The Unlikely Innovators: Recent Episodes
Mike Commito
Innovation can emerge from the most unlikely places. Each week, Mike Commito and Steve Gravel, two unlikely innovators in their own right, will highlight stories of unlikely innovation in post-secondary education and the private sector. Drawing from their experiences in the college applied research world, they will showcase the bright ideas happening in colleges and communities across Canada.
Mike Commito is the Director of Applied Research at Cambrian College and Steve Gravel is the Manager of the Centre for Smart Mining, Cambrian's Technology Access Centre.
On this special episode of the Unlikely Innovators, Mike and Steve celebrate International Day of Women in Mining by chatting with some of the inspiring women at the Integrated Remote Operating Centre (IROC) at Vale Base Metals. They each talked about how they got into mining, why they stay, and offered advice to women considering a career in the industry.
On this bonus episode of the Unlikely Innovators, Mike and Steve chatted with Andrew Murray, founder and CEO of Aslan Renewables. Andrew talked about going from a background in neuroscience to leading a renewable energy startup, the science behind revitalizing Canada’s historic hydro sites with new technology, and what Aslan has in common with King Charles.
On this bonus episode, Mike and Steve caught up with Dallas West, creator of Blitz Sports, an app that makes scorekeeping easier at the rink. Dallas talked about the process of developing an idea into a product and what the response has been so far. He also shared how the app is applicable to other sports like soccer and basketball and what the future holds for Blitz Sports.
On the latest Unlikely Innovators, hosts Mike and Steve sat down with Humza Teherany, Chief Technology and Digital Officer at Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, live from the show floor at OCI’s DiscoveryX. Humza talked about getting called up to the big leagues and joining MLSE, how he tries to deploy a common technology and digital strategy across four major sports, how MLSE’s Sport Performance Lab combines science and technology, and how digital technology is changing the fan experience.
On the latest episode Mike and Steve sat down with Suzanne Balima from Vale Base Metals. Suzanne talked about her journey from studying biomedical mechanical engineering to working in mining, how innovation is applied to various sectors, and what companies need to build a culture of innovation. Suzanne also highlighted Vale Base Metals’ Pyrrhotite Resource Recovery Challenge, which is still taking submissions until May 31, and offered some advice to students who might be contemplating a career in mining. Finally, Suzanne also chatted about her love of travel and why she jumped out of a perfectly good airplane.
This episode was originally recorded live as part of Cambrian College's annual Research & Innovation Week.
On the latest Unlikely Innovators, Steve and Mike sat down with Haley Blinn, a BEV Applications Engineer at Sandvik. Haley talked about her journey from studying astrophysics to working in mining, the future of electric vehicle technologies, the prospect of space mining, and some of her favourite video games.
On the latest Unlikely Innovators, Mike and Steve spoke with Claudia Krywiak, President and CEO of Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI). Claudia talked about her journey from academia to business and how she’s now at the forefront of one of the world’s preeminent innovation ecosystems. Claudia also talked about the exciting return of OCI’s Discovery X, Ontario's premier tech and innovation conference, at the Enercare Centre in Toronto from April 17-18. Register now so you don’t miss out!
On this month’s episode, Mike and Steve sat down with Gus Minor, COO of Sofvie Inc. Gus talked about his entrepreneurial journey, transitioning from IT to mining, and how Sofvie is changing health and safety in industry. Gus also talked about the importance of conferences like PDAC, sponsoring Canadian racecar driver Zach Vanier, and how sugar pie brings people together.
On this month’s episode, Mike and Steve sat down with Bruno Lalonde, President & CEO of NSS Canada. Bruno talked about his journey in mining and becoming a leader in the sector’s bourgeoning tech ecosystem. Bruno also talked about the importance of community and culture and how he applies that to NSS.
On this month’s episode of the Unlikely Innovators, Mike and Steve sat down with Mario Grossi, President of Technica Mining. Mario talked about discovering his passion for mining, how he has managed the growth of Technica over the past quarter century, the importance of building Indigenous partnerships, and his hope for the City of Greater Sudbury.
On this month’s episode, Mike and Steve chatted with Alessandro Costantini, co-founder and Artistic Director of YES Theatre, on location at the Refettorio. Alessandro talked about what drew him to the performing arts and how he has made it his career. He also touched on the difference between film and stage acting. The guys also learned about the inspiration behind the Refettorio and how it is putting Sudbury on the map for outdoor theatre productions. Finally, since it’s the holiday season, Alessandro shared some of his favourite Christmas performances.
In the spirit of giving this holiday season, the Unlikely Innovators is giving you bonus episode this month! For this one, Mike and Steve chatted with Stephanie Curcio, CEO & co-founder of NLPatent. Stephanie talked about her journey from being a lawyer to a tech startup CEO, how her company NLPatent is disrupting the IP sector, and the state of IP in Canada. You can find Stephanie at the Legal Tech Fund Summit this week, where NLPatent is featured in the Startup Showcase.
