What comes to mind when you think of Canada? For the rest of the world, it’s probably cold winters, hockey, and Drake. What might not be top of mind, however, is Canada’s growing reputation as a leading global tech hub. Here are just a few of the reasons Canada is the next Silicon Valley, and maybe the better version:
1. Top Tech Talent
Between 2012 and 2017, Toronto created over 82,100 tech positions, the most of any city in North America. Toronto beat Silicon Valley for the number of positions created by 4,270, according to the 2018 CBRE report. That number is not expected to decrease any time soon: Canada will continue to welcome international students, talent, and businesses to remain on top of the technology industry. When given the choice, most immigrants choose careers in Canada over the U.S., especially when considering the quality of life afforded on comparable IT salaries.
2. The Four Horsemen
When Amazon announced its expansion into Vancouver in 2018, the tech ecosystem began a migration to the north. Industry giants like Google, Amazon, Facebook, Microsoft, and more are putting down roots in Toronto, Vancouver, or Montreal. These multimillion-dollar industry giants in tech, life sciences, and automation recruit from Canada’s tech talent, and aren’t showing any signs of slowing down.
3. Global AI Leaders
Canada is a force to be reckoned with in the global AI race, tempting tech talent worldwide by hosting conferences, generous funding for tech startups, and pouring lots of capital into AI research. In 2017, Canada launched a 5-year strategic plan, named the Pan-Canadian AI Strategy. $125 million from the federal budget was devoted to AI research and talent. Canada has the world’s third-largest AI talent pool and the highest density of AI researchers in the world.
Your Tech Teammates
Is it obvious that we’re proud of Canada’s tech innovations? Here at IT/IQ, we’re pretty excited to recruit candidates, build teams, and serve our clients to drive innovation in Canada and throughout the world. To learn more about IT/IQ, visit our website or reach out to one of our veteran recruiters. We cannot wait to hear from you and to build a better global business culture together.
