‘Droneup Racing' creates buzz about robotics, aerial vehicles, engineering
A drone-flying competition called DroneUp Racing tested young competitors' skills while also encouraging interest in unmanned aerial vehicles.
About 40 high school and university students remote-controlled small drones through an obstacle course in the Calgary Chinese cultural centre on Saturday.
Competitors gained practical experience with drone-piloting, and learned more about robotics.
The event was hosted by AdvanceAUV, a Calgary-based drone manufacturer.
'In competitions like this, we are bringing out our youth. Our youth is finally getting an opportunity both boys and girls to come into STEM and drive forward innovation,' said Peter Jarmics the CEO, AdvanceUAV tech inc.
STEM often stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Organizers hope drone-up racing will return every year during the Calgary Stampede.
Drone technology has been integrated into the Calgary Police Service safety planning for the Calgary Stampede.
As well, the City of Calgary is using drones as part of traffic control, to improve mobility in the city.
Drones are also featured nightly during the Grandstand show, during the Calgary Stampede.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBC
12 minutes ago
- CBC
AI job applicants, promised boats, and boycotts going strong: CBC's Marketplace cheat sheet
Miss something this week? Don't panic. CBC's Marketplace rounds up the consumer and health news you need. Want this in your inbox? Get the Marketplace newsletter every Friday. That white guy who can't get a job at Tim Hortons? He's AI That white guy who can't get a job at Tim Hortons? He's AI 4 days ago Duration 3:26 A series of AI-generated videos that show a white man complaining about how difficult it is to get a job in Canada have been taken down by TikTok, following inquiries made by the CBC News Visual Investigations team. The social media platform says the videos violated its community guidelines, because it wasn't clear enough that they were made with AI. Most of the videos feature what looks like a white man in his 20s named "Josh," who speaks to the camera and makes racially charged statements about immigrants and their role in the job market. In fact, "Josh" is created by AI and doesn't exist. In one video, he complains he can't get a job because people from India have taken them all, particularly at Tim Hortons. He claims that he applied for a job at the doughnut shop and was asked if he spoke Punjabi. In a statement, Tim Hortons said the emergence of videos such as this have been extremely frustrating and concerning for the company, and adds that it has had difficulty getting them taken down. In another video, "Josh" attacks Canada's immigration policy, asking why so many people are admitted to Canada when there aren't enough jobs to go around. It's part of a trend known as "fake-fluencing." That's when companies create fake personas with AI in order to make it look like a real person is endorsing a product or service. The company in this case is Nexa, an AI firm that develops software that other companies can use to recruit new hires. Some of the videos feature Nexa logos in the scene. The company's founder and CEO Divy Nayyar calls that a "subconscious placement" of advertising. The U.S. boycott remains strong. Why many Canadians are digging in their heels It's shaping up to be a record sales year at Maker House, an Ottawa gift shop where almost everything in the store — from furniture to food to greeting cards — is entirely made in Canada. Hot sellers these days include a T-shirt with the newly iconic "elbows up" slogan, and chocolate bars wrapped in quintessential Canadian expressions such as "eh." Founder Gareth Davies says year-over-year sales surged by 150 per cent in February, when U.S. President Donald Trump first announced plans to impose tariffs on Canadian goods, and ramped up his threats to make Canada the 51st state. At the time, many Canadians pledged to boycott U.S. travel and goods, and support the Buy Canadian movement as a way to express their anger. Davies says sales since then have continued to stay strong: they're currently up by 80 per cent and almost doubled during the week leading up to Canada Day. "It's like a big hug from your neighbours across the country saying, 'You know, we're in this together and we're going to protect our country and our economy,'" he said. "I, in my gut, believe it will last as long as the vitriol lasts from the south." Boycotts often wane over time as people lose interest and return to old habits. But many Canadians' resolve to boycott the U.S. and focus on Canadian products has remained strong, and shows no signs of dissipating. A majority of Canadians polled in a new survey said they're actively supporting the Buy Canadian movement, and support stores removing U.S. products. Plus, Canadian travel to the U.S. has steadily declined since Trump took office in January. Should Tim Hortons repay all Canadians promised a boat? This Ottawa man thinks so Michel Leveillee is a loyal Tim Hortons customer. The Ottawa man says he visits two or three times a day for his large double-double, and he always participates in "Roll Up the Rim to Win" — the annual promotion that gives customers the opportunity to win prizes ranging from a doughnut to an all-inclusive vacation. So when Leveillee became one of thousands of Canadians across the country last year who were told they'd won a 2024 Targa 18 WT boat and trailer, he couldn't believe it. "[There were] tears of joy," he said. "And after that came the tears of deception." The wins had been a mistake. Tim Hortons reached out to its customers by email, blaming "technical errors." Montreal-based law firm LPC Avocats then launched a class-action lawsuit, arguing the thousands of affected customers deserve to