Richmond Welcomes Microsoft Canada Development Centre
26 July 2007
The City of Richmond, British Columbia is pleased to announce it has been chosen as the home for the new Microsoft Canada Development Centre.
Scheduled to open in the early fall, the Microsoft Canada Development Centre will focus on software development and will eventually employ hundreds of highly-skilled workers from around the world. Earlier this month, Microsoft Corp. announced its intentions to establish a centre in the Greater Vancouver area. Microsoft has now reached an agreement to lease two buildings totalling 80,000 square feet located in the Crestwood Corporate Centre, which is owned and operated by Bentall Capital, and is acknowledged as one of the leading business parks in the Greater Vancouver area.
“We are extremely pleased to welcome Microsoft to Richmond,” said Mayor Malcolm Brodie. “Microsoft is recognized as a worldwide leader and they are a perfect match with Richmond’s vision and own commitment to excellence.”
“This is an exciting opportunity for the Crestwood Corporate Centre,” said Doug Reid, Senior Vice President, Bentall Capital L.P. “We have a world-class facility in Richmond, and we are very proud to be working with Microsoft to establish a Canadian software development centre and support its growth in the coming years.”
Richmond is already home to some of Canada’s leading international technology firms including MDA, Sierra Wireless, Sage Software, Ventyx and McKeeson Medical Imaging. The addition of Microsoft will ensure Richmond continues to develop as a nexus for technology industries in Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest.
“The new Microsoft Canada Development Centre in Richmond will be one of only a handful of development centres outside the company’s Redmond, Wash., headquarters,” said Phil Sorgen, President of Microsoft Canada. “Richmond and the Greater Vancouver area are a global gateway with a diverse population. In addition, the close proximity to Microsoft’s corporate offices in Redmond will allow for close collaboration with other development efforts. We are tremendously excited about this new facility and look forward to setting up our new office in Richmond.”
In addition to location and access to global markets, Microsoft cited quality of life for its employees as an important consideration in its selection of Richmond. A modern city with a full array of recreational, cultural and commercial amenities, Richmond was recently named as “Canada’s Healthiest City” by Canadian Living magazine and is one of Canada’s most culturally diverse cities.
The City quickly assembled a team to work with Microsoft throughout its process of choosing a location within the Greater Vancouver area for the new facility. City staff will now focus on working with Microsoft to ensure the new facility is in operation as soon as possible.
About Richmond
Richmond, British Columbia is an economically thriving and culturally diverse city of 185,000 on the West Coast of Canada. A major regional commercial centre, it is home to Vancouver International Airport, one of the region’s major seaport facilities and is just 25 minutes from the US/Canada Border. Located on 17 islands in the mouth of the Fraser River, Richmond has carefully preserved its natural environment and approximately half of the City’s total area remains as farmland, parkland and other green space. To learn more about Richmond, visit: www.richmond.ca
About Microsoft Canada
Established in 1985, Microsoft Canada Co. is the Canadian subsidiary of Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq “MSFT”), the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. Microsoft Canada provides nationwide sales, marketing, consulting and local support services in both French and English. Microsoft Canada is headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, with MSN.CA offices located in Toronto and eight regional offices across the country. The company supports local communities across Canada by creating innovative technology and partnerships that help people realize their full potential.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
