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In recent years, Vancouver construction businesses have shown incredible leadership and innovation, particularly as we move towards net-zero emissions and the more widespread use of mass timber, but threats and challenges – such as an ageing workforce – remain.

Only eight months ago, Netflix took a long-term lease on a studio facility in the Vancouver region – its second dedicated studio space in BC – significantly increasing its investment into the province. Netflix also continues to demonstrate its support of BC-owned IP through its multi-year anchor sponsorship of the Pacific Screenwriting Program.

While the task of reversing climate change seems monumental, change is already happening at the city level.

The VEC in partnership with City of Vancouver is seeking a multi-disciplinary consulting team to conduct a circular economic study of the food sector in the greater Vancouver region.

The next frontier in aviation, advanced air mobility (AAM) facilitates the development of airspace above cities and exurban areas. Learn more about this emerging sector.

Vancouver Economic Commission has debuted Project Greenlight, a membership-based platform that connects public and private enterprises (members) with local and global innovators.

Before the pandemic, this industry was growing faster than the provincial economy. The tourism and hospitality industry includes the restaurant and food services sector. Collectively, this sector contributes over $14.4 billion to the Metro Vancouver economy and supports more than 105,000 jobs.

The report draws on contemporary research to understand the long-term impacts of COVID-19 on economic activity in Vancouver’s Central Business District, and how this could impact small- and medium-sized businesses, office workers and residents.

During the March 5 webinar, panelists spoke about how economic reconciliation and integration of Indigenous values into GDP economics are mechanisms that could improve wellbeing for all, about the importance of entrepreneurship, affordable housing, and transformative transportation to build a just, inclusive and resilient future for the region.

Early on, the pandemic and its associated health measures had predictable and devastating initial effects on sharing economy businesses. However, additional preparation, perseverance and proactive communication with members across each platform paid off.

Real estate is a massive industry in Vancouver where every dollar counts. Buildings are also the largest source of greenhouse gases, both from burning natural gas and in the material waste the built environment produces in construction and demolition.

Last November, the Canadian and Nordic circular economy hackathon took place in an effort to foster connections and knowledge-sharing between Nordic and Canadian companies through an intensive period of design or planning activity. Read the recap.

In case you missed it, a 2020 report by the Institute for Gender and Economy (GATE) and YWCA Canada offers a compelling roadmap to address systemic racism and increase investments in childcare, housing and internet access to improve economic security for communities across Canada.

Pioneering investor Joel Solomon moved to Vancouver after falling in love with the city during his forays in cross-border investing. In this interview we explore what motivates him to continue that investment and what he see's for Vancouver's future.

Whether seeking fresh investment opportunities, a diversified portfolio or low operating costs and taxes, it’s time for US investors to cast their attention across the border – and the first step is downloading the Vancouver Cross-Border Investment Guide.

While both business and consumer markets for “sustainability” and “green” products and services have steadily grown year-over-year, a green business also refers to enterprises with low-carbon or even zero-emission operations. VEC just renewed our Climate Smart certification for 2020, and we're taking a moment to celebrate this with a quick explainer of what it means, and share some tools available to businesses getting ready to embark on a similar journey.

Throughout the month of October, Vancity and the Vancouver Economic Commission co-hosted a three-part series on Vancouver’s growing circular economy. Titled Success and Opportunity in Vancouver’s Circular Economy, the webinars highlighted key local organizations and businesses leading the way, convened businesses and community support for circularity, with presenters making the case for new circular ventures and for existing businesses to transition to circular practices.

VEC’s new Economy Report strives to apply 21st-century economics to real-world issues in Vancouver and beyond. Read the October 2020 issue today for a look into how Vancouver’s economy is performing, as seen through key statistics and global rankings curated by our research team.

More than 1,500 jurisdictions around the globe – mostly cities – have declared a climate emergency, signaling the global concern about the climate crisis and the need for accelerated, coordinated and innovative action to forge a path forward. Addressing this crisis could unlock lucrative opportunities for businesses and form another cornerstone of the strong foundation necessary for economic recovery from the pandemic.

Despite massive strides made over the last several decades in the fight for gender equality, the research is clear: women still make less than men. When Unbounce realized they were also dealing with a gender wage disparity, they took immediate steps to close the gap, and spent the next two years developing systems and processes to reduce the chances of it happening again. Now, they’ve launched Pay Up for Progress, an initiative that shares learnings and aims to inspire other companies to follow suit.