Financial District : Innovation + Job News

Founded in 2011, MaRS's Data Catalyst gathers data from partners in several sectors—healthcare, entrepreneurship, and energy—and analyses it to help support the development of the province's innovation economy. This past weekend, Data Catalyst organized the city's first ever Green Energy Hackathon, to give local app and product developers a chance to work with some of that data as well.

Data from many of the province's smart metres—from 2.7 million households, to be more precise—is currently being gathered in what's called the Green Button initiative. It's the Green Button open API that was made available to participants at the Hackathon—data that enables users to better understand how Ontarians are actually using their energy. Using that data, participants at the hackathon came up apps that do everything from help individuals know the best time to use certain appliances to warning small businesses about impending weather disruptions.

"There's a big hairy problem about how to engage people in their use of energy," says Joe Greenwood, program director of Data Catalyst. That problem, he goes on, has a lot to do with behavioural economics: even though we could save money by changing our energy consumption habits, it turns out people aren't entirely rational in how they handle such choices—which leads to the thorny question of how exactly to induce them to alter those choices.

On the bright side, Greenwood explains, Ontario has also made one of the biggest investments in smart metres, which creates a big opportunity for smart developers to give people the capacity to manage their energy use more effectively. Because we're starting to learn more about how we currently consume energy, we can start experimenting with tools that will motivate people to consume it better.

One key theme Greenwood noticed in the apps that were started at the Hackathon—some of which will be getting support for further development—is simplification. Though energy companies and large corporations may look at charts and graphs to help them determine their choices, individuals work differently; many of the developers started looking at giving rewards—badges or air miles, or using humour—as tools to help people change.

Writer: Hamutal Dotan
Source: Joe Greenwood, program director, MaRS Data Catalyst

Kathleen Wynne has announced the details of a new program that aims to attract new investment to Ontario, and specifically, to highlight development opportunities in municipalities across the province.

Called the Investment Ready: Certified Site Program, the goal is effectively to create a roster of pre-screened sites in each municipality that are available for development, to help potential investors hone in on venues that might make good homes for their ventures.

"We want to cut red tape to attract investment across the province," the premier said in a speech to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario earlier this month, when introducing the program. "It shows companies around the world the places in your municipalities that are ready to be developed, giving them increased certainty about environmental concerns, utility lines and servicing access. In practical terms, it means businesses can quickly make more informed decisions, and help expansion projects get underway sooner. "

Candidate sites will go through a certification process—applications should be available by the end of the calendar year—and if they are successfully certified will be entered into several databases that the provincial government will be promoting. (The government will also help defray some of the costs of participating, though the particulars of that aspect of the program haven't yet been released.)

The eligible properties must be of a certain minimum size (four hectares), zoned for industrial use, and meet other criteria with respect to the utilities and services that are in place on site.

Writer: Hamutal Dotan
Source: Office of the Premier

The most interesting of the opportunities we've seen this week:

The Ontario Brain Institute, a major hub for research and medical commercialization, has two key positions open. They are looking for a knowledge translation lead and a communications lead; both for their outreach program.

Also looking for communications help is TechSoup Canada, which helps organizations with a social mission--non-profits, charities, social enterprises, and the like--make better use of technology. It's an entry level position, and those with compentence in French are particularly encouraged to apply.

In the environmental sector, the University of Toronto's sustainability office, which is charged with improving that institution's sustainability, is hiring a campaign coordinator to support and supervise a team of 10 students. It's a five month contract, but there may be opportunities to extend.

In senior hires, the Royal Ontario Museum is looking for a new managing director of ROM Contemporary Culture (formerly known as the Institute for Contemporary Culture) to take charge of positioning the centre as it evolves.

And in city-building organizations, non-profit 8-80 Cities, which works to make streets, transportation, and public space vibrant and available to all a city's residents, has two positions open: a director to lead some specific projects, and a more junior project coordinator, to support the organization's work.

Do you know of an innovative job opportunity? Let us know!

Publishing technology company ScribbleLive recently announced that it has secured $8 million in new funding, via a group of several venture capitalists. (Their last major financing announcement came in November, 2011, when they landed $4 million in venture capital funds.)

Though you might not be familiar with the company's name, you've almost certainly encountered their products--the digital publishing tools they offer are used by many major media outlets, ranging from Reuters to ESPN. ScribbleLive focuses on real-time event coverage and on engagement tools; more recently they've expanded into syndication, giving outlets opportunities to distribute their stories to other publishers and bring in additional revenue.