be awarded the boat and trailer or the prize's value — about $64,000, the firm estimates. They had intended to represent all Canadians. In June 2025, a judge ruled that the lawsuit could go forward, but only for Quebec residents, because that province has stronger consumer protection laws. Leveillee said he'll be happy for any customers who can get justice, but Tim Hortons should be held responsible for everyone who got the notifications. "If [you] buy a coffee on the Quebec side [of the Ottawa River], and then you play Roll Up the Rim and win in Ontario, you're a winner no matter what," he said, noting he often stops for coffee in Gatineau, Que. CBC News reached out to Tim Hortons for comment, but they declined because the matter is still in court. Read more from CBC's Gabrielle Huston. A Marketplace story update Finally, an update to a story that Marketplace pursued a little over a year ago on food dyes, several of which are banned in Europe, but allowed here. The New York Times reports that Trump's secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has convinced several food manufacturers to remove some of these synthetic dyes from their food by the end of 2027. They report at least one major holdout, however: the candy industry, which says people like brightly coloured candy. Read more on this development here. What else is going on? Canada's big banks 'appear to be protecting themselves,' expert says. Marketplace needs your help! What's your sun care story? Whether you've found the perfect sunscreen or you're still searching, we want to hear what works for you (and what doesn't). Email us at marketplace@ and give us the "glow-down" on how you are staying sun safe! We're working on all-new investigations for our upcoming season and we want to hear from you. Got something you think we should investigate? Email us at marketplace@
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Is it OK to use AI in your job search? Experts say yes. Here's how to do it right
While many recruiters and employers don't discourage applicants from using AI, it's a turnoff when some candidates forgo their personalities and rely heavily on the tools. Empty Office space is seen in Toronto on Friday March 14, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young Sandra Lavoy noticed awkward pauses and hesitation from a job candidate when she asked questions on a video call. The pauses didn't seem natural; neither did the responses. Lavoy, the regional director at employment agency Robert Half, suspected the candidate was using artificial intelligence to generate answers during a live job interview. 'I questioned it,' she recalled. 'And they jumped off the call.' That experience wasn't a one-off for Lavoy, so she started asking candidates to show up in person. With the unemployment rate around seven per cent, those on the hunt for work are looking to get an edge on fellow job seekers. Some are turning to AI to generate pristine, error-free resumés and even prepare for interviews. But that trend has many on the hiring side questioning its ethics. Companies have started noticing the misuse of AI tools during live interviews and it has become a trend over the last couple of months, said Alexandra Tillo, senior talent strategy adviser at Indeed Canada. Many recruiters don't mind the use of AI in job searches, Tillo said but it raises an alarm when candidates forgo all personality when writing a cover letter or rely heavily on technology during interviews rather than their own knowledge. Similar responses to situational or behavioural questions from multiple candidates, with a delivery that lacks emotional intelligence, is what's tipping off recruiters to inauthentic candidates, she added. 'It's very hard to judge someone's skills, especially if the answer is not truly their own and it does lead to a bit of a waste of time ... (and a) lack of trust,' Tillo said. A tough job market leaves little room for errors from candidates — likely one of the reasons some feel compelled to use AI during live interviews, Tillo speculates. Employers are taking longer to hire the right candidate: sifting through a heap of applications and relying heavily on AI-powered application tracking systems. Meanwhile, candidates are using AI to insert the right keywords in the hopes of getting through those systems, said Ariel Hennig Wood, career coach at Canada Career Counselling. 'We're losing the personalized resumés and then we're losing the personalized response on the employer side,' she said. But there are ways AI can be used effectively when looking for work, Wood said. Her strategy includes step-by-step prompt engineering — telling generative AI programs and apps such as chatbot ChatGPT exactly what it needs to do for every phase of the job search. 'When it comes to employer research, AI can definitely be your best friend,' Wood said. AI could help gather insights on information ranging from a company's turnover rate to why employees like working there. The next piece is the cover letter. She suggests starting with a generic template borrowed from AI, then personalizing it with your own voice through the right prompts. 'Instead of just saying, 'I want a job,' it should be: 'I want this job, and this is why I'm a good fit. This is why I feel connected to this role,'' Wood said. Then tailor that research to the resumé and cover letter, while also doing an analysis of the job posting to add the right keywords, she added. 'AI needs to be used in the job search process to be effective against application-tracking systems,' said Wood. Then, Wood suggested leveraging AI for practice interview questions — such as generating questions you might be asked or pulling out achievements from your resumé to make answers relevant to the job interview. 