On this month’s episode, Mike and Steve sat down with Jennifer Taback, Partner & Thought Leader at Design de Plume. Jennifer talked about her unlikely journey into graphic design, starting her own business, how she brings her unique perspective as an Indigenous woman into design, and the role that visual storytelling can play in truth and reconciliation in Canada.
On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve were on location at TESC to chat with Julie Zulich, the company’s President & CEO. Julie talked about her entrepreneurial journey from opening up a coffee shop franchise to joining and leading her family’s construction business. She also explained the importance of planning for growth and expansion, while also being strategic in selecting what projects TESC takes on. Julie also talked about the importance of making skilled trades more inclusive and diverse through initiatives like LeadHER Trades and Cambrian College’s Jill of All Trades, where she will be part of a Women in Trades panel on Wednesday.
The Unlikely Innovators are back! For the third season, Mike and Steve kicked things with Dr. Nadia Mykytczuk, their first repeat guest. Nadia talked about her early love of science, being a role model to young women in STEM, her new Industrial Research Chair in Biomining in partnership with Cambrian, and her plans for the future Centre for Mine Waste Biotechnology.
The Unlikely Innovators commemorates its 100th episode on a boat! For this week’s episode, Mike and Steve chatted with Legend Boats co-CEO Jamie Dewar on a pontoon boat in their showroom in Whitefish. Jamie talked about how the company has evolved over the years and how innovation undergirds everything that Legend does. As people start heading out onto lakes to make memories on the water, the podcast is going on summer vacation and will be back in September 2023. Thanks for listening!
On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Mark Masotti, President & CEO of AlterBiota. Mark covered his journey from civil construction to chemical engineering to establishing a bio-graphene company. He talked about the benefits of using bio graphene in concrete mixtures from increasing building strength to helping to combat climate change.
On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve were joined by Brit Ho, a Project Manager at Hootsuite. Brit talked about her journey from hospitality to tech, her work at Hootsuite, what AI means for the tech industry, and her passion for boxing.
On this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Chloé Arsenault, a recent graduate of College Boreal's civil and mining engineering technician program. Chloe talked about what drew her to skilled trades and how she uses her pageantry platforms "Tiaras and Trades" to inspire girls and women to consider a career in the skilled trades.
On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Dawn Larsen, Digital Solutions Manager for Epiroc Canada. Dawn shared her journey from software to business, as well as her transition to the mining sector. She also talked about digital transformation in the sector and the solutions Epiroc has brought to market to improve productivity, utilization, and safety.
On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Trent Mell, founder and CEO of Electra Battery Materials Corporation. Trent talked about Electra’s mission to create the only fully integrated, localized, and environmentally sustainable battery materials park in North America and what that would mean for Canada’s position as a leader in the global critical minerals sector. Trent also talked about his journey from law to mining and even gave the guys a history lesson about Cobalt, Ontario.
On this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcomed their second astronaut to the show, Colonel Jeremy Hansen. He talked about his unlikely journey becoming a fighter pilot and his even unlikelier journey becoming an astronaut. Colonel Hansen also explained the qualities he looks for in an astronaut and what his forthcoming Artemis II mission to the Moon means for humanity. And, since it's almost summer blockbuster season, Colonel Hansen reflected on last year's smash hit, Top Gun: Maverick, and how it stacks up for him as a fighter pilot.
On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Lee Elias, founder and CEO of Hockey Wraparound and Game Seven Group. Lee talked about his playing days, coaching, and discovering a need in the road hockey market that led to the invention of Hockey Wraparound. Lee also talked about his other venture, Game Seven Group, which helps individuals and teams unlock the Game 7 mentality for business and sports.
On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Laura O’Blenis, President and CEO of Stiletto. Laura talked about her journey from business to helping to build innovation ecosystems through her work at Stiletto. She also talked about research parks and the value they provide to communities, the state of the startup landscape in Canada, and the country's commercialization track record.
On this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Trang Tran-Valade, Regional Sector Lead of Mining, Minerals, and Metals, Canada for Stantec. Trang talked about her unlikely journey into mining, her experience with mining technologies, her continued efforts to make mining more diverse, and what you can expect at this year's CIM Convention in Montreal.
On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve spoke with Paul Lefebvre, Mayor of the City of Greater Sudbury. From his office at Tom Davies Square, Mayor Lefebvre talked about his journey into politics, what makes Sudbury an ideal place for innovation, how the community can take advantage of the critical minerals opportunity, and his upcoming state of the city address. Mayor Lefebvre also talked about what he does in his spare time and who he will be cheering for in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Brian Kingston, President and CEO of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association. Brian talked about his journey before he joined the CVMA, the Inflation Reduction Act and its implications for Canada, and consumer adoption incentives and the need for more EV charging infrastructure. Brian also talked about the changing skills profile needed to work in the EV supply chain sector.
On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve spoke with Shouyi Ma, President and CEO of Hanson Canada, in front of a live audience at Cambrian College. Shouyi talked about his journey immigrating from China to Canada, his career path from telecommunications to becoming a CEO in higher education, and his advice for students. Shouyi also talked about learning to play hockey during the pandemic and his passion for guitar.
