North of the border, same long game.
Mountains on one side, ocean on the other, and one of North America's top tech talent markets in between. Coaching by video today, in person by arrangement.
A border is just a line.
Honest version: I don't have much history in Vancouver yet. I will.
A border is just a line. Your long game doesn't stop at one.
The Vancouver career landscape.
Vancouver is Canada's third-largest tech talent hub, with roughly 150,000 tech workers in the metro. Big US tech offices, a deep games industry and homegrown software companies all hire here.
Amazon · Microsoft and more
US tech companies run large engineering offices here, and Amazon keeps adding roles along the Broadway Corridor.
Canada's largest game development hub
Studios, tools and the services around them make games one of the city's signature industries.
Clio and the scale-ups
Legal tech, fintech and SaaS companies founded and still headquartered in Vancouver.
An active venture scene
BC tech companies raised about CA$3.41 billion across 64+ deals in 2025.
Hiring teams here tend to be smaller and move faster than Seattle's. Applying early, with a clear story, matters.
Networking in Vancouver, done the long way.
Show up more than once. The second visit is where the real conversations start.
Pitch nights, ScaleUp Academy sessions and the Technology Impact Awards.Visit → Founders weekVancouver Startup Week
A week of community events each spring, ahead of Web Summit.Visit → Global conferenceWeb Summit Vancouver
The big one each May. The 2027 edition runs May 25 to 28.Visit → Event calendarVancouver Tech Journal
A local tech events calendar and newsletter.Visit →
Cost of living and housing.
Vancouver has some of the highest housing and office costs in Canada. Price your life in Canadian dollars before you compare offers.
Downtown, East Van, the North Shore or out along SkyTrain: transit access decides a lot of it.
Numbers change fast, so we link the live sources instead of printing figures that go stale.
Where to clear your head.
Garibaldi Provincial Park
About 64 km north. Overnight stays need a reservation.
Plan it →Howe Sound Crest Trail
29 km one way past The Lions. Some sections are very rugged.
Plan it →Golden Ears Provincial Park
A big day or an overnight east of the city.
Plan it →Basecamp Vancouver on the map.
Coaching runs by video. When Coach Leighty is in town, in-person conversations happen over coffee or on a trail. Book a call first.
Protect it. Live it. Visit it.
Listed as local resources, not partners or sponsors. Something closed or missing? Email mike@longgamelife.live.
Your long game has its own map.
Every Basecamp starts with the same trail markers. Yours might need a fabric store, a card shop, a maker space, a climbing gym or a quiet place to write. Tell us what belongs on this page and Coach Leighty adds the ones that fit.
What's open right now.
Go see it for real.
Wildlife, landmarks, trees and flowers, night sky and tide pools. Find one, tap it, and it gets a stamp.
Bald eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalusWhere to lookHuge winter gatherings near Squamish to the north.
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
Steller's jay
Cyanocitta stelleriWhere to lookBritish Columbia's provincial bird.
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
Snow goose
Anser caerulescensWhere to lookWinter flocks in the Fraser River delta.
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
Harbour seal
Phoca vitulinaWhere to lookAround Stanley Park and the harbour.
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
Black bear
Ursus americanusWhere to lookNorth Shore mountains. Carry spray on longer hikes.
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
Orca
Orcinus orcaWhere to lookSometimes in the Salish Sea. Watch from shore or with a responsible tour.
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
Stanley Park Seawall
DowntownGetting thereWalk or bike around the park on the water. Totem poles at Brockton Point.
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
Lynn Canyon Park
North Vancouver, about 25 minGetting thereA free suspension bridge over a forest canyon.
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
Capilano Suspension Bridge
North VancouverGetting thereThe famous swinging bridge, 70 meters above the river. Tickets needed.
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
Granville Island
Under the Granville BridgeGetting therePublic market, buskers and little ferries.
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
Grouse Mountain
North VancouverGetting thereGondola up to big city views, snow in winter.
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
Lighthouse Park
West VancouverGetting thereOld-growth forest trails out to a lighthouse on the rocks.
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
Western redcedar
Thuja plicataWhere to lookBritish Columbia's official tree, huge in Stanley Park.
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
Pacific dogwood
Cornus nuttalliiWhere to lookBC's floral emblem. White blooms in spring.
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
Douglas-fir
Pseudotsuga menziesiiWhere to lookGiant old trees in Lighthouse Park.
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
Bigleaf maple
Acer macrophyllumWhere to lookMossy giants with leaves bigger than your face.
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
Salmonberry
Rubus spectabilisWhere to lookPink flowers, then orange berries along creeks.
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
Western sword fern
Polystichum munitumWhere to lookThe big fern under the cedars.
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
Big Dipper and North Star
Ursa Major and PolarisWhere to lookFind the dipper, then follow the two stars at the end of its cup up to the North Star.
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
Orion the Hunter
Winter constellationWhere to lookLook south after dark for three bright stars in a row: Orion's belt.
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
Perseid meteors
Meteor shower, mid-August peakWhere to lookLie back after midnight around Aug 11 to 13. No telescope needed.
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
Geminid meteors
Meteor shower, mid-December peakWhere to lookOften the year's best shower. Bundle up around Dec 13 to 14.
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
Milky Way
Our home galaxyWhere to lookNeeds a moonless night away from town lights. Summer shows the brightest part. City lights are bright. Cypress Mountain lookouts are darker on clear nights.
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
Space Station flyover
International Space StationWhere to lookA bright, steady dot crossing the sky in a few minutes. NASA's Spot the Station app lists times.
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
Ochre sea star
Pisaster ochraceusWhere to lookOn rocks at Lighthouse Park and Whytecliff Park.
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
Aggregating anemone
Anthopleura elegantissimaWhere to lookSmall green anemones in colonies.
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
Purple shore crab
Hemigrapsus nudusWhere to lookUnder rocks. Put every rock back gently.
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
Moon snail
Neverita lewisiiWhere to lookBig round snail on sandy flats.
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
Leather star
Dermasterias imbricataWhere to lookSmooth, slippery sea star.
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
Pacific blue mussel
Mytilus trossulusWhere to lookBlue-black shells on rocks and docks.
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
Never feed wildlife, stay on trail, and follow posted closures. Hours, permits and seasons change, so check before you go. Months are a guide. Photos from Wikimedia Commons under the free licenses shown. Stamps stay on this device only.
Everybody has a long game. Borders don't change that.
Wherever you are in the Lower Mainland, start with a free 20-minute call.
Or email mike@longgamelife.live