2025
SPECIAL REPORT
BOUNDLESS POTENTIAL IN A CHANGING WORLD State of the British
Columbia economy Guide to 8 economic regions Why rural development matters New energy opportunity
Official Publication
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Contents INVEST IN BC 2025
FEATURES 8 B.C.’s Action Plan How British Columbia is looking to transcend tariff threats and emerge from an economic slowdown stronger than ever 12 Power Play To help keep B.C. at the vanguard of the global energy transition, BC Hydro is soliciting bids for a new generation of private power projects 14 In a Big Country The vitality of rural communities is crucial to British Columbia’s prosperity. But remote areas face new challenges as well as opportunities
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REGIONS 18 Mainland/Southwest 28 Vancouver Island/Coast 32 Thompson Okanagan 42 Kootenay 46 Cariboo 50 North Coast/Nechako 54 Northeast
LISTINGS 60 BCEDA Member Organizations
42
TOP, CLOCKWISE: OKGO; EDISON MOTORS; OPEN OCEAN ROBOTICS
28
Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
INVEST in BC 2 0 2 5
3
2025
SPECIAL REPORT
official publication of the
BOUNDLESS POTENTIAL IN A CHANGING WORLD State of the British
Columbia economy
Guide to 8 economic
development regions
Why rural
development matters
in special partnership with
New energy
opportunity
Official Publication
Published By
p01_Cover_IIBC2025.indd 1
2025-08-14 12:03 PM
ON THE COVER Seton Lake viewpoint off Highway 99 near Lillooet Photograph by Brad Kasselman/Kasselman Creative The BC Economic Development Association acknowledges it carries out its work on the traditional territories of Indigenous nations throughout British Columbia. We pay our respects to the Elders, past and present, descendants and custodians of these lands. We honour the knowledge keepers and the continuing relationships with Indigenous peoples in BC that develop through our work together.
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Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
PRIME MINISTER • PREMIER MINISTRE
Message from the Prime Minister of Canada It is with great pleasure that I extend my warmest greetings to readers of the 2025 edition of the Invest in BC magazine. British Columbia makes paramount contributions to our economy and our country. It is a spectacular province, with incredibly unique characteristics, that are all the worth visiting, exploring, and investing in. The Invest in BC magazine provides integral information on economic development in British Columbia, the businesses and investment opportunities present there, and profiles on its eight economic regions. Since 1979, they have helped a wide range of readers and investors as an invaluable source and go-to-guide. I would like to thank them for their contributions to the province’s and Canada’s prosperity over the years—and to thank you, their readers, for your membership to them which allows them to continue their great work. British Columbia and Canada are very well positioned for investment as we work together to continue to build Canada strong. Please accept my very best wishes for an enlightening reading experience.
The Right Honourable Mark Carney Ottawa 2025
Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
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LETTER FROM THE PREMIER
Welcome to British Columbia Welcome to the 2025 edition of Invest in BC. In these pages, you’re going to read some exciting things about our province. There’s no disputing that British Columbia is an incredible place to live and work—but we’re also one of the most competitive, stable and secure locations to invest and build. In a global environment undergoing rapid and fundamental changes, B.C. has everything needed to thrive: a strong, diversified economy, year-round access through multiple ports to global markets, and cheap clean energy. Not to mention a province full of skilled, diverse, and hard-working people. We have the abundant energy and natural resources the world needs, including softwood lumber, natural gas and critical minerals. B.C. produces or has the high potential to produce 19 of Canada’s 34 critical minerals—essential to powering the technology of today and tomorrow. We have bountiful clean electricity, including solar and wind. In a changing world, B.C. will emerge from this global transition as Canada’s economic engine. British Columbia offers an unparalleled investment environment. We are fast-tracking and simplifying the approvals process for infrastructure, mining and renewable-energy projects and transmission lines throughout the province—all in partnership with First Nations, while working together to protect the ecosystems and watersheds that sustain us all. We are growing our international trade relationships around the world, expanding our existing relationships and generating new opportunities. In June, I led a 10-day trade mission to Japan, Malaysia and South Korea—an economic tour to promote British Columbia’s strengths as a reliable trade partner. B.C.’s track record is clear: our province is attracting record-high capital investment, which has grown by 108 percent since 2017, the highest of any province, well ahead of Ontario (83.1 percent) and Alberta (31.0 percent). Here in B.C., we’re focused on building a sustainable and prosperous future. I can’t wait to see what we can build, together. Honourable David Eby Premier of B.C.
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Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT AND CEO, BC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION
Working Together for a Better Future
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elcome to the 2025 edition of Invest in BC, the official publication of the British Columbia Economic Development Association (BCEDA). Our goal is to offer you a clear and engaging overview of British Columbia’s economy while inspiring you to explore the province’s diverse investment opportunities. Inside, you’ll find insights into the eight economic regions of B.C., along with trends, opportunities and success stories that highlight why our province is an exceptional place to do business. Having travelled extensively across B.C. and seen first-hand the remarkable work of local and Indigenous governments, I can confidently say that our province is home to a strong, diverse and resilient economy. Even in the face of global uncertainty, B.C. continues to thrive—thanks to our skilled workforce, exceptional quality of life, openness to newcomers and spirit of innovation. BCEDA represents more than 500 members from communities, Indigenous nations, businesses, chambers of commerce, Community Futures offices, Crown corporations, tourism
organizations, government agencies, sector organizations and educational institutions. Together, we share one vision: to build a prosperous, sustainable future for British Columbia. We connect the right people at the right time to spark collaboration, forge partnerships and drive growth. As the leading provincial association for economic development professionals, BCEDA provides resources, training and tools that help communities retain and expand businesses, attract investment and pursue strategic infrastructure, land-use and community enhancement projects. British Columbia is recognized worldwide for its unmatched quality of life. We invite you to explore the limitless opportunities our province offers—and to work with us in bringing your ideas to life. Please feel free to connect with me, our team, or any BCEDA member to discuss how we can help make your investment in BC a success. Dale Wheeldon, President and CEO, British Columbia Economic Development Association
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD, BC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION
We Have the Tools to Build
A
s Chair of the British Columbia Economic Development Association (BCEDA), I am pleased to present the 2025 edition of Invest in BC Magazine. Produced in partnership with Canada Wide Media and BCBusiness, this publication showcases the opportunities that make British Columbia a world-class place to invest, work and live. BCEDA represents more than 500 economic development professionals dedicated to fostering growth, innovation and resilience in communities of all sizes. Whether your focus is on natural resources, energy, technology, food production, tourism, education, transportation or shipping, B.C. offers a skilled workforce, competitive tax rates, modern infrastructure and welcoming, inclusive communities. Every year, municipalities, regional districts and Indigenous communities collectively invest over $100 million in economic development and tourism. BCEDA amplifies these efforts by providing powerful marketing tools, professional training, and practical resources. In 2024, we launched the Certified Economic Development Professional of British Columbia (CEDP.BC) designation, setting a provincial standard for professional development and ensuring
practitioners have the skills to meet today’s economic challenges. Through DisasterSmartBC, BCEDA is leading the way in preparing communities and businesses for economic disruptions caused by disasters. This program provides resources, training and tools to strengthen economic resilience before, during and after a crisis. Our new website will offer extensive resources, volunteer coordination and a community assessment system to help identify preparedness gaps and connect users to solutions. Economic development officers (EDOs) are your connection to community-specific insights, investment opportunities, and growth strategies. As you explore this magazine, I encourage you to reach out to them to learn more about the places that interest you. BCEDA remains committed to working with economic developers, local, regional and Indigenous governments, businesses and the government of B.C. to build a strong, sustainable, and prosperous economy for all. Together, we are shaping a vibrant future for British Columbia. Rocio Zielinkski, Chair, British Columbia Economic Development Association
Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
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B.C. OUTLOOK
B.C.’s ACTION PLAN How British Columbia is looking to transcend tariff threats and emerge from an economic slowdown stronger than ever
CREDITS
BY MICHAEL MCCULLOUGH
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Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
MISSION CRITICAL: LNG exports to Asia present ways to grow B.C.'s economy and diversify markets
TOP AND LEFT: LNG CANADA
T
owards the end of June 2025, a pressurized tanker ship, the GasLog Glasgow, docked at Kitimat on British Columbia’s north coast. It filled up with the first shipment of super-cooled liquefied natural gas from the newly completed LNG Canada terminal and set sail again for the port of Incheon, South Korea. With this voyage, a potentially huge new market was made accessible to natural gas producers in northeastern B.C. and elsewhere in Canada, with half the sailing time to Asia as competing LNG exporters in the United States. A new industry producing LNG for export was launched in Canada, with the participation of local First Nations. Importing countries will be aided in their attempts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as they substitute natural gas power for coal. And Canada’s economy will grow and diversify its exports to countries with which it runs significant trade deficits. To be sure, the B.C. and Canadian economies face challenges. The second coming of the Trump administration in the U.S., with its penchant for tariffs, has been a shock to the entire global trading system. The economic climate appears to be nearing a cyclical low. But with the startup of LNG Canada and other developments, Canada’s westernmost province is responding to new imperatives, such as the need to broaden trade partnerships and lessen our dependence on the increasingly unreliable U.S. market. Faced with rising external threats, both the B.C. and federal governments are in agreement on three key priorities: • To diversify trade and investment relationships, focusing on the growing economies of Asia in particular. In May, for example, Premier David Eby accompanied a trade mission to Malaysia, South Korea and Japan.
Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
PROVINCIAL FORECAST (JULY 2025)
REAL GDP GROWTH
2.5% 1.3% 2025
1.5% 2026
2027
EMPLOYMENT GROWTH 2025
1.3%
2026
0.8%
2027
1.7%
POPULATION GROWTH 2025
0.6%
2026
0.2%
2027
0.9%
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX
2.3% 2.2% 2.0% 2025
2026
2027
SOURCE: CENTRAL 1 ECONOMICS
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B.C. OUTLOOK
• To accelerate the capital projects by easing regulatory barriers while still engaging in due consultation with First Nations and other stakeholders. The incoming federal administration of Prime Minister Mark Carney passed a bill to this effect with the support of the Official Opposition. The province is working on similar legislation; in February, it identified 18 resource and infrastructure projects with a collective price tag of $20 billion that it aims to put on the fast track. • To eliminate interprovincial trade barriers that hamper trade and labour mobility within Canada. The federal government passed legislation in June that removed 53 exemptions to the Canada Free Trade Agreement. Minister of Internal Trade Chrystia Freeland now plans to convene a committee on internal trade with representatives of all provinces and territories with the aim of eliminating provincial restrictions as well. B.C. has been an early and vocal supporter of free movement of goods and labour within Canada, citing its bilateral agreement with neighbouring Alberta. ECONOMIC SIGNALS TO WATCH The combination of tariff uncertainty and high household debt levels will keep B.C. GDP growth this year near a cyclical low
B.C.’S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REGIONS CARIBOO KOOTENAY MAINLAND/SOUTHWEST NECHAKO NORTH COAST NORTHEAST THOMPSON OKANAGAN VANCOUVER ISLAND/COAST
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of 1.2 percent seen in 2024, Deloitte LLP predicted in a mid-year economic outlook. But there are positive new developments now and on the horizon. Each tanker that sets sail from LNG Canada, for example, represents an estimated US$150 million in new revenue for B.C., and there are three more LNG projects under construction on the north and south coasts. The increased demand for natural gas is expected to boost exploration and production in the northeast of the province. Soaring demand for minerals critical to the energy transition as well as precious metals have seen 27 mine and mine extension projects reach the late stages of permitting, according to the Mining Association of B.C. (The province boasts 18 operating mines at present.) That potential expansion in the sector could see up to $90 billion in additional near-term economic activity. Though overall mineral exploration spending was down slightly in 2024, to $552 million, the search for critical minerals more than doubled, to $49 million. While the forest industry’s future is clouded by a combination of tariffs, declining wood supply due to past beetle infestations and low commodity prices, the demand for green power is forecast
Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
TOP RIGHT, CLOCKWISE: DESTINATION VANCOUVER/BC PLACE; TADA IMAGES/SHUTTERSTOCK; ROYCE SIHLIS
PARTY TIME: Mining (top left, clockwise) for critical minerals; Vancouver's B.C. Place is a host venue for FIFA Men's World Cup 2026; Telus Corp. has pledged to invest $15 billion in its B.C. facilities; Wine tourism in the Okanagan
to jump 15 percent by 2030—hence BC Hydro’s call for new power projects (see story, p. 12). Part of that new demand is coming from data centres for artificial intelligence (AI). Bell Canada announced in May it would build six data centres in B.C. Meanwhile, homegrown telecommunications company Telus Corp. announced plans to invest $15 billion in B.C. over the next 15 years on data centres, network upgrades and other capital projects.
A WINDFALL FOR TOURISM Tourism operators are looking forward to an unprecented influx in 2026 as Vancouver’s B.C. Place plays host to seven FIFA World Cup matches. The soccer tournament is expected to generate $1.7 billion in economic benefits to B.C. and attract an additional one million out-ofprovince visitors between 2026 and 2031. As it is, this year Vancouver International Airport is projecting its busiest summer ever, with 6.7 million passengers expected
Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
to transit the air hub between June 15 and Labour Day based on advance bookings. This follows a long recovery from COVID-19. With tourism occupancy at or near capacity during the peak summer season and in key destinations, marketing body Destination B.C. is shifting its emphasis toward shoulder seasons and attractions off the beaten path. The technology sector continues to show strength overall as B.C. companies attracted $2.4 billion in venture capital funding in 2024—almost as much as perennial Canadian leader Ontario. Global corporations in all sectors have shown heightened interest in the province lately, with employment in multinational enterprises growing 46.3 percent between 2016 and 2022, far outpacing the rate of growth across Canada. While the challenges facing B.C. in 2025 are real, so are the reasons for optimism for the years to come. • INVEST in BC 2 0 2 5
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ENERGY TRANSITION
POWER PLAY
To help keep B.C. at the vanguard of the global energy transition, BC Hydro is soliciting bids for a new generation of private power projects BY MICHAEL MCCULLOUGH
T
hanks to an abundance of hydroelectric resources, British Columbians enjoy the thirdlowest electricity rates in North America. Per rates approved by the B.C. Utilities Commission, rate increases by BC Hydro, the province’s public power utility, between 201718 and 2026-27 will have run a cumulative 12.4 percent below the rate of inflation. This year BC Hydro added Site C on the Peace River, the first new dam in decades, to its roster of generating stations, increasing the system’s total generation capacity by 8 percent. But Site C alone will not be enough to meet demand into the medium term. With population continuing to increase, transportation increasingly being electrified and incremental demand coming from data centres and liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals, the Crown utility is seeking new sources of supply for the 2030s and beyond. In 2024 BC Hydro issued a Call for Power inviting independent power producers as well as First Nations to propose 10 renewable energy projects with a collective capacity of 5,000 gigawatt hours per year of electricity, enough to power half a million new homes. This year the company issued a second request for proposals of the same magnitude. “To fuel our economic growth and meet the need of growing communities across B.C., it’s essential to expand access to made-in-B.C. renewable power sources both now and in the coming decades,” BC Hydro said in response to an enquiry for Invest in BC. “Our goal is to secure clean supply quickly to support the growing demand while creating thousands of new jobs in addition to the 10 renewable projects announced under our 2024 Call for Power.” BC Hydro began buying power from independent power producers in the 1980s and today they represent about a quarter of the integrated grid’s supply. By and large the energy comes from smaller wind, solar and hydro projects as well as cogeneration at industrial sites. Diversifying energy sources and locations enhances grid reliability and, by the utility’s own 12 INVEST in BC 2 0 2 5
Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
ZERO EMISSIONS: HTEC's H2 Gateway involves a network of hydrogen hubs and corridors
TOP: JACQUES TARNERO/SHUTTERSTOCK; LEFT: BC HYDRO
Hydrogen Highways
admission, “the private sector brings different skills and expertise that can complement BC Hydro.” The most recent calls for power include a mandate that at least 25 percent of equity ownership come from First Nations. “First Nations participation in energy projects in a key priority for us as we advance reconciliation and implement UNDRIP principles into our business,” BC Hydro said. (UNDRIP stands for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. B.C. became the first province to adopt it by law as a framework for reconciliation in 2019.) The 2024 Call for Power is projected to trigger between $5 billion and $6 billion in private investment and create 2,000 jobs during construction. In addition to the new supply, BC Hydro is making investments in energy efficiency that are expected to save 2,000 gigawatt hours of electricity per year, enough to power 200,000 homes. Through the combination of these measures, the utility intends to honour the provincial government’s commitment to keep rate increases below the rate of inflation well into the future. •
CALL FOR POWER: BC Hydro is soliciting renewable power projects from the private sector again in 2025 (top); the Site C dam became operational this year
Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
The transition to low-carbon energy is going to take more than just electrification, which is why the B.C. government laid out a Hydrogen Strategy in 2021. The strategy aims to stimulate development of both supply and demand for hydrogen as a fuel for commercial transportation and heavy-duty equipment—uses less suited to electrification than home heating or personal automobiles. One company that has seized this opportunity is Hydrogen Technologies and Energy Corp. (HTEC) of Burnaby. The 21-year-old firm has come out with H2 Gateway, a $900-million plan to build three clean hydrogen production plants in Burnaby, Nanaimo and Prince George, a hydrogen byproduct liquefaction plant in North Vancouver and a network of 20 fuel stations (five already open) along “hydrogen corridors” throughout B.C. and into Alberta. Not content to wait for the market to materialize, HTEC this year launched a subsidiary, Vehicle Leasing Corp., that aims to put 100 hydrogen fuel-cell electric trucks on the road and lease them to fleet operators. Other companies are joining the push to build out hydrogen infrastructure. For example, this year Empire Hydrogen set up mobile fuel stations extending west from the growing hydrogen hub in Prince George to supply customers along the Highway 16 corridor in Smithers, Kitimat and Prince Rupert. The H2 Gateway program “upgrades the earlier BC Hydrogen Highway plan by creating a complete hydrogen ecosystem for transportation,” says Todd Romaine, executive director of H2BC, the British Columbia chapter of the Canadian Hydrogen Association. Though adoption by the heavy-duty trucking sector is “still in its early stages,” global demand for clean hydrogen is projected to increase tenfold in the next 30 years, he adds. With its hydrogen hub and corridor plan, B.C. aims to lead the transition.
