Nova Scotia’s technology sector recognized eight companies and individuals Thursday night at the 2025 Tech Forward Awards in Halifax.
The event, organized by Digital Nova Scotia, honoured 24 finalists selected from nearly 200 nominees across the province. Organizers say the awards highlight activity in the province’s information and communications technology sector, which they value at $3.6 billion.
“We saw nearly double the number of nominations this year, which really shows how fast our tech community is growing and innovating,” said Digital Nova Scotia CEO Owen Sagness in a press release. “From farming solutions to digital innovation, these finalists are tackling some of our most pressing issues and showing that local tech can really make a global difference.”
The Tech Forward Awards are intended to showcase companies and individuals working in or alongside the ICT sector in Nova Scotia.
The winners are:
● Talent Champion Award
Maplewave, Dartmouth
Headed by CEO Adam Baggs, Maplewave provides integrated software and retail solutions to the telecommunications industry, helping companies optimize their omnichannel customer experiences.
● Tech for Good Award
DeepSense, Halifax
DeepSense, led by Executive Director Iaian Archibald and affiliated with Dalhousie University, provides businesses with industry-ready applied AI solutions that improve efficiency, boost productivity, and unlock new opportunities for growth.
● Thinking Forward Award
Computer Science Professor at Dalhousie University
Dr. Orji is the Canada Research Chair in Persuasive Technology and her research focuses on human-computer interaction, persuasive technology, artificial intelligence, games for change, and digital health.
● Provincial Spotlight Award
45Drives, Sydney
Led by Doug Milburn, 45Drives provides enterprise-grade data storage and virtualization solutions by combining hardware and open-source software to avoid vendor lock-in.
● Best of Tech Award
Palladium MC, Bedford
Palladium MC, whose CEO is Olesya Shyvikova, is an agtech company building AI-powered tools that help farmers optimize land use, improve productivity, and modernize operations using their existing equipment.
● One to Watch Award
Irene Saliendra, Halifax
Saliendra is the Founder and CEO of Fem Entity, which hosts a wellness platform designed to connect women with a network of trusted wellness and medical practitioners who specialize in women’s health.
● Role Model Award
Jennifer LaPlante, Halifax
Currently the Deputy Minister of Cyber Security and Digital Solutions for the government of Nova Scotia, LaPlante was previously the Chief Growth and Investment Officer at Canada’s Ocean Supercluster and the Executive Director of DeepSense.
● Diversity & Inclusion Champion Award
Turtle Island Technology Solutions, Millbrook First Nation
Founded by CEO Michael Herbert, Turtle Island is an Indigenous Cree business that provides services in cybersecurity, data centres and cloud, networking, end-user computing and compliance.
