The Vancouver Business Thread

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by cairnstone

I put no wait into tech companies coming and going as they don't really bring value and long term jobs to the local community. The reason I say this is they don't build a lot of infrastructure compared to a manufacturing etc so they can pac of a truck and be gone in a week. An example of thisis Microsoft has come and gone a couple of times. In 2007 Microsoft leased a huge amount of property in richmond on 6 road and started doing major renos. I worked on the project and then fast forward 2013 Microsoft is opening a new office. No mention of the richmond campus. And the press goes crazy with the news but less people will work in the new office than what was planned for the richmond campus. But just a couple years before they built a campus and then left just as fast as they came.


Hi tech industry is fluid so you can move between countries with ease like other professional trades. Try that being a trades person or service etc. I have been turned away from the border as I had a few tools in my truck from work.

But tech is oh-so-green so our mayor wets his pants every time one of them relocates here for a couple of months.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by cairnstone

An example of thisis Microsoft has come and gone a couple of times. In 2007 Microsoft leased a huge amount of property in richmond on 6 road and started doing major renos. I worked on the project and then fast forward 2013 Microsoft is opening a new office. No mention of the richmond campus. And the press goes crazy with the news but less people will work in the new office than what was planned for the richmond campus. But just a couple years before they built a campus and then left just as fast as they came.

They moved in 2011 to the Cambie Street location because no one liked working in an office park in Richmond.

[Spork]

Originally Posted by cairnstone

The reason I say this is they don't build a lot of infrastructure compared to a manufacturing etc so they can pac of a truck and be gone in a week.

Employees = Infrastructure. If you have skilled staff, and they don't want to move, you don't move them. Building an office and then not filling it is a different story entirely.

[s211]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

They moved in 2011 to the Cambie Street location because no one liked working in an office park in Richmond.

It's not that simple. They bailed on Greater Vancouver in a huge way after 2008 hit.

[Klazu]

It hasn't been mentioned in here, but the new Audi dealership in Brentwood (along Lougheed Highway) is almost completed and it is HUGE. Someone should take a photo next time you are there.

[Black Box]

Originally Posted by Hot Rod

Love it, keep em comin' Vancouver!

We don't even need them all to be full corporate relocations, simple North American or even Canada office operations of major (and not major) companies would do nicely, also! hehe

If only it were a matter of simplicity. Vancouver is a dense, international city, absent a dense economy of international renown. What is being proposed to change this?

[LeftCoaster]

Originally Posted by Klazu

Great news regarding Valhalla Games, but I am still sad that Pixar left so suddenly. Anyone know what went wrong with their Vancouver plans? They were a big brand company to have in Vancouver.

A little birdie told me Disney is about to come back to Vancouver in a big way.

Originally Posted by s211

It's not that simple. They bailed on Greater Vancouver in a huge way after 2008 hit.

They were completely different offices. The Richmond office was set to be a training centre and holding pen for incoming employees to Redmond and the US at large. The new centre is a full fledged production centre, and it's much larger and more staffed than their Richmond centre.

[logan5]

A big way? Maybe they're moving their head office here. That would be big.

[NetMapel]

Industrial Light & Magic Vancouver is super busy with work and can only grow because they like to ship more work here due to some favourable conditions.

[WarrenC12]

Lionsgate is moving a new TV show here thanks to the backwards lawmakers in NC:

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article69837702.html

I believe NC and Georgia have both passed similar legislation, both of which get a decent amount of film and TV production. Vancouver should be an attractive alternative for a number of productions.

[csbvan]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Lionsgate is moving a new TV show here thanks to the backwards lawmakers in NC:

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article69837702.html

I believe NC and Georgia have both passed similar legislation, both of which get a decent amount of film and TV production. Vancouver should be an attractive alternative for a number of productions.

Is Marvel next?

Edit: I realize that Georgia didn't actually get the bill through.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by csbvan

Is Marvel next?

Edit: I realize that Georgia didn't actually get the bill through.