The Toronto-based company currently has 43 employees locally and seven elsewhere. Expanding that team is at the top of their priority list, says CEO Michael De Monte. The new funding will enable ScribbleLive to pursue growth in two main areas: expansion into other regions (there are plants for New York and the American west coast) and expanding Scribble Marketplace (its new syndication tool). By year's end, De Monte estimates the company will have grown to about 65 positions. He anticipates they will hit 100 by the end of 2014.

ScribbleLive recently celebrated its fifth birthday, and we asked De Monte what changes he's seen in Toronto's innovation sector over that time.

"There is a community here that is supportive of new startups," he says, "but it was hard to find five years ago. There's more of it now."

More community, but perhaps not quite enough support for it. "There are a lot of other cities that are doing a lot more for their startup communities, " he goes on, "that have really embraced the innovation spirit."

In Toronto, by contrast, "we do a lot of talking about it," but don't take enough action, he says. De Monte cites the digital pockets he's seen in other cities--communities within cities that are wired, and offer supports, amenities, and professional development support for young workers--as something Toronto should aspire to.

"We do have pockets here," he concludes, "but it's always felt a little disconnected."

Writer: Hamutal Dotan
Source: Michael De Monte, CEO, ScribbleLive

In the world of books, major publishing house Penguin is hiring a digital and social media coordinator to both maintain their websites and work on engagement campaigns. Also the literary sector, the Ontario Arts Council is looking for a literature officer to help manage their grants programs. The post is for a five-year term.

Hart House, the cultural hub at the University of Toronto's downtown campus, is looking for an education and production coordinator for a 10-month contract to provide support to their theatre programming. Finally, the Canadian Opera Company is seeking an assistant music librarian. It requires a strong background in music and familiarity with standard office computer programs.

UNITY, a charity that works to empower youth through artistic self-expression, has three posts available. They are hiring a program coordinator, a festival & volunteer coordinator, and a managing director, operations. Contracts, qualifications, and salaries vary per posting. 

If you're interested in urban agriculture, non-profit Cultivate Toronto is looking for a community relationship manager. The organization focuses on creating food gardens in people's front and back yards, and the position involves developing and maintaining relationships with program participants.

In technology jobs, the Ontario Public Service is on the hunt for a senior interactive developer with significant experience working with open source technologies and platforms.

And finally, in leadership positions, the Jane Goodall Institute is looking for a new CEO. The position requires experience both in conservation and in financial management, and they are hoping to find a billingual candidate. Among environmental groups, think tank Pembina is looking for a single candidate to split their time between two functions: director of development for the Pembina Institute, and exective director for the associated Pembina Foundation.

Know of any innovative job opportunities? Let us know!

As befits the season, there are many seasonal job posting right now, especially in the areas of gardening, urban agriculture, and the environment.

Evergreen, based out of the Brick Works, is hiring an urban agriculture program assistant for the summer. Applicants must be under 30 years of age and returning to full-time post-secondary studies in the fall, and will work both on the green spaces at the Brick Works and in delivering programs across the Toronto region.

Green Thumb Growing Kids, a charity that helps urban children learn about how to grow, cook, and enjoy fresh food, is also hiring summer students: they are looking for two garden program leaders to help maintain school gardens and develop children's garden programs. Applicants can be younger in this case—the age range is 15-30—but must be returning to some kind of full-time study in the fall.

Also in this area, Central Toronto Community Health Centres is looking for a garden and program support worker to run weekly programs, maintain a community kitchen, and provide other assistance as needed. This too is a program for students under 30 returning to studies at the end of the summer. Another community organization, the Agincourt Community Services Association, is on the hunt for some similar help: they are trying to find two urban agriculture facilitators for the summer to promote youth engagement in gardening and healthy eating.

Finally in this sector, the Toronto Botanical Garden is seeking a teaching assistant for their children's programs. The assistant will be working with children aged 3-11 enrolled in the Gardens' summer camp programs, as well as help with maintaining the teaching gardens.

Also for students, but in another area of environmental work: TREC Renewable Energy Co-operative, which focuses on energy conservation, has a summer opening for a communications and research assistant to help with their ongoing outreach and marketing efforts.

Moving on to the cultural sector, FACTOR, the Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings, is hiring a full-time project coordinator to manage an artists' client base. Also looking for a project coordinator is ArtReach Toronto, which focuses on engaging youth who typically have a hard time accessing arts programming. It's a six-month, part-time contract, and the coordinator's primary responsibility will be to develop a series of cultural career workshops.

