTER OPENS GUANGZHOU TRADE AND INVESTMENT OFFICE
Feb. 8, 2009
Ida Chong, Minister of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Asia-Pacific Initiative, helps open British Columbia’s new trade and investment office in Guangzhou. During her visit to China, the minister also opened a new office in Beijing. Including the established Shanghai location, British Columbia now has three trade offices in China. |
| |
|
 |
|
(From left): Cathy Yao, British Columbia’s Guangzhou trade and investment representative; Chen Wenjie, president of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Guangdong Sub-council; the minister; Liang Guixuan, deputy director general of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Co-operation; and David Bostwick, acting Canadian consul general in Guangzhou.
Click here for full-size photo
| |
|
|
|
 |
|
(From left): Cathy Yao, British Columbia’s Guangzhou trade and investment representative; Chen Wenjie, president of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Guangdong Sub-council; Minister Ida Chong; Liang Guixuan, deputy director general of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Co-operation; and David Bostwick, acting Canadian consul general in Guangzhou.
Click here for full-size photo
| |
|
|
|
 |
|
(From left): Cathy Yao, British Columbia’s Guangzhou trade and investment representative; Minister Ida Chong; Liang Guixuan, deputy director general of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Co-operation; and David Bostwick, acting Canadian consul general in Guangzhou.
Click here for full-size photo
| |
|
|
|
 |
|
(From left): Cathy Yao, British Columbia’s Guangzhou trade and investment representative; Minister Ida Chong; and Chen Wenjie, president of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Guangdong Sub-council.
Click here for full-size photo
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MINISTER CHONG OPENS BEIJING TRADE AND INVESTMENT OFFICE
Feb. 7, 2009
Ida Chong, Minister of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Asia-Pacific Initiative, helps open British Columbia’s new trade and investment office in Beijing. The minister also opened a new office in Guangzhou during her visit to China. British Columbia now has three trade and investment offices in China, including one in Shanghai. |
| |
|
 |
|
(Left to right): Zhang Yingxin, deputy director general of the China Investment Promotion Agency; the minister; Jin Xu, director general of the Department of American and Oceanian Affairs; Robert Wright, Canadian ambassador to China; and Kevin Tsui, British Columbia’s Beijing trade and investment representative.
Click here for full-size photo
| |
|
|
|
 |
|
(Left to right): Mei Ping, chairman of the China National Committee for Pacific Economic Co-operation and former ambassador to Canada; Robert Wright, Canadian ambassador to China; Minister Ida Chong; Jin Xu, director general of the Department of American and Oceanian Affairs; and Kevin Tsui, British Columbia’s Beijing trade and investment representative.
Click here for full-size photo
| |
|
|
|
 |
|
Minister Ida Chong and Kevin Tsui, British Columbia’s Beijing trade and investment representative.
Click here for full-size photo
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
CANADIAN FINANCING FORUM ANNOUNCES AWARD WINNING TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES
Jan. 30, 2009
Ida Chong Minister of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development, joined Geoff Catherwood, Director of Business Development Bank of Canada, Venture Capital Division and Todd Tessier, vice president of BC Renaissance Capital Fund Ltd, for the 12th annual 2009 Canadian Financing Forum in Vancouver. Geoff Catherwood accepted the Forum Favourite Award for Best Company in cleantech and advanced technology, on behalf of General Fusion Inc. The Forum showcased the best and most promising private technology companies in Canada and provided networking opportunities for interested investors from around the world.
Click here for full-size photo
| |
|
|
|
 |
|
At the 12th annual Canadian Financing Forum in Vancouver, Minister Ida Chong presented Doug Wiggan, CEO of Switch Materials, with the Best Early Stage Company Award in clean technology. Todd Tessier, Vice President of BC Renaissance Capital Fund Ltd, accompanied the minister during the finance forum. The Canadian Financing Forum matches North American corporate and venture capital investors with entrepreneurs looking to build world-class technology companies.
Click here for full-size photo
| |
|
|
|
 |
|
Ida Chong, Minister of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development, presents Robin Louis, past president of Ventures West, with a Recognition Award, for his many years of service in the Canadian venture capital industry. The 12th annual Canadian Financing Forum was held in Vancouver and showcased some of the best technology companies in Canada. The annual Financing Forum provides Canadian and international investors opportunities to connect with promising young Canadian technology companies.
Click here for full-size photo
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
MINISTER TOURS BLUSSON SPINAL CORD CENTRE
Jan. 14, 2009
During a tour of the new Blusson Spinal Cord Centre, Ida Chong, Minister of Technology, Trade and Economic Development, and Rick Hansen, president and CEO of the Rick Hansen Foundation, listen to John Steeves, director of International Collaboration On Repair Discoveries, explain how a specially built treadmill is used to evaluate wheelchair design. The Blusson Spinal Cord Centre in Vancouver is the world’s largest, most advanced and most comprehensive facility devoted to spinal cord injury research and patient care. The Province provided $12.9 million for the centre through its B.C. Knowledge Development Fund. [News release]
Click here for full-size photo
| |
|
|
|
 |
|
Trainee Kip Kramer shows Ida Chong, Minister of Technology, Trade and Economic Development, a new portable device that measures and monitors sensory functions after a spinal cord injury. John Steeves, director of International Collaboration On Repair Discoveries, observes the demonstration at the new Blusson Spinal Cord Centre.
Click here for full-size photo
| |
|
|
|
 |
|
Minister Ida Chong is joined, from left, by Wolfram Tetzlaff of International Collaboration On Repair Discoveries; Rick Hansen, president and CEO of the Rick Hansen Foundation; and John Steeves, ICORD director and Leading Edge Endowment Fund B.C. Leadership Chair in Spinal Cord Research, for a tour of the Blusson Cord Spinal Centre's state-of-the-art facilities in Vancouver. The Province provided $12.9 million for the centre through its B.C. Knowledge Development Fund.
Click here for full-size photo
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
OPPORTUNITIES NORTH: THE NORTHERN ECONOMIC SUMMIT
Jan. 23, 2009
Ida Chong, Minister of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development and Minister Responsible for the Asia-Pacific Initiative with Dr. Charles Yago, Interim President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Northern British Columbia, at Opportunities North: the Northern Economic Summit in Prince George.
The two-day Summit held in Prince George had over 500 attendees including representatives of the local hospitality, mining, energy, forestry, transportation and construction industries; local, provincial and federal government; educational institutions; chambers of commerce; First Nations groups; economic development and employment agencies; real estate firms; financial institutions; and professional associations. The purpose of the Summit was to hear from participants about their ideas for the future and the priorities for British Columbia’s economy.
During the Summit, Dr. Jago announced a proposal for a New North Foundation at UNBC that would connect researchers to areas of critical importance to the regional economy. [News release]
Click here for full-size photo
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Ida Chong Minister of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development and Minister Responsible for the Asia-Pacific Initiative speaks with Mr. David Kim of Kim Forest Management Ltd. at Opportunities North: the Northern Economic Summit in Prince George.
Click here for full-size photo
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
RESEARCH TO SHED NEW LIGHT ON EARTH'S SURFACE
Jan. 19, 2009
Ida Chong, Minister of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development, watches Dr. Benoit Rivard demonstrate the use of reflected light to identify minerals and rocks in his University of Victoria research laboratory. Dr. Rivard has been named B.C. Leadership Chair in Hyperspectral Remote Sensing. The Province provided $2.25 million to endow the chair permanently through its Leading Edge Endowment Fund, matched by funds from UVic and the University of Victoria Foundation. [News release]
Click here for full-size photo
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
