Official Google Canada Blog

Helping 600,000 Canadian businesses transform during the pandemic

Wednesday, October 13, 2021

Before COVID-19, making the transition to digital was aspirational for most business owners. When the pandemic upended all of our lives, it became essential. And now, for companies, it is existential. To explore how Google products helped Canadian workers and businesses in 2020, Google commissioned independent consultancy Public First to take a look.

How Public First calculates Google’s economic impact:

Leveraging methodology from previous Google impact reports from markets including Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom, independent consultancy Public First used traditional economic modelling built upon third-party estimates of Google Canada’s market size and standard returns on investment (ROI) to measure the economic activity driven by Google’s core products, including Google Search, Google Ads, AdSense, Android and YouTube. You can see a fuller explanation of this methodology at https://googleimpactcanada.publicfirst.co/canada/#appendix

The new indoor, wired Nest Cam is available today

Tuesday, October 5, 2021

The new Nest Cam has 10 times more machine learning power than the previous generation, enhanced HDR video quality, and processes events on-device, which makes for more accurate and timely alerts. It can detect people, animals and vehicles, only sending you alerts for what matters most. We’ve also included three hours of event video history and the ability to create Activity Zones (which help the camera focus on the important places in your home). All of this works without the need for a subscription. Nest Cam also has local storage backup to help with reliability: If your Wi-Fi goes out, it will keep recording and upload your clips to the Google Home app when service returns.
Nest Cam is built specifically for the Google Home app, where you can view and control your camera anytime. You can choose which notifications you want to receive, set up Activity Zones and view your whole home history across your compatible devices, like displays, thermostats and new Nest Cams and Doorbell. A Nest Aware subscription expands your event video history to 30 days, and a Nest Aware Plus subscription provides 60 days of event video history and 10 days of continuous video history. Both subscriptions also come with Familiar Face detection to help your cameras identify people you know.
We designed this Nest Cam for the many ways you can use an indoor camera. To show you just how versatile it is, here’s how members of the Nest team are using it in their own homes.

Isabelle Olsson — Director, Design for HomeI installed my Nest Cam (in Sand with a wooden base) in my kids playroom. It naturally fits in with my wood shelving, and for the first time, I was comfortable installing a security camera in our most precious space. Being able to check in on my kids without interrupting their play is such a great, delightful experience.

Félix Senepin — Product Manager I have my Nest Cam set up in my living room so I can keep an eye on my dog when I'm out or in a different room. She finds the sofas to be quite comfy…even though she's not allowed on all of them. So I created Activity Zones on those sofas, and set up alerts for animal detection there. Whenever she decides to take a nap in the wrong spot, I can talk to her through the camera. I'm glad the cable it comes with is pretty long so I could put it high on a piece of furniture and get the whole room in the field of view.

Sung Bai — Industrial Design Manager I think about two things when I place an indoor, wired camera in my home: Is there an area that needs to be monitored and protected? And is there a place where the camera will fit naturally with everything else in the room? We have our Nest Cams in the office, living room and main bedroom. They’re on a shelf in the office, side table in the bedroom and we move the one in the living room around. The cameras all face doors or windows and handle backlighting well, so the video is always easy to view. Plus, we enabled Home & Away Routines so they turn off when we’re home.

JJ Nold — User Experience Design Manager We placed our Nest Cam in the entryway of our new home. We mainly use it to keep an eye on who is coming and going when we're away, but it's also a great way to keep track of what our three cats (Bacon, Mac and Cheddar) are up to.

George Hines — Software Engineer I’ve placed my Nest Cam in my favorite part of my home: It keeps a watchful eye on my "Evil Mad Scientist's lair" (aka, the garage). It’s reassuring to know it’s on the job 24/7, making sure no one is messing with my toys (aka, vintage bicycles and computers, which I fix up in my spare time) — and it can see clearly out the open garage door.

Rue Song — User Experience DesignerWe placed our Nest Cam Indoor in our living room to keep an eye on our dog when we’re out. We can see through the app that she mostly just naps, but occasionally we’ll use the built-in speaker and mic to remind her that our baby’s stuffed animals aren’t her toys. It works every time!

Andy Hengel — Product Manager I put one of my Nest Cams inside my workshop and installed it with the built-in wall mount. A few family members have a key, so it's nice to know when tools go walking out the door. It also provides extra security since the workshop backs up to an alley, but so far the only intruder has been a wayward squirrel when I left the door open one afternoon.
Make the new indoor wired Nest Cam your own — it’s available today on the Google Store and at select retailers.