I stand corrected:

Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal vetoed the Religious Liberty Bill on March 28, but the House speaker and lieutenant governor vowed to revive a version of the measure.

Although that doesn't stop companies from moving of course. It's clear that many representatives support the bill. Seeing what the voters do in November is a reasonable option too.

[NetMapel]

Originally Posted by csbvan

Is Marvel next?

Edit: I realize that Georgia didn't actually get the bill through.

What the Harry Potter series did to the visual effects industry in London is basically what Marvel shows are doing to Vancouver's visual effects industry. Tons of visual effects work on Marvel films are done here in Vancouver. It really helps build up that industry here because of the steady work that Marvel provides. So in a way, yeah Marvel is "already" here big time Also, like I said. ILM Vancouver is a big name here and I can only see it continue to grow as their San Fran headquarter move more and more work here due to many conditions. Only thing left for Disney to open up here is a feature animation studio, I guess. Maybe Disney Animation or Pixar can come back again.

[LeftCoaster]

Another good sign for the film industry in BC:

City film studios planning major expansion

A popular Burnaby film studio known for creating fantasy could soon see its expansion become a reality.

On Tuesday, the city held a public hearing that included a rezoning application for a major expansion to Bridge Studios, located at 3700 and 3880 Henning Dr.

The company behind the studio is planning a multi-phase expansion of the facility that includes the construction of a new effects stage with office space, a parkade, new sound stage and four-storey digital arts production building.

When all the phases are complete in the next few years, the studio could provide employment opportunities for up to 1,000 people.

There was no opposition to the application at the public hearing Tuesday.

Art Phillips, director of development for Larco Investments, the company that owns the studio, told the NOW the expansion was necessary to keep up with demand from the film industry. He added the company wouldn’t consider a major expansion if it didn’t feel positive about the industry.

“For Burnaby, it means a clean industry, it means a strong employment generator and it means a continuation of the film industry in B.C., with Burnaby really taking the lead in the province,” he said, noting the strong support for the studio by the city and council.

Phillips didn’t want to disclose the cost of the expansion, other than to confirm it was in the millions.

At any given time, 800 people could be working out of the studios.

Mayor Derek Corrigan said it was exciting to the see studio expand, suggesting Burnaby is lucky to become the home of film studios in B.C.

He suggested the industry offers a lot of high-quality jobs, while also helping small companies grow their businesses around it.

“It’s been all around one of the most positive economic developments in our city over the course of the last decade,” Corrigan said.

The application still needs to head back to council for final approval at a later date. The first phase of the expansion is expected to be complete later this spring.

The studio, which opened its doors in 1987, has undergone a number of expansions in the last three decades, including a sound stage and workshop in 1996.

The public hearing also included a rezoning application for the third and fourth phases of the Station Square development in the Metrotown Town Centre area, and an application for a three-tower development in the Brentwood Town Centre area on Beta Avenue.

There was no public opposition to either project, but they will still need to be approved by council at a later date.

- See more at: http://www.burnabynow.com/news/city-film...expansion-1.2221461#sthash.tquINZgp.dpuf

http://www.burnabynow.com/news/city-film-studios-planning-major-expansion-1.2221461

Couple of tidbits in there about a new Brentwood development and final phase of Station Square as well.

[zahav]

I wasn't sure if this should get it's own thread since it's BC-wide, but didn't know how many people look at the threads outside Vancouver.

The labour figures for April were released and BC has pulled so far out in front of the other provinces in terms of employment (this has been a trend for a couple years now, but seems to keep getting stronger!). Can definitely see regional divides.

From the report:
In April, employment increased by 13,000 in British Columbia, and the unemployment rate fell 0.7 percentage points to 5.8%—the lowest rate among the provinces. This is the first time that British Columbia has had the lowest unemployment rate among all the provinces since comparable data became available in 1976. On a year-over-year basis, employment in the province was up 110,000 (+4.9%). A strong upward trend was observed throughout the 12 months, driven by growth in wholesale and retail trade, health care and social assistance, and construction.
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/160506/dq160506a-eng.htm?HPA

BC accounted for the most growth in Canada over the last year, not even just by %, in absolute number too (+110,400 jobs, +4.9% while Ontario was next at +95,700, but only +1.4%). NS was the only other province to gain, +1.2%, 5,000 jobs, every other province lost jobs year over year. No wonder making national policy on economy is tricky!

