We’d say that Waterloo exceeded expectations in 2025, but our region punches above its weight so often that we’re beginning to sound like a broken record. Instead, we’ll tell you that the Waterloo region continued to hit its high notes this past year, with major expansions and global accolades.
The biggest hits of 2025 included Hinduja Global Systems (HGS)’s new contact centre in Waterloo, Conestoga College’s expanded Skilled Trades Campus and our tech ecosystem’s major talent milestone.
“Telling the Waterloo story is always exciting because there are just so many great things happening here,” says Lucinda Wallace, Waterloo EDC’s Senior Vice-President. “These successes span multiple sectors, showcasing the diversity, breadth and depth of our community’s business ecosystem.”
Here are the top five stories from the Waterloo community this past year:
1. HGS expands to Waterloo and opens a new contact centre and innovation hub
In May, HGS launched a Digital Customer Experience (CX) and Data & Analytics innovation centre in Waterloo. The new facility will serve as a hub for tech-enabled customer engagement, helping HGS build long-term impact locally and globally.
The global leader in digital customer experience was drawn to Waterloo region’s reputation for entrepreneurship and innovation. Savita Jones, SVP – North America Operations, said, “Waterloo is the ideal city for HGS to expand … This region is home to more than 1,000 technology firms and has proven to be the perfect place to turn innovative ideas into a thriving business.”
With the help of Invest Ontario and Waterloo EDC, HGS has become a key player in our tech ecosystem. The company has plans to work with local post-secondary schools and contribute to the community through “skills development initiatives and innovation-driven collaborations.”
2. Conestoga College launches Phase 2 of the biggest Skilled Trades Campus in Canada
The biggest Skilled Trades Campus is gaining momentum in the Waterloo area. This past year, Conestoga College initiated Phase 2 of its project in Cambridge (one of our community’s three cities), adding 221,671 sq. ft. to the existing 335,00 sq. ft. facility located just off Canada’s 401 superhighway.
The campus will accommodate more than 500 students studying to become electricians, plumbers, mechanical engineers, industrial millwrights and more. The consolidated, state-of-the-art facility is creating a community for students while providing top-quality learning to address the growing need for tradespeople across Canada. Conestoga College’s investment in the skilled trades strengthens Waterloo’s manufacturing sector, ensuring a consistent crop of experienced talent replenishes and bolsters the workforce.
Tune into the story behind Conestoga College’s Skilled Trades Campus.
3. Waterloo is named one of the top 10 tech talent markets in North America by CBRE
Our tech ecosystem took centre stage in 2025 with an unprecedented achievement: top 10 on CBRE’s Scoring Tech Talent report.
CBRE publishes an annual report on the top tech markets in North America. Waterloo region always performs well (we’ve been named the #1 small tech talent market for five consecutive years), but this past year, our region hit a new milestone. Waterloo is now the 7th best tech talent market in North America, beating out much bigger cities like Boston, Atlanta and Raleigh-Durham.
Our tech ecosystem is a magnet for top talent, attracting enterprising students, young professionals and skilled workers to study at a top global tech school and work for innovative tech companies. It’s one of the main reasons our tech concentration stands at 11.7%, the second highest out of all talent markets across the continent.
4. University of Waterloo is recognized as the largest top computer science school in North America
UWaterloo is the headliner for the biggest of the best computer science schools in North America. Out of the top-25 North American schools ranked by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) in its annual World University Rankings, our local post-secondary school topped the charts in computer science enrolment.
The 15th best tech school in North America, UWaterloo has 4,708 undergraduate students enrolled in computer science and computer engineering. That’s more than the top four schools on the QS ranking (MIT, Stanford, Carnegie Mellon and Harvard) combined.
Explore what makes UWaterloo a top computer science school in quantity and quality.
5. Waterloo EDC celebrates 10 years with nearly $4B in investment
In his Public Information Meeting swan song (or perhaps more accurately, his encore), Waterloo EDC President & CEO Tony LaMantia shone a spotlight on what our organization achieved during his 10-year tenure.
The highlights include $4B in investment, 6,200 new jobs and 182x return on municipal funding, as well as 63 international and 59 local expansions. These investments and expansions have landed across our region’s three cities and four townships.
Read more about Waterloo EDC’s 10-year history and find out how we can help your company expand to our thriving business ecosystem.
Key Takeaways
- Hinduja Global Systems opened a new contact centre in Waterloo to spur innovation
- Conestoga College initiated Phase 2 of its Skilled Trades Campus, which is set to be the biggest of its kind in Canada
- The Waterloo community was ranked the #1 small tech talent market and #7 overall in CBRE’s annual Scoring Tech Talent Report
- The University of Waterloo remains the biggest of the best computer science schools in North America
- Waterloo EDC supported $4B in investment and created 6,200 new jobs in the community over the last 10 years