A Little Bit About Us

Big Cedar is a boutique shop with the agility of a freelancer and the technical chops of a big agency. Our deep background in IT and search combined with our eye for design and good writing allows us to not only problem solve and diagnose, but also design and deliver.

Our Specialty

We treat your marketing spend like it was our own. There are dozens of levers to pull in digital marketing but we’re limited by time and resources. Our holistic approach means you’ll always get our honest advice for your unique situation.

We take pride in building  well-structured web pages with great copy, informed by SEO and optimized to convert. It’s our attention to detail, transparent approach,  and honest advice that keeps clients coming back.

What It's Like to Work With Us

Every project kicks off  with a call with our founder, Victor, and an onboarding questionnaire to understand who your ideal client is and what your goals are. Then we set up a client portal where you can track project tasks, invoices and other project files on demand.

We always lay it out in plain English –  no marketing speak here. If we think your marketing dollar is better spent elsewhere, we’re not afraid to tell you.

We’re gaining momentum every day, come join us on the journey!

Our Values

Move with Integrity

Be accountable and default to honesty. We do what we say we’ll do, and we care about doing it right. We use 100% white-hat tactics to create amazing content for the right audience.

Be Human

Show empathy and create for people first. Things come up, but with transparency, honesty and an open line of communication, we can agree to pause or move forward, together. We don’t live to work, we work to live.

Be Resourceful

We’re never too proud to ask questions. We don’t “should” on ourselves – if we can’t find or don’t know the solution right away, we’ll tap our network, then document and learn from it. This often starts with vulnerability, followed by meticulous research and deliberate practice.

Take the Long View

Set it up right today to save headaches tomorrow. We’re always asking, “What would the client think? Is this the best in the long run for all parties?”. Whether it’s back-end tweaks or taking breaks during Zoom calls, we’re in it for the long-term. 

Look to Delight

It feels great to be delighted, whether it’s at the restaurant or from a professional service. It’s our attention to detail and honest advice that sets us apart. We take pride in clients handing us the keys and trusting us to find the solutions, then delighting them with the results.

Meet the Team

Our roots in IT, search, and deep experience combine to give you all the skills to make an impact.

Victor Lai

Growth Strategist & Founder

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Victor grew up in BC and has always been passionate about technology, marketing and design since making his first website in 1997 for his school. He started Big Cedar to combine these skills with his desire to help elevate people doing good work. A recovering digital nomad who loves Excel, he’s an avid connected movement practitioner actively rediscovering the natural world. He loves hiking the Strathcona range, kayaking the Straight, and is currently learning to garden and forage. If there were spreadsheets in nature, he’d probably automate it, then celebrate with a headstand.

Erica Yu

Digital Marketing Project Manager

🎨 ✈️ 🍽️ 🦀 🌸 ✨ ☀️

Erica thrives off of using her creativity and limitless curiosity to support others. Her passion for marketing sparked during her university journey, where she delighted in helping client companies reach their goals. Beyond marketing, she explores various creative outlets like design, crocheting and painting, while her love for culinary adventures keeps her exploring the newest restaurants around Vancouver.

Gabriel McCay

Senior Director

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Gabriel McCay has been passionate about design & social innovation for the last 16 years. Born and raised in Vancouver, BC, he’s witnessed the sheer beauty of the west coast wild & natural spaces, spaces that need to be preserved for future generations. He loves hearing about new inspiring ideas and jumps into creative endeavours with unparalleled enthusiasm and is always willing to help those inspiring individuals and organizations find the right fit for their branding, website, or marketing strategies. His experience with all aspects of web development, marketing, customer service, communication & client goal realization, and his passion for his work are huge assets to our clients. In his spare time, he volunteers with community improvement projects, harm reduction organizations & facilitates community events.

Mark Allena

Web Developer

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Mark, a dedicated night owl, fuses his love for technology and art to solve complex logic puzzles with ease. He’s an avid experimenter, constantly seeking new challenges and activities for the sheer joy of discovery. Lately, he’s delved into reef aquarium-keeping, mountain bike trailing, harmonica playing, and has a long list of other pursuits on his horizon. If there were riddles in the night, Mark would be the one to crack them with his creative tech-artistry.

Join the Team!

We have big goals for Big Cedar, and it starts with quality people and awesome clients from diverse backgrounds. We love delivering big wins for our clients, but we also have fun internal projects to intentionally hone our skills and flex our creative muscles.

If this resonates and you are resourceful, appreciate quality, have high emotional intelligence, and love learning in a positive environment, we’d love to hear from you!

Land Acknowledgement

Big Cedar Creative is a BC-owned digital marketing agency operating on the traditional unceded territories of the K’ómoks, xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. We respectfully honour their people, cultures and traditions. We work towards Truth and Reconciliation by learning the truth about our history. 

Have a Project in Mind?