Equinix defines itself as “the world’s digital infrastructure company.”
Founded in California more than a quarter-century ago, Equinix has developed a technology platform that enables organizations to scale their digital presence, and interconnect with global partners and possibilities – in simple terms, they are like the home of the internet, and connect us to the online world.
Although a thoroughbred American, Equinix has long had a footprint North of the border.
In 2015, the firm announced the launch of a data centre in Toronto, and from there, their expansion took off. In 2020, the company acquired 13 data centres from Bell for approximately $1 billion, establishing themselves coast-to-coast. Then, in 2022 the company further announced a series of product expansions to empower Canadian businesses, including a major bolstering of tech and services in Vancouver and the Okanagan.
This commitment to Canada’s digital success is underscored by Andrew Eppich, Equinix’s managing director for Canada, who has stated: “We have continued to invest in bringing the best of Equinix to Canadian businesses, as well as amplifying the best of Canada to the world.”
Last year, Canadian expansion plans ramped up as Equinix unveiled a state-of-the-art International Business Exchange data centre (or IBX as they refer to them) in Montreal.
“Montreal is a key economic and IT market, with a thriving and innovative ecosystem known for its diversity, creativity and collaborative spirit,” Eppich said in April. “Expanding our footprint there offers companies our best-in-class data centre design with access to connectivity both globally and within Canada, so they can advance on their digital infrastructure and innovation journey at home and abroad.”
But perhaps the most critical market for Equinix in Canada is Toronto, the nation’s largest tech and finance hub.
“Toronto is a global innovation hub for AI, a leading financial centre, and one of the biggest tech markets in the world,” Eppich said in May 2023, when Equinix integrated with AWS to improve services for Canadian customers such as Blackberry, stating that the investment “will provide Canadian businesses a digital on-ramp to the cloud to help bring the best of Canada to the world.”
In October, Eppich reiterated the strength of Canada’s various tech hubs, from powerhouses like Toronto and Vancouver to smaller but still potent regions like Calgary and Edmonton. He noted how each region boasts specialties, such as Vancouver’s contribution to film and visual effects, and Calgary’s innovation around oil, gas, and geothermal resources.
Toronto, Eppich said, is a key component of Canada’s “digital corridor,” connecting the country to global finance centres New York and London. And it is in Toronto where Equinix will be hiring to expand its Canadian team: the company intends to signal a desire for growth at February’s hotly anticipated Techtalent.ca Job Fair powered by Lighthouse Labs—the first in-person affair since 2020.
More than 500 companies have used Tech Talent Canada’s job fairs to hire top talent in-person and virtually, says Rob Lewis, founder of Techtalent.ca.
He notes that his famous job fairs are popular because they offer a unique twist: “Hiring companies showcase their employer brand and pitch to a crowd of skilled candidates on why they’re the best place to around.”
This allows talent to align their values with the right company in order to forge an epic career path, according to Lewis, who will be present at the Toronto event alongside Equinix and an array of other expanding organizations.
