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What the Heck is the HTML500 and why is it awesome?

"What the Heck is" introduces you to Vancouver organizations and causes you might not have yet heard about, written from an insider's point of view by people working within them. View the archive HERE .

"What the Heck is" introduces you to Vancouver organizations and causes you might not have yet heard about, written from an insider's point of view by people working within them. View the archive HERE.

html500

Words: Amie Rotherham

What the heck the is the HTML500?

Vancouver is known for its sports teams, natural beauty, livability, and many other things that make us proud to live in Vancouver, but one thing that is not often discussed is Vancouver's tech industry. The HTML500 is hoping to change all that. The largest event of its kind in B.C.'s history, and possibly even Canada's, is a free, one-day learn-to-code event that is open to 500 participants.

Vancouver is a top 10 global startup ecosystem, and its tech industry is creating some incredibly exciting tech companies like Hootsuite, Unbounce, and Axiom Zen that are leaders in their space. In turn companies like these are leading the way for the 100+ startups that have emerged in Vancouver most of which are providing the most exciting job opportunities in the city's market.

Many of these jobs are going unfilled because of a global talent shortage. The tech industry is growing so rapidly, that there are not enough developers to help build the technology once the groundwork has already been laid.

Not only are developers in short supply, but coding is no longer an exclusive club where only hackers and those stereotypical "computer nerds" know anything about building a website. Today, coding is becoming a skill that is listed on the resumes of marketers, sales people, and many other positions. This means that in order to stay competitive in the changing (and challenging) job market, it's becoming more and more valuable to know how to code.

That's where the HTML500 comes in. On Saturday, February 1st, 500 people will descend upon Rocky Mountaineer Station and will spend the day learning the basics of HTML and CSS. Upon completion of the event, participants who didn’t previously know how to code will have built their very own landing page.

Gold sponsors Hootsuite, TELUS, The B.C. Innovation Council (BCIC), and the Vancouver Economic Commission, along with 46 other tech-focused companies, have partnered with Lighthouse Labs and the HTML500 in order to help demonstrate the community’s commitment to building a global technology hub in Vancouver. These companies will be on hand throughout the day to aid in teaching coding basics to the 500 participants.

As if you needed more convincing of how coding is a rising skill, British Columbia’s Minister of Technology, Innovation, and Citizens’ Services, Andrew Wilkinson along with City Councillor Andrea Reimer will open the event on Saturday morning. The presence of Wilkinson and Reimer at the HTML500 shows that they recognize the direct link between the tech sector and the success of B.C and Vancouver’s economy.

The waitlist for the event is nearly 1000 strong, but that doesn’t mean it’s too late. Sign up HERE to get your name on the list, and organizers will be sending out material to help everyone learn to code!