'You can record yourself answering the interview questions, and then it will give you AI-generated feedback, which can be helpful,' she said. But also get feedback from a friend or career counsellor, Wood added. Once a candidate lands the job, Wood said AI can help with offer negotiations. 'It can scan the offer and flag anything that may be out of the norm,' she said. 'It could tell you ... where there could be room for negotiation in the offer.' AI isn't just a tool to polish resumés for Karan Saraf, who is studying public relations and is on the lookout for a job. Some days, he uses it to make sense of his scattered thoughts when applying to a job, while other times, it's about role-playing interviews. And his strategy worked, landing him interviews in a tough youth job market. Saraf said as long as he's not plagiarizing or misleading employers, he doesn't feel the need to disclose that he leveraged AI in his job search journey. 'But then, if I'm ever asked this question, I would be honest about it,' he said. 'That's part of being an ethical AI user.' Wood said an ethical AI user would know exactly what's in their resumé, if questioned. 'I don't believe that you need to go into an interview and say, 'By the way, I prepped with AI for this,'' she said. 'It's such a common tool now that everybody's using and if you are using it ethically, there's nothing to disclose.' But Carlie Bell thinks that creates an imbalance between employers and job seekers. Upcoming Ontario legislation mandates companies to disclose in their public job postings their use of AI in screening, selecting and assessing applicants starting Jan. 1, 2026. Other provinces haven't yet opted for similar measures. 'It is employers ... who are going to be held to legal standards around this kind of stuff and expectations, but there is still nothing there to really guide the job seekers,' said Bell, director of consulting at Citation Canada. Bell anticipates employers will also start expecting job seekers to disclose their use of AI for transparency both ways. Still, using AI in a job search isn't likely to harm a candidate as long as they continue to be creative and talk about personal experiences, Bell said. 'In a world where everybody's the same ... and you're trying to compete essentially against machines on both sides, what we know is that the human really matters still,' Bell said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 13, 2025. Ritika Dubey, The Canadian Press
Globe and Mail
3 hours ago
- Globe and Mail
Mogo Acquires 9% Stake in Bitcoin & Gold Treasury Company Digital Commodities Capital Corp.
Mogo Inc. ('Mogo' or the 'Company') (NASDAQ: MOGO; TSX: MOGO), a Canadian fintech on a mission to build the future of intelligent finance, empowering consumers to grow wealth through innovative financial products and a capital strategy anchored by Bitcoin, today announced it has completed a strategic investment of approximately 9% in Digital Commodities Capital Corp. ('Digital Commodities') (CSE: DIGI; OTCQB: DGCMF). Digital Commodities is a publicly listed investment issuer building a differentiated capital platform, primarily focused on acquiring and holding Bitcoin and physical gold. These hard, non-fiat assets serve as the foundation of the company's treasury strategy and are intended to function as long-term reserves managed with discipline and transparency. 'We believe Digital Commodities is building something foundational, an asset-backed public company model built on Bitcoin and gold,' said Greg Feller, President & Co-founder of Mogo. 'That's a category-defining strategy we're excited to be aligned with as both operators and long-term believers in Bitcoin.' 'We're equally excited to work with Brayden Sutton and his team, who bring deep conviction, vision, and expertise to this emerging asset class,' added Greg Feller. Digital Commodities' model is inspired by sound money principles and designed to offer public market investors access to the two most enduring stores of value in history, without dilution through operating businesses or speculative diversification. Mogo's investment reinforces the company's momentum and positions it to scale its hard asset balance sheet model in public markets. Mogo's $1 million investment was made as part of Digital Commodities' non-brokered private placement and consisted of a subscription for 13.3 million units priced at $0.075 per unit. Each unit of Digital Commodities consists of one common share and one warrant to purchase a common share exercisable at $0.10. This investment will be held alongside Mogo's other crypto-related investments, including its minority stake in Gemini, further advancing its strategic exposure to Bitcoin and the broader digital asset ecosystem. This also supports Mogo's broader vision as a dual-compounding platform, combining a high-growth fintech operating business with a strategic Bitcoin treasury. Earlier this month, Mogo announced board authorization to allocate up to $50 million to Bitcoin, reinforcing its long-term conviction in hard assets as the cornerstone of capital preservation and growth. About Mogo Mogo Inc. is on a mission to build the future of intelligent finance, empowering consumers to grow wealth through a suite of innovative financial products and a capital strategy anchored by Bitcoin. The company's platform combines digital wealth management and lending with a growing commitment to hard asset capital allocation. Mogo is publicly listed on the NASDAQ and TSX. Digital Commodities is a public investment issuer building a differentiated capital platform, primarily focused on acquiring and holding Bitcoin and physical gold. The Company's mission is to establish a hard, non-fiat asset base and manage it with discipline, leveraging these assets as functional reserves in pursuit of long-term value creation. All capital decisions are guided by a sound money philosophy.