Nest Cam with floodlight is a smarter floodlight for your home

Tuesday, October 5, 2021

So when Nest set out to build our first connected floodlight, we wanted to integrate the smarts in our new Nest Cam to create a more helpful floodlight camera — one that turns on when activity is detected, and can be easily installed and replace an existing exterior light fixture.
Meet Nest Cam with floodlight, available today for $379.99. It’s designed to work exclusively with the Google Home app, so you can check on home or control your floodlight from anywhere. Here are 11 things to love about the newest nocturnal Nest Cam.

Two of a kind: Nest Cam with floodlight combines our newest camera technology with a high-quality LED floodlight. The device is hardwired for continuous power and provides the option for 24/7 continuous video history (with a Nest Aware Plus subscription).
A smarter floodlight: The floodlight is controlled by the smarts of the camera (rather than motion sensors alone) to light up the scene and capture important activity. Instead of the light switching on and off for activity that you don’t care about, you can select the types of activity that your floodlight turns on for, such as when a person, animal, or vehicle is detected. For example, set an activity zone so it lights your way when you pull into your driveway.
Replace your existing lighting: Install Nest Cam with floodlight where you have an existing exterior light or wiring. It comes with what you need to upgrade your existing exterior light right in the box. We’ve created a step-by-step video as part of the setup process in the Google Home app to make installation a breeze, but you can also enlist the help of a Pro if you need a hand.
Built for the Google Home app: Like the new battery-powered Nest Cam and Doorbell, Nest Cam with floodlight is built exclusively for the Google Home app. In the app, you can adjust the brightness of the lights, turn the floodlight on and off manually or control what kind of events turn the floodlight on.
Enhanced by Nest Cam features: Nest Cam has built-in intelligence and on-device processing, meaning more features are available right out of the box that used to require a subscription — for example, animal, vehicle and person detection and the ability to create Activity Zones. It also has local storage fallback, meaning the camera will record up to an hour of footage (about a week’s worth of events) on-device if the power or internet go out, and when service returns you’ll be able to view your clips in the Google Home app.
Your extra set of eyes: In addition to being powered by Nest Cam’s intelligence and delivering 1080p video with HDR, Nest Cam with floodlight is equipped with 180-degree motion sensors to detect movement. It’s optimized to give you a clear view to be your extra set of eyes where you need them. The floodlights also illuminate the scene, which makes for a clearer image in the dark.
Ambient light you can control: At 2400 lumens, the lights are bright enough to illuminate your patio or front yard in the middle of the night. In the Google Home app, Nest Cam with floodlight can be controlled like a smart light: adjust brightness, motion sensitivity, what the lights turn on for and how long — or manually turn the lights on or off with just a tap.
Set up routines: Nest Cam with floodlight works with your other Nest speakers and displays, so you can control the lights with your voice. In the Google Home app, schedule when your floodlight turns on and set up custom routines either by time or voice command. For example, turn on your floodlight when you say “turn on the backyard light,” or at 9:00 p.m. every night.
A floodlight you can count on: With an IP54 rating, Nest Cam with floodlight can withstand the elements so it’s there for you when you need it the most. And similar to our other new cameras, it also requires a Google account, which provides added protection like security checkup, suspicious activity detection and two-step verification.
Add a Nest Aware subscription: With a Nest Aware subscription, you can extend your video history from three hours of event video history (comes with the device, no subscription required!) to 30 days of event video history and add familiar face detection. A Nest Aware Plus subscription extends to 60 days of event video history and 10 days of 24/7 continuous video history.
Thoughtful, durable design: Made of durable, high-quality materials and a sleek, white design inspired by the lighting we use for the inside of our homes, Nest Cam with floodlight was designed to complement your home’s unique character, rather than looking like high-tech security gear.

If you’re interested in learning more about the new Nest Cam with floodlight, visit the Google Store. Now available to purchase in stores at Best Buy, The Home Depot, Staples, Walmart and Bed Bath and Beyond. Available online only at The Source, Lowes, Rona, Costco and Reno Depot.

Don’t stop the music!

