Welcome back to VTJ’s Midweek Memo: the Vancouver tech events and opportunities newsletter you can’t miss.
And now, in this week’s edition:
Momentum, headwinds, and opportunity in 2026
Where accounting innovation meets business efficiency
Canada's talent advantage faces its biggest test
UPCOMING EVENTS
🗓 Wednesday, January 21 | Register
Vancouver’s tech sector is entering a pivotal moment. After years of rapid growth, shifting global markets, rising capital costs, and evolving talent dynamics are reshaping what it means to build and scale in this city.
You’ll hear from:
Peter Cowan, President and CEO, Innovate BC
Wendy Hurlburt, President and CEO, Life Sciences BC
Bijan Vaez, Founder and CEO, MerchKit
Katie Fitzmaurice, Executive Vice President, Invest Vancouver
Khalil Jessa, Senior Legal Counsel, Capital Markets Regulation, BCSC
SPONSORED BY AME ROUNDUP 2026
AME Roundup Returns Showcasing Technology and Innovation
AME Roundup returns to Vancouver from January 26-29 at the Vancouver Convention Centre east, bringing together more than 6,000 participants from 40+ countries, including geoscientists, prospectors, financiers, investors, governments, Indigenous partners and more.
AME Roundup 2026 presents Minerals for a Changing World – searching, discovering, and developing mineral deposits today, ensures we have the minerals that society needs for tomorrow. AME Roundup delivers a platform to build partnerships, showcase innovation, attract talent, and reinforce the importance of mineral exploration in a changing world.
For explorers, by explorers, AME Roundup is a premier global stage for mineral exploration. At AME Roundup 2026, hundreds of discovery stories will demonstrate how prospectors and junior mining companies lay the foundation for projects, supply chains, and global progress.
🗓 Wednesday, January 28 | Register
Join Vancouver Tech Journal and Chartered Professional Accountants of BC (CPABC) for an exciting conversation at the intersection of accounting and technology. Discover how CPAs and founders are building smarter businesses, unlocking efficiencies, and creating game-changing opportunities that go far beyond traditional roles.
SPONSORED BY NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY
Learn NLP to Spot Phishing
On February 5, Northeastern Vancouver, in collaboration with Mastercard, is offering a 90-minute microcredential on using natural language processing to detect phishing. This small group session includes guided exercises and direct faculty engagement. The program is offered at no cost for a limited number of participants. Apply now for consideration.
🗓 Wednesday, February 18 | Register
Canada has long been seen as a magnet for skilled talent — but with shifting immigration policies, rising global competition, and new incentives emerging in the U.S., Europe, and Asia, the landscape is rapidly changing.
So the real question is: Can Canada keep its edge? And what will it take to win the next decade of talent?
🗓 Thursday, February 26 | Register
Join Vancouver Tech Journal and BCIT for an in-depth conversation on how technology is reshaping the way we anticipate, respond to, and recover from disruptions.
From wildfire detection and emergency response to infrastructure modernization, workforce readiness, and data-driven decision-making, this event will explore where BC is leading, where gaps remain, and what it will take to build a truly resilient province.
Who should attend: Leaders and professionals in tech, public sector, emergency management, infrastructure, sustainability, policy, and anyone invested in BC’s future resilience.
SPONSORED BY THE HIGH TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES GROUP
Vancouver's Tech Office Experts
Connect with The High Technology Facilities Group at CBRE Ltd. – leaders in sourcing office space for BC’s startup and unicorn companies. The HTFG excels at helping clients find unique workspaces that drive productivity, reflect values, attract top talent, and fuel workplace culture.
🗓 Wednesday, March 18 | Register
Join Vancouver Tech Journal & VanHack for an evening conversation with experienced founders and operators who have scaled products and teams across different stages of growth.
From early-stage scrappiness to global expansion, our panelists will share candid lessons on what worked, what didn’t, and what they wish they knew earlier.
🤝 NEW OPPORTUNITIES
🗓️ Ongoing | Apply
Apply for this cost-sharing grant program that funds small, medium and large enterprises to support skills training for their workforces, including prospective new hires.
👋 YOUR COMMUNITY
🗣 VTJ Community Slack | Can’t make it to any in-person events? Network and chat with your friendly neighbourhood tech professionals using our dedicated Slack.
🗓️ Vancouver Tech Events Calendar | All local events in one place.
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