Tech Roundup
Sept. 8, 2026
The annual conference put on by Alberta's Industrial Heartland Association will include a look "behind the build" of the $13-billion AI data centre that Meta plans to put in Sturgeon County. Matt Sexton, an Iowa-based community engagement manager with Meta, will give the presentation with moderator Keith Bradley, acting CEO of Invest Alberta, at the Sept. 10 conference at the Edmonton Convention Centre, where 1,000 business leaders and decision-makers are expected to discuss what Canada's first designated industrial zone has to offer.
The Meta project and the Alberta government's desire for more AI data centres have been met with reactions ranging from skepticism to swearing from many members of the public, much to the surprise of Mark Plamondon, the AIHA's executive director. As the temperature rises on this file, the federal government has introduced a set of principles for responsible data centre development, a non-binding framework asking data centre projects to create lasting local benefits, avoid shifting electricity costs to Canadians, minimize water and environmental impacts, communicate transparently with communities, and bring strategic value to the country. Meta is among the 23 signatories, as is Beacon Data Centers, which also has plans for data centres in Alberta. So is Anthropic, which has posted job listings for an Alberta-based community engagement manager.
For a sense of how this issue plays out on the local level, the Sept. 3 meeting of Fort Saskatchewan city council is instructive. As councillors considered updates to the city's land use bylaw, they briefly considered language that would prohibit data centres within city limits. But Mayor Lisa Makin reminded council that Fort Saskatchewan is "a proud member" of Alberta's Industrial Heartland, which "supports data centres as a provincially regulated and approved use in this area." Prohibition "would put us in an awkward and contradictory position with an organization that we work really well with," she said. Councillors ultimately passed a motion asking administration to come back with amendments to restrict data centres, rather than prohibiting them.
Tech Roundup Sponsors
Thank you to our sponsors for helping to make our work possible:
Headlines
- A study led by music professor Brian Fauteux of the University of Alberta found hostility toward AI among Canadian musicians, with 87% of about 300 participants saying they don't want to use it in their own music. He also participated in a panel discussion on generative AI and music for Tech Thursday, at which academics and musicians described using Suno in different ways, from polishing raw demos to prototyping songs for later live performance. Suno is facing a lawsuit from the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (better known as SOCAN), which alleges the platform generated music from Canadian artists' work without their consent or payment. Meanwhile, artist Ryan McCourt, who records Suno-assisted music as The Synthesist, spoke to Taproot about his disappointment at CKUA's decision not to play his music.
- An investment of $3 million from Emissions Reduction Alberta will help Azolla Hydrogen continue to build Canada's longest heavy-duty hydrogen transportation corridor by making it possible to fuel trucks in Calgary. "By expanding access to reliable refuelling, (the ERA investment) can support vehicle deployments, strengthen the link between Calgary and Edmonton, where Azolla already has a strong presence, and create a foundation for longer-distance routes across Western Canada," Mohamed Khaja of the Edmonton Region Hydrogen HUB told Taproot. On Sept. 2, Edmonton city council's executive committee was scheduled to consider amending the city's agreement with Azolla to align with an extended timeline for the Alberta Zero-Emissions Fleet Fuelling Project, but the matter was postponed to Oct. 2.
- Edmonton startup MagnetaMR is developing a portable MRI machine aimed at cutting wait times by moving scans out of centralized radiology facilities and into rural and remote communities. Co-founder and CEO Aaron Purchase told CityNews Edmonton that the roughly 550-pound prototype, backed by the Alberta Cancer Foundation, could cost about 10% as much as a conventional high-field scanner, which typically runs $1.5 million to $3 million.
- Postmedia took a closer look at what quantum-computing company Xanadu will be exploring with a team led by Alex Brown of the University of Alberta. "This is really about making quantum computers useful," COO Rafal Janik said. "What are those killer applications?" The starting point is to see how quantum computing might be used to test photodynamic cancer therapy, as opposed to the classical computing Brown's research currently relies on.
- The Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute has opened applications for its new Health Innovation Lab, a three-year, $10-million initiative with the Government of Alberta to fund AI and machine-learning healthcare projects. Funding tiers range from $50,000 for early-stage projects to $300,000 for near-market-ready ones addressing women's healthcare, chronic disease management, or administrative burden, with applications open until Sept. 28.
- Researchers with the University of Alberta's Office of Global Surgery are using data, technology, and health system planning to improve access to surgical care in settings ranging from rural Alberta to sub-Saharan Africa. Projects include a geomodelling study of Alberta's rural surgical workforce, an assessment of pediatric liver transplant capacity in Kenya, mobile trauma registries in Uganda, and a study examining AI tools for caregiver education.