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RURAL DEVELOPMENT
IN A BIG COUNTRY
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Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
DIFFERENT MINDSET: Small communities like Kaslo (left and above) are having to become more "nimble and adaptive"
The vitality of rural communities is crucial to British Columbia’s prosperity. But remote areas face new challenges as well as opportunities BY MICHAEL MCCULLOUGH
Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
TOP AND LEFT: KOOTENAY ROCKIES TOURISM/MITCH WINTON
W
hat defines a rural community? Governments often set the bar at a population of 10,000 or less. Statistics Canada has created a more sophisticated “index of remoteness,” though that too has its flaws. Sarah Sinclair thinks she knows the answer: “You know you’re rural if you can’t buy underwear in your town.” Or you go to a store for services other than what’s advertised on the storefront. It’s dangerous to apply hard and fast rules to what’s considered rural, Sinclair has learned over the past few years as the executive director of the BC Rural Centre, based in Kaslo, in the Kootenay region. “Once you define it, somebody is going to be left out,” she says. What’s clear is that rural communities make a substantial contribution to the B.C. economy and support jobs and economic activity in cities. “Forestry, mines, farms, fisheries—90 percent of it comes from rural areas,” Sinclair says. Rural areas account for about $25 billion a year in provincial GDP. “Rural economic development is critical to B.C.’s economic future because the people who live and work rurally are often the first step in accessing the abundant INVEST in BC 2 0 2 5
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RURAL DEVELOPMENT
THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT RURAL Since 2022, the B.C. government has tried to assist rural development with the Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program (REDIP). In its first three years, the program committed $142 million to 450 projects across B.C., helping create an estimated 7,000 jobs in rural areas. There are other positive things going on outside B.C.’s urban areas, too. Investments in renewable energy are on the rise. Improved digital connectivity is both increasing the productivity and market reach of existing businesses and making room for new, digitally based enterprises. Cooperation and reconciliation with First Nations is leading to new economic opportunities in areas such as eco-tourism. The BC Rural Centre grew out of a temporary body set up to help rural areas in the southern Interior recover from the impacts of the mountain pine beetle infestation in the early 2000s, which has been linked to climate change. Today the organization engages in advocacy, offers consulting services and stages the annual Keeping It Rural conference, where attendees learn about solving uniquely rural problems. The British Columbia Economic Development Association (BCEDA) likewise dedicates a significant part of its work to supporting rural communities across the province. Through handson programs, practical resources and collaborative initiatives, BCEDA helps rural communities strengthen their economies, build resilience, and shape their futures. The BC Economic Summit, held each May, brings together economic developers, 16 INVEST in BC 2 0 2 5
TOP: VIKTORIA HAACK PHOTOGRAPHY; BOTTOM: BRAD KASSELMAN FROM KASSELMAN CREATIVE
natural resources that our province is renowned for,” says Ben Campbell, chief executive officer of the Northern Development Initiative Trust, based in Prince George. “The value chain begins in rural areas.” But rural areas face challenges. As always, the huge distances involved in rural living mean residents often pay higher prices and taxes for lower levels of services. Increasingly, rural areas are bearing the brunt of climate change impacts such as forest fires, drought, floods and pest infestations. And Canada’s aging demographics have particular repercussions in places where health services are hard to come by. “Rural residents need to be more nimble and adaptive than ever before,” Campbell says. “The predictability of the seasons is no longer something to be relied on.”
UNIQUE ATTRIBUTES: View of Salmon Arm Raven Foreshore Trail (top); Downtown Lillooet (bottom); Newly carved totem pole near Haisla Bridge, crafted by Haisla carver Nathan Wilson (opposite page, bottom)
Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
TOP LEFT AND BOTTOM: CAMERON ORR
NATURAL RESOURCES: Kitimat (left) and other rural areas of B.C. (below and middle) account for $25 billion in annual GDP
local leaders, Indigenous communities and industry partners from across B.C. to share ideas, celebrate innovation and address the unique opportunities and challenges faced by rural regions. Sessions often focus on practical solutions for workforce development, investment readiness and rural resilience. BCEDA also offers a variety of resources to support rural economic growth, including manuals on topics like business retention, investment attraction and local economic recovery. One of BCEDA’s most effective programs is DisasterSmartBC, which has assisted numerous rural communities in navigating and recovering from wildfires, floods, and other crises by providing on-the-ground support, business engagement and recovery planning. “Our mission has always been to empower rural communities with the tools and support they need to thrive,” says Dale Wheeldon, president and CEO of
Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
BCEDA. “We know that rural B.C. is full of opportunity and, by working together, we can turn challenges into momentum for growth.” THE RURAL LIFESTYLE COMES DOWN TO A CHOICE Population attraction and retention is the ultimate issue affecting rural areas. But that ultimately comes down to personal life choices. “In my travels throughout central and northern B.C., I’ve met countless individuals who moved to a rural community for what they thought would be a short-term job, only to fall in love with the lifestyle and the sense of belonging,” Campbell says. “Many end up staying for decades, raising families, starting businesses, and becoming deeply rooted in the community.” “The idea of community is what makes rural so beautiful,” Sinclar adds. “There’s a different mindset.” • INVEST in BC 2 0 2 5
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MAINLAND/SOUTHWEST ▷ Abbotsford
▷ Hope
▷ North Vancouver
▷ Surrey
▷ Burnaby
▷ Langley
▷ Pitt Meadows
▷ Vancouver
▷ Chilliwack
▷ Lillooet
▷ Port Moody
▷ West Vancouver
▷ Coquitlam
▷ Maple Ridge
▷ Richmond
▷ Whistler
▷ Delta
▷ Mission
▷ Sechelt
▷ Gibsons
▷ New Westminster
▷ Squamish
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OF B.C. 62.5% SHARE POPULATION
Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
MAINLAND/SOUTHWEST
CITY LIGHTS: Musqueam Capital Corp. is spearheading redevelopment of the Langara YMCA (right); Indigenous-led development is helping shape downtown Vancouver (below)
REGIONAL POPULATION (2024)
3,562,202 UNEMPLOYMENT RATE (MAY 2025)
6.4%
TOP EMPLOYERS BY INDUSTRY (2023) Health care & social assistance
12.4% 12.2% Professional, Retail trade
Full Circle Development First Nations are emerging as major players shaping the dense and increasingly layered landscape of the Lower Mainland
LEFT: DESTINATION VANCOUVER; TOP: COURTESY OF MUSQUEAM CAPITAL CORPORATION
W
hen YMCA British Columbia put out a request for proposals to redevelop its aging Langara YMCA facility in Vancouver a few years ago, a clear winner emerged. Led by Musqueam Capital Corp., the economic development arm of the Musqueam Indian Band—in whose traditional territory the property is located—the proposal envisioned not only a new fitness, child-care and community events facility but also a 33-storey, 306-unit rental tower, a 37-storey condominium tower to be jointly developed by Townline Homes and social housing to be delivered by YMCA. The design of the project is cocreated by Musqueam elder Charlotte Mearns and is hoped to become a visible, lasting expression of reconciliation. The project answers the City of Vancouver’s need for new housing alongside its UNDRIP (United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples) strategy and is meant to create a long-term revenue stream for Musqueam members. While still in the rezoning and development permit phase, it was deemed worthy of BCEDA’s Economic Reconciliation Award (Community more than 25,000 population) at this year’s B.C. Economic Summit. In this and some even larger developments like Senakw and the Jericho Lands, the area’s first inhabitants are emerging as major players helping shape the landscape of B.C.’s southwestern corner, known as the Lower Mainland. The region is by far the most populous in B.C., with more than 3 million residents and a dominant share of the province’s economic output. It is centred on Metro Vancouver and also takes in the Fraser Valley and the Sea-to-Sky Corridor encompassing Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton.
Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
scientific & technical services
11.6%
FORECAST EMPLOYMENT GROWTH, 2024-34
347,200
BUILDING PERMIT VALUES (2024)
$16.1
BILLION HOUSING STARTS (2024)
30,162
VALUE OF MAJOR PROJECTS PLANNED OR UNDER CONSTRUCTION (Q4 2024)
$137.1 BILLION
BUSINESS INCORPORATIONS (2024)
41,670
SOURCES: B.C. LABOUR MARKET OUTLOOK , BC STATS
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MAINLAND/SOUTHWEST
A JOLT OF NEW ENERGY Liquefied natural gas is making waves not just in northern B.C. but in the Southwest too. The Woodfibre LNG project, under construction near Squamish, is seeking to ramp up its workforce this year to more than 1,200 with the help of a second “floatel,” or converted cruise ship, to house trades workers at the site. The LNG liquefaction 20 INVEST in BC 2 0 2 5
GLOBAL TRADE: The Port of Vancouver (top) is undergoing a huge expansion with Roberts Bank Terminal 2; Fortis BC is adding to its Tilbury LNG plant (right)
plant and export terminal is slated to come into service in 2027. Meanwhile gas utility Fortis BC is expanding its Tilbury LNG plant on the Fraser River in Delta. A new jetty is under construction to load bunker vessels and LNG carriers, mostly to serve domestic customers and those in the transportation sector. Other signs of a changing energy landscape include a $140-million hydrogen plant to be built by Hydrogen Technologies and Energy Corp. (HTEC) in North Vancouver. Approved by the municipality
this year, the plant will take the gaseous hydrogen byproduct of a neighbouring chemical plant and liquefy it for marketing to the transportation sector. The plant will create enough hydrogen to replace 300 heavy-duty diesel trucks currently travelling B.C.’s roads with zero-emission fuel cell vehicles. Meanwhile Mangrove Lithium raised $35 million from a consortium of investors including Japan’s Mitsubishi conglomerate earlier this year to build North America’s CONTINUED ON PAGE 22
Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
BOTTOM: FORTISBC
Vancouver’s raison d’etre since its founding in 1886 is its port, the terminus of two transcontinental railway networks. The port accounts for about half Canada’s ocean-going trade and continues to grow. Having recently received the environmental and financial go-ahead, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is commencing the tender and design process on a huge expansion known as Roberts Bank Terminal 2. Mostly meant to expand the port’s container transshipment facilities, Terminal 2 is forecast to boost Canada’s trade capacity by 2.4 million 20foot container units (TEU) per year, worth $100 billion, and contribute $3 billion in annual GDP. When construction ramps up in 2028, there will be 18,000 jobs on site. The terminal is expected to create 17,000 permanent port jobs once it goes into service in the mid-2030s.
INVE S T VANC OUVER
METRO VANCOUVER: CANADA’S WEST COAST BUSINESS CAPITAL
T
he Metro Vancouver region is the economic heart of British Columbia and the third-largest metropolitan hub in Canada. The region is home to more than 3 million residents and accounts for more than half the province’s GDP. A GLOBAL WORKFORCE The Metro Vancouver region’s workforce is culturally diverse, well-educated and highly skilled. As one of the most livable cities in the world, the Metro Vancouver region is where top talent wants to be. STRATEGICALLY SITUATED The Metro Vancouver region is a gateway to global markets,
internationally connected through Canada’s largest port and second largest airport. ENVIRONMENTAL ETHOS Nature thrives in the Metro Vancouver region, where an ecofriendly ethos positions us at the forefront of environmental leadership. FUTURE-READY From an innovative spirit nurturing world-class tech unicorns, to purpose-led businesses that create cutting-edge solutions to solve the world’s most complex problems— we’re ready for today and tomorrow. DISCOVER YOUR OPPORTUNITY Expanding your business into a new
market is a big decision—we’re here to support you every step of the way. Our team will help make your expansion into the Metro Vancouver region seamless by providing tailored services that will set your organization up for success. • Trusted advisor: We provide advice to help you leverage government programs and incentives, connect you with our network of key institutional and private sector partners and serve as a designated referral partner for federal immigration programs. • Business intelligence: We deliver customized industry-specific insights, commercial and industrial real estate information, and
economic and labour market data. • Strategic partner: We facilitate introductions, meetings, ecosystem tours and assist with site selection. We also offer a direct link to local government and industry leaders in the Metro Vancouver region.
Discover the Metro Vancouver region today at investvancouver.ca Connect at @invest-vancouver @Invest_Van @investvancouver @investvancouver
Invest Vancouver_v2.indd 1
2025-08-11 7:48 AM
Metro Vancouver: A region like no other. We are Canada’s west coast business capital and the economic heart of British Columbia. We welcome top companies to our thriving ecosystem in a globally connected region known for its unmatched quality of life. Invest Vancouver provides free, concierge services to make it easy for businesses to expand and find success in the region.
investment@investvancouver.ca
Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
INVEST in BC 2 0 2 5
21
TOURNAMENT VIBES: Vancouver hotels (top) are looking forward to hosting the FIFA Men's World Cup and Congress in 2026 (left)
FROM PAGE 20
first electrochemical lithium refinery in Delta. Expected to be completed this year, the plant will have the capacity to produce enough battery-grade lithium for 25,000 electric vehicles per year. Beginning with the Klondike gold rush and continuing to this day, Vancouver is a world crossroads for mining and exploration finance, as well as headquarters for major forest products companies. The past half century has seen a broad spectrum 22 INVEST in BC 2 0 2 5
of secondary and tertiary industries, from athletic fashion design to alternative energy, add layers to what has become a highly diversified economy. Various high-technology sectors, from robotics to cleantech, account for more than 125,000 jobs in this part of the province and have been the leading generator of employment growth over the past decade. The largest of these, information technology, has seen recordsetting investments over the past year. Themis Solutions raised US$900 million
in 2024 to further development of its Clio legal software platform, including artificial intelligence capability. This deal represented the largest venture capital investment in Canadian history. Other IT investments in excess of US$100 million included Jane Software, developer of a platform for health practitioners, and financial technology company Zafin, which was acquired by Denmark’s Nordic Capital. Just as active was the life sciences sector, where Kardium Inc., developer of a heart disease treatment system, pulled in $340 million in new money, Aspect Biosystems raised US$115 million and Swiss-based Novartis AG and Versant Ventures of San Francisco teamed up to invest US$150 million in Vancouver startup Borealis Biosciences. WELCOMING THE WORLD Lower Mainland hotels and other tourism businesses are anticipating a banner year in 2026, due to the seven FIFA World Cup matches to take place at Vancouver’s B.C. Place stadium and associated festivities. Vancouver will also host the 2026 FIFA Congress, the annual meeting of 211 national soccer associations from around the world, in advance of the tournament. CONTINUED ON PAGE 24
Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
TOP TO BOTTOM: DESTINATION BC/ALEX STROHL; SSI77/SHUTTERSTOCK
MAINLAND/SOUTHWEST
NE W WE S TMIN S TER
NEW WESTMINSTER: WHERE COMMUNITY, ECONOMY AND INNOVATION MEET
N
ew Westminster is located at the heart of the Lower Mainland and is home to over 92,000 residents who enjoy a thriving economy, a wealth of urban services and a tightknit community. New Westminster has been a central gathering place for more than 10,000 years and is still a popular
destination today with its vibrant commercial areas, scenic river views and diverse environments that blend history with modern development. The city is well situated within the region’s transportation network, with five SkyTrain stations, three bridges and several access points to major highways, allowing for easy travel
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Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
across the region and accessibility for commuters. Work-life balance is a priority for the community, with plenty of green spaces, walking trails, and gardens; numerous sports fields and recreation amenities; and a lively riverfront boardwalk. Key sectors like education, healthcare, technology and the creative industries play a crucial role in New Westminster’s growth by providing family-supporting jobs that contribute to the local economy. The City of New Westminster is committed to sustainability through its Climate Action Budgeting Framework, aiming for a zero-carbon future by 2050. The City fosters innovation and business growth through initiatives like the BridgeNet dark fibre network, which provides fast, reliable internet access to support a connected and thriving business community. The City’s forwardthinking economic development
and retail strategies focus on fostering sustainable employment and supporting local spending. As New Westminster continues to grow, its action-focused leadership and collaborative spirit ensure that businesses and residents alike can thrive in a community that effectively balances its historical roots with innovation and sustainability. This commitment to forwardthinking development makes New Westminster a vibrant, resilient and attractive place to call home and do business.
Learn more | newwestcity.ca Connect @newwestminster @new_westminster @new_westminster City of New Westminster
2025-07-21 8:23 AM
INVEST in BC 2 0 2 5
23
MAINLAND/SOUTHWEST
PHOTOGENIC: The Golden Ears Bridge (left) spans the Fraser River between Langley and Maple Ridge; the latter city is taking a star turn in film and TV productions (below)
The city demonstrated its hosting chops in 2025 with the global Alcoholics Anonymous conference, which drew 60,000 attendees, and the Web Summit, which is scheduled to return in 2026 and 2027. According to real estate firm Avison Young, Vancouver had Canada’s strongest hotel market in 2024, with an occupancy rate of 78.2 percent and average daily room rates of $285 and revenue per available room of $223. A 2025 report by Destination Vancouver and the B.C. Hotel Association estimated the city needs 10,000 new hotel rooms by 2050; 4,200 rooms are currently in various stages of development. The largest project is a 578-room, 32-storey hotel planned by local developer Marcon for downtown Vancouver. Metro Vancouver remains an entertainment hub with a robust digital gaming, film and television and special effects clusters. Record label Monstercat was acquired by Create Music Group in May of this year for a reported $1 billion. A STAR MUNICIPALITY IS BORN The City of Maple Ridge created Film Maple Ridge in 2021 not just as a way to better attract and service film and TV productions but to leverage the area’s profile in popular entertainment to promote tourism and build support in the community for an industry that can at times be invasive. It started with a 24 INVEST in BC 2 0 2 5
change of ethos towards “why can’t we?” at city hall, says Draevan McGowan, the municipality’s senior advisor, film development. Instead of having a list of yes/no rules governing film productions, local government would work with producers and location scouts to see their creative vision realised. Among the tangible results was the Film Kiosk, an 800-amp power box that productions can use instead of noisy, polluting diesel generators; a tiered fee system geared to lure all levels of production budget; a streamlined series of just three “webforms” for securing permission to shoot; and a series of digital initiatives that share news and photos about
locations with the broader community and help visitors find where memorable scenes from their favourite shows were shot. The efforts of Film Maple Ridge are clearly paying off. Since 2019, the city’s direct revenue from film activity has shot up 345 percent. The economic impact is likewise growing, up an estimated 24 per cent over the past two years. A greater variety of shows are showing up, and they’re staying longer than they did in the past. More than 2,700 residents earn their living in the industry. “We are seeing that productions are coming here because of the local government support, not in spite of it,” McGowan says. •
Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
TOP LEFT, CLOCKWISE: DANIEL AVRAM/SHUTTERSTOCK; COURTESY OF THE CITY OF MAPLE RIDGE
FROM PAGE 22
SUR R E Y
SURREY RANKS AMONG CANADA’S TOP CITIES FOR DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND ECONOMIC GROWTH
T
he City of Surrey has proven itself a national leader in innovation and economic resilience, earning top rankings in the latest Resonance Consultancy study comparing major Canadian cities across a range of metrics. Benchmarking Surrey to 15 Canadian peer cities, the report highlights the City’s exceptional performance
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in both digital infrastructure and economic development, reinforcing its position as a world-class connected hub. “Surrey is at the forefront of digital innovation,” said Mayor Brenda Locke. “Our investments in broadband infrastructure are not only enhancing connectivity but also driving economic growth and social engagement.”