Monday, October 4, 2021

Introducing a new YouTube Music app listening experience

introducing personalized mixes for your everyday moods and momentsbringing you the most popular music from every part of the globe
Today, we’re excited to announce that we will begin rolling out background listening to music listeners in Canada, free of charge, beginning on November 3, 2021! Canadian music lovers using the YouTube Music app will be the first to enjoy this new feature before it becomes available to listeners around the world.
This update will allow people to continue listening to YouTube Music while using other apps or when your screen is off. Within this, you can engage with the YouTube Music app through an exciting ad-supported, radio-like experience featuring the artists, songs, and albums you love, plus personalized mixes on shuffle without the hassle of having to keep the YouTube Music app open on your device.
Here’s what you’ll get:

Listen to your music in the background: You can now keep your music playing after minimizing the app or turning off your screen. Go on a run, answer a text, or check some emails without stopping your music.
Enjoy continuous stations and shuffle: Dive into this new playback experience with continuous radio stations based on your favorite songs, albums, and artists. Further your listening through personalized playlists on shuffle, like Mixed for you on the Home tab, which features mixes inspired by your ever-changing music ecosystem. If you've uploaded songs on the YouTube Music app, you can continue to play them anytime, and you can also keep streaming music and videos, on-demand, with the YouTube app.
Focus on what’s important: With Google Assistant driving mode, drivers can now keep their focus on the road while staying safe and entertained with a hands-free YouTube Music experience.

Stay tuned for additional information and expansion plans. In the meantime, sit back, relax and don’t stop the music!
If you don’t already have YouTube Music, download the YouTube Music app in the Play Store or App Store.
Posted by Jason Robinson, Product Manager, YouTube Music

Honouring Indigenous Survivors, Families and Communities for the First Annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Thursday, September 30, 2021

Editor's Note: This blog was guest written by Stephanie Scott, Executive Director of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR), and Monika Ille, Chief Executive Officer of APTN.
On the first-ever National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (NDT&R), we invite all Canadians to honour residential school survivors and reflect on the lasting impact of the residential school system on Indigenous Peoples. Since 2013, September 30 has been known as Orange Shirt Day, in recognition of the harm and tragedies of the residential school system. In June 2021, the federal government passed legislation to mark September 30 as NDT&R. Read on to learn about NDT&R’s origins, how you can observe the day, and what special programming APTN and the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) will be sharing during the inaugural holiday.
What is Orange Shirt Day? Since 2013, September 30 has been recognized as Orange Shirt Day. This annual movement opens the door to a global conversation about residential schools in Canada.
Phyllis Webstad recounted her first day attending St. Joseph Mission Residential School at six years old. Webstad described how all of her clothes were taken from her upon arrival, including the orange shirt her grandmother had recently gifted her. Today, the orange shirt represents the Indigenous identities stolen from the children forced into residential schools. In light of the recovery of more than 1,300 unmarked graves on the grounds of former residential schools just this year, it is a day to reflect on the tragic legacy these schools have left behind.
What is NDT&R? September 30 marks the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. As part of the Canadian government’s commitment to reconciliation, legislation was passed to make NDT&R a federal holiday. This is not just any holiday, but a day for doing the work of reconciliation and honouring Indigenous Peoples. NDT&R responds to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) Call to Action 80. The TRC’s Calls to Action are not political. Rather, they were developed so that all Canadians can walk together on a shared path towards reconciliation.
As a federal holiday, NDT&R applies to federal public sector employees, federally-regulated private sector workplaces and most federal crown corporations. British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon and the Northwest Territories have also recognized September 30 as a statutory holiday.
NDT&R is also part of Truth and Reconciliation Week, a week of educational programming hosted by the NCTR. The NCTR derives its mandate from the TRC's Calls to Action and is a place for dialogue and learning, where the truths of residential school survivors are kept for future generations. The NCTR’s mandate is to build a foundation for reconciliation through public education about the residential school system and Canada’s long legacy of colonialism and violence.
How Can I Observe NDT&R? There are many ways to participate in this day of remembrance and reconciliation. Allies are encouraged to wear an orange shirt in solidarity with Indigenous communities, but that alone is not enough.
Here are some other meaningful actions you can take today and going forward:

Read books by Indigenous writers. Here are some of our favourites among many: Seven Fallen Feathers by Tanya Talaga, The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline, Jonny Appleseed by Joshua Whitehead, Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer, Heart Berries by Terese Marie Mailhot, A Mind Spread Out on the Ground by Alicia Elliott, There There by Tommy Orange, and Katherena Vermette’s highly-anticipated new novel, The Strangers.
Attend a public lecture on Indigenous history.
Make an “Every Child Matters” sign to display at home.
Participate in a memorial walk or attend an event hosted by Indigenous community members.
Donate to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation and the Indian Residential School Survivors Society.
Review the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action and commit to at least one.
Tune in to Indigenous programming. APTN has an incredible lineup of programs airing from September 30 — October 1, which is sure to educate and inspire.
Watch sessions from NCTR’s Truth and Reconciliation Week, featuring survivors, children of survivors, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, artists and leaders from many nations and cultures.
Watch theNational Truth and Reconciliation Day special broadcast from APTN, CBC and the NCTR at 8 pm ET (9 p.m. AT, 9:30 p.m. NT).
Learn about the history of the residential school system and its ongoing consequences via APTN’s informative articles on the topic, available here.

