Innovative Projects Realized

Avatar Care Provider for Seniors Residences

We aim to provide companionship, distraction and engagement for seniors who would prefer social interaction to being alone. Fundamentally, the technology we intend to develop and, by the end of the grant, deploy on a trial basis in a long-term care facility, would present a conversational nurse or care provider avatar with whom the seniors could have a conversation anytime they want to talk to someone. Through these conversations, and in particular, via analysis of dialog with the simulated nurse, the system will acquire metrics of both immediate medical needs as well as psychosocial indicators of the senior’s well-being, including data extracted directly from the conversation, and para-linguistic content such as tone of voice, indicative of affect or mood. These data could help maintain awareness among staff of their residents’ immediate needs and general well-being, helping address the critical shortage and need for nursing staff in these facilities, while benefiting the quality of life of the residents.

Novagrow – Stage: Planification stratégique pour développer un nouveau marché pour Novagrow (l’Ontario)

Novagrow propose un stage de planification stratégique pour développer un nouveau marché pour ses produits: l’Ontario. Novagrow a consolidé une forte présence au Québec en 2021, et pour son année 2022, l’entreprise veut mettre en place un plan de commercialisation de ses produits dans une nouvelle province, soit l’Ontario. En collaboration avec un ou une stagiaire ayant une formation en marketing, nous prévoyons ce projet en 3 grandes étapes clés. D’abord nous devrons compléter une étude de marché en Ontario en lien avec nos produits, nos clients potentiels et nos concurrents directs et indirects. Ensuite, nous devrons concevoir et définir une stratégie globale de commercialisation de nos produits dans ce nouveau marché. Enfin, nous devrons segmenter cette stratégie globale en divers aspects exécutifs clés. La conclusion de ce projet deviendra alors notre stratégie “multi-aspects” pour développer le marché ontarien. Ce plan de commercialisation sera présenté sous la forme d’un diagramme de Gantt pour la période de la fin 2022 et 2023, et les étapes d’exécution du plan seront panifiées selon la méthode Lean de la gestion de projet.

Exploring Educational Support Systems in Asia: How EdTech Companies are Leveraging Technology to Democratize Postsecondary Opportunities

This project will give the intern the opportunity to explore the current state of the educational support network within Asian academia, which complements the intern’s knowledge and experience on the equivalent in Canada. By analyzing the new digital resources in terms of their purposes, impact and development processes, the intern will provide the organization with a strong foundation to spearhead new academic support initiatives. The organization can become a leader in redefining Canada’s approach to education and academic support in Canada, thereby contributing to both the Canadian Technology industry as well as the Department of Education Across Canada.

Project management in Business Innovation-Global Village Victoria

As an organization Global Village Victoria feels, there are new opportunities to bring more technology and automation into business, to bring efficiencies in the current process, and to support the increasing needs of a hybrid model work culture after the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, GV requires new innovations to reach more potential markets and enable easy access to the resources. Through this internship, I will work with Global Village Victoria on bringing efficiency to the organization’s work process through innovation. Such as reviewing the current workflow and improving the existing process of customer inquiry management. Paperless customer record-keeping process to bring efficiency to back-office functions and provide flexibility to staff for remote working. Besides, I’ll work on the marketing innovation by market research of new opportunities, increasing customer reach by promoting business through the website, social media, and other digital marketing platforms. Global Village Victoria rebounds from the pandemic, innovation in areas such as digital marketing, process efficiency, and technological skill development will play a key role in building a resilient workforce and economy.

Validating the Positive Workplace Framework to strengthen mental fitness, resiliency, and positive leadership practices

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need to address workplace wellness. The Positive Workplace Framework (PWF) is used in many workplace settings to improve well-being, engagement, and productivity. This study will address the French version of the PWF and its two questionnaires, the Mental Fitness and Resiliency Inventory (MFRI) and the Positive Leadership Inventory (PLI). The PWF’s theoretical foundations validated, the psychometric properties of both questionnaires will be described, and the important role leadership competencies play in a workplace will be demonstrated. An objective, replicable method to identify specific areas of intervention based on individual workplace environments will be developed. The partner organization will benefit greatly from this research as it will allow it to market a scientifically proven solution to improve workplace well-being and leadership competencies. Scientifically supported targeted interventions will lead to efficient practical interventions that will improve workplaces across Canada and elsewhere.

Cansbridge Fellowship

With approximately 1 million amputations performed per year worldwide, the need for prosthetics has never been more prevalent. In particular, bionic prosthetics provide more freedom and assistance to amputees as it allows them to manipulate their prosthetic with their minds, feel their surroundings, and mimic human-like movements. Unfortunately, the cost of bionic prosthetics can range between $5,000 CAD to $50,000 CAD posing a significant financial barrier for many patients. The Cansbridge Fellowship will be investigating and developing new technology and manufacturing methods to help decrease the cost while maintaining the technical integrity of the prosthetic. The intern will be involved in the research and development of the project and will have the opportunity to work on brain-computer interfaces, electronics, and machine learning. The Cansbridge Fellowship will benefit from this project by being at the forefront of accessible healthcare. By integrating into the medical device development sector, there is much potential for Cansbridge to receive sponsorship from large companies and organizations who are interested in supporting biomedically-inclined students.

