Narayan AmmachchiUS online retailing giant Amazon has set up a software development center in Toronto, where it will develop technology solutions in machine learning, cloud computing, digital advertising, and artificial intelligence.
The new 113,000 sq. ft. office in downtown Toronto will employ around 600 computer engineers, the company stated in a press release.
Amazon now has over 10,000 employees across Canada and has invested over CAD$3 billion (US$2.2 billion) in the country since 2011, including infrastructure and compensation.
The retailing giant already has more than 800 corporate employees in Toronto, primarily focused on research and software development.
“Toronto has a well-educated and diverse workforce, and there’s a real culture of innovation here,” said Tamir Bar-Haim, Amazon’s Toronto Site Lead and Head of Amazon Advertising in Canada.
The Toronto center is one of the company’s 18 tech hubs outside the company’s headquarters in Seattle, which together employ over 20,000 people building new products and services for customers.
Employees in Toronto will support the company’s global logistics and operations network by developing technology to enhance the delivery experience for customers.
Amazon has contributed greatly to build a skilled talent pool in Canada. Its ‘Career Choice’ program, for example, finances employee training, allowing them to pursue educational courses in in-demand fields, regardless of whether the skills are relevant to a career at Amazon.
Many of its employees in Canada are pursuing computer programming, according to its statement.
In addition, the ‘Amazon Future Engineer’ program recently donated CAD $525,000 (US$385,391) to Canada Learning Code to help inspire students to pursue careers in the technology sector.
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