NDT&R is a day for action, remembrance, reflection and learning about the colonial history of the lands we live on. We all have a role to play in reconciliation.
Please take a moment to honour the survivors and communities who have so courageously shared their stories. Observe a minute of silence, put out a small pair of shoes or light a candle for the children who never made it home. What matters is that you do it with intention.

Canadian news entrepreneurs: Learn how to launch your news business in our Google News Initiative Startups Boot Camp

Wednesday, September 29, 2021

The deadline to apply for this eight-week, fully remote program is November 14.

Editor's Note: This blogpost is cross posted from the Lion Publisher's website.
When I joined The Tyee in 2006, it was already several years into its scrappy startup journey. Once referred to as a blog by mainstream Canadian media, it has since won numerous journalism awards, pioneered the concept of solutions journalism, and added more than 4,000 paying supporters who wanted more thoughtful, feisty, and independent reporting in a media ecosystem considered one of the most consolidated in the world.
The Tyee is just one of several independent news publications in Canada that consistently punches above its weight. We need more like them.
That’s why I’m working with LION Publishers to bring the Google News Initiative Startups Boot Camp to Canada. The boot camp is an eight-week, fully remote program specifically for aspiring Canadian news entrepreneurs to launch independent digital publications for communities that are most in need of accurate and impactful news and information. No fees, no tuition, no income sharing arrangement. No financial barriers to your success. Just the hands-on support you need to become independent, and stay independent. Request an application here and apply by November 14 at midnight PT.
We’re also incredibly grateful to our partners Canadian Association of Black Journalists, Canadian Journalists of Colour, Journalists for Human Rights, and On Canada Project for helping us recruit and evaluate prospective boot camp participants. We hope to reach far beyond the traditional journalism community and ensure a cohort that is representative of Canada’s diversity.
Over the eight-week program, the boot camp will walk each participant through the basic steps of getting a news business up and running. That distinction — a business versus a project — is important. We focus on helping you lay the foundation of a financially sustainable publication. That includes how to set clear goals, research customers, price your product, articulate your value proposition and run experiments to navigate toward success.
What platform you choose to launch on is entirely up to you. We’re not prescriptive. We’re seeing the sprouts of a new media ecosystem on platforms like YouTube and Instagram — reaching hundreds of thousands of young Canadians in new and novel ways — and we’re excited to hear what ideas you have to serve your community. SMS? Podcast? TikTok? Let’s imagine together.
The program is unique in several other ways, too:

We will also look at ways to strengthen Canada's media ecosystem by tackling issues like how to ensure newsrooms reflect the diversity of the communities they serve and how to increase support for Canadian communities currently under-served by news. Interested in learning more? The FAQ section of our site has detailed answers about criteria for your news business idea, the boot camp curriculum, the time commitment involved and more.
If you have more questions or are feeling intimidated to apply for this opportunity, come to an info session (dates/times listed below), where we’ll answer questions about the program and application, and have a separate breakout room to help you workshop your application.
RSVP for our info sessions here:
Friday, October 15 at noon ET Thursday,October 28 at 2 p.m. ET Thursday, November 4 at 5 p.m. ET
Phillip Smith is a veteran consultant and certified Lean Startup coach. His passion is helping newsrooms to make more money, helping news startups grow their audience, and helping journalists succeed as entrepreneurs. The boot camp was inspired by his experience working in a pioneering Canadian startup newsroom, and later developed into a pilot during his time as a John S. Knight fellow at Stanford University.

Local Independent Online News (LION) Publishers is a professional journalism association for independent news publishers. While most of our 300+ members across the U.S. and Canada run local news businesses, we also have members who serve larger regions and specific identity-based communities across geographies. Learn more at lionpublishers.com.

