The federal government has awarded funding to Canada’s largest makerspace.
Last Friday, the Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety and Member of Parliament for Provencher, announced the federal government, through its Western Diversification Program, is investing $467,000 into Winnipeg’s AssentWorks.
Launched in 2011, AssentWorks is a non-profit workshop dedicated to providing access to fabrication and prototyping equipment, knowledge and community support for entrepreneurs and innovators. The funding will allow AssentWorks to expand and enhance its technological capacity to develop new products and processes in Manitoba, while opening new doors for entrepreneurs interested in applied research and commercialization.
“This contribution has given us access to a new level of capability for Manitoba entrepreneurs to prototype innovative ideas and launch new businesses,” said Michael Legary, AssentWorks Chairman.
“AssentWorks is about our Manitoba business community supporting new businesses and entrepreneurial activities not just here in Manitoba but right across Canada. Western Economic Diversification Canada understands the value in this type of initiative and we are excited to have them on-board as a strategic partner helping shape the future of entrepreneurship in Western Canada.”
Red River College is a supporter of AssentWorks, with its campuses having hosting several AssentWorks events. RRC students – including those from nearby The Roblin Centre at the Exchange District Campus – have used AssentWorks’ facilities and advanced manufacturing equipment as a basis for their projects.
Western Diversification news release

Join Red River College and its event partners CTTAM and ABTAM, for an in-depth look at Building Information Modeling (BIM) for technologists and technicians in the mechanical building industry, and enjoy a networking reception too!
Many purveyors of BIM also have a stake in its success. At Mechanical BIM: Case Studies and Implementation, you will learn from your peers through real stories about their experiences with BIM.
Speaker Line-up:

Topics to be covered:

• The use of REVIT MEP and mechanical systems tools; covered through case study presentations of multiple SMS Engineering projects; this will include a look at energy analysis, duct layout, scheduling, technical issues, and more.

• E.H. Price’s library of Revit content, including: rational for creating Families, conforming to Autodesk’s style guide, features of the E.H. Price models, and products that E.H. Price has models for

• BIM implementation in your practice

Registration: Click here to register
Registration deadline: Feb. 25, 2013 at 5 p.m.
This event is specifically designed for any mechanical firm or individual technologist or technician that is considering BIM implementation, or is in the early stages of BIM implementation. Design professionals, engineers, builders, contractors, developers, educators, and students will also benefit from the information delivered and the opportunity to network.
The cost of this event is kept low, thanks to support from the National Research Council Industrial Research Assistance Program’s Digital Technology Adoption Pilot Program, the Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council, and the Sustainable Infrastructure Technology Research Group.
Stirling Walkes, Senior Mechanical Engineer and Principal with SMS Engineering

As one of the first in Canada to achieve both the LEED® Accredited Professional and the ASHRAE High Performance Building Design Professional designations, Stirling has applied his energy modelling expertise to Geothermal projects such as the Oscar Lathlin Collegiate; the Steinbach Credit Union Lagimodiere Branch; Monsanto Phase 2 Addition; various Manitoba Hydro Service Centres and the Assiniboine Park Zoo Redevelopment. Stirling is also a verifier of the BOMA BESt program in Manitoba. Additional projects include the Women’s Correctional Facility in Headingley, Manitoba and the South District Police Station in Winnipeg.

SMS has used REVIT MEP on a number of projects over the past 6 years, throughout our learning curve we have made good use of the mechanical system tools.  The presentation will provide a brief highlight of some of those projects.
Jarvis Penner, Engineering Manager for the development of REVIT content with E.H. Price
Jarvis is a Mechanical Engineer with five years of design engineering experience.  As the engineering manager for the development of the Revit content, he was responsible for developing the Price Revit style guide in 2009. Price was one of the first HVAC manufacturers to create a library of content for all their products.
Presentation Summary

• Why do we create Families
• Do we conform to Autodesk’s style guide?
• Features of the Price models
• What products do we have models for?

