Creativity is thinking up new things.
Innovation is doing new things.
-Theodore Levitt
Let's innovate.
The Project Pitch will help support five student projects go from creativity to innovation by providing $3,000 project grants.
Wondering what all this is about? Here is your answer in a nutshell.
If you are a student planning on doing a neat innovative project between May 2024 and April 2025, we want you to apply for the Project Pitch! Innovation through research, technological or social change, or design. All are welcome!
Round One - tell us a little bit about your idea. We will chose the top 10 project proposals to go on to Round Two.
Round Two - pitch your idea to a panel of five innovative leaders. Top five pitches will receive $3,000 to go from thinking about it, to actually doing it.
Round Two Finalists!
Chelsey Watts
BSc Major in Biology
Supervisor: Eric Demers
Emma Peterson
BSc Major in Biology
Supervisor: Jasmine Janes
Hayes Evans
BA Major in Psychology
Supervisor: Elliott Marchant
Isabella Regine Loberiza
BSc Major in Biology
Supervisor: Andrew Loudon
Joshua Patience
MEd in Educational Leadership
Supervisors: Nicole Davey, Deborah Koehn & Paige Fisher
Lizzy Schafers
BSc Major in Biology
Supervisors: Jasmine Janes
Maharajan Alagesan
MA in Sustainable Leisure Management
Supervisor: Janet McKeown
Mohsen Samadi
MEd in Educational Leadership
Supervisor: Leah Taylor
Thomas Champaigne
BSc in Biology
Supervisors: Jasmine Janes & Jamie Gorrell
Thomas Heyd
BA Major in Psychology
Supervisor: Becky Earhart
- Open to all continuing VIU students.
- Project must be at the initial stage of development.
- Student requires a VIU employee as a supervisor or mentor.
- Project must be fulfilling a curricular component of the student’s credential.
- Applicants invited to advance from Round One to Round Two must attend a Pitch Workshop between March 27-28 at a time convenient for Pitch Coach and student(s).
- Round One deadline is Monday, March 25 at 8am (PST)
- Round Two deadline is Tuesday, April 9 at TBD time (PST).
- Final slide deck must be submitted by Monday, April 8 at 8am (PST). Students will not be able to login into a third-party site to access slides at the competition.
- Deadlines and conditions are not negotiable.
- Recipients will provide an interim report no later than December 1, 2024. A template will be provided.
- Recipients are expected to present results at CREATE 2025. Preferred method of presentation is an oral presentation but may be negotiated if another communication artifact is more appropriate.
- Phase one projects will be evaluated based on provided rubric.
- Phase two projects will be evaluated based on provided rubric.
- Decisions of the judges are final.
- Feedback from judges will be provided to students.
- A minimum of two awards will be awarded to undergraduate level student projects. A maximum of two awards will be awarded to graduate level student projects. A maximum of one award will be awarded to a group project. Groups may be any combination of VIU students.
- The top five pitches will each receive $3,000 delivered in one installment. If a group entry is in the top five, an extra $1,000 will be awarded.
- Prizes and awards are not negotiable.
Applications must address the following four items.
- Project idea (10 pts)
- What is it?
- Why is it important?
- How the project is innovative (10 pts)
- How the funding will help the project (10 pts)
- $1,000 may be used as a a direct reimbursement to the student if it serves as enabling the project. (e.g., it allows the student to work less hours in a PT job and dedicate more time to the project)
- How well the project aligns with at least one of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (5pts)
Applications must follow one of the following submission types:
Written submission with the following presentation standards:
- Maximum 500-word count not including reference page. In text citations count towards word count.
- Single spaced, Calibri 11pt font
- Citation style is open, but must be consistently used
- References are presented on a separate page
- Student’s name, number, anticipated degree, contact info, and VIU supervisor/mentor’s name on a separate page. This page does not count towards word count.
Or
Video submission with the following presentation standards:
- 90 seconds maximum
- Sent as a link to a video hosting site (e.g., YouTube or VIUTube)
- References can be sent as a separate file in written format or presented at the end of the video. Not considered part of the 90 seconds.
- Student’s name, number, anticipated degree, contact info, and VIU supervisor/mentor’s name sent as a separate file in written format.
For both written and video submissions. If AI is used in anyway include a transparency statement disclosing which program was used and how it was used. This is in addition to the above requirements and can be submitted on a separate piece of paper. Student applicant is responsible for all content submitted during both rounds of the application process.
Submit completed applications to CREATE@viu.ca by deadline.
Applicants will expand the items addressed in Round One, but in the following format.
Oral presentation – ‘The Project Pitch’
- 5 minutes total. Time will start when the student starts speaking. Student will receive a visual reminder when 1 minute remains and a STOP sign at 5 minutes.
