Moving to a New Country is Lonely. Community Helps.
When I landed in Vancouver in 2021, I knew exactly two people. My network was back in India. My LinkedIn connections were 10,000 km away. I had an MBA from UBC starting soon, but I still felt like I was starting from scratch professionally.
Here's what I learned quickly: in Canada, especially in tech, your network matters. Not for getting jobs directly—I'll get to that—but for understanding the market, learning what companies are actually like from the inside, and finding people who share your interests and challenges.
Over the past 4 years, two communities have consistently been my go-to for meeting fellow PMs, learning what's happening in the Vancouver tech scene, and building genuine relationships. I've attended countless events from both, and I genuinely think they're the first thing any PM new to BC should check out.
- Product BC (productbc.ca) - 4,000+ member Slack community with regular events, mentorship programs, and roundtables
- ProductCamp Vancouver (productcampvancouver.org) - Annual unconference event where PMs share knowledge and network
- Both are free or low-cost to join
- Both are great for building connections (not for job hunting directly)
- Events sell out fast—get on their radar early
This is Not About Finding Jobs
Don't go to these events looking for jobs. Seriously. If you show up and immediately start asking people "are you hiring?" or handing out resumes, you're doing it wrong—and you'll leave disappointed.
I've seen too many people treat networking events like job fairs. They scan name tags for hiring managers, rush through conversations, and leave without any meaningful connections. Then they complain that "networking doesn't work."
Here's what actually works: show up with curiosity, not desperation. Ask people what they're working on. Learn about their challenges. Share your own experiences. Be genuinely interested in the person, not just what they can do for you.
Over time, these connections compound. The PM you chatted with about AI agents might mention your name when their company is hiring months later. The person you helped with a product question might become a close friend who refers you to opportunities. But none of that happens if you're transactional from day one.
My goal at every event: Have 2-3 genuine conversations. Learn something new. Maybe exchange LinkedIn connections with people I actually want to stay in touch with. That's it.
Product BC
Product BC
productbc.ca →Product BC is the largest product management community in British Columbia. Their tagline is "Shape. Build. Connect." and that's exactly what they do—they bring PMs together to learn, share, and grow.
What I love about Product BC is that it's not just about events. It's a living, breathing community. Their Slack workspace has 4,000+ members actively discussing everything from PM interview prep to "how do you handle difficult stakeholders?" to job postings.
What They Offer:
- Slack Community (4,000+ members) - Daily discussions, job postings, advice, and connections. This is where the real value is.
- Regular Events - Workshops, panels, and learning sessions with local and international PM leaders
- Mentorship Program - Pairs experienced PMs with those looking for guidance. Great for career switchers.
- Roundtables - For PM Directors and VPs to discuss leadership challenges
- Jobs Board - Focused on BC-based PM roles
My experience: I've attended probably 15+ Product BC events over the years. The quality varies—some are incredible, some are just okay—but the community itself is consistently valuable. I've met PMs from Amazon, Microsoft, Shopify, and tons of Vancouver startups through Product BC events.
Pro tip: Join the Slack first. That's where you'll get the most ongoing value. Events are great, but the Slack is where relationships actually develop.
ProductCamp Vancouver
ProductCamp Vancouver
productcampvancouver.org →ProductCamp is a different beast. It's an annual "unconference"—meaning there's no fixed agenda. Attendees propose and vote on sessions the morning of the event. It sounds chaotic, but it actually works beautifully.
The format means you get topics that people actually care about, presented by practitioners who live these challenges every day. It's not polished keynotes from people trying to sell you something—it's real PMs sharing real experiences.
Key Details:
- When: Usually in May (2026 is May 9th at UBC Robson Square)
- Format: Unconference—attendees propose and vote on sessions
- Cost: FREE (yes, really)
- Who attends: PMs, designers, marketers from across Vancouver
- Includes: Keynotes, breakout sessions, networking, afterparty
My experience: ProductCamp is my favorite event of the year. It's intense—a full day of learning and talking—but you leave energized. I've had some of my best PM conversations at ProductCamp, the kind where you lose track of time because you're so deep into a product problem.
Warning: Tickets go FAST. Like, sell-out-in-hours fast. Get on their mailing list early and register the moment tickets drop. I've seen people miss it because they waited a day.
Join Both Communities
Start with Product BC's Slack, then mark your calendar for ProductCamp.
Both are free or low-cost. I have no affiliation with either.
Why These Communities Are Worth Your Time
1. Understanding the Local Market
Vancouver's tech scene is different from SF, Seattle, or Toronto. The companies are different. The culture is different. The salary expectations are different. These communities help you understand the nuances—what companies are growing, who's hiring, what skills are in demand locally.
When I was job hunting, conversations at Product BC events gave me insights I couldn't have gotten from LinkedIn or job boards. "Oh, that company looks good on paper, but their PM org is struggling." "This startup is under the radar but doing interesting AI work." Real intelligence.
2. Finding Your Niche
At these events, you'll meet PMs from every domain—fintech, healthtech, e-commerce, developer tools, AI, gaming. It helps you figure out where you fit and where you want to go.
You might discover there's a thriving group of AI PMs in Vancouver. Or that the healthcare tech scene is bigger than you thought. Or that there are others trying to break into PM from your same background.
3. Learning What Everyone's Working On
One of my favorite things about these events is just hearing what problems people are solving. "We're building RAG systems for legal documents." "We're trying to reduce checkout abandonment by 20%." "We're figuring out AI agent evaluation."
It keeps you connected to what's actually happening in product work, not just what you read in newsletters or blog posts.
4. Building Long-Term Relationships
The best connections I've made aren't from one event—they're from seeing the same people multiple times. You chat at one event, connect on LinkedIn, bump into each other at another event, grab coffee eventually.
That's how real professional relationships form. And those relationships pay dividends for years—referrals, advice, collaboration, and genuine friendship.
How to Get the Most Out of These Communities
Before an Event
- Register early—especially for ProductCamp (tickets vanish)
- Check who else is attending if there's a public list
- Have a simple answer ready for "what do you do?"
- Don't prepare a pitch—prepare genuine curiosity
During an Event
- Arrive early—easier to start conversations when it's less crowded
- Ask people what they're working on and what they're struggling with
- If a conversation is great, suggest grabbing coffee sometime
- Don't try to meet everyone—2-3 good conversations beats 20 surface-level ones
- Take mental notes (or actual notes) about people you want to follow up with
After an Event
- Send LinkedIn requests within 24 hours while you're still fresh in people's minds
- Include a personal note referencing your conversation
- Actually follow through on coffee chats you suggested
- Stay active in the Slack—that's where relationships continue
How These Communities Helped Me
From Outsider to Insider
When I moved to Canada, I felt like an outsider looking in. I didn't know the companies. I didn't know the people. I didn't understand the unwritten rules of the Vancouver tech scene.
Four years later, I feel like I belong. When someone mentions a company, I probably know someone who works there. When a PM role opens up, I usually hear about it from a friend before it's posted. When I'm wrestling with a product problem, I have people I can text for advice.
That transformation didn't happen through applying to jobs or optimizing my LinkedIn. It happened through showing up, being curious, and building genuine relationships over time.
Product BC and ProductCamp were a huge part of that. They gave me a starting point, a community to plug into, a way to accelerate the relationship-building that otherwise takes years.
If you're new to BC—whether you just moved to Canada or you're switching into product management—I genuinely think these communities are the best place to start. Not for jobs. For belonging.
Ready to Connect?
Join the community. Show up to events. Be curious about people. The rest follows.
Not affiliated with either community. Just 4 years of personal experience recommending what's worked for me.