Lee McCormick, Principal and Director of Practice with Smith Carter

Lee McCormick, a registered architect, has focused his career on design excellence in the building industry for over 20 years. He is currently Smith Carter’s Director of Practice, responsible for developing the firm’s qualitative performance standards for all projects, and works with discipline leaders to ensure the application across the practice. Lee has championed the implementation of BIM into Smith Carter’s delivery process.
 
 
 

Joe Sam, BIM Manager with Smith Carter

Joe Sam is the BIM Manager with Smith Carter. He is responsible for CAD/BIM Governance, multidisciplinary training of all staff on BIM (Beginner to Advanced levels of training), and strategic procurement and implementation of BIM applications. Joe was responsible for the successful implementation of BIM at Smith Carter and has extensive experience in software development, systems/business analysis, project management and manufacturing. Over the past 20 years, Joe has been working with various CAD/3D/BIM applications, developing custom software solutions, supporting teams and conducting training sessions.
Lee and Joe will provide a succinct presentation on the important factors to consider when implementing BIM in your practice.

This unique presentation by Lee McCormick, Principal and Director of Practice and Joe Sam, BIM Manager with Smith Carter is now available at no cost!
Multiple organizations, vendors, and other firms have espoused the productivity benefits of BIM. Most advocates claim that productivity will be lost during the initial implementation phase, but only to see a significant longer-term productivity gain and return-on-investment.
 
 
McCormick and Sam provide an objective and realistic look at the potential productivity benefits and pitfalls of BIM, with a focus on real-world versus anecdotal observations.
Together they answered key questions, including:
·      What is BIM?
·      What observations/evidence exist to support claims of increased productivity?
·      What are the real productivity potentials of BIM?
·      What should you consider when thinking about BIM implementation?
Watch the presentation here: http://hosting.desire2learncapture.com/Pilot/46/watch/2508.aspx  Note: You must Register.  It is simple and easy!
Lee McCormick, a registered architect, has focused his career on design excellence in the building industry for over 20 years. He is currently Smith Carter’s Director of Practice, responsible for developing the firm’s qualitative performance standards for all projects, and works with discipline leaders to ensure the application across the practice. Lee has championed the implementation of BIM into Smith Carter’s delivery process.
 
Joe Sam is the BIM Manager with Smith Carter. He is responsible for CAD/BIM Governance, multidisciplinary training of all staff on BIM (Beginner to Advanced levels of training), and strategic procurement and implementation of BIM applications. Joe was responsible for the successful implementation of BIM at Smith Carter and has extensive experience in software development, systems/business analysis, project management and manufacturing. Over the past 20 years, Joe has been working with various CAD/3D/BIM applications, developing custom software solutions, supporting teams and conducting training sessions.
There is no cost to access this seminar, thanks to support from the National Research Council Industrial Research Assistance Program’s Digital Technology Adoption Pilot Program, the Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council, and the Sustainable Infrastructure Technology Research Group.

Technology Road Maps (TRM) are strategic planning documents that identify potential gaps in technology areas for long-term success of a company and/or industry. Further to positive feedback from our previous DTAPP Factories of the FutureRoad Mapping roundtable late last year, and as requested by participants in our Emerging Technologies workshops, RRC will be holding a three-day workshop to dig a little deeper into the details of creating and operationalizing TRMs. This hands-on workshop is intended for manufacturing managers or those who are involved in the technology agenda at their organization – or for those who want to learn more about the technology road map process in general. Benefits of this workshop and learning more about TRMs could include: (1) Knowing more about operationalizing a TRM can put your business plan into a broader context of markets and technology; (2) Help identify gaps in skills, technology and funding; (3) Identify opportunity windows for new products and services, as well as productivity, and; (4) Get the chance to network and discuss TRMs with other organizations.
The high-level agenda:
Day 1: Morning – Introduction to the TRM process and how it interfaces to a business plan for small- to medium-sized organizations. Afternoon – Participants dissect the example of the UK Technology Foresight Vehicle TRM.
Day 2:  Morning – A hands-on investigation and analysis of R&D issues around (a) additive manufacturing or (b) robotics and automation (and perhaps (c) bonding of dissimilar materials – if sufficient number of participants). Afternoon – Review and discuss options of licensing or importing technology, and the technology insertion element to operationalize your roadmap. Participants will be working in groups.
Day 3: Morning – Continuation from the previous afternoon and group report outs. Afternoon – a discussion on the summary of the findings from our DTAPP assessment on Factories of the Future.
Maximum # for workshop: 16
Dates/Times: Wednesday, February 20^th – Friday, February 22^nd, 2013 | 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Cost: $395 + tax
Location: TBA, Winnipeg, MB
Thanks to the National Research Council Industrial Research Assistance Program’s Digital Technology Adoption Pilot Program for its support.
Registration online at: http://blogs.rrc.ca/ar/event-registration/?ee=15

