We could talk for hours about living and working in Canada. So many of our hiring partners are Canadians and a big part of our team also lives in the Northern country. For VanHackCON 2022, we invited Douglas Soltys, editor-in-chief for BetaKit, to do the talking. He had a very informative chat with our CEO Ilya Brotzky about the Canadian tech ecosystem. Now we share with you the highlights of their conversation, a great starting point for anyone planning on relocating to Canada.
BetaKit is Canada’s only independent publication dedicated to reporting on Canadian startups and tech innovation.
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Choosing where to live in Canada
Friendly reminder: Canada is a big country! When applying for opportunities with Canadian companies, keep your options open. Douglas says the “best” place to live and work as a tech professional depends on your family size, the cost of living you can afford, the city’s infrastructure, what kind of tech companies interest you, and so many other factors. Even little things may be taken into account such as commuting. Ask yourself, would you rather live right where the action is or have a long daily commute to work while living in a quieter neighborhood?
What Is The Silicon Valley of The Canadian Tech Ecosystem?
Some Canadian companies have teams all over the country. So there’s not just one good place in Canada to work in technology. That being said, maybe you’ve heard of the “Canadian Silicon Valley”. The tri-city area of Waterloo, Kitchener, and Cambridge has adopted this moniker and it may lead international workers to think the region is the only place to find jobs in the Canadian tech ecosystem. Douglas says the region has downsides and plenty of upsides for candidates to consider:
“That’s where Blackberry was founded, so there’s a huge history of innovation. But right now, in terms of startups being founded and funded, it’s relatively small compared to the rest of the country”.
The upside? “They have a great quality of life and affordable housing. The area is about an hour’s drive from Toronto. So if you are looking to have a nice house and be an hour’s drive from where the action is, that could be the place”.
The Main Cities: Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver
In Douglas’ opinion, Toronto is the main location in Canada when it comes to tech companies’ density, financing, number of venture capitalists, and market size.
Tech professionals looking for opportunities in other related markets may find Montreal or Vancouver to be interesting alternatives. Both are home to digital entertainment and video game companies, Montreal being the Canadian location for Ubisoft. The two cities also receive government grants to stimulate economic growth. Douglas points out Vancouver’s NFT opportunities and Montreal’s emerging fintech sector.
Where To Live in Canada With Your Family
Developing and emerging tech ecosystems may be an interesting choice for international tech workers relocating with a family. Depending on whether you are looking for good schools or a place where you can live in a big house, Douglas has some tips for you.
“Toronto’s got a lot of that, but it’s also more expensive compared to Montreal or Calgary. Regina or Saskatoon has lots of innovative companies and they’re a little bit quieter, great places to raise a family. There are just tons of places in B.C, and if you go more towards the cost of living would you go a little bit more remote? There are a bunch of emerging ecosystems in Canada that are interesting when it comes to affordability and livability, particularly for a family”.
Governance In The Tech Industry
The ecosystem’s health is something to be taken into account when moving to another country. How solid and sustainable the market impacts your quality of life and plans for the future.
Having an inside look at the Canadian tech industry Douglas trusts the market to be stable and safe for international workers. “You’re going to have Canadian companies that succeed or fail. But you will not find a lot of Canadian companies with really bad governance or acting irresponsibly, because of regulation and board oversight”, he explains.
International workers help the Canadian Tech Ecosystem grow
Do you think Canada would be a great home for you and your family? Are you ready to learn and grow while building a career on Canadian grounds? The good news is there are lots of opportunities for skilled tech workers out there even if 2022 was a difficult year for the industry as a whole.
“Even with layoffs, we know there is a talent gap. It’s tens of thousands of people that we are looking to fill”, Douglas says. He believes that foreigners help the Canadian tech ecosystem become even better. “Bringing international experience, different ways of working, different cultural perspectives, and being yourself in the workspace, is a really big deal”.
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