Ocean Technology Park Proposed

North Saanich could become the home to a world-class ocean technology facility, incorporating academic researchers, government agencies, and marine technology companies.

Funding was announced for the planning and development stage of a proposed ocean technology park, which would include a regional tank testing facility and a Pacific Centre for Ocean Energy and Engineering, on Wednesday, July 16. MP Ed Fast of Abbotsford announced $135,000 from the federal government on behalf of Western Economic Diversification, while MLA Ida Chong, Minister of Technology, Trade and Econic Development, announced a matching contribution of $135,000 from provincial coffers.

While there are currently more than 500 ocean and technology companies in Canada, with Vancouver Island especially a hotbed, Fast noted that there was "still room for growth." The money, he stated, would go towards feasibility assessments, business plans, site engineering, master planning, communication plans, and zoning approval for the site. "This will deliver a unique facility for researching, among other things, renewable energy," said Fast. "And it will accelerate businessfor the ocean/ marine sector companies."

Chong was equally excited about the proposal and funding, noting the fortuitous location across the road from the Institute of Ocean Sciences. "We want to put BC at the forefront of sustainable management," she noted. "There are tremendous opportunities in BC's waters." Brad Buckham, a UVic mechanical engineering professor. "Computer models are good, but they must be completed by physical experimentation, in test tanks," he said. "The tank data validates [the technology] prior to release of immature technologies in the ocean."

The theme of the announcement was clear: if all goes well with the planning stage, the Peninsula can look forward to having a world-class scientific centre on the shores of Patricia Bay.

Read the full article in the Peninsula News Review.