One last, and particularly noteworthy opportunity: Diaspora Dialogues, which supports diversity in the creation of new literature in Canada, is seeking a new artistic director. The position is part time, and the successful candidate will play the lead role in shaping the overall direction programming takes in future.

Do you know of a great job opportunity? Let us know by emailing [email protected]. 

The most interesting opportunities we've spotted this week:

Harbourfront Centre is looking for an integrated communications specialist. It's a fulltime contract position for someone to develop marketing and media plans--both strategy and implementation.

Also in the cultural sector is ArtsSmarts, which helps organize classroom-based arts education programs. They are on the hunt for a project coordinator to help with several programs. It's an early (but not entry) level position, and the post is a nine-month contract.

Finally in this area, WorkInCulture, which supports career development in the cultural sector (in fact, it's the source of those previous two job listings) is seeking a marketing and communications manager; the position is permanent and fulltime.

MaRS Discovery District has a video production unit, which creates event and promotional videos for MaRS and its clients. They need a production/post-production manager to oversee this work and provide strategic advice as necessary. Meanwhile, the Mozilla Foundation is hiring a web developer with at least two years of experience.

For those with an interest in the environment, the Georgian Bay Land Trust needs a new executive director. The position is based in Toronto, but does require frequent travel to Georgian Bay. The charity is hoping to find someone with five to ten years experience, preferably in a non-profit.

In the social services sector, the Jane/Finch Community Centre is looking for a program manager for their Women Moving Forward initiative, a poverty-reduction program for mothers in their twenties. The centre is also looking for a mobilie community financial worker. This position is for someone who works from a variety of locations in the community providing financial management education.

Finally, the Ministry of Transportation is looking for a communications lead to oversee stakeholder and public engagement for the PanAm Games. It's a senior, temporary position that will run for up to two years.

Are you hiring or do you know of a great job opportunity? Let us know!

The most interesting and innovative opportunities we've spotted this week:

There are a good number of interesting openings in media right now. Canadian Journalists for Free Expression are hiring a digital development coordinator to work on IFEX, a network of organizations that promotes free expresion as a human right. Also, a new Canadian affairs and cultural magazine called Depict is launching soon. It will consist entirely of visual elements -- infographics and "visual storytelling" -- and they are looking for both a creative director and a graphic designer.

Continuing with the media opportunities, Global News is looking for a project manager with at least 3-5 years of experience to handle several digital projects. And finally, a very significant opening at the CBC: they are on the lookout for a new managing editor of cbcnews.ca--a senior position for someone with at least five years of related experience.

Moving on to the environmental sector, the Toronto Atmospheric Fund was established by the municipal government to provide support to new initiatives that combat climate change. They are currently seeking a summer intern for a 12-week project. The position is paid and candidates should have completed some graduate level work in public policy or environmental studies.

Real Food for Real Kids provides healthy catering for child care centres and camps, with an emphasis on local and organic ingredients. They are looking for an assistant kitchen manager.

In medical research, the Ontario Brain Institute is hiring for three six-month internships: one in industry relations, one in community outreach, and one in finance and governance. All the positions are paid, and applications are due by the end of this week.

And finally, Toronto-based financial software company FreshBooks is hiring for several positions, including a MySQL developer and a product manager.

Are you hiring or do you know of an innovative job opportunity in Toronto? Email Yonge Street's innovation and jobs editor Hamutal Dotan to let her know. 

Government, academics, and entrepreneurs will descend on the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on May 14-15, for the fifth annual Canada 3.0 conference. Organized by the Canadian Digital Media Network (CDMN), the conference focuses on the commercialization of innovation and aims to help boost the profile of Canadian digital media internationally.

Canada 3.0 was started in 2009 as the main outreach element of what was then the newly-formed CDMN. The first four conferences were held in Stratford, Ontario "because we see digital media as very much being a part of the creative industry as well as technology," explains Kevin Tuer, CDMN's managing director. It's moving to Toronto this year, he goes on, because having established itself it's time to grow and become a "national force."

Over the coming years, the conference will be moving to different cities across the country. Toronto is their first step along this path. It is also, Tuer says, "a great way for the DNA of Toronto to be showcased" to international attendees. Next year's location will be announced on the first day of this year's conference.