On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Dan Breznitz, Co-Director of the Innovation Policy Lab and Munk Chair of Innovation Studies at the University of Toronto for a chat at Cambrian. Dan talked about why Canada should look beyond the Silicon Valley approach, what the Canada Innovation Corporation means for businesses looking to develop new technologies in our country, and some of the lessons from his latest book, Innovation in Real Places. Dan also shared some of his impressions of Sudbury in a recent visit to the community.
On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Daryl Adams, President of RufDiamond. Daryl talked about how his military service prepared him for a second career in business. He also talked about RufDiamond’s vehicle platform, the Fat Truck, and how its bringing safe and versatile transportation solutions to many sectors in the north. Be sure to stick around until the end to hear Daryl talk about the annual Nijmegen Marches in the Netherlands.
On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Brent Neilly, Director of Product Marketing for Milwaukee Tool Canada. Brent talked about his unlikely journey to working at Milwaukee, some of the company’s early innovations, and how Milwaukee has learned from product launches that missed the mark. Brent also talked about one of Milwaukee’s most famous and loyal customers.
On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Kevin Oulds, co-founder and Head of Research & Innovation at Willful. Kevin talked about the impetus behind Willful, pitching on Dragon’s Den, the state of digital legal innovation in Canada, and what’s next for Willful.
On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Mike Campigotto, President of SafeSight Exploration. Mike reflected on his journey from studying computer science at the University of Waterloo to how he was lured into the mining industry later in his career. Mike also talked about the challenges of designing tech for an environment as harsh as mining and how SafeSight’s development is not all that dissimilar from the film The Martian. If you’re at PDAC this week, you can find SafeSight at booth 7504N.
On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve are broadcasting from Crosscut Distillery, where they interviewed Shane Prodan, owner of Crosscut. Shane talked about his career stops before founding Crosscut, the business of distilling, and the innovation that goes into making spirits. Shane also weighed in on the trend of overtopping Caesar's with food.
On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve are coming to you from two kilometres underground at the world-famous SNOLAB research facility. For their first in-person recording, the guys welcomed Dr. Jodi Cooley, Executive Director of the centre. They talked about Dr. Cooley’s academic and research career that led her to SNOLAB, some of the groundbreaking research projects underway, and how she is settling in to life in Sudbury.
On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Jenn Harper, founder and CEO of Cheekbone Beauty. Jenn talked about what inspired her to start Cheekbone Beauty, its mission and vision, the ins and outs of the cosmetics industry, the importance of representation for Indigenous girls and women, and the company’s charitable goals.
On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Frank Stronach, founder and honourary chairman of Magna International, and now chairman of Stronach International. Mr. Stronach shared his story from his early beginnings to building a company that now spans five continents and 28 countries. He also talked about how is management philosophy, fair enterprise, led to incredible business results at Magna. Mike and Steve were particularly delighted by the discussion they had with Mr. Stronach about the future of post-secondary education and applied learning in Canada.
On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Adam Maxwell, CEO of Voyage Foods. Adam talked about his journey from falling in love with food at an early age to studying food science and eventually co-founding Voyage Foods. At Voyage Foods, Adam leads a talented team of food scientists and CPG experts looking to revolutionize the food industry and secure the future of our favourite foods. He talked about some of the current products at Voyage Foods, such as the peanut-free spread, and where they hope to go in the future.
On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Cem Kansu, Vice President of Product at Duolingo. Cem talked about his career path, growing Duolingo’s monetization strategy, the human impacts the app has had, and what’s next for Duolingo.
On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Jamie Oakenfold, owner of Oakenfold Strength & Athletics. Jamie talked about her fitness journey, starting her own business which focuses on pre and postnatal fitness, what it meant to win a Northern Ontario Business Award as Entrepreneur of the Year, and how she hopes to grow her business to help more women, particularly Indigenous women, across the north. Since Jamie resides in Thunder Bay, the guys also took some time to wax poetic about the community.
On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Guy Kawasaki, chief evangelist of Canva and the creator of Guy Kawasaki’s Remarkable People podcast. Guy talked about tech evangelism and working at Canva, feeding your interests outside of your day job, email etiquette, and even his love of hockey.
On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve reflect on the past year and share some of their favourite holiday treats before rebroadcasting their interview with Colonel Chris Hadfield, the most popular episode of 2022. The Unlikely Innovators will be back with fresh content on January 10, 2023. Happy New Year!
On this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Mark Sherry, CEO of One Red Maple. Mark talked about his career as an entrepreneur, operating businesses in a variety of sectors from food services to mining technology and now e-commerce. Mark told the guys about his latest venture, One Red Maple, the retail Robin Hood app that helps consumers find and purchase virtually any product from locally-owned stores nearby. They also chatted about their favourite holiday tunes to get into the Christmas spirit.
