NEWS
Discover the latest news from SOMA, our clients, relevant industries and beyond.
Light House launches Building Material Exchange Marketplace
Light House, an organization focused on advancing circular practices in the built environment, has launched the Building Material Exchange Marketplace (BMEx Marketplace).
The free online business-to-business marketplace allows businesses across Vancouver Island to list and acquire excess and salvaged building and/or design-related materials from reliable, local sources, explains a release.
Used oil recycling depot in Grand Forks gets an upgrade
Grand Forks is getting a bigger and better drop-off site for motor oil and other used automotive fluids. Interchange Recycling, announced the Bottle Depot at 8058 Donaldson Dr., has received new recycling infrastructure in the form of a 20 foot sea container with a 2,200 litre tank to store materials.
Save-On-Foods makes historic donation to British Columbia mental health initiative
Save-On-Foods has made a $15 million donation to BC Children’s Hospital and BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, the largest mental health donation in their histories.
Choices lottery features grand prize homes in Kelowna, West Kelowna, Big White
Homes in Kelowna, West Kelowna, and Big White are among the grand prizes available in the 2025 Choices Lottery, in supports of the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation.
Kitamaat toddler's life saved thanks to clinical trials at B.C. Children's Hospital
Emmett Doolan, a 2½-year-old of Haisla and Nisga’a heritage from Kitamaat village, was diagnosed before birth with hydrocephalus, a buildup of fluid in the brain. After travelling to Vancouver for further tests, a scan showed a black mass sitting on her brain.
SOMA Event - Amplifying Impact
In today’s world, effectively creating and communicating purpose is vital to building brand integrity and driving long-term value. This event will equip you with actionable insights to amplify your purpose actions & story in a way that resonates with stakeholders, fosters trust, and enhances your organization's impact.
Reserve Your Spot Today – This exclusive event is free to attend, but space is limited. Light appetizers and beverages will be served.
Canada Post strike 'significantly' impacting B.C. health-care fundraiser
Funding for life-saving medical research and equipment in British Columbia is being "significantly" impacted by the Canada Post strike.
Business Excellence: Ocean Legacy Foundation makes waves as Green Business of the Year
Ocean Legacy Foundation, based in Steveston, has been named the 2024 Green Business of the Year by the Richmond Chamber of Commerce.
SOMA wins Sustainable Initiative Award at 2024 Business Excellence Awards
We are thrilled to share that SOMA was chosen as the winner of the Environmental Initiative Award at the 2024 Business Excellence Awards.
Google bought his smart glasses company. Will anyone buy Stephen Lake’s heat pumps?
Stephen Lake was pegged for greatness early on. In 2011, the self-assured Scarborough, Ont., native was named one of the Next 36 – a group of entrepreneurial undergraduates selected by Next Canada for their potential to build big companies – while he was studying mechatronics engineering at the University of Waterloo. The wearable technology startup he and two classmates founded, Thalmic Labs (later renamed North Inc.) was Waterloo’s most hyped and heavily funded company after BlackBerry Ltd.
Lottery offers $3M Kelowna and Vernon dream home packages
Two $3 million plus Kelowna and Vernon prize packages are one of several that can be won in the 2024 VGH Millionaire Lottery.
The grand prize winner can choose from one of 10 grand-prize packages including $2.8 million tax-free cash. The Kelowna prize home, located at Trailhead at the Ponds (1062 Emslie Street), is worth over $3 million.
Vancouver Island builders can work together to reduce construction waste
Gil Yaron, managing director of circular innovation at Light House, a Vancouver-based organization dedicated to advancing circular and regenerative practices, outlined a new building material exchange program on the Island. BMEx, headed by Yaron, connects construction sector companies that have excess or unwanted building materials with other companies that can use those materials in their operations.
A Tantalizing Childhood Cancer Discovery
BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute has found a way that kids’ immune systems might be able to be used to help fight off the most common type of childhood cancer.
BC-based PR shop Soma achieves B Corp status
BC-based Soma Public Relations has joined a growing number of PR agencies around the world that have achieved B Corp status, a designation given to companies able to demonstrate that they operate for the good of society.
New accessible playground opens in Vernon
Recycled rubber has gone the distance to build a new accessible playground in Vernon. The playground, at Maven Lane, was constructed with 1,009 scrap recycled tires from the Tire Stewardship B.C. (TSBC).
Building Material Exchange (BMEx) Program Coverage Update
We have already secured a great amount of coverage for the Building Material Exchange (BMEx)! View the coverage so far.
SOMA Public Relations Announces B Corp Certification
SOMA Public Relations (“SOMA”), a full-service, boutique PR agency that provides strategic communications services to purpose-driven businesses, announced today its official certification as a B Corporation (“B Corp”). This certification recognizes SOMA’s ongoing commitment to balancing purpose and profit by meeting the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, legal accountability, and public transparency. There are over 500 B Corps in Canada, nearly 200 are based out of the Western provinces.
BC Children’s Hospital discovery could lead to prevention of most common childhood cancer
Dr. Gregor Reid spoke on Global News Morning yesterday to share about the BC Children’s Hospital breakthrough discovery that could lead to prevention of the most common childhood cancer in support of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
Get your tickets for the BMEx Challenge!
It's time to get your tickets for the BMEx Challenge, a high-energy business pitch event in Victoria and Nanaimo.
Discover the future of building material reuse at the BMEx Challenge! The construction sector's most innovative organizations will present ideas, products, and technologies driving the industry toward a circular economy.
Think Dragon’s Den or Shark Tank, but with a focus on reimagining how building materials are sourced, reused, and repurposed. This is your chance to discover Vancouver Island’s untapped opportunities in sustainable building materials. Pitches will be seeking solutions in logistics optimization, recycling and waste reduction, supply chain management, procurement, funding, and more.
AI and the Electric Grid: Friends or Foes?
The electrical grid is under historic pressure as the energy transition calls for the massive transformation and modernization of the critical infrastructure. Electrification, decarbonization, decentralization, and digitalization represent the megatrends driving the vast transformation of our critical infrastructure, costing many trillions of dollars. To decarbonize, we must electrify. To electrify, we need the grid. The grid is complex, and for that, we need better grid intelligence.