4.9% employment growth for BC (that's up there or even higher than Alberta's in its prime a few years ago), and the lowest unemployment in the country for the first time in history. Pretty impressive on its own, but especially when comparing to the lacklustre situation in most other places.

[WarrenC12]

Yes, very interesting, and good for BC in general. It would be very refreshing to see this strong economy show up in wage increases. Alberta's long history as the strongest economy in Canada was always accompanied by their higher wages as compared to the other provinces as well.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

A little birdie told me Disney is about to come back to Vancouver in a big way.



They were completely different offices. The Richmond office was set to be a training centre and holding pen for incoming employees to Redmond and the US at large. The new centre is a full fledged production centre, and it's much larger and more staffed than their Richmond centre.

A theme park here will be very very sweet. Disney Vancouver! There are disneylands all over the world now: Shanghai, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Paris, Orlando, L.A.......one new one in Vancouver won't hurt right? Don't think there is a disney theme park with a mountainous backdrop to date, so establishing one in this city would be something magical (sparkles).

With that done, Universal Studios can follow suit. These would be in line with establishing Vancouver as "Hollywood North".

[Vin]

Originally Posted by zahav

I wasn't sure if this should get it's own thread since it's BC-wide, but didn't know how many people look at the threads outside Vancouver.

The labour figures for April were released and BC has pulled so far out in front of the other provinces in terms of employment (this has been a trend for a couple years now, but seems to keep getting stronger!). Can definitely see regional divides.

From the report:
In April, employment increased by 13,000 in British Columbia, and the unemployment rate fell 0.7 percentage points to 5.8%—the lowest rate among the provinces. This is the first time that British Columbia has had the lowest unemployment rate among all the provinces since comparable data became available in 1976. On a year-over-year basis, employment in the province was up 110,000 (+4.9%). A strong upward trend was observed throughout the 12 months, driven by growth in wholesale and retail trade, health care and social assistance, and construction.
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/160506/dq160506a-eng.htm?HPA

BC accounted for the most growth in Canada over the last year, not even just by %, in absolute number too (+110,400 jobs, +4.9% while Ontario was next at +95,700, but only +1.4%). NS was the only other province to gain, +1.2%, 5,000 jobs, every other province lost jobs year over year. No wonder making national policy on economy is tricky!

4.9% employment growth for BC (that's up there or even higher than Alberta's in its prime a few years ago), and the lowest unemployment in the country for the first time in history. Pretty impressive on its own, but especially when comparing to the lacklustre situation in most other places.

Not surprised at that figure. The 5.8% unemployment would mostly represent people who choose not to work. Even foreigners can easily get jobs here if they are not picky. I know quite a lot of foreigners working here with the "working holiday" visa.

People can say they want to leave Vancouver yada yada yada due to high property prices, inflation etc, but ultimately, jobs created in part due to foreign money is also what's giving people the many jobs here.

[LeftCoaster]

Originally Posted by Vin

A theme park here will be very very sweet. Disney Vancouver! There are disneylands all over the world now: Shanghai, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Paris, Orlando, L.A.......one new one in Vancouver won't hurt right? Don't think there is a disney theme park with a mountainous backdrop to date, so establishing one in this city would be something magical (sparkles).

With that done, Universal Studios can follow suit. These would be in line with establishing Vancouver as "Hollywood North".

What in the world are you talking about? We were discussing office jobs not theme parks....

Disney is not looking to build a theme park in a city that has rain for 6 months of the year.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

What in the world are you talking about? We were discussing office jobs not theme parks....

Disney is not looking to build a theme park in a city that has rain for 6 months of the year.

Why not? A Disney theme park can come after they have an office set up here. Rain's not stopping many people from moving here.

Theme parks employs a lot of people, FYI.