When we ask how things have changed in the five years since CDMN and the conference got off the ground, Tuer says he's encouraged by the increasing awareness of the need for innovation and growing support for initiatives such as incubators and accelerators in government. He's also seen "a lot more exposure for Canada on a global scale." Not quite enough though--that's also still our biggest weakness, he thinks. "There are amazing people, there are amazing companies--they are world class--but we don't do a very good job telling our stories."

Digitization is happening now, Tuer warns, and we don't have much time left to claim a place as a leading nation in the sector. The CDMN is hoping that by bringing government into the room with academics and entrepreneurs wrestling with these questions every day, the country's leaders will be able to gain a better understanding of just what the challenges, and opportunities, look like.

Writer: Hamutal Dotan
Source: Kevin Tuer, Managing Director, Canadian Digital Media Network

The most interesting of the job opportunities we've come across this week:

News broke this week that Kirstine Stewart, executive vice-president of English-language services at the CBC, was leaving that position to spearhead Twitter's first Canadian office. She's not the only person they're hiring: the social media company is currently on the lookout for an account executive and an account manager.

Also in tech openings, digital ad agency Dare Toronto is looking for a front end web developer with 4-5 years experience. Another firm, Usability Matters, is on the hunt for a graphic designer.

The Women's Healthy Environment Network works on promoting environmental health. They are looking for a volunteer, part-time executive director to lead their board.

In the cultural sector, the Ontario Public Service is looking for a senior program consultant to work in the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, and specifically to work on major events and festivals. Canada Arts Connect is seeking a managing editor for their magazine about Canadian cultural news. It's a part-time position--about 10-15 hours per week. And the Toronto International Film Festival continues its spate of seasonal hiring: they are now on the hunt for a senior marketing coordinator for a contract that runs from May through early October.

CivicAction, the non-partisan advocacy group dedicated to city-building in the GTA, is seeking a project manager to manage the development of new programs directed at youth facing challenges in finding employment. The post is for a nine month contract.

Also in urban initiatives, non-profit developer Artscape is looking for a development associate to help with three of their major annual fundraising events.

Finally, the Toronto Society of Architects is hiring an executive administrator with some scheduling flexibility (ranging from 20-40 hours per week) to oversee their day-to-day operations.

Are you hiring or do you know of an innovative job opportunity in Toronto? Email Yonge Street's innovation and jobs editor Hamutal Dotan to let her know. 

There are many people who come up with what they think is an innovative idea for a new product or service they'd like to see in the marketplace. It takes a lot of realize those entrepreneurial dreams, however: research, product development, marketing, strategic planning and some seed money, for starters. Offering a hand to a few young would-be entrepreneurs: the Canadian Youth Business Foundation, which is sponsoring an Innovators Fund for the third year in a row.

Up to 10 entrepreneurs will be selected to participate and will receive "up to $50,000 in financing and an exclusive mentoring package" says Tessa Mintz, a vice president with the CYBF. The Innovators Fund is run in conjunction with Spin Masters Ltd., a toy company that itself was founded by three young Toronto entrepreneurs.

When we ask her what distinguishes entrepreneurs who end up succeeding in the marketplace, she says: "those people who have done their homework--they haven't created an innovation for the sake of innovation, they know who their customer is and what the market looks like."

That quality will be essential in the selection process for participants in the Innovators Fund: Mintz encourages applicants to "really highlight why you're innovative in your space" and clearly articulate what distinguishes their idea from others already in the market, and what will make it appealing to consumers.

Applications for the Innovators Fund are now open and will be accepted until May 21.

Writer: Hamutal Dotan
Source: Tessa Mintz, Vice-President, Volunteers and Programs, Canadian Youth Business Foundation

The most interesting of the job openings we've come across this week:

Toronto incubator MaRS is on the hunt for a communications associate for a six-month internship. The work would be both print and online, and applicants must be registered with the CareerEdge program.

Business for the Arts is a national organization that tries to build closer relationships between those two sectors. They are looking for a part-time graphic and web designer to handle design and layout work on their program and event materials. Also in this sector, East End Arts (a new organization in that part of town) is seeking a managing director.

If you're interested in sustainable city-building, the municipal government is hiring a coordinator for Smart Commute to help create and implement programs to highlight alternatives to traveling by car.

In other environmental positions, Greenpeace is hiring a finance director to join their senior management team.

The Ontario Nonprofit Network (as their name indicates) focuses on strengthening the non-profit sector here. They are looking for a policy specialist to spearhead talks with the provincial government about funding reform for the sector. It's a one year contract and the position is senior.