10 ways to earn money on YouTube

Wednesday, September 29, 2021

ne of the most impressive things about creators on YouTube is their incredible range of talents and skills. They’re storytellers, directors, editors, marketers and entrepreneurs — all in one. YouTube has evolved from being just a place where people upload and share videos. It’s now a destination where creators can find new audiences, connect with fans in different ways and build growing businesses.
We laid the groundwork for this modern-day creator economy over 14 years ago when we launched the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) — a first-of-its kind business model that shares the majority of revenue generated on the platform with creators. We recently crossed a new milestone with over 2 million creators globally now part of our monetization program. Over the last three years, we’ve paid more than $30 billion USD to creators, artists and media companies. And in Q2 2021, we paid more to YouTube creators and partners than in any other previous quarter.
Here in Canada, creators continue to thrive on the platform, with the number of Canadian YouTube channels making six figures or more in revenue up 30% year-over-year as of December 2020. And we're not stopping there, we continue to work with creators in Canada and around the world to encourage even more growth on the platform.
We’re investing in new monetization options for creators beyond advertising, including Paid Digital Goods, merchandise, branded content and more. Our shared goal with creators is to help them build robust and diversified business models that suit their unique content and community of fans.
Jeff Thorman, a general contractor from Ottawa with over 25 years of experience, created his YouTube channel Home RenoVision DIY to share his knowledge and help homeowners learn new home improvement skills. Jeff utilizes the Channel Memberships feature to offer exclusive content and additional perks to monthly paying members, further diversifying his revenue streams on the platform. Two years ago, Jeff shifted his business to focus on YouTube full time. Besides memberships, he earns money from ads, sponsorships and affiliate income.
And there are thousands of creators turned entrepreneurs on YouTube like Jeff from all walks of life, who use the platform to turn their traditional careers, their hobbies and passions into a sustainable, revenue-generating business.
Today we're launching the Shorts Fund in Canada, adding to our growing list of how artists and creators make money and build a business on YouTube. Canadian creators have been early adopters of Shorts such as multi award winning Canadian percussionist Joe Porter. Since uploading his first Short in April 2021, Joe Porter's channel has received more than 250M views and gained more than 875K subscribers.
Creators and artists now have 10 ways to make money and build a business on YouTube. Here’s how:
1. Shorts Fund
The YouTube Shorts Fund, a $100M fund distributed over 2021-2022, is now available to Canadian creators! Each month, we'll reach out to thousands of eligible creators around the world to claim a payment from the fund.
Creators can make anywhere from $100 to $10,000 based on viewership and engagement on their Shorts each month. The Shorts Fund is the first step in our journey to build a monetization model for Shorts on YouTube and is not limited to just creators in YPP — any creator that meets our eligibility criteria can participate. Check out all the details here.
We're also dedicated to providing funding via our Black Voices Fund and Kids Fund.
2. Ads
Ads have been at the core of creators’ revenue streams, and continue to be the main way that creators can earn money on YouTube. Creators receive the majority of the revenue generated from ads on YouTube.

3. YouTube Premium
YouTube Premium is a paid subscription option which enables members to enjoy ad-free content, background playback, downloads and premium access to the YouTube Music app. The majority of subscription revenue goes to YouTube partners.
4. Channel Memberships
With channel memberships, creators can offer exclusive perks and content to viewers who join their channel as a monthly paying member at prices set by the creator.
5. Merchandise
The merch shelf allows channels to showcase their official branded merchandise right on their watch page on YouTube. Creators can choose from 40 different retailers globally.

6. Super Chat
Fans watching livestreams and Premieres can purchase a Super Chat: a highlighted message in the chat that stands out from the crowd to get even more of their favorite creator’s attention.
7. Super Thanks
Soon, more viewers will be able to give thanks and show support on uploaded videos through Super Thanks as it continues to roll out in Canada. As an added bonus, fans will get a distinct, colorful comment to highlight the purchase, which creators can respond to.
8. Super Stickers
Another way fans can deepen their connection with creators during live streams and Premieres is with Super Stickers, which allows fans to purchase a fun sticker that stands out.
9. Ticketing
Music fans can learn about upcoming concerts and with a simple click, go directly to our ticketing partners’ sites to purchase tickets.
10. YouTube BrandConnect
Through YouTube BrandConnect (previously known as FameBit), we’ve been making it easier for creators and brands to create branded content that is both authentic and financially rewarding. BrandConnect brings insights, measurement and industry expertise to the influencer marketing landscape -- seamlessly connecting brands, creators and fans.
We’re driven to keep developing new ways for creators to continue to grow sustainable businesses on YouTube. As creators keep innovating and pushing the boundaries to produce engaging and innovative content, we'll continue to deliver more ways to help them do just that.
Posted by Andrew Peterson, Head of Content Partnerships, YouTube Canada

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