Technology is the #1 Industry in Greater Victoria!

“With the announcement of Technology being the number one revenue producing industry in Greater Victoria, the timing could not be more perfect to celebrate” reads this week’s VIATeC e-mail bulletin.

This is a very interesting assertion, and reflects my guess after having returned to Victoria in August 2006 and finding Victoria’s technology industry invigorated.

The bulletin does not go into further detail nor include a reference. I immediately replied to VIATeC Executive Director Dan Gunn.

He responded:

Very soon Lloyd…it is referring a report we commissioned along with the other tech associations around BC. The draft report is being reviewed and will be released very soon. We are not changing the numbers but are taking a close look at the issues analysis to make sure it include the right recommendations for continuing to grow the tech
sector in Greater Victoria.

Quick and dirty facts and figures:
We gave them a list of over 1,000 companies
We sent everyone a letter or an email and called them all.
The list was cut back to 878 companies due to closed shops and phone numbers not working.
340 companies completed the survey resulting in estimates of $1.677 billion in annual revenues and current direct employment of 12,600.

Wow, a strong Victoria technology industry is music to my ears!

I look forward to learning more about the report. I did find Friday, May 12′s Times Columnist article Tech industry sails to $1.67 billion with similar information about this survey by the B.C. Regional Science and Technology Network.

Related:

• January 14, Times Columnist, Island technology sector gaining strength and hiring along the way

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The Times Columnist article “Tech industry sails to $1.67 billion” also has the list of VIATeC’s nominees for technology company of the year. Pareto Logic is one of the four nominees. I went to school with the founder and CTO Adrian Pereira. I briefly worked as the QA lead for the next version of Xoftspy while at Mercurial, before I left to work for Flock. Later, I hear Pareto Logic took all of its development in house.Reading about Pareto Logic now, it sounds like things are still going very well and getting even better. Congratulations on the success and nomination Pareto Logic!