INNOVATE MANITOBA, in collaboration with University of Manitoba, Red River College and University of Winnipeg, presents IndustryCONNECTS, a three-part program specifically designed to assist researchers in making successful connections with industry.

• LEARN AND PRACTICE THE ART AND SCIENCE OF THE RESEARCH SALES PITCH!
• INITIATE FEDERALLY-FUNDED ACADEMIC RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS!

Part 1: Researcher Pitch Coaching: Enrich your Pitch!
Academic researchers are invited to join Innovate Manitoba and our expert investor pitch coach, Linda Plano with Plano and Simple to learn and practice the art and science of the research sales pitch.

Register Now!

Note: Those who participate in this event will automatically be eligible to take part in Part 2: Researcher Pitch Practice.
Part 2: Researcher Pitch Practice
Part 2 of our Industry CONNECTS program offers those researchers who participated in Researcher Pitch Coaching: Enrich your Pitch! a unique opportunity to practice their newly developed research pitches to a live panel of business experts and investors.

Register Now!

Note: Those who register for Part 2: Researcher Pitch Practice only (and do not participate in Part 1: Research Pitch Coaching), will be subject to approval by Innovate Manitoba on an individual basis.
Part 3: Industry/Researcher Matchmaking & Funding
Connecting the dots…Those who attend Researcher Pitch Coaching: Enrich your Pitch! and Researcher Pitch Practice will be automatically approved to participate in Innovate Manitoba’s Matchmaking and Funding Day.
Imagine an event where academic researchers and firms seeking research assistance can develop research partnerships and learn about and initiate applications for federal funding at the same time…
Imagine no more! Matchmaking and Funding Application Day aims to do just that with the support of knowledgeable administrators with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).

Register Now!

Download Brochure for More Information
Questions or Concerns?
Please Contact:
Brent Wennekes
Research & Programs Manager | Innovate Manitoba
brentwennekes@innovatemanitoba.com

Paterson GlobalFoods Institute, under construction in 2011

Manitoba’s Red River College is poised to become one of Canada’s top culinary and food-testing centres thanks to an investment by WD in its new Paterson GlobalFoods Institute.

The funding enabled the college to purchase specialized food science equipment for its Paterson Institute, scheduled to open January 2013 in the historic Union Bank Tower in Winnipeg’s Exchange District.

“Our Government’s top priority is creating jobs, growth and long-term prosperity,” said Minister Yelich. “This investment will help ensure the right conditions to develop, test, and commercialize products to bring to market in the food industry.”

Ray Hoemsen, Director of Applied Research and Commercialization at Red River College, said the new equipment’s advanced technological capabilities are helping establish the college as one of Canada’s leading culinary and foodtesting institutes.

“We now have one of the best-equipped facilities in terms of food preparation and advanced technology, particularly in the key areas of testing, tasting, preparation and storage for commercial use,” said Mr. Hoemsen.

Equipped with this new technology, the College’s students and faculty will work directly with local industry to develop and test new food products and processes, ensuring healthier and
tastier foods for Canadians.