On this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Sheri Tingey, founder and lead designer for Alpacka Raft. Sheri talked about how she got her start in the outdoor industry by making custom ski clothing. After changing the fashion of ski wear, Sheri went from the slopes to the water, making garments for rafting and then eventually designing and building her own boats. And, with ski season around the corner, Sheri also shared her favourite après-ski beverage.
On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve chatted with Peter Cowan, CEO of Intellectual Property Ontario (IPON). Peter talked about his unlikely journey from mechanical engineering to intellectual property, the state of commercialization and IP development in Ontario, and how IPON will work with the province’s post-secondary institutions to help commercialize IP.
On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Raed Kadri, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, Business Development and Head of the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN). Raed talked about growing up in an automotive family, the automotive and mobility sector in Ontario, and the work being done by OVIN and the government of Ontario to cement the province’s leadership in the future of the sector globally. He also provided some insights on the future of the auto sector in Ontario and how the mining supply chain and critical minerals sector will be key to the rapid electrification of mobility. The guys also talked about what their dreams cars were when they were kids, so you won't want to miss that.
On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Kate Withers Hess, Co-founder and Director of Partnerships at Functionland. Kate talked about her journey from studying plant physiology to working with technology companies and founding her own tech start-up. She also gave the guys an introduction to decentralized computing and storage and even taught them some Web3 terms.
On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Ashley Kirwan, President and CEO of Orix Geoscience. Ashley talked about her journey into geology, co-founding a company, her approach to selecting clients, and how Orix continues to place a premium on developing a positive workplace culture.
On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve chatted with Gordon McCauley, President and CEO of adMare BioInnovations. Gordon talked about his journey from studying political science to working in life science, the current state of the biotech and bioinnovation in Canada, and if our country has what it takes to be a global leader in life sciences.
On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve chatted with Stewart Reynolds, but you might know him better as Brittlestar. Stewart talked about his early career, his meteoric rise on social media, the keys to making a viral video, and his creative process for creating online content. Stewart, who is also known as the Internet’s favourite dad, even shared some parenting advice.
On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Dr. Emily Zarka, ASU’s official “monster expert” and host of "Monstrum"on PBS’s Storiedchannel on YouTube. Emily talked about the underlying importance of monster tales, some of her favourite monsters, and what Halloween costume she is most afraid.
On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Tom Pederson, former NHL player and owner of Green Biscuit. Tom talked about his NHL career, life after hockey, and founding and scaling a business. Tom also talked about the time Wayne Gretzky wanted to kill him.
On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Cate Murray, President and CEO of Stem Cell Network. Cate talked about her career path, the state of regenerative medicine research in Canada, and how she uses her science communication background to combat misinformation about stem cell and regenerative medicine.
On this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Medha Parlikar, co-founder and CTO of CasperLabs. After talking about her journey from studying biology to creating and delivering software products, Medha explained blockchain and NFTs to the guys. Medha also talked about the applicability of blockchain to other sectors such as natural resources, her martial arts background, and what the future holds for blockchain.
On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Dave Salmoni, famed animal trainer, entertainer, and television producer. Dave talked about his journey from studying zoology to being in front of the camera, surviving animal attacks, navigating the late night TV circuit, and pursuing your passion.
On this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Manjit Minhas, co-founder and co-owner of the Minhas Brewery, Distillery, and Winery. Manjit talked about how she got into the brewing and distilling world from engineering, her journey onto CBC's Dragon's Den, and the key to a successful pitch.
On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Christyn Cianfarani, President and CEO of the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI). Christyn talked about her career path, how CADSI and its annual event, CANSEC, has evolved under her watch, and how she continues to blaze a trail for women in the sector.
The second season of The Unlikely Innovators starts now! On this episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Ashley Larose, CEO of Science North, Northern Ontario's original science centre. Ashley talked about visiting Science North as a kid, how she got her start in the organization as a "Bluecoat," and what the future holds for the popular science centre. After reminiscing about some of their favourite exhibits, Ashley, a skilled mixologist and pizza connoisseur, shared some tips with the guys on how to make a mean cocktail and the perfect slice.
On this week’s episode, hosts Mike and Steve welcomed Emily Calandrelli, host and co-executive producer of the hit Netflix show Emily’s Wonder Lab. Emily spoke about the importance of science communication, transitioning to TV work, Emily’s Wonder Lab, working with Bill Nye, and her forthcoming science experiment book. Emily also talked about the prospect of space mining and the work she is currently doing to help change how TSA treats the parents of young kids when travelling.
On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Eric Blondeel, co-founder and CEO of Samos Insurance, a new digital insurance product, backed by Berkley Insurance, that offers protection for accidental death during planned surgical procedures. Eric talked about how the company came to be, transitioning from the lab to the boardroom, and the state of the insurtech startup landscape in Canada.
On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Gurdeep Pandher, who is known for spreading joy with his Bhangra dance videos from the Yukon. Gurdeep talked about growing up in a Punjab farming village, the origins of Bhangra dancing, how he sees his videos as more of a social service than entertainment, and how he overcomes technological challenges to connect with the world from his off-grid cabin in the Yukon wilderness.
