Amazon has unveiled the latest plans for its Vancouver and Toronto tech hubs.

The moves will provide new features and office space for 8,500 employees in the two cities, said Amazon in a news release.

In Vancouver, Amazon plans to open the north tower at the two-building Post complex in 2026. Now owned by Germany’s Deka Bank, the Post is the redevelopment of the former Canada Post building in downtown Vancouver.

Amazon is the sole corporate tenant within the Post’s 1.1-million-square-foot office space, which is designed to accommodate 4,500 employees.

The north and south towers front Dunsmuir and Georgia streets, respectively. Amazon has already moved into the south tower.

The company recently opened a new 43,000-square-foot atrium that connects the 21-floor south tower and the 22-floor north structure. Loblaw has already opened a grocery store in the north tower’s ground floor.

In Toronto, Amazon plans to add three new floors, a total of 79,000 sf, at its downtown YYZ18 office premises at 18 York Street in late 2024.

Meanwhile, Amazon has opened its first Canadian Just Walk Out technology store at its office at 120 Bremner Boulevard in Toronto. Just Walk Out technology uses AI and sensor fusion to enable shoppers to grab what they want and just leave the store.

“To enter the store, Amazon employees use their credit card at the entry gate,” said the company. “Just Walk Out technology associates the shopper with their payment instrument, and detects the items taken from or returned to store shelves, creating a virtual shopping session.

“When employees have completed their visit, they simply leave the store, and their payment instrument will be charged for the items they took with them.”

Amazon plans to open a second Just Walk Out store in Toronto at the 18 York office later this year.

Photo: Courtesy of Amazon