From Dot-Com Crash to AI Layoffs:

From Dot-Com Crash to AI Layoffs: What’s Really Happening in Vancouver?

By Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

History is repeating itself — and this time, it's hitting Vancouver hard.

The Dot-Com Crash 2.0?

In the early 2000s, the dot-com bubble burst after a frenzy of overinvestment in tech startups. Thousands of workers lost jobs as companies folded overnight.

Fast forward to 2024–2025, and we're seeing the same cycle — but with AI leading the charge. Massive tech layoffs at companies like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon have affected tens of thousands of workers globally. Even software engineers, once considered “safe,” are being let go.

Vancouver’s Tech Scene Feels the Impact

As Canada's “Silicon Valley North,” Vancouver is caught in this tech quake. Companies like Thinkific and Appnovation have laid off significant portions of their staff. Local engineers, developers, and creative professionals are feeling anxious, especially within Vancouver’s highly diverse tech workforce, which includes many South Asian, East Asian, and international professionals.

What’s worse? It’s not just tech. Universities, retail stores, and community programs are also facing cuts, painting a wider picture of economic instability.

What This Means: Prepare, Reflect, Rebuild

This moment is about more than just job losses — it’s a wake-up call. Many people are realizing that chasing corporate stability may not offer the security it once promised. So what can we do?

• Build Local Resilience: Strengthen community ties, share resources, and support one another.
• Return to the Land: Create gardens, learn to grow food, build with natural materials — think Indigenous Green, not Corporate Green.
• Rethink Our Values: Ask yourself — what do I really need to live well? Is the endless hustle worth it?
• Prepare for Change: Diversify skills, learn to live with less, and stay informed.

The Big Picture

These layoffs and economic shifts are not just temporary hiccups — they’re signals. We’re entering a time of transformation, where people must look beyond money and tech for stability. We can draw inspiration from Indigenous wisdom, regenerative practices, and community-driven solutions.

Let’s support each other and choose a path that respects people, the Earth, and future generations.

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