This week, Red River College (RRC), the University of Manitoba, Manitoba Hydro, and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) unveiled the parabolic solar trough project. The unveiling also marked the beginning of first-of-its-kind research into investigating the feasibility of using the troughs to capture heating energy in Manitoba’s cold climate.
Located at RRC’s Notre Dame Campus, the project features an array of eight parabolic solar troughs arranged in two rows designed to concentrate solar energy for heating and cooling purposes.
The parabolic troughs concentrate the sun’s energy using long, curved reflectors (mirrors). Installed in an east-west axis, they track the sun throughout the day, focusing sunlight on a glass-enclosed metal tube running the length of the mirrors. The reflected sunlight heats a heat-transfer fluid flowing through the tube.
Parabolic solar trough systems have typically been deployed in warm, sunny climates such as California and Spain where they are used to generate electricity year-round. However, in Manitoba it may be more advantageous to use solar thermal-energy directly for heating and cooling applications rather than producing electricity. This is due to Manitoba’s shorter winter daylight hours, increased heat loss due to cooler ambient temperatures and reduced solar irradiance in winter.
Solar thermal parabolic trough quick facts

• First phase with eight troughs fully operational in 2013
• Potential for second phase including an additional set of eight troughs
• Trough supplier: Abengoa Solar; trough fabricated in Denver, CO
• Total trough length: 50 m
• Total mirrored aperture area: 106 m²
• Total trough-site area: 1,900 m²
• Heat-transfer fluid: Therminol 59
• Winnipeg is the second sunniest major Canadian city, with just under 2,400 hours of bright sunshine in an average year.
• The peak output of eight solar troughs is equivalent to the energy supply needed to heat eight to ten Manitoba homes on a typical winter day. Additional research will quantify how much energy the solar trough can capture to provide for longer-term seasonal heating needs.
• The peak thermal output of the eight solar troughs is equivalent to the electrical supply required to power 5,000 LED lamps that produce the same output as 1,000 conventional 100-watt bulbs.

Click here for more information on RRC’s Sustainable Infrastructure Technology Research Group.
Links to coverage from Monday’s unveiling are below:
Winnipeg Free Press
Metro Winnipeg
CTV Winnipeg
CBC

A Winnipeg team – including RRC researchers – is investigating the feasibility of using floating cattail platforms to clean up harmful nutrients in Lake Winnipeg.
While existing cattail plants in the lake feed on phosphorus and nitrogen – nutrients that create toxic algae – they are limited to growth in shallow water. The team hopes to solve this problem by creating floating bioplatforms that could allow the cattails to grow anywhere in the water.
RRC is supporting the project in several ways, including a co-operative student from the Greenspace Management program, Jade Raizenne, who is working with Native Plant Solutions on cattail propagation. Ruth Rob, an instructor in the Greenspace Management program, has also worked with Curry Industries on two Technology Advisory Support Service reports to assist bioplatform development.
To learn more about the potential of this research, check out CBC’s recent coverage of the project:

Story: Cattails could help restore Lake Winnipeg

RRC researcher Jose Delos Reyes installs the weather station on the roof.

The Canadian GeoExchange Coalition (CGC) has awarded one of its GeoExchange Excellence awards to Southern Comfort Mechanical Inc. (SCMI) for its work with Red River College (RRC) on the geothermal installation and measurement in The Cornerstone Life Lease Estates building.
CGC awards the prizes to regional geothermal heat-pump projects that showcase both complexity and quality of installation and design.
Opened in 2010, “The Cornerstone” is a four-storey Winnipeg residential development that features a number of sustainable design solutions, including above-average insulation levels and 100 per cent geothermal space heating.
Last summer, RRC staff and students from the Centre for Applied Research in Sustainable Infrastructure (CARSI) worked with SCMI to install a building-monitoring system and weather station on the roof of The Cornerstone. The system provided crucial performance evaluation on SCMI’s geothermal heat pump that uses loops in the ground to generate efficient energy for the building.
Among the many innovations of this design is the system’s ability to dump excess heat into the parkade floor when in cooling mode. RRC’s data allowed SCMI to make necessary adjustments that ensured the most efficient use of this technology.
“This award would not have been possible without the expertise and hard work of the RRC research team,” said Mike Millard, project lead and President of The Geothermal Alternative. “Their performance-evaluation data is vital to The Cornerstone’s improved energy efficiency and will be extremely valuable for the sustainable design of future Manitoba buildings.”
The prizes were awarded on May 3rd during the annual Canadian GeoExchange Conference and Trade Show in Burnaby, British Columbia.
For more information on RRC’s involvement in sustainable design, visit the Sustainable Infrastructure Technology Research Group web page.
For more information on the CGC’s GeoExchange Excellence awards, click here.
To view SCMI’s announcement and full application, click here.

