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Jan 31, 2025

TIABC Voice of Tourism Newsletter – January 31, 2025

TIABC

Decades ago a friend gave me his old, tar-covered, 4-cylinder, 5-speed diesel pickup truck that looked like crap. Because my new vehicle was so slow off the mark, impatient drivers frequently honked and flipped me the bird. The constant abuse prompted me to come up with an idea.

Since most average cars with manual clutches take slightly longer to get up to speed, why not add a bank of small lights inside the rear window that signals the gear progression (e.g. 1-5) so that drivers following know it’s a slower vehicle with a stick.

30 years ago many vehicles had manual transmissions so at the time I thought the idea had merit. Although I did some research and talked to a couple of folks in the automotive sector, I never followed through unlike the millions of inventors and entrepreneurs that actually seize opportunities to solve a problem and bring concepts to life.

This week I met a few of these inspiring individuals who introduced their compelling creations to delegates at the Impact Tourism and Sustainability Conference in Victoria. To be fair, some products are the next evolution of something that already exists but revolutionary nonetheless.

For example, a company called Photon produces an electric engine for commercial boats (to augment those made for pleasure crafts) that can run up to 30 hours between charges, costs half as much as a gas-powered engine, and can fit both new or old vessels. What’s more, Photon is developing a boat charging corridor for marinas to accommodate these vessels. Electric propulsion engines generate zero emissions, are easy to maintain, economical, safe and create instantaneous torque…contrary to my old diesel truck.

I was also introduced to a new product called Timber Tiles, which is essentially a high quality, architectural wood tile that is biophilic, durable and eco-friendly. The tiles are not only unique looking, but durable and easy to install in hotels, homes and other venues. Timber Tiles is owned by the by Huu-ay-aht First Nations who claim to generate 20 times the return on this product versus exporting logs.

I learned of a company on Vancouver Island that manufacturers bi-degradable acoustic panels made from seaweed. Seacork Studios sources and stores seaweed in the regions where it’s been harvested to make sound-absorbing panels that are carbon negative and can be installed in restaurants, offices, classrooms, studios, houses or wherever. The panels are about to hit the market.

Finally, Haida Gwaii’s BlueDot Environmental is advancing technology that uses energy created by tides that turn a water wheel to ultimately generate power. The complex yet simple infrastructure can be used in rivers or oceans and can pay for itself in five to 10 years through cost savings by not accessing the regular power grid. Construction of the first system will commence this year.

The Seven Minute Solutions session at Impact is always one of my favourites, especially because most of the presenters are BC-based entrepreneurs who are leading the world in innovation and finding solutions to address climate change. I appreciate the brilliant minds and phenomenal technology unveiled by these progressive companies and am sharing a brief overview of their advancements with you as an illustration of progress.

A couple of years ago a pal of mine in the retail sector showed me a prototype of a cash register tray that would make it nearly impossible for a retail clerk to dispense the incorrect amount in change on a cash purchase. It was ingenious. Unfortunately, like my concept of a bank of lights to illustrate vehicle gear progression, the tray never hit the market either given that widely adopted cashless payment systems rendered my buddy’s idea two decades too late.Walt Judas
CEO, TIABC

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