Waterloo is sometimes referred to as the Silicon Valley of the North, thanks to the sheer volume of start-ups in the city. In fact, except for the original Silicon Valley in California, the Waterloo region has the highest density of start-ups in the world. Much of Waterloo’s tech prowess can be traced to the University of Waterloo, which is known for the strength of its engineering department and its large co-op education program, where students alternate between studying and working during their time in college. With a direct pipeline of well-trained students and graduates from the seven universities and colleges in Waterloo, the city quickly became a tech hub, home to both new and established tech companies. There’s definitely a college town vibe in parts of the city, but because of Waterloo’s strong tech economy, there’s plenty of opportunities for a sophisticated, grown-up lifestyle here as well.