New Westminster, BC – The third annual Innovation Week is taking place in the City of New Westminster March 2nd to March 8th, 2019.  Innovation Week has created an environment for dialogue and discussion around technology and innovation in a wide range of fields, from education and transportation to small business and entrepreneurship.

Innovation Week provides a platform for experts and leaders from around the province to engage in discussion about key issues facing Canadian cities. The events offer opportunities for participants of all ages including a day-long symposium on Advancing Women in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics), the YEET Youth Exploration and Experimentation in Technology Festival, and the Transportation Forum which explore issues of accessibility.

“Innovation Week is now a highlight of the year in New Westminster. The excitement and inspiration it creates have fueled lasting conversations in our community,” said Mayor Jonathan Coté. “New Westminster is proud to be a leader in important discussions around how to make communities innovative, vibrant places to live and do business.”

Innovation Week kicks off on March 2nd and 3rd with the YEET Youth Exploration and Experimentation in Technology Festival at Anvil Centre. This event is sponsored by Amazon and run in partnership with New Media Gallery. It offers children and youth fun, creative technology and media learning opportunities including a virtual reality puppet theatre, a living encyclopedia, machine learning, sound capture and use, coding classes, and numerous activities for both hands and brain. It also features a post-secondary career exploration area sponsored by Simon Fraser University.

The TransLink-sponsored Transportation Forum has become a key event on each year’s schedule. On March 7th, this year’s forum will take a deep and informed look at accessibility issues around mobility and transportation including expert panels, experiential role play, and group discussions. The forum keynote speaker is Elise Roy, whose TedX talk “When We Design for Disability We All Benefit” has over 1.1 million views.

This year’s feature event is Advancing Women in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics), sponsored by Vancity. The full-day symposium on March 8th will see speakers and panelists exploring what's working, what’s needed, and how the dots can be connected to enhance both the role and impact of women in this area. This regional conversation features representation from government, non-profits, academia, and the private sector.

The Innovation Week schedule also includes a wide range of events like the federal government’s Innovation Forum, sponsored by Landcor Data Corporation, New West Pecha Kucha Volume 22, New Westminster Business & Tech Meetup, sponsored by Douglas College, and a technology fair. Year three will undoubtedly be the most engaging and exciting Innovation Week yet.

The Innovation Week schedule and further information are available at innovatenewwest.ca.

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Contact:
Jen Arbo
Innovation Week Coordinator
City of New Westminster
604-636-4476 or