By working in partnership with private industry, the College is translating its knowledge and technology into new commercial food products for large
markets and creating new jobs.

As a result, Red River College is helping create new business opportunities by boosting the competitiveness of Manitoba’s food and beverage processing industry – an industry that represents close to one quarter of the province’s manufacturing output, and $4 billion annually in shipments.

Excerpted from Western Economic Diversification Canada’s Fall 2012 Access West Newsletter. Click here to view the full document.

**Note: this event was previously scheduled to take place in room A1-37. It will now be taking place in the Green Lecture Theatre (GM-43). It is still taking place at RRC’s Notre Dame Campus**
Join Red River College and Smith Carter Architects and Engineers for an objective look at the productivity potentials of Building Information Modeling (BIM).
Multiple organizations, vendors, and other firms have espoused the productivity benefits of BIM. Most advocates claim that productivity will be lost during the initial implementation phase, but only to see a significant longer-term productivity gain and return-on-investment.
Lee McCormick, Principal and Director of Practice with Smith Carter, will lead attendees through an objective and realistic look at the potential productivity benefits and/or pitfalls of BIM, with a focus on real-world versus anecdotal observations – he will be supported by Joe Sam, BIM Manager with Smith Carter.
Together they will answer key questions, including:
·      What is BIM?
·      What observations/evidence exist to support claims of increased productivity?
·      What are the real productivity potentials of BIM?
·      What should you consider when thinking about BIM implementation?
Date: Jan. 30, 2013
Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Venue: Green Lecture Theatre (GM-43) – 2055 Notre Dame Ave | Red River College | Winnipeg, Manitoba
Registration limit: Limited to 25 in-person attendees, but unlimited participants can attend via live webcast.
A light lunch will be served for those who attend in person.
Register here for in-person attendance.
Register here for live webcast.
Registration deadline is Tuesday, January 29 at 5:00 p.m.

This event is designed for anyone considering BIM implementation, or is in the early stages of BIM implementation. These include architects, other design professionals, engineers, builders, contractors, developers, educators, and students.
Lee McCormick, a registered architect, has focused his career on design excellence in the building industry for over 20 years. He is currently Smith Carter’s Director of Practice, responsible for developing the firm’s qualitative performance standards for all projects, and works with discipline leaders to ensure the application across the practice. Lee has championed the implementation of BIM into Smith Carter’s delivery process.
 
Joe Sam is the BIM Manager with Smith Carter. He is responsible for CAD/BIM Governance, multidisciplinary training of all staff on BIM (Beginner to Advanced levels of training), and strategic procurement and implementation of BIM applications. Joe was responsible for the successful implementation of BIM at Smith Carter and has extensive experience in software development, systems/business analysis, project management and manufacturing. Over the past 20 years, Joe has been working with various CAD/3D/BIM applications, developing custom software solutions, supporting teams and conducting training sessions.
There is no cost to attend this event, thanks to support from the National Research Council Industrial Research Assistance Program’s Digital Technology Adoption Pilot Program, the Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council, and the Sustainable Infrastructure Technology Research Group.

The Manitoba Aerospace Association, EnviroTREC and WestCaRD are hosting the Manitoba Aerospace Workshop on January 16 and 17 in Winnipeg. Representatives from the National Research Council Canada, the Consortium for Research and Innovation in Aerospace in Quebec and small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will be on hand to discuss the aerospace industry’s future in Manitoba. Topics will include priority technologies, funding recommendations and supply chain development. The workshop is aimed towards technology managers, technology practitioners and business planners from aerospace SMEs. It will also include relevant information for aerospace researchers from academia and government agencies.
Event Info:
January 16 -17, 2013 | 7:30 am – 4 pm both days (breakfast included)
Hilton Winnipeg Airport Suites | Winnipeg, MB
1800 Wellington Avenue
No cost to register.
To register, please contact alfonz.koncan@envirotrec.ca. Click here for more information.