Industry Applications of RPAS-based AI for General Visual Inspection of Aircraft

This project aims to solve the problem of how to accurately locate and orient a drone inside a hangar to acquire still images and/or video. The images and/or video will be used in conjunction with an AI/ML algorithm to efficiently identify aircraft defects. The drone-based approach to defect detection will be compared to traditional techniques in order to assess the potential for increased safety and efficiency, both monetary and temporal.

Prédiction du développement à longue terme des athlètes de baseball à l’aide de l’intelligence artificielle dans un environnement de l’informatique quantique

L’objectif de ce projet est de mettre en place un système de calcul fonctionnant à base de l’informatique quantique, d’une série de prédiction, les performances des athlètes de baseball.

Nous allons relever des données basées sur des gestes techniques et des habiletés des athlètes, sur l’aspect tactique, les données axées sur la stratégie de jeu des athlètes seront considérées, sur le plan physique, le développement et le perfectionnement des attributs physiques des athlètes sont des données à prendre en compte et sur l’aspect psychologique, les données à recueillir seront axées sur la passion, la capacité à gérer le stress et la pression, la concentration, la confiance en soi, la maîtrise des émotions, le contrôles mental des athlètes de baseball.

Nécessairement d’autres facteurs de données de certains experts du domaine seront adoptés pour la prédiction du développement des athlètes de baseball. . Pour regrouper, et calculer rapidement ces données un système informatique sera créé, développé, implémentée, validé et testé. Les ordinateurs quantiques ont le potentiel de révolutionner l’informatique en traitant en quelques minutes des équations qu’un superordinateur mettrait plus de 10?000 ans à résoudre.

Enhancing online mental wellness programming for older adults with heart failure

Mental distress is common among individuals with chronic heart failure. Online wellness programming is typically more heavily subscribed to by women rather than men. As part of a larger randomized controlled trial, this project aims to evaluate the distinct recruitment and engagement needs of men and women with heart failure with online mental wellness programming. This will entail a review of the literature, qualitative work with HeartLife Foundation patient partner members and exploration of gender and sex specific strategies as part of roll out of a large RCT in older adults with chronic disease. HeartLife members have prioritized mental health initiatives, and this partnership will allow for additional research data to promote equitable access to programming that acknowledges gender and sex in programming roll out.

Business Alliance for Artisans-Fortify Conference Coordinator Support Intern-Jose

Fortify is an annual business conference, coordinated by the Business Alliance for Artisan Fermenters and Distillers, which has as its main goal to support B.C. owners in this industry, managers, executives, team leaders, purchasing, consultants, human resources, winemakers, distillers, brewers, and cider makers: www.fortifyconference.ca
This project, to be led by a human resources student, will focus on the implementation of an improved business development plan, using an innovative perspective. With an emphasis on enhancing the current model, the intern will complete outreach and promotional activities, will engage with sponsors, participants, confirmed key-note speakers, and will work closely with the co-founders to provide feedback and suggestions. Upon analysis and approval, these ideas will be implemented in the event’s business plan.

Cymax Group Technologies-People Culture Intern-Cheyanne

For almost twenty years, Cymax Group has been designing complete eCommerce solutions that enable ease, scale, and certainty for our clients. Continuous investment in our technology and services has supported the growth of our own boutique marketplaces, Homesquare and Cymax Business and created a critical competitive advantage for our clients. This project, lead by a People & Culture Intern, will focus on the development of an organizational culture that values inclusion and diversity. We want to continue promoting our cultural values of clear communication, freedom to innovate, support for career development, and personal growth. This project will support the planning and coordination of employee engagement and will facilitate efficient and effective human resources operations, through accurate and relevant people information, including data management and technology administration. In addition, this project will focus on process enhancement and original initiatives implementation.

Whipser Technologies – Business Development & Marketing Internship – Simar & Tran

A technology start-up, Whipser Technologies is a peer-to-peer car rentals marketplace. We aim to establish a trusted platform where our customers can rent a car they need, wherever they need it, across Canada. Currently, we face challenges encountered by many start-ups, including the lack of resources to support us in understanding our customer needs and allow us to develop a thorough marketing plan and establish our brand in the market. This project will help us overcome some of the challenges, as the Business Development & Marketing Interns will be trained to conduct specific searches and will support us to develop appropriate strategies in order to increase our B2B Business Development and sales opportunities as well as amplify our social media presence on all different channels, such as Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. This project is part of a software build, where our interns will have exclusive access and exposure to a large tech application that is being built from scratch.