The Calgary tech sector has achieved a remarkable milestone, recording the highest percentage growth in new technology jobs across North America. According to a recent report from CBRE Group, the industry expanded by an impressive 56 per cent, creating 28,900 new positions in the Alberta city.
This explosive growth positions Calgary as a major player in the continental tech landscape, offering significant opportunities for skilled workers, including members of the Latin community in Canada seeking careers in the technology sector.
Natural Resources Drive Tech Innovation
The success of Calgary’s technology industry stems from its unique connection to the region’s traditional economic strengths. Jen Lussier, CEO of Platform Calgary, explained that much of the sector’s growth ties directly to established industries.
“In Alberta and in Calgary, specifically, there’s a lot of tech that’s based on kind of our natural resources and traditional industries. Energy, of course, clean tech, agriculture, manufacturing — it really is literally across the board.”
This diversified approach means the tech sector isn’t limited to one niche. Instead, technology companies are emerging across energy, clean technology, agriculture, and manufacturing, creating a robust and resilient ecosystem.
Platform Calgary: The Heart of the Startup Ecosystem
Platform Calgary, located in the city’s downtown core, serves as the central hub for the technology community. The organization provides comprehensive support for entrepreneurs and facilitates connections for professionals seeking opportunities in the sector.
Lussier described the organization’s philosophy with a memorable phrase: “We like to say it takes a village to raise a startup.” The platform works to connect and grow the broader tech community while offering direct programming for founders.
The support includes helping entrepreneurs build products, find and communicate with customers, raise capital, and learn how to hire talent. This comprehensive approach has proven instrumental in the sector’s remarkable growth.
Strategic Foundation for Long-Term Success
The Calgary tech boom didn’t happen by accident. Lussier emphasized that years of strategic planning laid the groundwork for current success. The Calgary Economic Development innovation strategy has been implemented with Platform Calgary serving as the critical referral engine at its center.
“There’s nodes for each sector, and how tech is integrating into each sector… into aerospace, into energy, into sports, into logistics, etc., so that strategy is solid foundational policy.”
This sector-specific approach ensures that technology integration happens systematically across aerospace, energy, sports, and logistics industries, creating multiple pathways for growth and employment.
Diverse Job Opportunities Beyond Coding
One crucial aspect of Calgary’s tech growth is that employment opportunities extend far beyond traditional programming and coding roles. Many companies actively need professionals in sales, human resources, logistics, and various other support functions.
This diversity means that workers from different backgrounds and skill sets can find meaningful careers in the technology sector. For the Latin community in Canada, this opens doors for professionals with experience in business administration, customer service, and operations management.
TCG Machines exemplifies this diversified growth model. Nathan Day, the company’s sales and marketing head, highlighted their impressive expansion trajectory.
“For the past six consecutive years, we have doubled in size. From modest beginnings of just our founder for five years, while he invented our product, to this year — I believe we began with 15-employees, we’re now up to 40.”
Local Success Stories: From Co-op Space to Global Reach
TCG Machines found success in an unexpected niche: the trading card industry. The company recently moved from a co-op workspace into a facility exceeding 15,000 square feet, celebrating a milestone of their machines sorting through one billion cards.
The company’s reach now extends to 24 countries with over 500 units deployed in the field. Day noted the tangible impact of their work: “This is making a real impact for people.”
However, Day emphasized that success requires dedication and hard work. He explained that the more enjoyable a job is, the harder one must work at it because more people are interested in it for its intrinsic worth rather than just financial reward.
“It kind of fell on us to take advantage of every opportunity we possibly can, because at the end of the day the mission for us is to provide value for people who are running trading card businesses.”
The Calgary tech sector’s remarkable 56 per cent growth demonstrates that Alberta is establishing itself as a serious contender in North America’s technology landscape. For job seekers, entrepreneurs, and professionals looking to relocate, Calgary offers a dynamic environment with expanding opportunities across multiple industries.
The combination of strategic government support, robust entrepreneurial infrastructure through organizations like Platform Calgary, and the integration of technology with traditional resource-based industries creates a unique ecosystem. This model could serve as a blueprint for other Canadian cities seeking to develop their own tech sectors.
What is driving Calgary’s tech sector growth?
Calgary’s tech growth is driven by the integration of technology with traditional industries including energy, clean tech, agriculture, and manufacturing. The city added 28,900 jobs representing 56 per cent growth, according to CBRE Group.
What types of jobs are available in Calgary’s tech sector?
Employment opportunities extend beyond programming and coding. Companies need professionals in sales, human resources, logistics, and other support functions, making the sector accessible to workers with diverse skill sets.
What is Platform Calgary and how does it help entrepreneurs?
Platform Calgary is a downtown hub that supports the tech community. It helps founders build products, find customers, raise capital, and hire talent. It serves as the central referral engine for the city’s economic development innovation strategy.
How does Calgary compare to other North American cities for tech jobs?
Calgary has led North America in the percentage of new tech jobs according to the CBRE Group report, making it the fastest-growing tech hub on the continent by this measure.
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