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Canadian Tech in 100 Words

TD Tech Leader Shares Lessons on Lifelong Learning

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Chitra Phal, Associate Vice President of KYC Engineering at TD Bank Group, credits continuous learning and mentorship with shaping her successful tech career. In a recent interview, Phal emphasized the value of certifications, stretch assignments, and industry events like TD’s TechCon in future-proofing skills.

Mentorship helped her transition into the Canadian workforce, while sponsorship accelerated her path to leadership. Today, she leads teams building secure, innovative customer solutions. Phal says technical and soft skills alike—plus alignment with corporate values—are key to long-term success in tech.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on Techtalent.ca.

Misinformation Surges on Facebook Amid Canada’s News Ban

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Amid Canada’s news ban on Meta platforms, political misinformation is proliferating ahead of the April 28 election. Canada Proud, a right-leaning Facebook page with over 620,000 followers, is drawing scrutiny for misleading posts about new Prime Minister Mark Carney. A viral ad linked Carney to Ghislaine Maxwell, despite no substantial ties.

Experts warn Meta’s ban on verified news has left Canadians vulnerable to fake sites and AI-generated content. Canada Proud has outpaced official party accounts in engagement and invested over $250,000 in ads since January. Analysts say Canada’s digital ecosystem is sliding toward disinformation and division.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on The New York Times.

Vector Institute Releases First AI Model Scorecard

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Toronto’s Vector Institute has released its first “state of evaluation” report comparing 11 leading AI models across 16 benchmarks. The non-profit assessed models from OpenAI, Meta, Cohere, Alibaba, and others on tasks involving math, coding, reasoning, and domain-specific knowledge in areas such as finance and history.

The goal is to provide an unbiased, comprehensive framework to help businesses and policymakers navigate competing claims from AI developers. “We wanted to provide a very objective and more comprehensive evaluation,” said Deval Pandya, Vector’s vice-president of AI engineering. The study could guide AI adoption decisions and inform regulatory understanding.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on The Logic.

Vintage EV Conversions Drive Into Canadian Market

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Two Canadian firms have joined forces to electrify classic cars and commercial fleets. Richmond’s BlueForce Energy and Ontario-based Arc Motor Company have announced a strategic partnership to develop bespoke electrification kits for vintage vehicles and chassis-specific fleet solutions. The goal is to preserve automotive heritage while enabling zero-emission performance.

BlueForce VP Jayde Zhou called it “future-proofing automotive history,” while Arc CEO Sloane Paul emphasized the sustainability benefits for fleet operators. The collaboration offers vintage enthusiasts a path to compliance and reliability, while supporting modern environmental goals. The companies say the partnership blends nostalgia with next-gen clean mobility.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on CleanEnergy.ca.

TruthSayer AI Launches AI Hedge Fund for All

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Vancouver-born fintech startup TruthSayer AI has launched what it calls “the world’s first AI Hedge Fund-in-a-Box.” Targeted at retail investors, small hedge funds, and family offices, the platform offers machine learning-based investment signals and strategies without traditional overhead costs.

Founded by Nizar Assanie, the system analyzes vast financial datasets—from earnings calls to insider trades—to deliver actionable insights. TruthSayer claims win rates of 85% on trades, with pricing starting at $3 per month. Leveraging LLM-as-a-Service architecture and open-source models, the company says it achieves 40% lower costs than proprietary rivals. A new funding round is expected in the months ahead.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on Fintech.ca.

NiaHealth Launches AI Platform for Proactive Health

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Edmonton-based NiaHealth has launched its AI-powered preventative health platform after completing nearly 100,000 biomarker tests in stealth. Backed by $2.5M in funding led by Version One Ventures, the startup offers personalized health insights through advanced diagnostics and clinician-led guidance.

NiaHealth’s platform supports at-home and in-clinic testing across 50+ biomarkers, addressing gaps in Canadian primary care. With 90% of users uncovering unknown risks, early data highlights issues like vitamin D deficiency and pre-diabetes. CEO Sameer Dhar and Clinical Director Tanya ter Keurs aim to shift healthcare from reactive treatment to proactive prevention—delivering accessible, tech-enabled health support nationwide.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on Calgary.tech.

Montreal’s Deck Aims to Be ‘Plaid for the Web’

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Montreal-based startup Deck has raised $12 million in Series A funding led by Infinity Ventures, bringing its total raised to $16.5 million since launching in January 2024. Founded by former Flinks executives Yves-Gabriel Leboeuf, Frederick Lavoie, and Bruno Lambert, Deck enables user-permissioned data access across non-API web platforms.

Its browser-based AI agents extract and structure data from utility portals, payroll systems, e-commerce backends, and more. With customers in over 40 countries and applications spanning energy, music royalties, and food distribution, Deck aims to “Plaid-ify” the rest of the internet.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on TechCrunch.

Open Letter Calls for Bold Clean Economy Action

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With a federal election approaching, Vancouver-based Foresight Canada is urging political leaders to make cleantech central to Canada’s economic strategy. In an open letter released this week, the innovation accelerator outlines three key priorities: fast-tracking domestic adoption of Canadian cleantech, boosting productivity through innovation, and positioning Canada as a global clean economy leader.

The organization cites strong sectoral impact—$2.24 billion raised, 9,000 jobs created, and high returns on investment. “Canada has the talent and technology,” the letter states. “What we need now is the political will.” Foresight is encouraging Canadians to sign the letter ahead of campaign season.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on CleanEnergy.ca.

Alberta Tech Sector Hits $13B Milestone

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Alberta’s tech sector is powering a new era of economic growth, according to a new report by ATB Financial and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s Business Data Lab. Titled An Innovation Revolution, the report reveals tech contributed $13 billion to Alberta’s GDP in 2023, with jobs growing nearly four times faster than other sectors.

Venture capital investment rose from $227M in 2019 to $698M in 2023. Calgary and Edmonton ranked in North America’s top 50 talent hubs. With strengths in EnergyTech, AgriTech, and HealthTech, Alberta is evolving into a diversified tech powerhouse.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on Calgary.tech.

pHathom and CarbonRun Top Cleantech Award Winners

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Atlantic Canada’s clean technology sector was spotlighted at the inaugural Atlantic Canada Cleantech Awards in Halifax, hosted by Foresight Canada. Halifax-based pHathom Technologies won Startup Venture of the Year for its CO₂ capture innovation using limestone and seawater, while CarbonRun earned Scaleup Venture of the Year for its salmon-friendly carbon removal solution.

Other honourees included the City of Summerside, Dalhousie University, and Carbon to Sea. The region’s cleantech momentum continues, supported by $72 million in 2024 ACOA funding. “Your innovative spirit is propelling the region’s cleantech growth,” said Foresight CEO Jeanette Jackson.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on CleanEnergy.ca.