Redbrick CEO, Tobyn Sowden, was presented with the Colin Lennox Award for Technology Champion at the 2026 VIATEC Awards.

At the 2026 VIATEC Awards, our community gathered to celebrate the people and organizations driving this vibrant region forward. Among the evening’s highlights, Redbrick’s founder and CEO, Tobyn Sowden, was honored with the Colin Lennox Award for Technology Champion.

This recognition goes far beyond celebrating software deployment or revenue milestones. It recognizes an individual who has demonstrated unwavering passion and commitment to the local tech sector for at least a decade.

Where community and technology meet

The Victoria Innovation, Advanced Technology and Entrepreneurship Council (VIATEC) is the hub of Greater Victoria's tech sector. The annual VIATEC Awards are a cornerstone event for our local tech community that has grown to encompass hundreds of companies and thousands of dedicated professionals.

Ahead of this year’s gala, VIATEC announced five special award categories and their recipients. VIATEC appoints these awards—no application, no nominations—as a way to recognize exceptional community contributors who operate behind the scenes, dedicating their time and resources to ensure the region's continued growth.

"These categories are designed to celebrate giving back, making a difference, and long-term dedication to our region, sector, and community. These people and companies didn't ask to be noticed. We simply look around and ask who's actually making this place better."

Dan Gunn, CEO of VIATEC

At the 2026 VIATEC Awards, this year’s recipients reflected the strength and diversity of Greater Victoria’s tech community. Redbrick’s Tobyn Sowden was recognized with the Colin Lennox Award for Technology Champion, a testament to his leadership and impact within the local tech ecosystem. Dr. Karolina Valente, the founder of VoxCell, received the Community Champion award for her contributions to advancing innovation and collaboration across the region.

Text Groove Communications was honoured with the Inclusion Champion award—an award Redbrick was proud to support this year—recognizing their progress in making communication tools more accessible to underserved media organizations.

Synergy Enterprises, an organization we’re proud to have worked alongside for years, received the Social Impact Award for their continued efforts in driving meaningful change. MNP was named VIATEC Member of the Year for its ongoing support and leadership within the community.

We’re proud to be part of a community where so many organizations and leaders are making a positive and lasting impact.

A shared vision for Redbrick and our community

At the 2026 VIATEC Awards, Redbrick CEO Tobyn Sowden was honored with the Colin Lennox Award for recognition of his long-standing contributions to Greater Victoria’s success on the global tech stage. Named after Colin Lennox, an influential leader who left a lasting legacy, this award holds deep significance within the local tech community and celebrates those who have made a meaningful, sustained impact.

For more than 15 years, Tobyn has been building in Victoria, launching companies, investing in people, and strengthening the community from the inside out. Since founding Redbrick in 2011, he’s launched or acquired more than 35 companies, generating over half a billion dollars in revenue. Tobyn has consistently reinvested that success locally, backing Victoria-based startups with over $1.3 million in early-stage capital and supporting organizations like Power To Be, Our Place, and TEDxVictoria.

A UVic computer science graduate, Tobyn continues to champion the next generation through co-op programs, Inspire, and the Innovation Center. Throughout it all, his focus has remained the same: build, grow, and invest locally to create long-term impact.

Tobyn’s commitment to community-building is the same blueprint we use to operate Redbrick: businesses hold the power to create extraordinary outcomes, not just through the products they design, but through the people they serve and the neighborhoods they inhabit.

Redbrick’s continued presence on lists like BC’s Top 100 Employers and Canada’s Top SME Employers reflects this exact culture. We strive to create an environment where individuals feel supported in all aspects of their lives, empowering them to positively shape the communities where they live and work.

The power of choosing Victoria

Accepting the award at the Victoria Conference Centre, Tobyn directed the spotlight away from his own achievements and toward the collective power of the room. He reminded the audience that while the tech industry allows us to operate from anywhere, we are incredibly fortunate to live and work here.

This region acts as a powerful conduit for giving back. The 2026 VIATEC Awards served as a reminder of what happens when driven, visionary people decide to pool their talents in one geographic location. We extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who paved the way for this generation of tech leaders.

At Redbrick, we’ll continue to take bold risks, support local ventures, and invest in the spaces and places that bring us all together.

We encourage you to join us in this mission. Whether you’re a student exploring your first co-op placement, a founder sketching out a new digital platform, or a community leader looking to collaborate, there is a place for you in this ecosystem.

Let’s keep building.

PS. We couldn’t possibly end without taking a moment to acknowledge all the awardees from the event. Take a look at what’s going on in our community!

2026 VIATEC Award Recipients

Company of the Year: Atreides Caseri

Growth Company of the Year: Puzzle Lab

Emerging Company of the Year: WikiSleep

Social Impact Award: Synergy Enterprises

Employer of the Year: MarineLabs

Inclusion Champion: Text Groove Communications

Product of the Year: Eterio Realities (Fab Station)

Innovative Excellence – Software or Service: Archipelago

Innovative Excellence – Hardware: Azor Biotek

Colin Lennox Award for Technology Champion: Tobyn Sowden (Redbrick)

Leader of the Year: Christopher Moreno (MarineLabs)

Janet Baird Award for Community Champion: Dr. Karolina Valente (VoxCell)

Emerging Leader of the Year: Farrah Costo (FLT)

VIATEC Member of the Year: MNP LLP