We have also been building momentum with filmmakers and festivals in the Bay Area and my team is based there. To not have access to any of that does create problems for a startup.
http://launchpartyhq.com/
http://bootup.ca/
http://barcamp.org/BarCampVancouver
http://www.newmediabc.com/
http://www.techvibes.com/index/vancouverThe really sad thing is that it cost a lot of hardworking Canadians their jobs, and the area where we lived jobs, especially well paying ones with employers that have a different view of employees than so many lemons that need to be squeezed are very hard to come by.
I'm married to a Canadian citizen so that might have helped. Instead of just trying to immigrate 'cold.'
That makes a huge difference actually.
We know people that were married that took years to get their paperwork through and they were also US->Canada.
We were coming in under the 'entrepreneurial' banner, about 750K invested in to the Canadian economy, 12" of paperwork including 5 years of bank statements for 3 companies and god knows what else.
The weird thing is that as long as we were still in Europe we were assured things would go fast, but after moving everything ground to a halt. Only to speed up again after we threw in the towel, but by then we really didn't feel like going back. We still have 2 100 acre farms and a skeleton business there (about to be wound down). A total waste of time and money, but the time spent there was quite enjoyable (even though the winters are terribly harsh).
Northern Ontario is absolutely gorgeous.
If it's too much of a hassle, I'm going to have to consider India.
If only. Seriously, that's a thing you really can not promise and I've personally seen the other side of that.
Please, you have no idea how many people have been 'recruited' as entrepreneurs entering Canada only to be delayed just about forever.
The proper procedure is to get your paperwork BEFORE you enter Canada, anything else is a complete nightmare, no matter what you qualifications and/or your connections.