Ranked No. 4 in internet infrastructure, Surrey boasts one of the best average upload and download speeds among peer cities, with an industry-leading average upload speed of 61.4 megabits per second. This achievement reflects the City’s commitment to digital equity and innovation through initiatives like the Smart Surrey Broadband Strategy, which is accelerating fibre infrastructure deployment to ensure over 90% of homes and businesses have access to super-fast gigabitcapable internet. Surrey’s economic indicators are equally impressive: • No. 2 in GDP growth at 6.4% • No. 2 in company growth rate at 2.2% • No. 2 in income equality with a Gini coefficient of 0.27 (lower numbers mean less income inequality and more even income distribution among residents) • No. 3 in unemployment rate at 5.1% Surrey also ranks No. 4 in median disposable household income at $87,000, offering families more financial flexibility and a higher quality of life.
“This is good news for business owners and investors,” said Tyler Westover, director of business and government relations. “Surrey is strategically positioned to help businesses scale, with a growing population, strong infrastructure and a commitment to inclusive prosperity.” Surrey also ranks No. 2 in access to international ports of entry, making it a prime location for businesses reliant on global logistics and cross-border trade. This advantage is second only to Montreal, further enhancing Surrey’s appeal as a hub for commerce and innovation.
To learn more about economic development in Surrey, visit investsurrey.ca Discover how Invest Surrey is helping businesses succeed.
Connect on
@invest surrey
2025-08-18 7:52 AM
MAPLE R ID GE
MOVING BOLDLY FORWARD, DRIVEN BY COMMUNITY Maple Ridge making moves to be BC’s investment destination of choice
A
t the heart of British Columbia’s Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley regions, Maple Ridge is boldly building a city where businesses can thrive and people can live, work, invest and explore in their own backyard and beyond. The home of the q̓ic̓əy̓ (Katzie) and qʼʷa:n̓ƛʼən̓ (Kwantlen) First Nations since Time Immemorial, Maple Ridge is a place with a rich history and boundless opportunities. From the rugged beauty of Golden Ears Park with one million plus annual visits, to the waters of the majestic Fraser River, Maple Ridge is brimming with spectacular scenery and unique experiences. As the fourth highest volume filming location in BC, hundreds
of major movies and TV productions like Virgin River, Tracker, Reacher, Goosebumps and more have called ‘Action!’ in Maple Ridge. Home to more than 106,000 residents (projected to be 150,000 by 2045), and with more than 11 million people less than a day’s drive away, Maple Ridge is a prime location for businesses looking to serve an affluent, mobile and globally connected population. Businesses in Maple Ridge have access to two international airports (YVR, YXX), a nearby fullservice regional airport (YPK), one of North America’s closest ports
to Asia (Port of Vancouver), two intermodal rail terminals and four border crossings into the United States—all within a one-hour drivetime. The City of Maple Ridge is a business-ready community that unleashes the energy and creativity of residents, visitors and businesses alike. It’s working hard to improve the customer experience, invest in technology and modernize city processes and services to meet the needs of a
Make MAPLE RIDGE your investment destination of choice. We can show you how. Contact us today: invest@mapleridge.ca or 604.467.7320.
2025-07-30 2:44 PM
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diverse and dynamic population. Maple Ridge is bold by nature, driven by community and a city on the move.
BC Economic Development Association
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May 11—14, 2026
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VANCOUVER ISLAND/COAST ▷ Campbell River
▷ Ladysmith
▷ Port Alberni
▷ Saanich
▷ Comox
▷ Lake Cowichan
▷ Port Alice
▷ Sidney
▷ Courtenay
▷ Langford
▷ Port Hardy
▷ Sooke
▷ Cowichan
▷ Nanaimo
▷ Port McNeill
▷ Tofino
▷ Duncan
▷ North Cowichan
▷ Powell River
▷ Ucluelet
▷ Esquimalt
▷ Parksville
▷ Qualicum Beach
▷ Victoria
OF B.C. 16.6% SHARE POPULATION
On the Waterfront
Vancouver Island’s appealing lifestyle continues to attract people, companies and investment at a province-leading pace
A
s the seat of British Columbia’s provincial government in Victoria and a popular destination—boasting endless oceanfront and Canada’s most benign climate—for remote workers, Vancouver Island has fared better economically in recent years than the province’s other regions. The population, real estate development and retail spending all continue to grow quickly. The economy of the Capital Region, long rooted in tourism, public administration and higher education, is increasingly buttressed by various high-technology industries. A fall 2024 study by the South Island Prosperity Partnership identified more than 60 life sciences and health
28 INVEST in BC 2 0 2 5
informatics companies in and around Victoria that account for 13 percent of B.C.’s total employment in the sector. Some of the largest firms include StarFish Medical, Aspreva, Aurinia and Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals. Open Ocean Robotics of Victoria was awarded a grant of $800,000 from the federal government last year to scale up production of the Data Xplorer, its unmanned, solar-powered surveillance vessel. As part of $3.5 million in grants for innovative Island businesses, Ottawa likewise gave Industrial Plankton $900,000 towards a manufacturing plant for its bioreactors that produce algae and seaweed for feeding to farmed shellfish.
Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
VANCOUVER ISLAND/COAST
REGIONAL POPULATION (2024)
947,154
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE (MAY 2025)
5.4%
ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY: Starfish Medical (left) is a major employer; Victoria's Inner Harbour (below); Open Ocean Robotics has launched the Data Xplorer (bottom left)
TOP EMPLOYERS BY INDUSTRY (2023): Health care & social assistance
16.5% 12.6% Public
Retail trade
administration
9.6%
FORECAST EMPLOYMENT GROWTH, 2024-34
49,600
BUILDING PERMIT VALUES (2024)
$3.2
BILLION HOUSING STARTS (2024)
LEFT TO RIGHT: OPEN OCEAN ROBOTICS; DESTINATION BC/REUBEN KRABBE
7,132
Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
VALUE OF MAJOR PROJECTS PLANNED OR UNDER CONSTRUCTION (Q4 2024)
$29.6 BILLION
BUSINESS INCORPORATIONS (2024)
5,133
SOURCES: B.C. LABOUR MARKET OUTLOOK , STATISTICS CANADA AND B.C. STATS.
INVEST in BC 2 0 2 5
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VANCOUVER ISLAND/COAST
NEW AND IMPROVED Other parts of Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast are finding ways to complement mostly mature resource industries such as forest products, fishing
and farming. Among notable capital projects, BC Hydro is refurbishing its three dams on the Campbell River system at a cost of $1.25 billion to $1.78 billion through 2029. The first to be worked on is the Ladore Dam, built in 1949. The work will include seismic upgrades, reducing the risk of floods and other failures in the geologically active zone. The Island Health authority is building a new $1.45-billion hospital for the Cowichan Valley just outside Duncan, to be completed in 2027. A new recycling venture, the Building Materials Exchange, aims to take construction waste from sites stretching from Victoria to Nanaimo and find other contractors that can make use of the material.
TOP LEFT, CLOCKWISE: ISLAND HEALTH; BC HYDRO; CITY OF PORT ALBERNI; WILD SHAY PHOTOGRAPHY
Investments continue in the tourism industry. A 130-room hotel is due to be completed at Victoria International Airport this year. And in July, Chard Developments and Knightstone Hotel Group broke ground on a new eight-storey, 167-room hotel in downtown Victoria. To carry the Hyatt brand, the hotel will incorporate a 19th-Century façade, helping maintain the heritage character of the neighbourhood. It is expected to be completed in 2028.