On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Dr. Monique Golden, Technical Lead for XPRIZE’s Rapid Reskilling Prize, a 30-month competition that aims to rapidly train 25,000 American workers to learn new skills via novel training solutions to obtain living wage jobs in growing industries. Monique talked about the ambitious goals of that competition and how XPRIZE uses large-scale global incentive competitions to crowdsource solutions to the world’s grand challenges. Monique also talked about her PhD research which focused on Black women and perfectionism and her ongoing efforts to close the gender gap in STEM.
On this week’s episode, which officially marks the one-year anniversary of The Unlikely Innovators, Mike and Steve welcomed Danielle Brewin Graham, co-founder of The Firehood and Managing Partner of Phoenix Fire, an angel fund focused on investing in women entrepreneurs. Danielle talked about her journey from studying history to working in venture capital, creating the Fierce Founders program - the first women-focused accelerator in Canada, and how she aims to invest in women entrepreneurs from across Canada.
On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Kyle Haapala, Lead Product Designer at Boston-based startup Spoiler Alert, which works to reduce waste by helping food and CPG companies sell excess and short-dated inventory. Kyle talked about graphic design, remote work, his role at Spoiler Alert, and founding Charged, a Sudbury-based not for profit that brings in expert speakers to connect technology with the design community.
On this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Flavio Volpe, President of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association (APMA), Canada’s national association representing OEM producers of parts, equipment, tools, technology and services for the worldwide automotive industry. Flavio talked about his career path from working in government to now leading the APMA. Flavio also talked about the opportunities for Ontario and Canada to lead in EV manufacturing and the supply chain, as well as the APMA's ambitious Project Arrow initiative; Canada's first zero emissions concept vehicle.
On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Captain Dale Dye. Following a distinguished military career, which included 31 combat operations in Vietnam, Captain Dye founded Warriors Inc. with the goal of helping Hollywood make war movies more realistic and improve screen portrayals of military men and women. Over the past three decades, Captain Dye has worked on more than 50 movies and TV shows, including Platoon, Saving Private Ryan, and Band of Brothers. During their conversation, Captain Dye talked about his time in the Marine Corps, his quest to bring his experience to the silver screen, and why Band of Brothers still stands the test of time.
On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Doris Hiam-Galvez, Senior Advisor at Hatch. Doris talked about her career running Hatch Peru and Hatch Europe and how she created new and innovative opportunities around the world. As Chair of the CIM Convention 2022, happening this week in Vancouver, Doris also talked about this year’s conference and some of the things that delegates can expect to take in and learn.
On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Cutis VanWalleghem, co-founder and CEO of Hydrostor, a long-duration energy storage solution provider. Curtis talked about Hydrostor’s innovative technology and how the company is enabling the energy transition.
On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Dr. Roseann O’Reilly Runte, President and CEO of the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI). Roseann talked about her journey from French literature to the innovation ecosystem, the role that CFI plays in supporting R&D across the country, and how proud she is of the countless women across Canada who enable innovation.
On this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Dom Kwong, co-founder and COO of Damon Motors, an electric motorcycle startup. Dom talked about his journey from radio engineer and tech consultant to bike enthusiast and motorcycle entrepreneur. He also talked about all of the cutting-edge technology and intuitive design that goes into a Damon motorcycle; making it the safest high-performance motorcycle on the market.
On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve were pleased to be joined by Ontario’s Minister of Colleges and Universities, Jill Dunlop. Minister Dunlop talked about her own education, the importance of experiential learning, and the role that the province’s college play in closing the skills gap and meeting the innovation needs of industry partners.
On this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Steven Salz, co-founder and CEO of Rivalry Corp, an internationally-regulated sports betting and media company. Steven talked about his passion for gaming, how Rivalry is disrupting the world of internet gaming and sports betting, and where he sees the company going in the next few years.
On this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Tim Borgares, co-founder and CTO of 54e Dev Studios. Tim talked about the company's origins in ag tech and how it led to the development of OneShot Golf, a skill-based mobile game that allows users to control real-world golfing robots for a true-to-life eSports experience. He also talked about the essential qualities that he looks for in new game designers and what's next for 54e Dev Studios.
On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Chris McCasland and Mike Opalski, the co-founders of City Bonfires, a portable, mini bonfire that is handmade in the United States. Chris and Mike talked about how the pandemic sparked their business, some of the things they’ve learned about bringing a product to market, and what’s next for the company.
On this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Sheri Tomchick, founder and president of Plan A, powered by StaffStat. Sheri talked about what led to the founding of Plan A in 2011, how she has adapted her business during the pandemic, and some of the opportunities she sees for StaffStat in other sectors.
On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve were joined by former astronaut Colonel Chris Hadfield. Colonel Hadfield talked about his distinguished career, which included flying three space missions, building two space stations, and conducting two spacewalks. Colonel Hadfield also talked about his ongoing efforts to make space more accessible to millions and his latest book, The Apollo Murders.