Celebrate the rise of Manitoba’s startup scene…

Join CTV News Anchor, Gord Leclerc as he leads Manitoba’s top entrepreneurs, investors, and innovation community leaders and supporters through an entertaining and informative luncheon to celebrate entrepreneurship and hand out over $30,000 in cash and in-kind prizes to Manitoba’s hottest startups.

On June 19, 2013 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Fort Garry Hotel, seven ventures selected from Innovate Manitoba’s Launchpad bootcamp will make formal 10-minute investment pitches to an eclectic panel of judges, followed by 20 minutes of no-holds-barred questions and feedback.

The Celebrating Entrepreneurship Awards Luncheon will follow the competitor pitches and will feature Lane Becker, entrepreneur and New York Times bestselling author and Kip Fyfe, Founder of Dynastream and 4iiii Innovations who will present their unique perspectives and expert insights on entrepreneurship and innovation.
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
 at the Fort Garry Hotel

Register at http://www.innovatemanitoba.com/events/venture-challenge/

VENTURECHALLENGE CELEBRATING ENTREPRENEURSHIP AWARDS LUNCHEON

Gord Leclerc of CTV News Winnipeg will guide Manitoba’s innovation community through the Awards Luncheon program, which, along with featuring two outstanding keynote speakers, will introduce all competitors, announce the finalists, and have them deliver two-minute elevator pitches to the audience before the first, second, and third place winners are announced.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Lane Becker | Entrepreneur & New York Times Bestselling Author
He is co-author of the New York Times bestselling book “Get Lucky: How to Put Planned Serendipity to Work for You and Your Business” and helped coin the term “blog”.  He is flying in from San Francisco to discuss “The Rise of the Global Start-up Scene”. Learn more…
Kip Fyfe | Founder of Dynastream and 4iiii Innovations
An innovator and visionary leader, Kip Fyfe has devoted over 25 years to the high tech industry and has helped redefine sport monitoring technology. This award-winning entrepreneur will share personal insights towards his road to entrepreneurial success. Learn more…

VENTURECHALLENGE COMPETITORS

Advolve Media – Bryce North & Kris Luinenburg
Epicenter AV – Chris Johnson
Eyewear Evolution – Sean Sylvestre
Joist – Justin Kathan & Brendan Sedo
Prairie Food Innovation – Michael Reimer
ScheduleAide – Dustin Refvik
VastCon – Anuraag Shrivastav
Learn more about the competitors online!

PRIZES

1st Place: $15,000 in cash, plus in-kind prizes
2nd Place: $7,500 in cash, plus in-kind prizes
3rd Place: $2,500 in cash, plus in-kind prizes
Major in-kind prizes: Innovate Manitoba has partnered with the Banff Venture Forum and the Canadian Financing Forum to award to the top three VentureChallenge companies an expense paid trip to attend the Banff Venture Forum in September 2013 or the Canadian Financing Forum in February 2014, plus a dedicated program at the Forum to help entrepreneurs further develop their skills.

VENTURECHALLENGE JUDGES

Lane Becker | Entrepreneur and New York Times Best Selling Author
Lane Becker has been hanging out on the Web since it was invented, from his work-study job setting up websites for the University of Texas at Austin in 1994, to his first, sadly failed startup in 1999 (don’t ask), and on to more successful ventures: co-founding Adaptive Path, the first user experience design firm, and Get Satisfaction, an online customer service community platform.
Marc Elrick | Principal, Critical Path Group
Marc Elrick is a Principal of the Critical Path Group, and the Executive Director of the Banff Venture Forum, the Canadian Financing Forum and the Agri Investment Forum.
Aki Georgeacacos | Managing Director, Avrio Capital
Aki Georgeacacos is a co-founder and Managing Director of Avrio Capital, a venture capital firms specializing in food and agriculture. Prior to co-founding Avrio Capital, Aki was a managing Director of FCC Ventures where he led the majority of the fund’s investments.
Jonathon Giller, CFA | Business & Investment Manager
As business and investment manager to James A. Richardson, Jonathon holds a B.A. (Honors) from the University of Manitoba, the Chartered Financial Analyst designation, and is a candidate in the Chartered Business Valuation program.
You don’t want to miss this outstanding opportunity to learn about the hottest ventures in Winnipeg and network with Manitoba’s leading investors, as well as both local and international leaders in innovation and entrepreneurship!
For more information: Check out the VentureChallenge homepage or REGISTER NOW
Questions? Contact:
Brent Wennekes
Research & Programs Manager | Innovate Manitoba
Technology Transfer & Communications Manager | Red River College
brentwennekes@innovatemanitoba.com | 204.631.3323

UPDATE: A recording of the event is now available below. Please take a moment to register before viewing.

