Inspired by the real-life risks of hiking near her Canmore home, a local science teacher has transformed her caution around bear encounters into a cutting-edge virtual reality game. Louise Edwards was among 17 Alberta-based tech creators who pitched their digital visions this past Saturday, competing for a share of $54,000 in prize money at the Indie Ignition Game Developer Accelerator Pitch Competition in downtown Calgary.
From Mountain Trails to Virtual Reality
For Louise Edwards, 43, the journey into game development was personal. As a frequent solo hiker with her husband often away for military service, she sought a way to recreate confidently in bear country. Her four-year passion project, developed under her company Blue Shift Immersives, is an educational VR game designed with input from conservationists and wildlife experts.
"When I put on that virtual gaming headset, all I could see were opportunities. This is such a powerful medium," Edwards explained. In her immersive experience, players navigate a digital hiking trail, earning points for demonstrating "bear smart" behavior like making noise and identifying wildlife signs. Successfully accumulating points delays a inevitable bear encounter, at which point the player must correctly deploy virtual bear spray to stay safe.
More Than a Competition: A Path to Market
The event, hosted by Bow Valley College, represents much more than a contest for cash. According to Michael Lohaus, manager of the college's digital entertainment nexus, the accelerator program is a crucial bridge from creative concept to commercial viability. "It's about coaching people through the business side, how they can actually monetize their creation and become sustainable," Lohaus stated.
Participants first complete an accelerator program before entering the start-up incubator phase, receiving guidance on transforming their prototypes into sustainable businesses. Now in its second iteration, the program has already nurtured over 40 teams, including earlier cohorts focused on film animation. "They stick around," Lohaus noted, emphasizing the program's lasting impact on the local creative economy.
A $50 Billion Global Opportunity
Lohaus highlighted the immense economic potential of the gaming sector, valued at $50 billion globally. He pointed to rapidly advancing technology as a key driver for local entrepreneurs. "When we started doing this two decades ago, we were really the only ones in Calgary," he recalled. "Now the technology has become so accessible. If you've got a good idea, you could build a prototype in a weekend."
The Indie Ignition competition underscores a growing tech and creative hub in Alberta, proving that powerful ideas can originate from everyday experiences—like a hike in the Rockies—and evolve into the next generation of digital entertainment and educational tools.