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In this episode of Canada Now, I’m joined by William Johnson — Vice President of Strategy & Operations at Overstory Media Group and founder of Vancouver Tech Journal — for a wide-ranging conversation on what’s really shifting in Canada’s innovation ecosystem in 2026.

We unpack the current pragmatic reset in venture and startups, why Vancouver’s tech community feels both exciting and precarious, and why the next era of innovation may be defined less by hype… and more by trust, niche communities, and offline connection.

William shares a powerful thesis: as AI begins creating and distributing more of what we see online, the real moat for founders, brands, and media may be building in the real world — turning audiences into communities through meaningful convening.

If you care about Canadian tech, media, storytelling, or the future of community-driven business, this one is a must-listen.

We cover:

• Vancouver’s tech evolution since the last major growth wave
• What’s changing in venture capital and early-stage investing
• Why “community is the moat” in 2026
• The shifting media landscape in Canada (and the distribution challenge)
• AI, the “dead internet” theory, and what it means for creators
• Why micro-events and offline convening are becoming the new edge

Connect with William on LinkedIn, and follow his work through Overstory Media Group and Vancouver Tech Journal.

Episode feature article and show notes coming very soon (subscribe to https://canadanow.beehiiv.com for updates).

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In this episode of Canada Now, I’m joined by Matias Marquez, founder and CEO of ethos — a modern loyalty and membership platform helping brands move beyond transactional points and discounts toward something far more powerful: community, participation, and real customer connection.

Built for Shopify merchants and modern e-commerce brands, ethos is part of a new wave of tools helping online retailers turn customers into engaged communities — not just repeat buyers.

Matias previously founded Buyatab, a global digital gift card company acquired in 2019, and he’s now deep into his second act — building tools that help brands create loyalty programs that feel more like belonging than marketing.

We talk about how loyalty is evolving into a true customer engagement operating system, why user-generated content and experience-led memberships are becoming core growth levers, and how the best brands are turning loyalty into more than retention — even into a channel for new customer acquisition.

We also zoom out to the Canadian founder landscape: what it feels like to build from Canada right now, the headwinds entrepreneurs are facing, and why sustainable, community-led growth may be one of Canada’s greatest strengths.

If you’re building a brand, running an e-commerce business, or thinking about the future of customer relationships — this one’s for you.

In this episode, we cover:

• Loyalty beyond points: building brands people belong to
• Community-led customer engagement and modern membership strategy
• UGC, authenticity, and why real content outperforms traditional ads
• Loyalty as acquisition — not just retention
• Access, experiences, and the future of brand community
• How Shopify brands are using loyalty and memberships to drive growth
• Founder lessons from a second-time entrepreneur
• Building and scaling from Canada with a global mindset

Episode feature article and show notes coming very soon (subscribe to https://canadanow.beehiiv.com for updates).

Find Matias and Ethos:
https://linkedin.com/in/matiaspmarquez
https://heyethos.com

Love the show? Help it grow!
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Follow Canada Now for bold ideas and real conversations shaping what’s next in Canada. 🇨🇦
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→ YouTube
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Meet the host, Ashley Smith! 🙋‍♀️
→ Ashley's links (social, website, + more)

Send a text to Canada Now! 💬

We’re living through a moment of real uncertainty — geopolitically, economically, and technologically. The old playbooks are breaking down. The rules are shifting. And leaders are being asked to make high-stakes decisions without a clear map.

In this episode, I sit down with veteran executive and board leader Darlene Hyde to explore how governance, leadership, and decision-making must evolve in times of disruption.

Drawing on decades of experience across major institutions and sectors — including housing, finance, transit, telecommunications, and public interest governance — Darlene shares practical insight on how boards and executives can move beyond traditional oversight toward foresight and insight.

We discuss:

• Why today’s leaders must “read the world,” not just the room
• Governance in a period of geopolitical and economic rupture
• How boards should think about risk when uncertainty is the baseline
• Why silence and over-compliance can create hidden danger
• The growing importance of diverse and non-homogeneous boards
• Speaking up at the board table — especially for newer directors
• Technology and AI literacy as a shared responsibility — not a specialist silo
• Calculated risk vs. inaction risk
• Housing, infrastructure, and transit as long-term economic multipliers
• Where Darlene sees opportunity — and why she remains optimistic about the next generation of leaders

This is a timely, big-picture conversation about leadership under pressure — and how organizations can stay principled, pragmatic, and forward-looking when the environment is shifting fast.

Connect with Darlene Hyde on LinkedIn (link in show notes and feature article).

If you value thoughtful, future-focused conversations about leadership and decision-making, follow and share the show.

Love the show? Help it grow!
→ Subscribe, Review, and Share 🍁

Follow Canada Now for bold ideas and real conversations shaping what’s next in Canada. 🇨🇦
→ All Links (including socials)
→ YouTube
→ Canada Now Newsletter (subscriber perks coming soon!)

Meet the host, Ashley Smith! 🙋‍♀️
→ Ashley's links (social, website, + more)