- Hi Finance, a student-focused fintech company, partnered with the University of Toronto for its 2026 first-year orientation, connecting with more than 1,000 students to help them access grants, scholarships, and bursaries. It marked the Edmonton-based company's first outreach event in Ontario after operating only in Alberta the previous year.
- Interactive Arts Alberta highlighted the release of Slipstream, a game by Daisy Chain Games, now available on Steam. The game grew out of a no-crunch game jam at the Walkthrough Collaborative Centre based on the 2025 Global Game Jam theme of "bubble."
- Agtech company TrustBIX reported a third-quarter net loss of $172,321 for the period ended June 30, on revenue of $16,000. CEO Hubert Lau said the company is focused on strategic acquisitions after closing its purchase of cybersecurity consultancy Zen Cyber on Aug. 4.
- Sunil Rajput has moved from an interim to a permanent role as executive director of research commercialization and venture growth at Alberta Innovates, where he will help support innovators in bringing health research to market.
ASTech Awards
- The organizers of the ASTech Awards have continued to announce finalists for its 37th annual awards, with opening ceremonies in Calgary on Sept. 18 preceding the gala on Nov. 6 in Edmonton.
- Among the ASTech finalists for innovation of the year — which can apply to entrepreneurs, startups, small and medium-sized businesses, and collaborations — are Thomas Jones of Jones Microwave and Tanay Kumar of Aqtiva, as well as Chad Bousman of the University of Calgary, Al-Karim Khimji and Craig Adam of Propra, Pirouz Kiani and Ghazal Jalali of NanoStrip, and Josh Malate of Ultimarii.
- Among the ASTech finalists for researcher of the year are David Wishart and Rashid Mirzavand of the University of Alberta, as well as Diwakar Krishnamurthy, Elena Di Martino, and Samira Ebrahimi Kahou of the University of Calgary.
- Among the ASTech finalists in community and leadership impact are Gary Fisher of InnoTech Alberta; Alireza Bayat, Jeff Boisvert, and Clayton Deutsch of the University of Alberta; Janice Baskin of the Edmonton Regional Innovation Network; and Amanda Lockhart of Canada Security Collective, as well as Chris Grant of Alberta Bike Swap, Aakash Goyal of Agrileaf, representatives of the Government of Alberta, and Bob Collier and Carollyne Collier of the Bob Collier Foundation.
Your future workforce is already here
Access pre-vetted, safety-trained interns with WCB coverage and up to $7,500 in funding. CAREERS manages the matching, paperwork, and ongoing support at no cost to employers. Gain reliable extra help today while developing skilled employees who will strengthen your business for years to come.
Jobs and opportunities
- Startup TNT is accepting applications until Sept. 14 for its fall 2026 Edmonton investment summit. The summit connects early-stage companies with angel investors through a structured, team-based due diligence process. The pitch night is set for Oct. 1, with the summit finale on Nov. 12.
- InovativAI is seeking a technical co-founder and CTO to lead development of Nexora, its AI-enabled platform for airline passenger, crew, and cabin experience.
- Silvacom Group is hiring a forest analyst to support forest planning and analysis projects using inventory data, spatial models, and planning tools.
- Avalon Holographics is hiring a nanotechnologist to work with its fabrication and engineering teams developing its holographic display technology.
Happenings
Here are some events coming up soon:
- Sept. 9: AI Technology: Is Patenting Really the Right Move? starting at 9am at Edmonton Unlimited
- Sept. 9: Aerospace Accelerator Program Online Info Session starting at 12pm online
- Sept. 9: The Partnership Behind the Pitch starting at 4:30pm at Edmonton Unlimited
- Sept. 9: Bioeconomy Guild Night starting at 5pm at MKT Fresh Food | Beer Market
- Sept. 9: Tech Wednesdays starting at 5:30pm at the Pint Public House
- Sept. 10: Alberta's Industrial Heartland Conference starting at 7:30am at Edmonton Convention Centre
- Sept. 10: Business Model 101 Lunch + Learn starting at 11am at Edmonton Unlimited
- Sept. 10: Startup TNT Happy Hour starting at 6pm at Fawkes Café & Bakery
- Sept. 14: ERIN Member Monday starting at 10am online
- Sept. 15-17: Carbon Capture Canada at Edmonton Convention Centre
And here are more to keep in mind:
- Sept. 19: DevCon: Beyond the Classroom at Edmonton Unlimited
- Sept. 21-25: Life Sciences Week
- Sept. 24-25: BSides Cybersecurity Conference at NAIT Productivity and Innovation Centre
Visit the Taproot Edmonton Calendar for many more events in the Edmonton region.
This roundup was sponsored by Edmonton Unlimited.
Now is the time for us, Edmonton's innovators, and our city. Headquartered in Alberta's capital city, Edmonton Unlimited harnesses the power of possibility and brings the very best of Edmonton to the world.