Finally, a few social service positions of note. The YWCA is hiring a community engagement worker to help provide support around mental health concerns. The Canadian Women's Foundation is on the lookout for a new marketing coordinator to oversee the logistics of their print and online campaigns. And the Canadian Cancer Society is looking to fill several posts, including a new coordinator of volunteer engagement.

Are you hiring or do you know of an innovative job opportunity in Toronto? Email Yonge Street's innovation and jobs editor Hamutal Dotan to let her know. 

In Canada, especially in recent years, many of us tend to assume that we have overcome many of the systemic biases of previous times--for instance, that women have reached the workplace equality that long eluded them. The facts tell a different story, however. For all that we've made progress, we are still a way's away from a level playing field.

Shining a light on this issue, and on some women who've achieved great things as entrepreneurs in Canada: the Women of Influence Awards. The RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards are "dedicated to providing national recognition to Canada’s women entrepreneurs by elevating these women and providing them with a platform to identify their excellence to the nation," says Carolyn Lawrence, president of Women of Influence. This is so important, she explains, because "women entrepreneurs face unique challenges: access to capital to start up and/or grow their businesses is the biggest one, with women-owned businesses starting with only 64 per cent of the capital levels of businesses owned by men. Women often need to draw on their own assets or friends and family to do what their male counterparts have an easier time raising from banks and venture capitalists."

Nominations are now open for this year's awards and are due by May 17. If you want to apply yourself the deadline is July 29. There will also be an information session for prospective applicants on May 2. To be eligible you must be a share owner or senior decision-maker in a profitable business that's been around for at least three years, and businesses of all sizes qualify.

This isn't just a consciousness-raising exercise--women-owned businesses have a significant economic impact that's worth noting. "Canadian firms run by women create new jobs at four times the rate of the national average," Lawrence points out, "collectively providing more jobs than the Canadian Top 100 companies combined."

Writer: Hamutal Dotan
Source: Carolyn Lawrence, President and CEO, Women of Influence

Some of the neatest jobs we've come across this week...

International conservation organization World Wildlife Fund is looking for a digital content strategist. Working as part of the marketing and communications team, the successful candidate will both develop strategy and write content for a variety of platforms.

Also in the environmental sector is the Small Change Fund, which helps communities working on sustainability issues. They are on the lookout for a new operations manager. And one last one in this area: the Canada Green Building Council needs a new education manager to oversee the creation, marketing, and delivery of the organization's educational programs.

Planned Parenthood Toronto is seeking a director of community health services to manage clinical functions, and participate in organization-wide strategic development. Applicants should have at least five years of clinical experience and have a demonstrated commitment to PPT's equity goals.

Social Enterprise Toronto is a network that aims to support the growth of the social enterprise sector in Toronto. They need a community researcher to collect and process data, and to help them plan a forthcoming conference. There's an age requirement on this one: you must be between 15 and 30 years old to apply.

If you are just starting out and love flim, the Toronto International Film Festival has a four-month communications internship opportunity for someone to work in their press office this summer. And if national history is more your thing, the Historica-Dominica Institute has a number of positions now open, ranging from web officers to subject editors for the Canadian Encyclopedia.

And here is one more community organization looking for a lot of summer help: The Stop, which is a food-oriented non-profit that does everything from run cooking classes to build community gardens. You can see the many seasonal positions they have available here.

Are you hiring or do you know of an innovative job opportunity in Toronto? Email Yonge Street's innovation and jobs editor Hamutal Dotan to let her know. 

The federal government has announced that it will provide nearly $1 million in support to Toronto area start-up ThoughtWire. The funding will allow ThoughtWire to leverage another $1.95 million in private investments, and enable the company to complete development on a new software platform--a business tool that aims to substantially increase productivity.

The Unified Experience Platform has been designed to solve one of the most basic and vexing problems people often encounter while working: not all the applications, programs, and pieces of software that they use can talk to each other.

Transferring data from one to another, and allowing the information in one program to sync up with data from another, can seem like a mundane task, but it's one of those persistent annoyances that can eat up a lot of valuable time. ThoughtWire's goal, it explains in a primer on the platform, is to "liberate your data."

The government support comes from FedDev Ontario via a program called Investing in Business Innovation, which aims to "accelerate the development of new products…and help bring them to market." According to Gary Goodyear, the minister responsible for that program, the funding will lead to the creation of "up to 29" new local jobs

Writer: Hamutal Dotan
Source: Office of Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario