XLRator is a non-profit operating in the East Fraser Valley ” Region” (including Langley, Maple Ridge, Mission, Abbotsford, Chilliwack and the surrounding First Nations communities) since 2010. The organization has focused on a concentrated effort to develop and grow a thriving technology eco-system led by economic and skilled technical workforce development initiatives.
Formerly known as “SRCTec”, XLRator has been a strong and ambitious advocate for developing an applied technology network and programs within the region leveraging the primary two thriving industries – agriculture and manufacturing.
As part of this ambitious plan, after several years of the self-sustainable and self-funded movement, XLRator proposed the province’s first AGTech Accelerator in 2016. This program was approved and implemented/funded by BCIC within the District of Mission in 2016. Since its inception, the group has executed exemplary progress demonstrated by supporting and mentoring over 60 tech start-ups (primarily AGTech) for the last three years and has seen substantial improvement in the alignment of industry, educational institutions and technology players locally.
Furthermore, it continues to be the only technology hub in the eastern Fraser Valley, driving and executing four annual and successful Tech Forums and facilitating the only local alignment between industry and technology start-ups and established companies.
More recently, on tailwinds of over a decade of advocacy for its vision, and as part of the Tech Forum in the fall of 2020, XLRator announced its mandate to pursue the development of a “Modern Farming Community”. Innovative and high tech industry players drive the concept to form a cohesive hub essentially positioning the east Fraser Valley corridor to become the AG Tech Capital of Canada.
As part of this vision, XLRator has been working with its existing network of new and locally established AG tech providers in partnership with local municipal governments, universities, key agriculture industry players and First Nations groups to drive this ambitious vision. It is now aligned with key corporate organizations such as Deloitte Canada, RBC, Scotia Bank, BDC, to name a few, to promote growth and economic opportunities and develop a local skilled technical workforce.
Furthermore, XLRator acted as a catalyst for developing and facilitating a critical pilot project between QuantoTech Solutions Ltd., www.directfood.store (which recently secured a $1M grant from the digital technology supercluster) and Agrilyze Data Analytics Inc. (www.agrilyze.ca ) to form a cluster in pursuit of addressing the agriculture industry crisis amidst COVID-19 and overall food security and food supply chain challenges within Canada.
As part of this XLRator initiative, QuantoTech (QT) is deploying 100 indoor grow sites throughout Canada over the next two years. Beyond the grow equipment, it is adding technology to allow for near-unattended growing and an asset-lite direct farm-to-family ordering/delivery.