[CoolGuySteve]

True, when I graduated Waterloo CS in 2007, I remember a sizable portion of the coop board postings were from Google, MS, and RIM, about 20-40 postings each most terms. The pay in Silicon Valley was maybe 25-50% higher than Toronto/Montreal/Waterloo and the weather didn't suck.

It would be interesting to see a breakdown from Waterloo of how many postings are in the US vs Canada and how large the companies are. Sort of like a litmus test for the tech scene there.

I'm also surprised at the lack of news from the Waterloo incubator, especially on this site.

[potatolicious]

> "The pay in Silicon Valley was maybe 25-50% higher than Toronto/Montreal/Waterloo and the weather didn't suck."

I live in SF currently, and recently accepted another job in NYC. Apples to apples, the pay in SF/SV is easily 100% higher than Toronto right now.

The gap is even higher in NYC (150%+), though of course, cost of living is going to eat up most of that. With the bubble heating up even more right now, I know people who are picking up comp packages 200%+ higher than the going rate in Canada.

There is simply no reason to go back - critical mass of talented, dedicated people. Interesting work. Ludicrous sums of money.

[jaems33]

"There is simply no reason to go back - critical mass of talented, dedicated people. Interesting work. Ludicrous sums of money."

For a while, I had trouble working because of health issues so I decided to work part-time while getting medicated and going through physio.

Much harder to do that in the U.S. without a sort of group insurance. The cost of subscribing to an individual plan with my condition would probably be through the roof.

However, because of socialized medicine in Canada, I had far less financial pressure on myself as my medicine and visits were obviously covered.

[natrius]

Once 2014 comes around, that won't be an issue in the U.S. anymore.