Tech workers have never been in higher demand worldwide. However, these professionals are beginning to stir away from Silicon Valley. Other major tech hubs, such as Washington DC and Seattle, are losing ground in this field. Meanwhile, Canada is attracting more tech workers by the day. Most of them are heading to Ontario, or more specifically, to Toronto. What’s going on?

The End of an Era?

There are a few reasons for IT workers to migrate to the Great White North. That mythic aura of a Silicon Valley, where people like Bill Hewlett, David Packard, and Steve Jobs revolutionised the industry straight from their garage, is long gone. The same garage where the first Hewlett-Packard printers were built costs over USD 25,000 per square metre today. 

Housing prices alone would be enough reason already for moving elsewhere. Yet, there’s more. Tougher immigration laws during Trump times made it much more difficult for foreign professionals to get a working visa. Diversity has always been key to Silicon Valley’s success, which used to attract the best minds worldwide. 

Where IT’s At

Toronto has become an academic hub for tech-related research. The University of Toronto has some of the most knowledgeable professors in machine learning and artificial intelligence. Several companies from the iGaming industry, like online casinos and software developers, are also migrating there for the same reason. It’s great news for Canadian gamblers. A quick search for “Ontario online casino” will return some real top-quality results. 

Canada decided to go the opposite way and welcome skilled workers from around the world. The results are beginning to show. Toronto started to invest in attracting IT workers in 2013; now, there are over 70,000 of them in the city. In fact, more than half of the city’s demographics are made of immigrants. 

A Hotbed for Innovation

It’s not by chance that Toronto became a place where tech giants hang around. However, other cities in Ontario also host some pretty big names. Here are some companies that chose Ontario as their home.

Ubisoft

Ubisoft is a leading brand in the iGaming industry. It has already developed Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Watch Dogs. Ubisoft is based in Toronto and is famous for hiring homegrown talent from nearby tech academies. This company employs about 5,700 workers nationwide. 

Take-Two Interactive

Take-Two Interactive signs franchises like Grand Theft Auto and Max Payne. In fact, Max Payne 3 and GTA V were developed in the company’s studio in Oakville. Take-Two currently employs about 80 professionals.

Shopify

Shopify has two offices in Toronto, one of which is 180,000 square feet. Despite being already a giant, it reportedly tries to keep a certain startup vibe in the office. The company currently employs 700 professionals in their Canadian offices.

A New Silicon Valley?

Canada’s friendly immigration laws, great educational system, and technological infrastructure create a thriving environment for innovation. The word is spreading across the industry. Even professionals that graduated, and were living and working in the United States, are deciding to cross the northern border.