NEWS

Discover the latest news from SOMA, our clients, relevant industries and beyond.

Hometown Heroes Lottery features prize home in Courtenay
Client News Bridget Irwin Client News Bridget Irwin

Hometown Heroes Lottery features prize home in Courtenay

The 2025 Hometown Heroes Lottery just launched and one of the nine grand prize homes is located in Courtenay. Found at 3235 Winchester Avenue, Courtenay, in the Crown Isle neighbourhood and developed by Integra Homes. The prize home is worth over $2.5 million, is a 2,666 sq. ft home and has four bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a two car garage.

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Interchange Recycling to begin oil collection in Yukon
Client News Bridget Irwin Client News Bridget Irwin

Interchange Recycling to begin oil collection in Yukon

Interchange Recycling, a not-for-profit organization that collects and recycles used motor oil, oil filters, oil containers, used antifreeze and antifreeze containers, is expanding to Yukon, starting August 1, 2025. This marks Interchange Recycling’s first expansion beyond British Columbia, bringing its Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program to a new jurisdiction. 

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Reuse of Wood Construction and Demolition Waste: Potentials for Canada
Client News Bridget Irwin Client News Bridget Irwin

Reuse of Wood Construction and Demolition Waste: Potentials for Canada

Landfilled wood is a big part of Canada’s construction, renovation, and demolition (CRD) waste problem. The average lifespan of a building in Canada is around 70 years before it is demolished, and in rapidly densifying cities, the actual lifespan can be much shorter. Wood waste makes up 40 per cent of CRD waste; nationally, this means that about 10 per cent of all residual solid waste is wood waste. This equates to approximately 3.6 million tons of wood being landfilled each year.

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AI Program Estimates Grid Conditions
Client News Bridget Irwin Client News Bridget Irwin

AI Program Estimates Grid Conditions

ThinkLabs AI has launched a specialized physics-informed AI Agent that provides utilities with immediate, data-driven accurate insights into electric power distribution networks. This new distribution system state estimation (DSSE) solution bridges visibility gaps in grid operational performance, offering utilities situational awareness and intelligent control. By estimating grid conditions, ThinkLabs AI Agent may help prevent grid congestions, integrate variable resources, and enhance operational safety and reliability.

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Light House launches Building Material Exchange Marketplace
Client News Bridget Irwin Client News Bridget Irwin

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.

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Used oil recycling depot in Grand Forks gets an upgrade
Client News Bridget Irwin Client News Bridget Irwin

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. 

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Google bought his smart glasses company. Will anyone buy Stephen Lake’s heat pumps?
Client News Bridget Irwin Client News Bridget Irwin

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.

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Lottery offers $3M Kelowna and Vernon dream home packages
Client News Bridget Irwin Client News Bridget Irwin

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. 

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Vancouver Island builders can work together to reduce construction waste
Client News Bridget Irwin Client News Bridget Irwin

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.

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Get your tickets for the BMEx Challenge!
Client News Bridget Irwin Client News Bridget Irwin

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.

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