Welcome to this week’s Midweek Memo. In this issue, check out highlights from InBC’s $500 million investment fund, rare footage from Ocean Networks Canada, and celebrate wins with Foresight Canada.

Now on to today’s briefing. It’s 840 words: a three-minute read.

-Emily, [email protected]

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Is a top-three ranking enough to keep Victoria workers from leaving?

Are you living, working, and enjoying all that life has to offer in Victoria? In that case, consider yourself one of 102,499 lucky people living in a “top three” city in Canada.

The Globe and Mail has ranked Victoria third on its list of the 100 most liveable cities in the country — though in some ways it’s actually a step back, as Victoria topped the list in 2023. Nonetheless, the province’s capital easily beat out neighbouring Nanaimo (#40) and Saanich (#11), as well as Vancouver (#12) on the mainland.

Now in its second year, the Globe and Mail’s ranking is based on a survey sent to readers, which included 448 cities with a population of over 10,000. Over 300 people weighed in on categories including economy, housing, demographics, healthcare, safety, education, community, amenities, transportation, and climate.

In September, Victoria posted employment growth of 6.2 percent and had the third-lowest unemployment rate among all census metropolitan areas in Canada. A recent report from the South Island Prosperity Partnership (SIPP) pointed to opportunities for further growth, noting the potential for a larger life sciences sector in Greater Victoria.

But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. The Business Council of British Columbia recently launched a campaign targeting residents in cities including Victoria, Vancouver, Kelowna, and Prince George, urging them to "Stay with B.C." The campaign is intended to address an increase in workers leaving the province for Alberta, perhaps driven by concerns about affordability and job opportunities.

On LinkedIn, SIPP’s deputy director, Dallas Gislason, wrote, “We need our region's leaders — public, private, NGOs and institutional — to challenge the narratives of pessimism and help paint a vibrant picture of the future that shows young people that we want them here, are making investments and decisions with them in mind, are implementing strategies that will — for example, make housing more attainable and good 21st-century-oriented careers more plentiful.”

📰 More Victoria innovation news

👀 Looking back over my life: InBC highlighted its 2024 investments, including its first of the year: an investment in Campbell River’s Poseidon Ocean Systems, an aquaculture hardware technology company.

🧜‍♀️ Under the sea: Ocean Networks Canada shared rare footage of a sea sponge in action, captured by the organization’s seafloor cameras. The images come from “the longest continuous recording of these ancient animals.”

☀️ I see the sun coming up easy: Foresight Canada highlighted wins from its alumni, including Sidney’s Cascadia Seaweed, which raised $4 million in its Series A round in November.

🕴️ Tech jobs of the week

Find your next career:

• Operations and Talent Development Coordinator at EY

• Manager, Sales Operations at Wealthsimple

• Product Manager, Reputation Management at Clio

Hiring in Victoria? Reply to this email and let us know!

📅 Upcoming events

​January 9 | Victoria AI Tech Meetup: Exploring AI's Impact on Business and Innovation

Are you an entrepreneur or tech professional curious about how AI can transform your business and career? Join the Victoria AI Tech Meetup, where local thought leaders and innovators come together to explore the cutting edge of artificial intelligence and its practical applications.

January 16 | Victoria Tech Nachos

Victoria Tech Nachos is a covert group at the intersection of nachos and technology. A no-speaker, social-only, no-sponsor, nacho-friendly event.

January 23 | Canadian Digital Marketing Summit

For the first time, CDM Summit is coming to Victoria, on January 23. Join for an exciting one-day event where trailblazers and innovators gather to explore the future of digital marketing. In this inaugural summit, you’ll experience the latest in breakthrough strategies, cutting-edge technologies, and the trends shaping tomorrow’s marketing landscape. Whether you’re looking to enhance your skills, grow your professional network, or be inspired by industry leaders, this is your opportunity to lead with confidence in an ever-evolving digital world.

Have an upcoming event? Reply to let us know.

🙋 I need a…

We at Victoria Tech Journal know you, our community, pretty well. Are you searching for someone in your field to have coffee with, a hiring hookup, a lead on local investors, or suggestion for a great Victoria tech tool? Whatever you’re hunting for, let us know. We’ll post it in this section and make it happen.

Email your requests to [email protected].

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