An established Langford company served as the backdrop for the provinceB次元官网网址檚 announcement last week of a new plan to invest in B.C.B次元官网网址檚 high tech sector.

The actual announcement by Jobs, Tourism and Innovation Minister Pat Bell happened a day later. But Bell made an early visit July 12, to Forest Technology Systems (FTS) on Henry Eng Place. FTS was founded in 1980 and is global leader in manufacturing rugged equipment that can be used to record environmental data.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e a bit of a quiet success,B次元官网网址� said FTS director of marketing Eric Embacher. B次元官网网址淲hat we really do is help government organizations save lives, save money.B次元官网网址�

Bell chose FTS in part because the company specializes in equipment that can monitor forest fire conditions B次元官网网址� a topic on many peopleB次元官网网址檚 minds during a time of year when fire hazards are at their highest.

FTS employs about 60 people. There are roughly 12,000 people working in the high tech sector in Greater Victoria.

The province predicts more than 100,000 people will have jobs in high-tech in B.C. within two years. BellB次元官网网址檚 announcement focused on four ways that government plans on helping the sector.

Making it easier to commercialize technology, building on regional strengths, developing talent  for a knowledge-based economy and expanding the market for B.C. high tech were keys to BellB次元官网网址檚 plan.

FTS, which has 220 remote fire/weather monitoring stations across the province, also makes equipment that monitors water conditions.

Since its inception, FTS has deployed more than 3,500 environmental monitoring systems.

TheyB次元官网网址檙e most often used by government agencies to gather data but Bell said, by sharing that information, thereB次元官网网址檚 an opportunity for new jobs to be created.

B次元官网网址淲hat will happen is a smart young (person) will look at that data and think of interesting ways to use it,B次元官网网址� the minister said.

editor@goldstreamgazette.com