NEW AND IMPROVED: (clockwise from top left) Cowichan District Hospital rendering; Ladore Dam near Campbell River; Clutesi Haven in Port Alberni; Rail Yard Market in Campbell River
30 INVEST in BC 2 0 2 5
Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
In September 2024, Campbell River opened the Rail Yard Market, a combination downtown revitalization project, visitor attraction and business incubator. The space features colourfully painted containers where retail startups can test the market at an affordable rent before graduating to more permanent premises. The first group of vendors includes a baker of pet treats, a handcrafted pottery shop, a dessert maker and a natureinspired fashion boutique. “This project is unique because our tenants are required to participate in our business development program, recognizing that many people have great ideas but need help developing business acumen,” says Rose Klukas, director of economic development and Indigenous relations for the City of Campbell River,
which won the Community Project Award (Population more than 25,000) at BCEDA’s 2025 Economic Summit. “We've seen fantastic results so far, including increased foot traffic and positive community feedback. Additionally, we have a list of people interested in joining the next cohort,” Klukas adds. RECONCILIATION IN ACTION Another BCEDA award-winning project has taken shape on Vancouver Island’s west coast, in Port Alberni. Clutesi Haven is the outcome of a Community Economic Development Initiative (CEDI) workshop between the City of Port Alberni, Tseshaht and Hupacasath First Nations in 2023. All three governments sought to create a community gathering space on the popular Highway 4 tourist route to the surf town
Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
of Tofino and Pacific Rim National Park. Their dreams rested on Clutesi Haven, an underused marina property on the Somass River running through town. The plan the partners settled on was a vibrant vendor village of “seacans” (repurposed shipping containers) with an Indigenous sensibility including art and signage telling the story of the area and its people. The development will also feature a stage for performances, seating for visitors to eat al fresco and waterfront paths perfect for spotting marine wildlife. Honoured as the best Economic Reconciliation (Population 10,000-25,000) project for 2025 by BCEDA, Clutesi Haven is not only a symbol of cooperation between the three communities but also a template for taking on bigger projects together in the future. • INVEST in BC 2 0 2 5
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THOMPSON OKANAGAN ▷ Barriere
▷ Oliver
▷ Cache Creek
▷ Osoyoos
▷ Clearwater
▷ Peachland
▷ Clinton
▷ Penticton
▷ Golden
▷ Princeton
▷ Kamloops
▷ Revelstoke
▷ Kelowna
▷ Salmon Arm
▷ Lytton
▷ Summerland
▷ Merritt
▷ Vernon
OF B.C. 11.7% SHARE POPULATION
City and Country The Thompson Okanagan mixes the quiet, rural life with ever better-connected urban centres
F
or newcomers and companies alike, the Thompson Okanagan offers a little bit of everything. Wide open spaces as well as thriving cities well connected to the outside world by air, freeway, fibre optics and 5G wireless. Small towns with affordable land and high-tech clusters in niches such as cybersecurity, aerospace and viticulture. Primary along with leading-edge industries. Kelowna is the largest city in the B.C. Interior, with one of Canada’s top 10 busiest airports and the Okanagan campus of the University of British Columbia, among Canada’s leading institutions of higher education and research. Other substantial cities with diverse economic bases include Kamloops, Vernon and Penticton. But the region also features bucolic byways and untracked wilderness. The Okanagan and Similkameen valleys have long been known for fruit growing and winemaking, and cattle ranching is a venerable business in the Nicola Valley and around Kamloops. Logging operations and wood processing operations lie scattered around the region. Mining giant Teck Resources this year received an environmental assessment certificate from the provincial government enabling it to extend the life of the Highland Valley Copper mine near Logan 32 INVEST in BC 2 0 2 5
Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
THOMPSON OKANAGAN
REGIONAL POPULATION (2024)
666,712
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE (MAY 2025)
LIFESTYLE OPTIONS: Vernon and Kamloops (left) offer urban job markets; Cedar Creek Estate Winery (bottom)
6.8%
TOP EMPLOYERS BY INDUSTRY (2023) Health care & social assistance
13.7% 13.4% Construction 11.1% Retail trade
FORECAST EMPLOYMENT GROWTH, 2024-34
LEFT: COURTESY OF TOURISMKELOWNA.COM/KEN HAGEN; TOP LEFT TO RIGHT: DESTINATION BC; DESTINATION BC/TANYA GOEHRING
37,700
Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
BUILDING PERMIT VALUES (2024)
$2.4
BILLION HOUSING STARTS (2024)
5,018
VALUE OF MAJOR PROJECTS PLANNED OR UNDER CONSTRUCTION (Q4 2024)
$18
BILLION BUSINESS INCORPORATIONS (2024)
4,395
SOURCES: B.C. LABOUR MARKET OUTLOOK , STATISTICS CANADA AND B.C. STATS.
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THOMPSON OKANAGAN
SIMPLE IDEAS, BIG IMPACT Blessed with abundant sunshine, the southern Interior is also a favourite fourseason destination for tourists. The Town of Princeton showed recently how even simple tourism marketing campaigns with modest budgets can yield meaningful results. “I started going through the guest book in our visitor centre and I noticed we were getting people from all over the world,” says Gary Schatz, director of economic development and tourism. He got the idea of putting up banners on downtown lampposts welcoming visitors in various languages of their countries of origin. Then the town ran a contest to get visitors to take pictures of themselves in front of the banner in their native tongue. Combined with billboards at the Kelowna airport and on highways leading to Princeton and internet advertising, the campaign became known as Princeton 34 INVEST in BC 2 0 2 5
Welcomes the World. This year it took the Economic Development Marketing Innovation Award (Community less than 10,000 population) at the BCEDA’s annual Economic Summit. Just a few months in, “what we’re seeing is a steady increase in our socials,” Schatz says. Princeton’s followings on Instagram and Tiktok are both over 1,000 and visitorcentre traffic has gone from 100 to 120 people a day in 2023 to more than 200 in 2025. It hit 328 one day in June.
SMALL-TOWN INNOVATION: Princeton won a BCEDA award for its globally themed tourism campaign
“That’s a lot of traffic for a small visitor centre,” Schatz says. It’s given employees the chance to promote the town’s bronze sculpture walk, which is also getting noticed online. Given its limited resources, Princeton normally runs its tourism CONTINUED ON PAGE 36
Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
TOP AND BOTTOM: NALIDSA/SHUTTERSTOCK
Lake, one of the region’s largest and longest-running sources of employment. The extension project, bolstered by rising demand for metals critical to the global energy transition, promises to create 2,900 jobs during construction and support 1,500 ongoing operational jobs after that.
TOWN OF PR INCE TON
PRINCETON INDUSTRIAL PARK IS AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY FOR BUSINESSES SEEKING AFFORDABLE, WELL-CONNECTED AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENTS TO THRIVE
P
rinceton, British Columbia, is home to a burgeoning industrial park that represents a significant opportunity for businesses looking to expand or establish themselves in a strategic location. With land starting at an affordable $225,000 per acre, this industrial park offers a compelling proposition for various industries, including manufacturing, logistics and technology, empowering businesses with a cost-effective solution for their expansion needs. The Princeton Industrial Park is strategically positioned to leverage the town’s unique geographical location. Nestled in the Similkameen Valley, Princeton serves as a gateway between the Lower Mainland, the Okanagan and the Kootenays. This advantageous positioning provides businesses with efficient access to major markets and transportation networks, making them feel strategically positioned for success.
One of the key advantages of the Princeton Industrial Park is its affordability. At $225,000 per acre, the land cost is significantly lower compared to other industrial hubs in British Columbia. This affordability allows businesses to allocate more resources to development, operations and growth rather than land acquisition. For small and mediumsized enterprises (SME) and startups, this cost-effectiveness can be a critical factor in their decision-making process, making the Princeton Industrial Park an attractive option. The industrial park is designed with modern infrastructure and amenities to support diverse business needs. It offers fully serviced lots with access to essential utilities such as electricity, water and sewage. The availability of high-speed internet ensures that businesses can operate efficiently in today’s
Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
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digital age. The park’s layout is also planned to accommodate future expansions, providing flexibility for growing enterprises. Princeton itself is a community that values and supports economic development. The local government and business organizations are committed to fostering a business-friendly environment. They offer various incentives and support programs to attract and retain regional businesses, creating a supportive ecosystem that can be particularly beneficial for new businesses that require assistance during their initial stages of operation. Furthermore, Princeton boasts a skilled workforce ready to meet the demands of diverse industries. The town’s rich history in mining and forestry has cultivated a community of hardworking and experienced individuals. This local talent pool can be an asset to businesses setting up in the
industrial park, reducing the need for extensive recruitment from outside the region. In terms of lifestyle, Princeton offers a high quality of life with its picturesque landscapes, outdoor recreational opportunities and a close-knit community atmosphere. This translates to a balanced and fulfilling work-life dynamic for business owners and employees, enhancing overall productivity and satisfaction.
Ready to explore the affordability, modern infrastructure and strategic location of Princeton Industrial Park? Visit princeton.ca/p/ industrial-park today. INVEST in BC 2 0 2 5
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2024-07-18 10:29 AM
THOMPSON OKANAGAN
FROM PAGE 34
campaigns over two years, and Schatz believes Princeton Welcomes the World will translate well into 2026, when the FIFA World Cup brings even more exotic visitors to B.C.