- Pitch must be made live. No pre-recorded or virtual submissions.
- May use a maximum of 5 PowerPoint slides. Slide advancer will be available.
- External props may not be used.
- A microphone will be available.
Continuing Student: Any student who will be continuing their studies at VIU from May 2024-April 2025.
Innovative Project: Innovative projects are determined by creative ideas that foster excellence with the aim to achieve better results and to have a greater impact. They can be transformational, such as a brand-new solution or an approach to a problem. Or they can be incremental, such as an adjustment to an existing solution to make it more effective and efficient.
Adapted from Canadian Centre for Innovation[1] and Government of Canada[2] language.
Initial Stage of Development: The phase of the project lifecycle when the project is defined, evaluated (including compliance), planned and resourced. If data has been collected (or is being collected), or if data is being analyzed (or is being analyzed), the project is beyond the initial stage. Further, if project deliverables are being modeled, created, or constructed the project is beyond the initial stage.
Our Round Two Project Pitch Judging Panel
Many thanks to these community and industry leaders.
![](https://research.viu.ca/sites/default/files/styles/flexcta_square_crop_600/public/jolynn-head-shot-color-cropped-web.jpg?itok=faMW9Myt)
Jolynn Green | Executive Director | Cowichan Futures Central Island
My favourite quote is actually a song lyric: “I get by with a little help from my friends.” (The Beatles, 1967). I believe that the relationships we build over the years are priceless. They support us, they engage us in healthy debate and they make us accountable. Working in business development has always been my passion. My journey in self employment taught me to be aware of my intentions as a business owner. It was not my business to run as I pleased. I was there to serve my customers … taking care of business was taking care of them, they were my livelihood! What I bring to Community Futures is the ability to understand and provide change management advice. I appreciate systems thinking: working through a problem to find the best solution. I enjoy facilitating strategic planning and focus group sessions. I also have a knack for connecting people; I’m a matchmaker.
![](https://research.viu.ca/sites/default/files/styles/flexcta_square_crop_600/public/7094c018-a5db-4ecb-a677-cdc94b1724cb.jpg?itok=2Lg3IgZt)
Graham Truax | Executive Director & EiR | Innovation Island Technology Association
With 30+ years experience, Graham’s career has spanned traditional and tech-sector industries in Canada and the US. He has founded, co-founded, and advised many companies who have realized 7-9 figure revenues, cumulatively raising over $150M in venture and institutional financing. In leading Innovation Island, Graham has helped client companies to achieve over $100M of financial performance, creating over 300 new tech-based jobs within the region.
![](https://research.viu.ca/sites/default/files/styles/flexcta_square_crop_600/public/ken-hammer.png?itok=MZ_a10xJ)
Ken Hammer | REALTOR® | RE/MAX Nanaimo
As an Academic Practitioner Ken has a broad range of academic and practical interests. He has taught, studied, and practiced in the areas of entrepreneurship, leadership, community engagement and international partnerships.
He continues to work with a variety of community organizations in a variety of roles including strategic planning facilitator, board Vice-president, presenter, facilitator of professional development activities and Assistant Governor. One of his favorite community engagement activities is the “reading circle.”
He is currently a Realtor with the Scott Parker Real Estate Team under RE/MAX of Nanaimo where he enjoys collaborating with people to sell or find their home. Ken also enjoys mentoring new Realtors and facilitating learning experiences for all Realtors.
![](https://research.viu.ca/sites/default/files/styles/flexcta_square_crop_600/public/carolyn.jpg?itok=DkBZrRs7)
Carolyn Holms | Executive Director | Nanaimo Art Gallery
Carolyn Holmes moved with her family to Snuneymuxw territory in July 2020 when she joined Nanaimo Art Gallery as Executive Director. Carolyn holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Queen’s University in studio arts, a Masters of Museum Studies degree from the University of Toronto and has been working in art galleries since the age of sixteen. Carolyn is passionate about collaborating with other organizations, encouraging creativity and engaging with the community. She is focused on realizing a New Nanaimo Art Gallery which meets the needs of this amazing urban centre in the mid-island region
![](https://research.viu.ca/sites/default/files/styles/flexcta_square_crop_600/public/sally-vinden-viu-instructor-faculty-trades-and-applied-technology-0.jpg?itok=kLt6UHGE)
Sally Vinden | Associate Dean | VIU Faculty of Trades and Applied Technology
Sally is the recipient of the Dean’s Award for Scholarship, Research and Creative Activity and the Provost Award for Teaching Design and Innovative Practices. With a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Pedagogy, she champions Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) education, advocating for its advancement globally.
The Project Pitch is made possible through generous funding from Coastal Community Credit Union.