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Leveraging the Green Building Boom
Between the Vancouver Zero Emissions Building Bylaw and the regional adoption of the BC Energy Step Code, a total of $3.3 billion in high-performance building systems and materials will be needed for buildings in the Lower Mainland to meet these two policies. -
VEC forecasts $3.3B demand for greener buildings in Metro Vancouver
Today, the Vancouver Economic Commission launched a report quantifying the potential economic impact of the BC Energy Step Code (ESC) in Metro Vancouver, identifying a $3.3 billion market opportunity resulting from materials and manufacturing for newly constructed buildings to meet ESC energy requirements between 2019–2032. -
Cooking with Potential: An Interview with Alexa Pitoulis and Goodly Foods
Goodly Foods is a social impact enterprise that takes unsellable produce from local suppliers and turns them into delicious soups and sauces, creating living-wage opportunities for people with barriers to traditional employment. -
The Road to B Corp: An Interview with MYO Cosmetic Cases and Suzanne Carter
When the time came to release a first-of-it s-kind magnetic cosmetic case that easily allows customers to store and use eco-conscious makeup pans, Suzanne was ready to fully embrace the process of being an impactful business. -
3 Manufacturing Myths (and what they mean for Metro Vancouver)
Over the past several years, housing unaffordability dominated BC headlines in the Lower Mainland while industrial vacancy rates quietly diminished and land values climbed. Although not widely recognised, healthy industrial infrastructure is critical to the economic prosperity of any region. -
RELEASE: New Westminster and Vancouver Economic Commission Sign Innovation MOU
The City of New Westminster and the Vancouver Economic Commission (VEC) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on technology deployment and innovation. This marks the beginning of a partnership between the two parties to build a regional platform for technology deployment, demonstration, and business innovation. -
POSITION: New Major Rapid Transportation Investment a boon to Economic Development
The VEC welcomes the news of Translink securing funding for the Broadway subway and Surrey LRT and look forward to continued investments in regional connectivity and rapid transportation. -
VEC Response to BC’s Clean Growth Strategy
The Province of British Columbia is developing a long-term clean growth strategy to be released for the Fall of 2018. Earlier in the summer, the Province issued a call for public input into clean transportation, clean and efficient buildings, and a clean-growth program for industry. This is our reply. -
Vancouver’s Green Economy: The Road to a Billion-Dollar Brand
The below article is excerpted from the State of Vancouver's Green Economy 2018 report, which may be downloaded and viewed in full here. Radical roots, progressive culture, entrepreneurial mindset catalyze low-carbon... -
Green Jobs Boom continues in Vancouver: Green Economy Report
Amid heated debate on fossil fuel pipelines and tankers, Vancouver Economic Commission report shows 35% increase in green jobs, highlights the thriving low-carbon industry that helps drive the city’s nation-leading economic growth while decreasing emissions -
Advisory: Green Economy Report Launch
Mayor Gregor Robertson and the Vancouver Economic Commission (VEC) are proud to present the State of Vancouver Green Economy 2018 report – the result of the first and only consistent green jobs tracking research performed in the Americas. -
VEC’s Take: Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion not worth the risk
After careful review of the evidence for Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain Expansion Project, the Vancouver Economic Commission (VEC) reiterates that the potential economic and environmental risks outweigh the potential economic benefits. Furthermore, the VEC has reservations about recent claims that the business community is in consensus about the proposed economic benefits of expansion. -
VEC announces Greater Vancouver Innovation Capital: A Collaboration with World-renowned Economic Theorist Jeremy Rifkin
The Vancouver Economic Commission (VEC) is pleased to announce the creation of the Greater Vancouver Innovation Capital (GVIC) and the beginning of a year-long collaboration with world-renowned economic theorist Jeremy Rifkin and his global team. -
Apparel Textiles Leverage Lab: Fast Fashion meets Gradual Change
Textile waste is one of the fastest-growing segments of landfills across North America. This lab convened 16 businesses and organizations from across apparel & textiles-related sectors in our region with the objective of collaborating to reduce textile waste going to landfill -
VEC Statement on Amazon HQ2 RFP
The Amazon HQ2 Project has concluded. Please refer here for an update. For information on the context of the Amazon HQ2 Project, please refer to Amazon's announcement and to the RFP document itself. VEC... -
Research Study shows need for events like Vancouver Tech Showcase
We need events like the Vancouver Tech Showcase to not only maintain our standing as Canada’s top startup ecosystem, but to increase our competitiveness on a global scale. -
Applications for the Summer Capital Mentorship Program are OPEN
Are you an entrepreneur looking to sharpen your pitch and prepare yourself for $1M+ in investment capital? The next installment of the Discovery Foundation Capital Mentorship Program offers a 4-week program for up to 16 entrepreneurs. -
Spring Launches Canada’s First Global Impact Accelerator Program
The Global Impact Accelerator Program at Spring is the first in Canada to focus on global impact businesses looking to move to Canada and make the world a better place through their ventures. -
North America’s Greenest Cities Announce Partnership to Help Cleantech Companies
Please join the Vancouver Economic Commission and San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer for a special announcement about a cleantech partnership between the two regions today at 13:00. -
Sustainability Goes Beyond Green at Conference in Detroit
At times the conversation around corporate responsibility seems stuck – not surprising in a field where companies are trying to use the power of their products and services to solve some of...