Join Red River College for an intimate look at the mechanical design and performance report behind one of Winnipeg’s newest and most stunning buildings, the Winnipeg James Richardson International Airport.
Opened in October 2011, the Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport terminal building has proven to be a high-performing, energy-efficient facility. Enjoy a description of the building systems and design intents supplemented with a report on performance. Russell Lavitt, P.Eng. of SMS Engineering Ltd, will present on the iconic airport facility and its systems. Among the topics to be covered, Russell will explore how SMS Engineering:

• Tackled the challenge of efficiently heating and cooling a 51,000-square-metre structure enveloped by over 500 linear metres of glass.
• Designed an air-ventilation system that services only zones where people are present, leaving the remaining three-storey-high space alone.
• Powered the building with an on-site dual diesel-electric generation system that seamlessly transfers to back up power.
• Designed lighting to complement an abundance of natural light, while emphasizing the building’s architectural features.

Event details
Wednesday, June 12, 2013 
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Green Lecture Theatre (GM-43) | RRC Notre Dame Campus | 2055 Notre Dame Ave.
ATTEND IN PERSON: click here to register. A light lunch will be served.
LIVE STREAMING AVAILABLE: For those who can’t attend in person, a live-streaming option is available: click here to register.
There is no cost to access this seminar, thanks to support from RRC’s Sustainable Infrastructure Technology Research Group.
Russell Lavitt, P.Eng. of SMS Engineering Ltd is the Mechanical Engineer of Record for the Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport terminal building and has been involved mechanical engineering for buildings for over 20 years. Russell is well versed in the design and construction of facilities large and small. In addition to the airport redevelopment, he has been been involved with the University of Winnipeg Richardson College for the Environment, and the Investors Group Field (Winnipeg Stadium) project. Russell is currently working on the Winnipeg Convention Centre Expansion project.

As more Manitoba businesses look for technology solutions to common problems, Red River College (RRC)  students are helping turn several companies’ digital dreams into a productive reality.
Twelve students along with RRC instructors and researchers recently teamed up to help Manitoba construction and manufacturing businesses assess how they can implement digital technology to improve their productivity. The student teams spent about five days working directly with each firm’s staff and within their facilities.
“When students focus on a task that they are excited about and proud of, they can bring unique solutions to problems,” said Nirdosh Ganske, Lead Instructor, RRC Technology Management.  “They can ask questions others either haven’t thought or don’t feel appropriate, leading to unexpected revelations.”
While still in the early stages of implementation, many of the firms are already seeing the benefits of the students’ work.
“We intend on implementing their technology recommendation in the near future.” said Franklin Hodgson, Manager of Manufacturing Services, Melet Plastics Inc. “The RRC students were very resourceful and effectively interacted with our employees to assess our needs.”
The recommended technologies vary from hardware solutions such as robotics with cutting edge visioning systems, to software solutions to aid in client management and retention.
“Their service gave us the information needed to make an important and timely decision,” said Malcolm Kirkland, Vice President and General Manager, Dixon Group Canada Limited, who is considering the implementation new robotics in their Winnipeg facility.
Several of the reports also explored the potentials of a rapidly growing interface for businesses – mobile applications. One team examined how an architectural firm, Number TEN, can use mobile devices to streamline its blueprint annotation process through cloud-based storage and sharing.
“The results will help our firm make informed decisions as we move forward in the new digital work environment,” said Greg Hasiuk, Principal, Number TEN Architectural Group.
The impressive outcomes are nothing new or surprising from RRC students.
“The students produced relevant and meaningful results for industry within three months – the time it takes most employees to get oriented to a workplace,” said Ganske.
The partnerships are part of RRC’s Digital Technology Advisory Support Service, an initiative that has received financial support through the Digital Technology Adoption Pilot Program (DTAPP). Delivered by the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program, DTAPP is a component of the Government of Canada’s overall strategy to boost the productivity of SMEs and improve Canada’s digital economy.
For more information, please contact:
Brent Wennekes
Technology Transfer & Communications Manager, Applied Research & Commercialization
bwennekes@rrc.ca
(204) 631-3323