On this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Amber Mac, President of AmberMac Media Inc. Amber went from attending a two-room country schoolhouse and sharing a party telephone line with neighboring houses on rural Prince Edward Island to becoming an internationally recognized innovation and technology leader. She talked about starting her career during the dot-com boom in San Francisco and how that experience shaped her approach to future ventures. Amber also talked about some of the podcasts she has hosted, such as This is Mining, some of the exciting technology trends happening in Canada, and how rural settings spur innovation.
On this week's episode, Mike and Steve were joined by none other than Peter Mansbridge. Peter talked about his unlikely journey from Churchill airport baggage handler to chief correspondent for the CBC, his new book, Off the Record, and some of the highlights from his illustrious career.
On this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Tim McRoberts, Director of Canada's Smartest Kitchen at Holland College. Tim talked about his career as a chef, going from the kitchen to the classroom and earning his PhD, and some of the innovative food science work happening at CSK.
On this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Meagan Simpson, Associate Editor at BetaKit, where she covers all things in the Canadian tech startup space. Meagan talked about her role at BetaKit, some of the trends she is seeing in the Canadian tech ecosystem, and how the country's vibrant tech pockets should resist the "Silicon Valley North" moniker.
On this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Terry O'Reilly, host of CBC's incredibly popular radio show, Under the Influence. Terry talked about his career as an award-winning advertiser and some of the notable campaigns he worked on. He also shared some advice on how to protect your pitch in the board room and his latest book, My Best Mistake.
On this week's episode, Mike and Steve were joined by Emma Jarratt, Managing Editor of Electric Autonomy Canada, an independent news platform reporting on Canada's transition to electric vehicles, autonomous transportation, and new mobility services. Emma talked about her role at Electric Autonomy and some of the trends she is seeing in the shift to electric and autonomous vehicles. Emma also talked about her career as journalist, including living abroad in Norway and her time at CTV's W5.
On this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Samantha Kuula, Chief Business Officer at SNOLAB. Located 2km underground in Vale's Creighton Mine, SNOLAB is the deepest clean lab in the world. Samantha explained dark matter to the guys and then talked about some of the groundbreaking experiments happening at SNOLAB, the importance of science communication, and some of the lesser known facts about the incredibly innovative facility.
On this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Vineet Johnson, founder and CEO of IRegained, an innovative medical device company that accelerates rehabilitation for stroke patients. Vineet talked about the story of how IRegained came to be, how the MyHand system changes lives, and how the product has evolved over the years. Vineet also talked about the uniqueness of the innovation ecosystems in Northern Ontario and shared his passion for world travel and international street food.
For this week's episode, Mike and Steve are rebroadcasting their chat with Gabrielle Roy, founder and owner of Stitch & Stone, which originally aired in July 2021. It was the most popular episode this past year, so if you haven’t listened to it yet there’s no better time to catch up than this week. Gabrielle talked about how she realized her dreams of owning her own retail store, how she adapted her business model during the pandemic, and what advice she would give to aspiring young entrepreneurs. Happy holidays! The guys will be back next week with a new guest.
On this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Callen McGibbon, co-founder of REPerformance, a digital physical education startup. Callen talked about how REPerformance differentiates itself by focusing on education, his experience in the prestigious Canadian Technology Accelerator (CTA) in Silicon Valley, and even offered some advice on how to achieve your New Year's resolutions.
On this week's episode, Mike and Steve chatted with Kevin Dagenais, CEO of Cascadia Scientific. Cascadia has propelled itself from a fuel measurement tech start-up to an AI firm serving the mining sector. Mike and Steve talked to Kevin about that journey and what's next for the company.
On this week's episode, Mike and Steve spoke with Anthony Prenol, a lawyer, patent agent, and trademark agent with the firm CPST Intellectual Property in Toronto. Anthony talked about different kinds of intellectual property (IP), best practices for companies, and common pitfalls to avoid when commercializing IP.
On this week's episode, Mike and Steve are joined by Michael Leckie, founder of Leckie Studio Architecture + Design. Michael is an architect and entrepreneur working to evolve the traditional boundaries of architectural practice as a catalyst for cultural change. Michael talked about how spending time in nature informed his approach to architectural design and also discussed some of his other ventures such as The Backcountry Hut Company and Arcana, both of which aim to bridge the gap between urban life and the wild.
On this week's episode, Mike and Steve are joined by Scott Everett, co-founder and CEO of Eigen Innovations, a machine vision company focused on providing deep AI solutions for process and quality control. Scott talked about how his passion for engineering started on the farm, his time at the Creative Destruction Lab at the University of Toronto, how Eigen uses AI to solve manufacturing challenges, and the innovation ecosystem in New Brunswick.
On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcome Ash Argawal, CEO of Symboticware Inc. Ash chatted about how his early days working in the mining sector influenced his intuitive approach to solving complex problems. Ash also provided some great insights around strategies for adopting transformative technologies such as AI and machine learning in the mining sector.
