July, a symbol of summer, stirs up images of beach days, barbecues and blue skies. However, here in Waterloo, summer vacation isn’t the only thing to get excited about.
This month has been scorching with success as we saw announcement after announcement roll in.
For the third year in a row, Waterloo topped the charts in CBRE’s Scoring Tech Talent report. The University of Waterloo (UWaterloo) solidified its position as one of the world’s best universities in the QS University Rankings. And local companies have announced millions in funding, just to name a few.
Here are the top stories from July 2023:
Waterloo named #1 Small Tech Talent Market
For the third consecutive year, Waterloo has been named the #1 small tech talent market in North America.
Every year, CBRE releases its coveted Scoring Tech Talent report, which showcases the top tech-talent markets across the continent and illustrates which markets shine in indicators such as cost, quality, and diversity.
In the overall rankings, Waterloo rose from #24 to #18, making it one of the top three fastest-rising markets – large or small.
The report highlights the reasons behind Waterloo’s exponential success, including its high concentration of tech talent, growing number of young professionals and cost and quality of talent.
UWaterloo rises in global university rankings
UWaterloo surged an astonishing 42 spots in the prominent QS University Rankings, accelerating from 154th to 112th place. It now ranks among the top five universities in Canada, alongside exemplary institutions like McGill, the University of Toronto and the University of British Columbia.
UWaterloo also scored #36 in sustainability initiatives, a new ranking indicator, flexing its continued leadership and dedication to driving a greener future.
Waterloo recognized as a hotspot for top talent
Waterloo’s tech ecosystem has been heating up this July. A new report from The Technology Councils of North America (TECNA) and Canada’s Tech Network (CTN) identified Waterloo as a hotspot for tech talent.
The report attributes the influx of new tech workers to our business-friendly immigration programs, exemplifying the way we welcome new workers into our tech ecosystem.
An initiative introduced by Canada’s Immigration Minister Sean Fraser last month only reinforces this. The new Tech Talent Strategy will welcome 10,000 highly skilled professionals to the country, further strengthening the tech talent pool in growing markets like Waterloo.
RideCo and Uber partner up for the long haul
RideCo, a leading on-demand transit technology company headquartered in Waterloo, has joined forces with Uber to provide transit agencies with overflow options. This unique technology integration enables agencies to implement alternative, accessible and more streamlined transportation options for riders across the continent.
Together, RideCo and Uber are helping agencies achieve greater operational efficiency and higher productivity while promoting rider equity.
Kuntz Electroplating is securing future of EV
Electric vehicle (EV) innovation continues to accelerate toward a greener future in Waterloo. Kuntz Electroplating recently received $3M in funding from the federal government, which will enable the business to modify its production lines and add new equipment to meet the growing demand for EVs.
“Supporting family businesses like Kuntz Electroplating Inc. will help create good local jobs and develop new manufacturing capabilities to support Canada’s growing EV and manufacturing sector,” said Filomena Tassi, the minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.
Bridgit lands $7M in growth capital
Bridgit, an innovative construction software company, has secured $7M in funding from CIBC Innovation Banking. The local business offers a workforce planning and optimization platform that transforms workforce data into actionable insights, simplifying contractors’ bidding and project staffing processes.
The funding will help Bridgit continue to expand and own its position as the leading workforce planning company in the construction industry.
Skilled trades get VIP treatment
Conestoga College is tackling the skilled trades shortage in Waterloo and beyond. Their new Skilled Trades Campus offers programs in engineering, robotics, manufacturing and more – helping hundreds of work-ready grads enter the workforce with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed – and help local businesses succeed, too.
We had the opportunity to tour the campus last month, witnessing firsthand how purposeful design can impact the student learning experience. Find out what we learned about the new space – with accompanying photos – in our recent article.
Government of Canada invests in arts and culture scene
A new accessible cultural space for youth is coming to Waterloo, thanks to a $1M investment from the federal government.
The newly renovated space at the Drayton Entertainment Youth Academy will serve as a cultural incubator in the community, offering rehearsal halls, classrooms, music rooms and acting studios for youth in the region.
The investment reinforces Waterloo’s creative and innovative spirit, illuminating how our community supports arts and culture to inspire young leaders of today and tomorrow.
Joy was in the air in Cambridge
At the end of the month, local stakeholders, companies and citizens came together to envision new and creative ways to design our community, with people and nature at the centre.
The Joy Summit, which kicked off the grand opening of the Gaslight District in Cambridge (one of the region’s three cities), brought together influential figures in global change-making and city-building, including Bruce Mau, Ken Greenberg and Mouna Andraos, to lead engaging discussions and practical workshops.
The goal was to inspire participants to think beyond the conventional and reimagine how their community could evolve with a collective effort toward a more sustainable future.
Waterloo’s business ecosystem is heating up this summer. You can be part of this wave of success. Contact us to learn more.