Lots of people have lots of ideas about Vancouver’s identity: what are we, what we do. Here are two examples that popped up in my world today, that point to changing pieces of our identity that don’t always register in various quarters.
First: Kenneth Chan in the Daily Hive, on the latest tech company to expand significantly in Vancouver. Some goofy bunch with a goofy name: “Facebook”. Yet another 1,000 jobs. Yet another premium downtown location (Waterfront Centre, 200 Burrard St.).
Writes Chan:Thanks to Cadillac Fairview
Vancouver’s tech industry is rapidly expanding; significant job growth in the tech industry is pushing the demand for office space in the city. According to a recent CBRE report, over 50% of the prospective tenants looking for office space are in the tech industry.
Demand is so high that downtown Vancouver now has the second lowest office vacancy for a city centre area in North America.
Second: a lot smaller in overall impact, but a good example of how a big savvy mainstream organization (YVR International Airport) decides to publicize a worthy charitable effort. Buy a pair of these fun socks and YVR’s partner (Covenant House) will donate a pair of warm thermal socks to someone who needs them.
Among YVR’s sock designs is “the Vancouverite“, and here is the photo used to illustrate it.
Yes, it’s a bicycle. Once (and occasionally still) the pariah of all right-thinking people in Vancouver, but now a commonplace symbol of the city. It’s part of who we are now.
P.S. I bought a pair.
Demand [for office space] is so high that downtown Vancouver now has the second lowest office vacancy for a city centre area in North America.
So that must mean the number of downtown “head offices” isn’t necessarily an accurate measure of the diversity of an economy. Calgary was once chock full of head offices and cited as a symbol of economic health compared to places like Vancouver.
My, have the tables turned.
It would be great for the media to follow up on these stories to find out how many of the employees are Canadians versus visa holders.
It would be great for the media to follow up on these stories to find out how many of the employees are Canadians versus visa holders who are Canadians in the making who will multiply and create more Canadians for generations to come.