36 INVEST in BC 2 0 2 5
DIVERSIFIED: The Okanagan Valley is home to (clockwise from top) aerospace, viticulture, Indigenous tourism and agriculture businesses
ALL PHOTOS: OKGO
BETTER TOGETHER For many years the Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission (COEDC), Tourism Kelowna and Accelerate Okanagan, a business development and investment office, all ran their own marketing campaigns aiming to promote the Central Okanagan. But beginning with some conversations in 2018 and 2019, they got the idea of pooling their resources. “We realized we were all marketing the region and its value proposition to slightly different but overlapping audiences in slightly different ways,” explains Krista Mallory, COEDC’s manager. “We looked at how we could work together to leverage our resources and tell the story of the Okanagan in a more impactful way.” Instead of talking about event spaces or hotel capacity, the resulting campaign focused on entrepreneurs and innovators, growth sectors such as aerospace, agriculture and digital technology, research taking place at area post-secondary institutions and other community assets. Launched after a COVID-related delay in the fall of 2020, it went by the name OKGo. OKGo aims to attract not just tourists, business events, entrepreneurs, talented workers and business investment to the region but all at once. “We see all those pieces as linked,” Mallory says. Over time OKGo added new key industries (cleantech, Indigenous business) and community partners (University of B.C. Okanagan, Okanagan College) to its scope. But it’s stuck to its strategy of letting local business ambassadors take the lead in a physical and digital magazine, supported by videos, social media and sharing the message in person at conferences and trade shows. “This is really a storytelling campaign. It’s not coming from the municipality,” Mallory says. It took small individual budgets and leveraged them into a bigger joint pitch, while leaning into each partner’s strengths. Since its inception, the OKGo website has attracted 35,756 views and 21,625 users, with a big uptick in web traffic in 2024. For that OKGo won the Economic Development Marketing Innovation Award (Community more than 25,000 population) this year from BCEDA. •
Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
MER R I T T
MERRITT IS WORTHY OF YOUR INVESTMENT ATTENTION
W
ith a relocation business cost advantage, full urban services, small town-inspired care and sensibility, and all the space and financial freedom a business needs to stretch its legs and profitability, the City of Merritt is worth your investment attention. Venture inland to the first major city centre outside the Lower Mainland and appreciate the true measurements of worth in Merritt: industrial and residential land availability and affordability with direct major four-lane divided highway access, an abundance of water and power, and the readiness of a skilled local workforce that feels like fast friends and neighbours— whether you’re relocating from the coast or planting new, enterprising roots west of the prairies. “Place” can inspire new business directions. Embrace the Thompson-
Nicola with its rolling grasslands, shimmering lakes and over 2,000 hours of annual sunshine… it’s an oasis of relaxed country lifestyle and essential big city amenities. Familyfriendly, inclusive and supportive, the community is made rich with its strong history of resource industries, cultural diversity, Indigenous educational and land-based tourism opportunities, and joint-venture possibilities. Residents appreciate various amenities, including a municipal airport, the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology, the Nicola Valley Aquatic Centre, the 700-person capacity Merritt Civic Centre and the 1,000 seat Nicola Valley Memorial Arena. Centrally located between Metro Vancouver and the Okanagan, Merritt is one of the province’s most active transportation and distribution hubs, with annual
traffic counts exceeding 4 million, enabling easy, cost-effective expansion or strategic entry to new local or global markets for high-density manufacturing and assembly, transportation, logistics and distribution, clean energy, agri-food, and secure online data hosting and tech enterprise. In Merritt, on the other side of the mountains, free from traffic and overcrowding, the costs are lower
Merritt.indd 1
while the sky is bigger, brighter and yes, the limit, for the growth of business and pleasure.
Visit merritt.ca, email ecdev@merritt.ca, or connect @cityofmerritt
2025-07-28 8:49 AM
OUTVAN TAGE
Relocation: The idea’s got “Merritt”…given our natural ability to “outVantage” the Lower Mainland with significantly lower industrial and residential land pricing just 2 hours to Metro Vancouver with nearby ocean ports, and 90 minutes to Kelowna via direct major highway access; parcel choice and availability; competitive business costs; and a skilled, culturally-diverse workforce infused with small-town warmth thriving under one of the hottest and brightest sun fun spots in the province. Stretch your legs, your reach, and your budget further:
Visit merritt.ca, email ecdev@merritt.ca, or connect @cityofmerritt
Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
INVEST MERRITT. IT’S WORTH YOUR ATTENTION INVEST in BC 2 0 2 5
37
VACATION COUNTRY: Penticton anchors the south Okanagan
VER NON
VERNON, BC IS ALIVE WITH THE BUZZ OF A COMMUNITY ON THE MOVE GROW YOUR BUSINESS VERNON, BRITISH COLUMBIA
Consistently voted as one of the Best Cities for Work in BC, Vernon offers a thriving business community with unmatched quality of life. Join the revolution of work/life balance and contact us today to find out how you can join in the success.
250.550.3570 | ecdev@vernon.ca | investvernon.ca 38 INVEST in BC 2 0 2 5
H
ome to nearly 50,000, Vernon is emerging as a community on the rise with investors, entrepreneurs and residents taking note. Each year, nearly 1,000 new residents are calling Vernon home for its quality of life, affordability and opportunities. Savvy entrepreneurs are bringing new concepts to the community including wineries and breweries, technology, manufacturing, and professional and personal services to meet the needs of a growing community. Vernon’s new Zoning Bylaw creates fresh opportunities for multi-family and commercial development while streamlining
the development processes. Development activity is flourishing with more than 400,000 square feet of new light industrial building, numerous purpose-built rental buildings, and a new $130M Active Living Centre under development.
Reach out to John Perrott at the City’s Economic Development and Partnerships Office to learn more about Vernon opportunities today jperrott@vernon.ca
Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
CITY OF PENTICTON
THOMPSON OKANAGAN
S ALMON ARM
DISCOVER YOUR OPPORTUNITY IN SALMON ARM’S INDUSTRIAL PARK
A
re you looking for the perfect location to start or grow your business? Look no further than Salmon Arm’s thriving Industrial Park—a hub of innovation and opportunity. With a strong foundation of diverse industries and a supportive business environment, Salmon Arm is the ideal City to bring your vision to life. Located directly on the TransCanada Highway and Highway 97B, the city offers easy access to BC’s international airports, ports and rail. Moving people and products globally couldn’t be easier.
INCENTIVES TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS The City of Salmon Arm is committed to fostering industrial development through its Industrial Revitalization
Tax Exemption Program. Eligible projects, including new industrial buildings or major expansions valued over $300,000, can benefit from a five-year 100% exemption on the municipal portion of property taxes, followed by an additional five-year sliding scale exemption. This means your business can enjoy significant tax savings while focusing on growth and innovation. PRIME LOCATIONS READY FOR DEVELOPMENT With affordable and available industrial buildings and new lots currently under development, you can build to suit or purchase readyto-go spaces. Strata units ranging from 8,000 to 35,000 square feet are available for lease, providing
Salmon Arm.indd 1
Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
Salmon Arm.indd 1
flexibility for businesses of all sizes. Whether you’re a startup or an established company, there’s a space for you here. A THRIVING BUSINESS ECOSYSTEM Salmon Arm Industrial Park is home to approximately 1,000 skilled professionals across diverse industries, including software development, advanced metal fabrication, aerospace, robotics and more, making the park a hub for high-quality products and solutions. The deep talent pool and collaborative environment attract skilled professionals and
entrepreneurs alike, ensuring your business has access to the resources it needs to succeed. Join the growing community of innovators in Salmon Arm and take advantage of the incentives, prime locations and vibrant ecosystem. Your next big opportunity starts here! Contact SAEDS at saeds.ca to learn more.
and Connect on @SalmonArmEconomic DevelopmentSociety
2025-07-04 11:14 AM
INVEST in BC 2 0 2 5
39
2025-08-28 9:50 AM
KAMLO OP S
WHY KAMLOOPS IS A SMART BET FOR TOURISM INVESTORS
K
amloops is naturally stunning, strategically located and ready to unlock its next era of tourism potential. Tourism Kamloops is opening the door for visionary developers to help shape what comes next. With strong community momentum and a city ready to support big ideas, there’s never been a better time—or place—to invest. Tourism Kamloops and a dedicated steering committee of industry professionals are leading the charge to redefine the region’s visitor economy. Working closely with CBRE, a global leader in tourism and real estate development, the team undertook a year-long process to evaluate and validate a suite of highpotential tourism concepts. These concepts—centered on landmark attractions, familyfriendly adventures and wellness experiences—are grounded in market demand, built for long-term viability and crafted to elevate
40 INVEST in BC 2 0 2 5 Kamloops_v2.indd 1
Kamloops’ tourism appeal, attract high-value visitors and deliver strong, enduring returns. “We’re continuing to build out the 72-hour visitor itinerary,” says Nic Zdunich, destination development manager for Tourism Kamloops. “Our team is ready to work directly with investors to help source land, navigate permitting and streamline the development process.” Tk ̓emlúps te Secwépemc, whose lands and heritage define the Kamloops landscape, has also identified tourism as a priority growth sector. “Tourism is one of the most exciting opportunities ahead of us,” says Krista Stoetz, manager of the Sc.wén̓wen Economic Development Corporation. “Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc sees it as a key pillar of economic development and a way to share stories, honour culture and build lasting partnerships that benefit both the community and the region. We’re focused on
community-led, values-driven tourism that supports cultural revitalization and long-term growth.” Kamloops sees 1.8 million visitors annually and sits at the junction of Highways 1, 5 and 97. It is well positioned along two of Destination BC’s newly launched Iconic Routes, capturing strong year-round travel between Vancouver, Banff and Jasper. Kamloops plays a vital role in connecting British Columbia while attracting high volumes of overnight visitors. The City of Kamloops is already breaking ground with the Build Kamloops initiative—a multiphase infrastructure plan aimed at enhancing recreational and cultural amenities across the community. One of its flagship projects is the upcoming Centre for the Performing Arts, a $150 million civic investment that will strengthen the city’s capacity to host premier cultural events and performances.
With a population growth rate of 12.7% since 2019 and a visitor economy that supports thousands of jobs across related sectors, Kamloops is a proven market, poised for its next chapter. “Kamloops has always had natural beauty and connectivity,” Zdunich says. “Now, we’ve paired that with a focused strategy and an investment-ready environment. Tourism investment here is smart, and we’re ready to make it happen.”
