A screengrab from the documentary film "Silicon Valley North" produced by Kelowna-based Render Digital Media.
Image Credit: YOUTUBE
October 20, 2019 - 12:00 PM
A new documentary shows how Kelowna’s tech scene is transforming the city from 'your grandma’s retirement plan' to 'every millennial tech entrepreneur’s dream.'
The documentary film Silicon Valley North produced by Kelowna-based Render Digital Media focuses on things like the multi-million dollar sale of Club Penguin and the creation of Accelerate Okanagan, according to a media release.
“There are some BIG things happening in the Okanagan,” Raghwa Gopal, president and CEO of Innovate B.C. and former CEO of Accelerate Okanagan, said in the release. “The Okanagan tech sector is the fastest-growing tech sector in the country – growing at a rate of 15 per cent, year over year.”
Large corporations like Rogers Communications have taken note. The telecommunications company is opening a support centre in Kelowna with 350 employees.
“This growth has prompted a major shift in the economic infrastructure of Kelowna,” the release states. “Downtown Kelowna now boasts trendy restaurants, upscale bars, a budding craft beer scene and an eight-storey publicly-funded innovation centre for early-stage tech companies.”
The documentary looks at the agents behind the growth, the challenges that have been created and takes a look into the future.
The 30-minute film can also be viewed as a free on-demand download on TELUS Optik TV.
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