Toronto, Edmonton and Vancouver: Three Canadian Cities Waiting to Welcome Your Next Small Business or Startup
When thinking about where to headquarter your next entrepreneurial endeavor, there’s a lot to love about Canada:
- The country has a well-educated workforce.
- It’s rich in natural resources (and natural beauty.)
- Canada welcomes workers from all over the world. Many of its most beloved cities are international powerhouses.
- Its technology scene is on the upswing, so move over Silicon Valley. Canada even has a number of startup accelerator programs to fuel your growth.
Clearly, Canada can be a great place to start a business.
Whether you’re coming from abroad or are already a proud Canadian citizen, here are three of the top Canadian cities for small businesses.
1. Toronto, Ontario
It’s no surprise that the capital of Ontario (and Canda’s largest city) is a good place to start a business. The city is a hub for the entire country’s financial, industrial, commercial, and tech industries.
Toronto is an attractive place for companies in all industries, but technology companies will feel especially at home here. According to the Vancouver Sun, Toronto ranks #1 in terms of tech talent with 228,500 tech workers on its rosters.
You could set up shop downtown, but it’s not your only option in the area. For a better idea of the possible hubs your company could have, just look at all of the Intelligent Office locations in the Ontario region. We have on-demand office space available everywhere from the downtown financial district to the eclectic North York neighborhood.
2. Edmonton, Alberta
The energy sector may be the first industry you think about when Edmonton is mentioned, and oil certainly plays a massive role in the region’s economy. However, the city is also growing rapidly, which leaves plenty of room for small business endeavors.
There are many options when deciding where to work from, including the Intelligent Office Edmonton location. This scenic spot has lovely views of the North Saskatchewan River, a major banking center on-site and lots of amenities to help you grow your company.
Edmonton isn’t your only option in Alberta, either. If you’re looking for a more established business and entrepreneurial landscape, Calgary is another excellent place to consider.
3. Vancouver, British Columbia
Vancouver is well-known as one of the most livable cities in the world, and people flock there from all corners of the globe. It’s easy to see why — Vancouver is a well-connected international city with a vibrant culture and stunning natural scenery.
According to an interview with Dr. Boris Wertz (the founding partner of Version One Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm located in Vancouver), the city’s proximity to Silicon Valley is another benefit for start-ups. Dr. Wertz explains that "Vancouver is a great place to build a company and hire strong technical and design talent for much lower salaries than in the Valley.” He then elaborates on that point, saying, "At the same time you're super close to [the Valley] when you have to do business development or talk to VCs. It's an easy two-hour flight down there.”
And if you need office space in Vancouver, look no further than Intelligent Office’s West Broadway location. It’s mere minutes from downtown and is within walking distance to restaurants, shops, galleries and Granville Island. The spectacular views of downtown Vancouver, False Creek and the North Shore mountains add to the appeal of this entrepreneurial hot-spot.