Do not come to WINNISPEED June 10-11 if you:

• are happy to let your competitors deliver faster by adopting Agile and Scrum
• do no need to adapt to changing market conditions
• do not need to be innovative
• do not need to stay competitive

Do come to WINNISPEED June 10-11 if you:

• want to supercharge innovation in your organization
• are ready to experience Extreme Manufacturing, Lean, Agile, and Scrum first hand
• want a low-cost, high-value Agile and Scrum learning opportunity
• are a technical professional, team leader, manager, executive, or organizational change leader
• are an Agile practitioner at any level of experience, including exploring Agile for the first time
• would like to meet and work with Joe Justice of Team WIKISPEED
• would love to learn by building a 100 mpg car in a single day
• like the idea of rapidly solving problems for social good

Joe Justice, founder of WIKISPEED, delivers ultra-efficient automobiles and social good projects and 60 times the rate of traditional businesses. Joe will be in Winnipeg for two days only. This is the first ever build of a Team WIKISPEED car in Canada.

• June 10 and 11 will be hands-on Extreme Manufacturing, Lean, Agile, and Scrum.Joe Justice will demonstrate these agile methodologies by leading two separate groups through the building of a 100 mpg Team WIKISPEED car. This is the first ever Team WIKISPEED build in Canada! Do not miss being one of the few able to participate.

For more info, head to the WINNISPEED.ca blog.

Innovate Manitoba and its partners, which includes Red River College, accomplished its mission of increasing the connections between Manitoba’s world-class academic researchers and their industry counterparts at the final part of its inaugural IndustryCONNECTS program on April 23.
“With the outcome of several innovative collaboration opportunities, I found the IndustryCONNECTS event extremely rewarding,” said Dean Staples with MTS Strategic Planning, Emerging Technology Research and Innovation.
The event also linked researchers and their industry counterparts with federal granting agencies. With a partnerships officer from the Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and a business development officer from Mitacs on hand, at least one funded academic/industry research partnership was initiated.
“Innovate Manitoba really hit the mark with this event,” said Douglas Reeson, President and CEO of Gossan Resources.  “We were able to sit down with an NSERC partnerships officer and are excited about the possibilities of getting federally-funded, world-class research assistance.”
“With my prospective partner in attendance at IndustryCONNECTS, we took the first steps in initiating an NSERC funded collaborative R&D project,” said Hamid Mumin, Professor and past Chair of Brandon University’s Department of Geology.  ”The IndustryCONNECTS program has proved to be immensely valuable from start to finish.  It helped me quickly expedite my industry research proposal to the formal application stage.”
For the rest of this story, and photos, visit: http://www.innovatemanitoba.com/news/researchers-industry-and-funders-collide-at-innovate-manitobas-industryconnects/

Following a successful debut, Innovate Manitoba’s IndustryCONNECTS returns for part three of a three-part program intended for academic researchers wishing to gain a better understanding of Canadian business needs, and how to pitch their team’s research capabilities accordingly.
IndustryCONNECTS part 3: Matchmaking and Funding Day takes place on April 23, 2013 from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The event will see the Innovate Manitoba team and its supporting organizations work to unite industry with researchers to form federally funded academic research partnerships.
IndustryCONNECTS is specifically designed to assist researchers in linking their research to industry needs to solve business problems. Participants from past events included researchers from the University of Manitoba, Red River College (RRC), University of Winnipeg, and Brandon University.
“I would highly recommend this program to any researcher,” said Deb Gural PhD., Research and Scholarship Committee Co-Chair, Nursing, RRC. “It helps you structure your message so that it is succinct and meaningful to potential industry partners. It’s a useful experience for anyone seeking research funding and it is an opportunity that is not easily obtained elsewhere.”
“Their (the judges’) questions and feedback were most valuable,” said Trust Beta, Canada Research Chair in functional foods and associate professor in food science with the University of Manitoba. “I’ve gained better understanding of how to position my team’s research capabilities in a way that is appealing to industry.”
Event Details
April 23, 2013 | 2 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Networking reception 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
The Roblin Centre at the Exchange District Campus | 160 Princess St. | Winnipeg, MB
Click here to register and for more information.