On this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcome Saleema Vellani, founder and CEO of Ripple Impact and author of Innovation Starts with I. During their conversation, Saleema talked about founding her company, the launch of her new book, what the term "hybridpreneurship" means, and the advice she would have for aspiring entrepreneurs.
On this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcome Ellie Ardakani, co-founder and CEO of Meta Innovations Technologies. Ellie talked about her journey to Canada from Iran, her transition from academia to industry, and launching her first tech startup.
On this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcome Frank Bach, a Lead Product Designer at Headspace, one of the world’s leading mindfulness and meditation apps. Frank spoke about his Northern Ontario roots, his early success starting up his own creative agency in Sudbury, and his journey out to Los Angeles, where he now works for Headspace.
On this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcome Victoria Coleman, Vice President of Business Development at Verv Technologies, a Sudbury-based med-tech startup. The guys chatted with Victoria about her career path from a clinician to an executive, the growing importance of telemedicine, and how Verv's disruptive technology, a home biochemistry lab, will change healthcare by empowering consumers from the comfort of their own home.
On this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcome Alicia Woods, founder and CEO of Covergalls Workwear. Alicia talked about her journey in the mining industry and how her experience as a woman led her to establish Covergalls - a coverall designed for women working in heavy industry. Alicia also talked about scaling her business, the importance of proper fitting workwear for women and how it can help address workplace diversity and inclusion. She also shared her vision for making Covergalls much more than a workwear company.
On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcome Brian Lee, Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) & Product Strategy at Normative, a Toronto-based innovation services firm. The guys covered a lot of ground from Brian’s early days working as a process engineer at Vale to starting and scaling teaBOT, an on-demand tea robot start-up. They also chatted about Brian’s early brushes with entrepreneurship, watching his parents build, run, and exit Grandmother’s Bake Shoppe, whose butter tarts can be found in stores everywhere. Brian offers some excellent insights on building and commercializing products by going back to the basics of client need and empathy.
On this week's episode, Mike and Steve are joined by Denise Amyot, the president and CEO of Colleges and Institutes Canada, the voice of Canada's colleges, institutes, CÉGEPs, and polytechnics, and an international leader in education for employment in over 25 countries. Denise talked about common threads that stitch together colleges across Canada, the important role that applied research plays in helping students and companies, and she also shares some highlights from CICan's most recent applied research survey.
On this week's episode, Mike and Steve are joined by Karim Omri, president and principal engineer of Komri Engineering. They talked about Karim's path to engineering, scaling his business, what forensic engineering entails, and what the advent of electric vehicles means for engineers and the public.
On this week's episode, Mike and Steve reflect on the podcast journey so far and highlight some of the things they have learned. They also answer a question from Charles Nyabeze on whether there is a survey out there to assess local business requirements for engaging in college applied research. Mike and Steve tackle that question and look ahead to the future of the podcast. Tune into next week's episode, where they will be once again joined by a guest.
On this week's episode, Mike and Steve were joined by Dr. Nadia Mykytczuk, interim President and CEO of MIRARCO, a not-for-profit research arm of Laurentian University. During their conversation, they discussed Nadia's research in biomining, how she has adjusted to her new role as an executive, how applied research organizations such as MIRARCO and the Centre for Smart Mining can help mining companies innovate, and the lessons that the mining, oil and gas industries can take from Sudbury. They also talked about how, in the face of opposition and resistance to COVID-19 vaccination, science communication is more important now than ever before.
On this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Kati McCartney, founding President of FROSKR Corporation, an environmental consulting and technology firm. As part of their conversation, Kati talked about her non-linear career path, establishing an environmental startup in the mining industry, how mining plays a critical role in our new energy economy in the face of climate change, and her time on Cambrian's Board of Governors. Kati also leaves the guys with a few golf tips.
On this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcome Shelby Yee, founder and CEO of RockMass Technologies, a Toronto-based tech startup that offers a transformational data collection tool for the mining sector. The guys chatted with Shelby about her journey as a founder, some of the uniqueness involved in selling high-tech products to mines, the burgeoning investment ecosystem for mine-focused technology firms, and some tidbits about her time working in logistics for the 2015 Pan Am Games.
On this week's episode, Mike and Steve were joined by Rob Roy, Partner and Director of Business at Studio 123, who dropped in to talk about his entrepreneurial roots, creative philosophies, and how his passion for skateboarding shaped his career path.
Charles Nyabeze is the guy to know in mining. As the Vice-President of Business Development and Commercialization at the Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation (CEMI), there are few trends in the sector that Charles doesn’t know about. On this week's episode, Mike and Steve talk to Charles about some transformational technologies facing the mining sector, the role academia can play in mining innovation and technology adoption, as well as CEMI’s exciting new initiative, the Mining Innovation Commercialization Accelerator (MICA) Network. Charles also talks about how important mining is to everyday life and shares some interesting facts about how mining contributes to industries around the world.
