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Canada’s vanishing tech sector

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Re: Canada’s vanishing tech sector

#91

Post by gamble »

edwinnathaniel wrote: post #70
Apocryphon wrote: post #12

Even within EA, Bioware's not doing too hot as a division, isn't it?

EA (_the_ EA HQ in Burnaby) seems to hire a lot contractors than it used to be. If I may take a wild guess it is probably due to the nature of their console games being seasonal (and they're not a stranger to medium-to-big size layoffs). Radical Entertainment recently closed their door in Vancouver as well. One of the patterns in the gaming industry in Vancouver, as far as I know, is that those who felt more adventur…

EA Vancouver had a hiring freeze for the longest time, thanks to how expensive it was to hire developers in a city with such a high cost of living. They may still have it, I'm not sure. EA's Canadian strategy in general is to hire as few people as possible, except in Quebec where the provincial government gives out incentives that make it cheaper to hire devs in Montreal than Beijing.

Re: Canada’s vanishing tech sector

#92

Post by gamble »

teamonkey wrote: post #36
Apocryphon wrote: post #12

Even within EA, Bioware's not doing too hot as a division, isn't it?

It's doing OK, but I think EA wanted Mass Effect 3 to sell more than it did.

ME3 actually exceeded expectations, despite all the online whinging. It's the failure of TOR to achieve WoW-killing success that's keeping the stock low.

Re: Canada’s vanishing tech sector

#93

Post by huhtenberg »

lawnchair_larry wrote: post #88
fleitz wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Eastern Canada has a vanishing tech sector, out here in Vancouver it's perfectly alive and well. The issue with Vancouver is not software patents, but capital recycling. Most of our tech capital leaves Vancouver instead of staying to be reinvested, this is why mining works so well in Vancouver, there is a huge amount of capital recycling, similar to what you'd see in the bay area in tech. (Oddly enough SF also has a…

Tech sector salaries in Vancouver are shockingly low while costs of living are nearly on par with San Francisco. It's a really bad deal.

Vancouver has a clusterfuck for the real estate market.

It is simply unaffordable. The prices has been inflated through speculation to insane levels, mostly driven by Asians dumping boatloads of US cash back into the North Am economy. Talked to a realtor lady few years ago - she would show 5-6 houses to a Chinese buyer (on a two day visit here) and he'd end up buying 4 of them, 1 mil a piece. Things gotten worse since then.

Here, have a look - http://www.crackshackormansion.com

Re: Canada’s vanishing tech sector

#94

Post by huhtenberg »

trevoro wrote: post #19

As one of those "early tech exit" Canadian entrepreneurs, this article really hits home for me. When I first started out I talked to several successful entrepreneurs who were living in Vancouver at the time and got some rather interesting advice. Paraphrasing: Move to the valley. There are too many reasons to be there. Don't be a patriot - and don't be a martyr. Lack of critical mass in any of these "tech hubs", over…

> Move to the valley

I've got the same advice from at least two Vancouver VCs. I also worked for a company that was forced by their VC to open second (and completely useless) office in Seattle, because the "presence in the US" was said to be essential.

Re: Canada’s vanishing tech sector

#95

Post by mahyarm »

Sukotto wrote: post #75

Many non-tech friends/family have told me that Victoria BC has a booming tech industry (esp in gaming). Can anyone confirm that for me ? I haven't found very much online about it so feel a bit doubtful. I'm Canadian and moving back to Victoria next month from NY. The current plan is to push hard on a small service business for the airline industry (so I'm not in a hurry to find a new job). Even so, I've been away for…

There is viatec which shows a listing of possible tech companies. Go through the list and see their hiring pages.

It might be booming for Victoria since a industry sector that is actually growing in the area, but I doubt it's much compared to NYC/SF. For comparison, Seattle across the pond pays more, is easier to find a job, has significantly cheaper housing, shopping, airfare and taxes and doesn't have a housing bubble waiting to pop. And your not stuck on an island with a $50 & 3 hr one way ferry barrier. Victoria can be a frustrating place at times.

Re: Canada’s vanishing tech sector

#96

Post by meninpink »

xal wrote: post #38
unfocused wrote: post #20

I've been recently asking my Engineer friends about this very topic. I've always known that it's not the same as it was. I wish I was wrong. Quite a few have left the field, and others have left the country. I've been working in the high tech sector in Ottawa for 10 years now. I started out working for (big surprise) a start up telecom company as a co-op student. I loved it. Then tried the government. I wanted to kil…

Well, you are right but you are looking in the wrong areas of the City. I'm clearly biased, being the founder of Shopify, but we are here to change everything you mentioned above and we have succeeded so far when everyone told us we couldn't. Feel like going for a coffee?

> Well, you are right but you are looking in the wrong areas of the City

Did you just call Ottawa "the City"? Sorry buddy, Kanata is not "Silicon Valley North".

Re: Canada’s vanishing tech sector

#98

Post by traxtech »

unfocused wrote: post #20

I've been recently asking my Engineer friends about this very topic. I've always known that it's not the same as it was. I wish I was wrong. Quite a few have left the field, and others have left the country. I've been working in the high tech sector in Ottawa for 10 years now. I started out working for (big surprise) a start up telecom company as a co-op student. I loved it. Then tried the government. I wanted to kil…

I'm afraid your situation reflects quite well the reality. I'm working from France with a Canadian to create a Canadian startup. My co-funder is clearly bright and talented, but he could not really find an experienced and motivated developer in the Toronto area. So he went "international".

Re: Canada’s vanishing tech sector

#99

Post by devb0x »

dkubb wrote: post #9
jaems33 wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Indeed. Big companies like Microsoft and Google tend to snatch a good portion of highly skilled engineers, while most designers (product and visual) tend to head towards New York City or San Francisco for better growth and money.

IME the remaining skilled engineers want to work remotely. The last 8 years I've worked almost exclusively for US based businesses as a remote contractor. It's the best of both worlds, I can charge competitive rates but have a relatively overall lower cost of living and access to free healthcare. Taxes are higher in Canada, but it works out that I'm way ahead than if I lived in SF or NY. The downside is that I occasi…

Very interesting.. I've often though about doing this from South Africa. How did you get into doing work remotely?

Re: Canada’s vanishing tech sector

#100

Post by AYBABTME »

meninpink wrote: post #96
xal wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, you are right but you are looking in the wrong areas of the City. I'm clearly biased, being the founder of Shopify, but we are here to change everything you mentioned above and we have succeeded so far when everyone told us we couldn't. Feel like going for a coffee?

> Well, you are right but you are looking in the wrong areas of the City Did you just call Ottawa "the City"? Sorry buddy, Kanata is not "Silicon Valley North".

Shopify are not in Kanata, they're right in the middle of the market!

I remember this spring at an event (SPAC), they were at the career fair with a banner saying something like "Don't go work in Kanata, it sucks" or something similar, I don't remember the wording exactly. It was pretty funny given they had their banner right in the middle of the hallway, next to the other companies that are actually in Kanata. It was pretty badass!

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