EDITOR'S DESK

Turning 45 never felt so good

At the Bctech Summit in March, I strolled through an exhibition hall brimming with ingenuity. The technology companies that gathered at the Vancouver Convention Centre represent British Columbia's future. OK, but how many of them will still be around in 45 years?

By any standard, staying in the game that long is an impressive achievement. I'm proud to helm the magazine that began its life in 1972 as Business in B.C., under founding editor and publisher Joe Martin. What's now called Bcbusiness changed owners twice during the 1980s, getting picked up by Jim Pattison before Peter Legge and Neil Soper bought it in 1990. As part of Canada Wide Media Ltd., it's become an indispensable resource for anyone who cares about business in this province.

When Martin kicked things off 45 years ago, B.C. was home to just 2.3 million people, less than half its current population. The average Vancouver-area home went for about $31,500, according to the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver, less than three times typical family income. Back then, no one could have foreseen the events that would transform the province and how it does business, from Expo 86 to the rise of the Internet. The future has a funny way of not turning out as expected. (Remember peak oil, the Segway—and a Hillary Clinton presidency?)

That didn't stop us from looking ahead in “Edge of Tomorrow.” Besides breaking new ground in fields like mixed reality and artificial intelligence, the 10 companies highlighted starting on page 31 are tackling climate change and environmental degradation. A special thank you to one of them, Finger Food Studios Inc., for providing the location and Microsoft Hololens glasses for the cover shoot. To mark our anniversary, this story includes a timeline—contributed by my predecessor, Matt O'grady—that follows B.C. business through five decades.

We also look forward in Andrew Findlay's “Clean Break” (p.44), which profiles six local alternative energy plays. Fossil fuels remain crucial to the Canadian economy, but watch for renewables to keep gaining market share. That trend will be good for B.C., home to hundreds of cleantech outfits, especially if talents like hydrogen power champion and recent 30 Under 30 winner Simon Pickup can export their products and services.

On that note, I'm optimistic about tomorrow. I couldn't ask for a better team, or a better place to edit a business magazine. Bring on the next 45 years.