Archive for the ‘Local Businesses’ Category

The High Tech Sector is Hiring!

Wednesday, December 14th, 2011

There was a very interesting article in the Record on Monday Dec. 12th, 2011 by Terry Pender.  The rumours around town that there are over 1000 tech jobs that need to be filled was verified by this article and many of the people interviewed in the article.   The local area unemployment figures of 6.8% are much lower than the national and provincial averages.  In the article, lain Klugman the head of Communitech said,” There are more than 1000 vacant high tech jobs in this region’s high-tech sector, highlighting the need to attract and retain creative-class workers.”  He goes on further to say, “Everyone is hiring”.  Communitech has done a study on attracting and retaining talent that is expected to be finished in the coming weeks.  In my opinion, this is a good thing because as a Realtor I can see that Waterloo Region is in transition from a manufacturing based economy to an information based economy.  In the years to come this area is going to need to attract creative minds and retain them because other Intelligent communities around the world are also competing for these types of workers.  Several reviews of this article were very harsh, but in my view unrealistic.  Waterloo Region has come along way over the past 10 years and has grown and is doing its best at all levels of government to adjust to the growth the best way it can.  No place is perfect and I don’t think there is a Utopia but I like living in Waterloo Region because it is affordable, there are lots of opportunites to advance yourself, there are lots of things to do here in your spare time.  Moreover, the community has a strong sense of Entrepreneurism, Leadership and generosity.  This article is very good for people who are looking for a job in Kitchener-Waterloo.  Christie Digital is trying to hire 20 more people in Kitchener-Waterloo.  Techies like the LRT and there are more housing options in Uptown Waterloo and Downtown Kitchener than before.  There are several condominium and lofts in KW that are being built to house these new workers like at the Arrow Lofts, Bauer Lofts, Seagrams Lofts, The 42, Park 144, Red Condominiums, Silver Thread Condominiums, the Belmont  Village Condominiums.

Here is the full story:

http://www.therecord.com/news/local/article/637696–everyone-hiring-in-waterloo-region-s-fast-expanding-tech-sector

 

Great Video about Olivier Soaps in Waterloo

Thursday, October 27th, 2011

Jennifer Freitas discusses why the Olivier Soap store is in Uptown Waterloo, so click on the link below:

http://youtu.be/0XNbkaCuHcY

 

Lang Tannery receives National Brownfields Award

Tuesday, October 11th, 2011

The Canadian Urban Institute handed out the National Brownfields Award this year to the Tannery District according to Terry Pender’s article in the Record on October 7th, 2011.  The award is known as the “Brownie Awards”.  The Tannery won the best overall project.

The Tannery District is at the corner of Victoria and Charles and now houses 28 high tech firms such as Google and Desire 2 Learn.

The Region of Waterloo and the City of Kitchener provided the developer, Cadan with $891,000 to help pay for the environment clean up at the site.

The Tannery has close to 350,000 square feet of office space.  The developer, Cadan reused bricks and wood that were salvaged from the redevelopment.  The Tannery was once the largest tannery in the British Empire and made leather saddles, harnesses and boot soles for Canadian Soldiers in the Boer War and WW1 as well as leather fuel tank liners of aircrafts in WW2.

Here is the full story:http://www.therecord.com/news/local/article/605752–tannery-district-redevelopment-wins-national-brownfields-award

 

2 Cambridge Plants create 200 jobs for the future

Tuesday, September 6th, 2011

The Record reported on the 25th of August that Dana Holding Corporation, based in Ohio, is making a $37 million dollar investment in equipment and people in Cambridge and Oakville.  Dana makes battery cooling systems for electric and hybrid cars.  Currently, Dana employs 70 people but plans to hire 100 more employees over the next 3 years for its Franklin Blvd plant and 10 jobs at its R and D centre in Oakville.  The Ontario Economic Development ministry announced that it will grant $2 million dollars towards the $37 million dollar investment.

On the same day, the Ontario Economic Development minister Sandra Pupatello announced $3.1 million dollars to Centra Industries Inc at its new facility on Cherry Blossom Road in Cambridge.  Centra will add 100 jobs over the next 5 years to bolster its workforce of 25o in Cambridge.  Centra makes areospace parts for many aircraft businesses like Boeing, Bombardier, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Cessna and Gulfstream.

Here is the full story:

http://www.techtriangle.com/modules/news/newsitem.php?ItemId=386

 

40 companies attend Communitech’s Recruiting Event

Monday, August 22nd, 2011

According to 570 news, on Canada’s Tech Triangle website, there were more than 40 companies attending the recruiting event on August 18th, 2011.  There are regularly over 1000 job openings in the region and Techvibes Recruitment Event is one of a series over events that help companies fill those positions.

There were a number of big name companies that were involved in the event and they are:  Accelerator Centre, Agfa Healthcare, ANTvibes, BOOM digital, Christie Digital, Crawford and Company, Desire2learn, Descartes, EA Games, Equitable Life, Google, IMS, Manulife, McAfee, Sunlife, Sybase, Economical Insurance Group, Virtual Causeway and more.

Here is the link:

http://www.techtriangle.com/modules/news/newsitem.php?ItemId=377

RIM announces new product launches

Saturday, August 6th, 2011

RIM announced on August 3rd several new product launches: Blackberry Bold 9900 and 9930 and Torch 9850, 9860 and 9810.   These phones will have 5 megapixel cameras with 4 times zoom and the browsers will be 40% faster than the previous OS 6 versions.   Moreover, these phones will be the thinnest Blackberrys at 10.5 millimetres.  The new phones will feature the new Blackberry OS 7.

Here is the full story in the Record:

http://www.therecord.com/news/business/article/573067–rim-unveils-long-awaited-blackberry-phones

GAME ON – RIM launches new Messenger app to enhance social experience.

Saturday, July 30th, 2011

According to Hugo Miller of the Record, Blackberry Messenger 6 is available for download from RIM’s App World online store.  This new Blackberry feature will allow people to chat on BBM while playing games and using Blackberry Apps.  There are now 34,000 Blackberry Apps to choose from.  BBM comes free on all Blackberrys will allow users to see when their messages have been read and has about 45 million users with 2 million more being added each month.

Here is the full story:

http://www.therecord.com/news/business/article/570258–rim-launches-new-messenger-app-to-enhance-social-experience

Provincial Grant increases production at Grand River Foods

Tuesday, July 26th, 2011

According to the Record Staff, a $1 million dollar grant from the province will help Grand River foods purchase new processing equipment and add jobs.  This is part of a $4.5 million dollar addition at Grand River Foods at the company’s Vondrau Drive plant in Cambridge in addition to the $2.5 million for specialized equipment.  This influx of new cash will stimulate the creation of 20 new jobs bringing the total employment above the 300 mark.  The President, Craig Richardson said that the low interest rates and government funding created the ideal time to expand.

Here is the full story:

http://www.therecord.com/print/article/569530

 

RIM will be releasing more new products in 2011

Tuesday, July 26th, 2011

According to the Record, Michael Lazardis and Jim Balsille have said that there will be the biggest product launch in company history by the end of this year.  Personally I am looking forward to getting a new Bold in the Fall.

Here is the full story:

http://www.therecord.com/news/business/article/569367–opinion-a-mostly-positive-spin-on-rim

RIM answers back with a Fan Night

Tuesday, July 26th, 2011

RIM hosted a fan night on Twitter.  Here is the whole story in the Record:

http://www.therecord.com/news/business/article/569214–rim-tells-twitter-followers-to-tune-into-blackberry-7-fan-event