Kitchener Innovation District welcomes first Canadian Google for Startups
Kitchener’s downtown continues to attract global brands, as Google has announced its plans for a new office in the Innovation District. Google will be the flagship tenant of the Breithaupt Block Phase 3 expansion. Once construction is complete, the offices will accommodate new Google employees and Canada’s first Google for Startups Accelerator.
Google first arrived in Canada in 2001. The three new facilities, in Toronto, Montreal and Waterloo region, will see Google’s offices in these three cities accommodate up to 5,000 employees by the end of 2022, up from the more than 1,500 employees across Canada today.
“Kitchener is proud to be one of three Canadian cities selected for new Google offices along with Toronto and Montreal,” said Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic. “Today’s announcement signals to investors worldwide that Kitchener and Waterloo region’s tech sector and creative ecosystem is globally significant – able to support fast growing and innovative companies like Google. The City of Kitchener is glad to celebrate the unprecedented growth of Google in our backyard and we look forward to supporting their continued success.”
Google has been working with Canadian founders and ecosystem partners to invest in their potential so more Canadian startups can grow, scale and reach global success.
“As the Toronto-Waterloo corridor continues to be a global centre of tech talent and innovation, it’s the perfect place for us to expand our footprint, and help grow the next generation of founders in Canada,” said Steve Woods, Google Canada Engineering and Waterloo Site Lead.
The growth and success of Google translates into a stronger local economy and boosts small businesses. According to Communitech, the iconic Waterloo Region tech innovation centre, for every one job created in tech, five additional jobs are created across the rest of the economy.
“Google is a technology leader both globally and locally and the City of Kitchener is excited to see their continued growth,” said Cory Bluhm, Kitchener’s Executive Director, Economic Development. “Kitchener will continue to support investments such as these by ensuring our city attracts the best talent, supports job creation, and fosters the Innovation District’s thriving tech ecosystem.”