Vancouver gets a second Amazon office, 1,000 more jobs

VANCOUVER — U.S. bookseller turned massive retailer, Amazon, will open a second office in Vancouver.

Amazon is located in Seattle. A second office in Vancouver will create 1,000 additional jobs and the company expects to open the 150,000-square-foot location in two years.

“We’re so excited to be here and be growing,” said Jesse Dougherty, Amazon’s Vancouver site lead, during a Friday morning event at the company’s office. “It’s thrilling.”

The first office opened in 2015 and now employs more than 1,000 people, mostly software developers.

The new jobs will include tech and nontech jobs, such as software development, human resources and marketing roles.

While Dougherty expressed excitement about Amazon’s quick growth in his hometown, he remained mum on the possibility the company may choose Vancouver as the site for its planned second headquarters, dubbed HQ2. “I have no information on HQ2,” he said. An Amazon spokesperson added the announcement is separate from the second headquarters plans and there’s no connection between the two.

Still, local leaders hailed the news as a possible leg-up for Metro Vancouver’s bid.

B.C. Premier John Horgan called it “a great day” for the tech sector. “I believe it’s an opportunity for us to look forward again to other challenges and other opportunities presented by Amazon.”

Metro Vancouver and Langford, B.C., have submitted bids for Amazon’s new headquarters.

The premier touted the province’s post-secondary institutions and diversity as a big draw.

Mayor Gregor Robertson also hinted at an expanding relationship with the tech firm.

“We are thrilled to be an important city on Amazon’s world map and even more so going forward,” he said.

In addition to the two B.C. hopefuls, Waterloo-Toronto, Ottawa, Halifax, Hamilton, Calgary and several others submitted proposals earlier this month.