On this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcome Stella Holloway, Vice-President of Northern Ontario Operations at MacLean Engineering to the podcast. Stella has had an exciting and fulfilling career in the mining industry and she recommends it to anyone. The guys chat with Stella about the battery electric vehicle trend in underground mining, what makes the industry an attractive option for young people, and her efforts to encourage women and girls to consider mining as a career. They also talk about karaoke, Wayne Gretzky, and Justin Trudeau, but you'll have to tune in to find out how the Great One and the Canadian Prime Minister made their way into the conversation.
For some, Ontario's colleges are still viewed as unlikely destinations for innovation. On this week's episode, Mike and Steve had the privilege to speak with Linda Franklin, President & CEO of Colleges Ontario, the advocacy association for Ontario’s 24 Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology. Since joining Colleges Ontario in 2007, Linda has witnessed some incredible transformations to the province's college system, particularly in the realm of applied research. During their conversation, she recounts some of these changes and talks about the important work that she and Colleges Ontario are doing to dispel some of the misconceptions about a college education. After chatting about how colleges continue to help companies innovate, especially during the pandemic, the guys end the episode by talking with Linda about her previous role as CEO of the Wine Council of Ontario, where she presided over some important changes that helped transform the province into a preferred destination for wine.
Entrepreneurs are an integral part of any vibrant innovation ecosystem. This week, Mike and Steve had the privilege to chat with one of Sudbury’s brightest business owners, Gabrielle Roy, founder and owner of Stitch & Stone, a modern fashion boutique with a subtle touch of bohemian charm. In 2015, after a series of successful pop-up shops, Gabrielle opened Stitch & Stone, which quickly became one of the most popular stores in Sudbury and is now becoming a household name in Canada. The guys talked to Gabrielle about how she realized her dreams of owning her own retail store, how she adapted her business model during the pandemic, and what advice she would give to aspiring young entrepreneurs. You can visit Stitch & Stone’s online shop and follow the store on Instagram and Facebook for the latest updates and fashion trends.
Applied research being conducted at Canadian colleges has grown by leaps and bounds over the last decade, allowing institutions to better serve local companies and help them turn their ideas into reality. A major reason Canadian colleges have reached this capacity is chiefly because of the funding provided by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada’s (NSERC) College and Community Innovation program (CCI), which fuels applied R&D projects between colleges and industry partners. On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcome NSERC’s Vice President of Research Partnerships, Dr. Marc Fortin, to talk about the evolution of college research and the exciting new changes coming to the CCI program. Marc also breaks down the critical role he sees Canadian colleges playing in the country's economic recovery efforts following the COVID-19 pandemic.
In this week’s episode of The Unlikely Innovators, Mike and Steve are finally joined by a guest! The guys welcome Liam McGill, Manager of Investment & Business Development with the City of Greater Sudbury’s Economic Development Department to talk about his role in overseeing the city’s investment attraction and business expansion efforts and how Sudbury has evolved to become a vibrant city that boasts a thriving innovation economy. Liam’s enthusiasm and pride for Sudbury will make anyone want to live here.
As humanities graduates, Mike and Steve didn't initially envision themselves in the world of STEM. But after working in the world of applied research, they have come to realize the important role that humanities grads can play in innovation and R&D. In this week's episode, the guys touch on how the skills they developed in the humanities have shaped their careers and why they think it is important to have humanities graduates on your team.
Often intangible and difficult to map, regional innovation “ecosystems” are the networks of companies, entrepreneurs, academic institutions, and support organizations that coalesce in mature economies. These clusters of organizations contribute to the creation of new companies and investments and the retention and expansion of existing business. In this episode, the guys discuss the cornerstones of effective innovation ecosystems and take a closer look at the Sudbury ecosystem and explain what makes it a unique and appealing place for innovation and collaboration.
In the third episode of The Unlikely Innovators, Mike and Steve talk about how colleges can help industry partners navigate the funding world to make their R&D projects a reality. While exploring funding opportunities can sometimes be a daunting process for SMEs, the guys also talk about how, even for the colleges and the funders, it can be a hair-raising experience.
If you have a question for the show or want to connect with Cambrian R&D or the Centre for Smart Mining, please drop us a line.
In this episode of The Unlikely Innovators, Mike and Steve discuss NSERC's Technology Access Centre (TAC) program, a federally-funded initiative that establishes specialized research hubs affiliated with Colleges and CÉGEP’s across Canada. The guys chat about the value of TACs broadly and dig into the founding of Cambrian’s first TAC, the Centre for Smart Mining. Mike also shares some insights from the tense TAC site evaluation process that Cambrian had to go through in order to get the Centre for Smart Mining off the ground.
If you want to see The Office parody video that Mike and Steve referenced for their first Tech-Access Canada meeting, you can watch it here.
If you have a question for the show or want to connect with Cambrian R&D or the Centre for Smart Mining, please drop us a line.
In the first episode of The Unlikely Innovators, Mike and Steve talk about how Canadian colleges are still often seen by some as unlikely destinations for innovation. Drawing from their experiences working in the college applied research world, they explain how this couldn't be further from the truth.
If you have a question for the show or want to connect with Cambrian R&D or the Centre for Smart Mining, please drop us a line.