Governor General Innovation Awards celebrate wide range of Canadian ingenuity

The inaugural slate of Governor General's Innovation Awards has been announced with five individuals and a Quebec-based robotics firm being selected through a merit-based selection process administered by the Canada Foundation for Innovation and a six-person selection committee.

Created by governor general David Johnston, the non-monetary GGIAs are intended to celebrate excellence in innovation across all sectors, inspire Canadian youth to be entrepreneurial innovators and foster an active culture of innovation.

In addition to the selection committee, a group of 35 partner organizations submit nominations for consideration.

The 2016 GGIA winners are:

Christi Belcourt, Espanola ON, a Metis artist who uses cutting-edge applied arts and design and new technologies to raise awareness and to create momentum toward innovative societal change;

Robert E Burrell, Edmonton, a professor and Canada Research Chair in Nanostructured Biomaterials at the Univ of Alberta, for developing a wound dressing that kills bacteria and decreases inflammation simultaneously. Acticoat has been credited with increasing healing rates, reducing the need for skin grafts and cutting down on scarring;

Jeff Dahn, Halifax, leads a team of researchers that developed a new generation of lithium ion batteries that have attracted the collaboration of Tesla Motors;

J Breanne Everett, Calgary, co-founder of Orpyx Medical Technologies that developed shoe insoles for patients with diabetic foot conditions. The wearable technology helps patients to move their feet to improve blood flow;

Mark G Torchia and Richard Tyc, Winnipeg, created the NeuroBlate System, a medical device that combines a laser probe system with real-time image guidance. It allows neurosurgeons to treat brain tumours and other intracranial targets in a minimally invasive way; and,

Kinova, Boisbriand QC, for developing the Jaco arm, a lightweight robotic arms for people with upper body disabilities. The six-axis robotic manipulator arm has a three-finger hand and is sold internationally.

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