The startup culture in Vancouver is not only thriving, it’s growing. It’s become a trend of it’s own that inspires, and encourages everyone to join in. People who move to the city see and experience this first hand, and realize that when surrounded by the energy here, there isn’t anything they can’t do. The world is your oyster in Vancouver, but how did that come to be? Why is Vancouver such a hot-bed of self employed creatives?

As part of an ongoing series, we’ll be meeting and interviewing creative entrepreneurs in Vancouver to see how and why they think this has happened, how they’ve benefited from it, and what makes them tick as an entrepreneur; we want to know, “Why Vancouver”.

This week we’ve got my gal pal Insa Burch joining the conversation! Insa is the main inspiration for this entire series (Thanks lady!). A fellow Brit, Insa moved out here at the beginning of the year and continuously remarked how much she loved Vancouver, how inspiring it was and how there were SO many people doing cool things.

I hadn’t really stopped to think about it before, but in talking to Insa I realized that she was right - there is a real energy when you immerse yourself into the creative community here - with a fresh set of eyes I could see how it’s pushed me along and allowed me to do what I do.

Photo by Alex R Elms

“I arrived in Vancouver on Norway Day this year (17th May!) with my boyfriend. We came here for a better quality of life and as a career move. It was a move I had been thinking about since I was 18; massively into snowboarding, I had just learnt about the skiing and snowboarding Mecca - Whistler. When I realized there was a city at the bottom of the mountains AND next to the ocean, and I could snowboard every winter without having to travel too far, I was sold. I have also had a slight obsession with North America since I was a kid. Something about the landscape and mish-mash of cultures drew me in.

It took 10 years, a huge recession and a "what-the-fuck-are-we-still-doing-in-the-uk-we-hate-it-here!" moment to realize maybe now was the time to go. We got our visas in January and arrived in May with just enough money to survive a month (maybe!), no jobs and not knowing anyone. When we landed, the first thought on the way to our temporary accommodation was "we're home!". I remember driving up Fraser Street, seeing the mountains ahead of me and being in total awe. In the first couple of weeks after arriving, I'd made loads of new friends as well as managing to find old friends from university who had found their way to here too.

The biggest surprise was just how positive, motivated and alive the creative industries are here. I've had the chance to meet many people who have just followed that thing their soul is telling them to do and are making it work so well here. Maybe there is something in the water, or maybe the climate, the fresh air and the abundance of nature is fuelling people to carve their own way in this world. Its brilliantly refreshing!

As for me- I am still figuring out what my path is but I've been so inspired by everyone I've met here and the incredible landscape around us. I do a bit of everything at the moment - I am a production assistant on a TV set, I'm a freelance video editor and motion graphics maker and I'm a yoga teacher [with] plans to start teaching yoga soon (watch this space!). The freedom and positive vibes are alive and well here, and I hope I get to stay long enough to see it flourish!"

Photo by Alex R Elms

Stay tuned for more interviews (1 every week!) with other creative “do-ers” on the topic of “Why Vancouver”, and in the meantime check out Insa’s top 5 for getting sh*t done:

1. Do you have a favourite cafe or local spot to work from?
I actually find cafe's quite distracting unless I'm doing life admin or working from my sketchbook! That being said, I discovered 49th and parallel on Main in the first few weeks of arriving here and I love it there! Good coffee, AMAZING doughnuts and good music. Also they don't seem to get too busy during the week. Plus it's cosy.

2. What's your favourite music to listen to whilst working?
Depends on the work! When I am editing I don't have any music as I'm too busy working on the sound of the edit! If I'm doing design work, I tend to have mellow music on- so anywhere from Dub to Hip-Hop to Classical Guitar. When I teach yoga I always have music to accompany the class. One of my favourite things to do is make playlists so unless I absolutely can't have music on, I will always have tunes playing.

3. What's your favourite thing about summer in Vancouver?
That's a hard question as I have only been here since May but there are so many things! The weather (yes, your summers are super hot compared to the UK!!!), escaping the city so easily and having such incredible landscape on your door step, that there's literally a street party every weekend, the super long days... The list is endless!

4. What's one thing you can't live without?
In the world?! I guess nature. That sounds cliché but going for a long walk, even just to the local park, is a massive de-stress, source of inspiration and soul replenisher. Plus you guys have Racoons and chipmunks and cool animals.

That and my skateboard!

5. What's the best advice you've ever been given as freelancer/ self employed designer?
Hmmmm I honestly don't think I've ever been given any advice. I don't think I'm a typical freelancer (does that exist?!) so I just tend to pootle along and do my best. I guess the best piece of general work advice was from my uni lecturer just before graduation. He told us to never stop the ball rolling. Even if you feel like your work is crap, if you stop working you might not start again. I guess it's dependent on your personality but it stuck with me!

If you liked this post, let us know! We want YOU to be part of our community - so send me a message (lucy@ateliervancouver.com) and you can join in on one our community events, or be part of this blog series! Join the conversation!