Find full lookbooks and feasibility reports at tourismkamloops.com/ roomtoinvest. Connect on @tourismkamloops or @tourism-kamloops
Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
2025-08-18 7:53 AM
KOOTENAY ▷ Castlegar
▷ Nakusp
▷ Cranbrook
▷ Nelson
▷ Creston
▷ New Denver
▷ Elkford
▷ Radium Hot
▷ Fernie
Springs ▷ Rossland ▷ Slocan ▷ Sparwood ▷ Trail
▷ Grand Forks ▷ Invermere ▷ Kaslo ▷ Kimberley
OF B.C. 3.1% SHARE POPULATION
A Haven for Startups Ambitious entrepreneurs find a warm welcome in the Kootenay region
E
arlier this year Edison Motors bought a 305-acre industrial site in Golden where it is putting the finishing touches on a 30,000-square-foot building. The plan is to manufacture up to 500 heavy-duty diesel and hybrid electric trucks per year here for the forestry, mining, energy, construction and utilities industries endemic to western Canada. The first mechanical diesel truck for sale is scheduled to roll off the production line in 2026 and the first diesel-electric hybrid the year after. “We got tired of waiting for the Tesla semi to come about,” co-founder and president Chace Barber jokes in a company video. (The Edison name is a glib reference to inventor Thomas Edison stealing rival Nikola Tesla’s ideas.) Raising $9.5 million through crowdfunding since 2021, the founders—loggers, drivers and mechanics who saw an underserved niche for greener, cheaper transportation solutions in their industries—developed prototypes at a garage in Merritt and are now almost ready to start manufacturing in Golden. Truck-making may yet prove a tough place to find traction, but the Kootenay region has a history of launching surprisingly successful startups in sectors you wouldn’t expect to find along the scenic backroads of B.C.’s mountainous southeastern corner. In 2017 organic, fairtrade coffee brand Kicking Horse Coffee Roasters of Invermere sold to Italian 42 INVEST in BC 2 0 2 5
ENTREPRENEURIAL DRIVE: Edison Motors president Chace Barber (below) is gearing up to manufacture logging trucks in Golden (right)
Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
KOOTENAY
REGIONAL POPULATION (2024)
176,617
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE (MAY 2025)
6.7%
TOP EMPLOYERS BY INDUSTRY (2023) Health care & social assistance
16.3% 11.8% Educational services 8.9%
BOTTOM LEFT TO RIGHT: EDISON MOTORS; LEFT: KOOTENAY ROCKIES TOURISM/MITCH WINTON
Retail trade
beverage giant Lavazzo for $215 million. That same year, Nelson’s Pacific Insight Electronics, a designer of LED interior lighting systems for cars, was acquired by Methode Electronics Corp. of Chicago for $144 million. Software developer Fulcrum Management Solutions, better known by its platform name, ThoughtExchange, hails from Rossland. All three organizations still operate in the region. Boasting no big cities—the largest is Cranbrook, population 22,000—the Kootenay region is nonetheless well endowed with prospective entrepreneurs with drive and skills. Many of them are migrants from larger centres in search of a quieter, more affordable lifestyle amid outstanding natural beauty and recreational opportunities. Sporting Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
FORECAST EMPLOYMENT GROWTH, 2024-34
4,300
BUILDING PERMIT VALUES (2024)
$501.6 MILLION
HOUSING STARTS (2024)
104
VALUE OF MAJOR PROJECTS PLANNED OR UNDER CONSTRUCTION (Q4 2024)
$5
BILLION BUSINESS INCORPORATIONS (2024)
860
SOURCES: B.C. LABOUR MARKET OUTLOOK , STATISTICS CANADA AND B.C. STATS.
INVEST in BC 2 0 2 5
43
KOOTENAY
GRASSROOTS INITIATIVES Gregg Berg, special projects and selfemployment manager with Kootenay Employment Services, got a sense of the region’s potential while administering the Rural Entrepreneurship Development (RED) program between 2023 and earlier this year. The program won funding from the province’s Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program (REDIP) to recruit and help finance 22 startups and small business expansions across the Kootenays. Following criteria agreed on through community consultation, the ventures included a daycare that doubled its number of child-care spaces from seven to 14, a bakery, a solar panel supplier and an arborist using battery-powered tools. The $2.8 million in program funding resulted in $7 million in additional economic activity and created the equivalent of 25 full-time jobs, earning Kootenay Employment Services the Community Resiliency Award (Community more than 25,000 population) at this year’s BCEDA Economic Summit. Another award, for Economic Development Marketing Innovation (Community 10,000 to 25,000 population), went to the City of Cranbrook this year for its Choose Cranbrook special44 INVEST in BC 2 0 2 5
ROCKY ROAD: City of Cranbrook Fire Hall and Fire Hall Restaurant (above); Cranbrook (right) is the Kootenays' largest city; Steelmaking coal miner Elk Valley Resources was acquired by Glencore plc in 2024 (below)
purpose website. Cranbrook is unique in that it serves as the regional hub for the Kootenays, explains economic development officer Darren Brewer. It’s also not, like some of its neighbours, a resort municipality focused on attracting tourists. Choose Cranbrook is instead devoted to attracting permanent residents, companies and investment. It features a Newcomers Guide with information on everything from finding a family doctor to locating local faith communities. It also has a data portal containing quick facts about the local economy and background on
the area as the homeland of the Ktunaxa people who, through various agencies, are key players in the Kootenay business landscape. The website has helped push the viewers of Cranbrook’s YouTube videos over 10,000. Brewer hopes the next new industry to call the Kootenays home will be aerospace. Cranbrook is seeking to attract an aviation or logistics company to a 52-acre parcel it owns next to the Canadian Rockies International Airport. “We had our busiest month ever in June,” he notes. “We had more than 15,000 passengers come through.” •
Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
TOP RIGHT: KOOTENAY ROCKIES TOURISM/MITCH WINTON
sparkling clear lakes, ski resorts, destination golf courses and high-alpine hiking, it’s a great place just to be. Legacy industries such as mining, smelting, forest products, hydropower and farming still form the backbone of the Kootenay economy. Elk Valley Resources, acquired last year by Glencore plc of Switzerland, runs a cluster of metallurgical coal mines near Sparwood, while Teck Resources operates a lead-zinc smelter in Trail. But non-traditional industries are popping up all the time.
Inclusive Growth Summit
FOR SMALL BUSINESS LENDERS IN BANKS AND CREDIT UNIONS
FEBRUARY 24, 2026 VANCOUVER, BC
Learn more
Unlocking Economic Potential in Lending In the next five years, Canadian women are projected to control nearly $4 trillion in assets—and financial institutions are missing out on untapped growth in their portfolios. WeBC invites small business lenders and leadership teams from financial institutions across BC to a one-day, high-impact summit designed to spark practical ideas, highlight success stories, and provide tools for inclusive portfolio development. www.We-BC.ca is funded by Pacific Economic Development Canada. The Inclusive Growth Conference is funded by Women and Gender Equality Canada.
ELK F ORD
WILD AT HEART? DISCOVER ELKFORD
T
he District of Elkford is working hard to prepare for your investment. We’ve overhauled our downtown zoning to be flexible, and upgraded infrastructure will help your businesses thrive. We’ve also added downtown tax exemptions and simplified our approval processes so residential, commercial and light industrial development is faster and easier than ever before. Elkford land is increasing in value while remaining the most affordable in the Elk Valley, and our regional economy shows longterm growth, increasing demand for local services, businesses, industrial and commercial
development, and housing. Our community is safe and clean with low crime rates, crisp mountain air and 360-degree mountain views— and our population reports a significantly higher income than the provincial average. Virtually view land at elkford. ca/maps, or visit elkford.ca/ invest to browse available land parcels and see the results of major public investments in quality of life and future growth. Ready to invest or book your in-person site tour? Contact us at 250-865-4000 or business@elkford.ca. Connect on @district.elkford
Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
Invest in
Adventte DEMAND FOR HOUSING, SERVICE AND LIGHT INDUSTRIAL SPACE
SERVICED LAND AVAILABLE FLEXIBLE ZONING LOW FEES 250.865.4000 business@elkford.ca
www.elkford.ca/invest INVEST in BC 2 0 2 5
45
CARIBOO ▷ 100 Mile House
▷ Quesnel
▷ Barkerville
▷ Valemount
▷ Mackenzie
▷ Wells
▷ McBride
▷ Williams Lake
▷ Prince George
OF B.C. 3% SHARE POPULATION
PLAYING ITS PART: McBride worked with Integris Credit Union to keep local banking (above); Highway 16 corridor near McBride (right); Artemis Gold opened its Blackwater mine (bottom right) this year
Resourceful Adaptation The Cariboo demonstrates how once resource-dependent communities can keep pace with a changing economy
W
hen the Bank of Nova Scotia decided to close its branch in the village of McBride, a farming, logging and railway town of 600, in 2023, Dan Wingham sensed an opportunity. His employer, Integris Credit Union, had recently bought an insurance agency in the village. The local chamber of commerce, which had reconstituted itself after a COVID-19 hiatus, invited him to a meeting at McBride’s public library. So Wingham, manager, partnerships for Integris Credit Union, drove more 46 INVEST in BC 2 0 2 5
than two hours from his home in Prince George to find some 50 residents gathered. He sensed their fear at the prospect of losing their only financial institution. Asked to say a few words to the assembly, Wingham made one thing clear: “We’re not in the save-the-day business. We’re in the financial cooperation business.” After a rocky experience stepping into a similar banking void in Fraser Lake, Integris needed the community to play its part building the business case for opening a branch in McBride. The credit union needed both individuals and businesses to switch their accounts. For its part Integris rented a room in the library for a pop-up branch every other week for several months to facilitate account transfers until it could open a full-time branch in a disused former Airbnb property in March 2025. For its Restoring Financial & Economic Stability in McBride, B.C. project, Integris would go on to win the 2025 Community Project Award (Population less than 10,000) from BCEDA. But for the credit union, the bigger prize was the loyalty it won in the community. “By the time we opened our doors in March of this year we had almost achieved all our goals to the end of 2025,” Wingham says.
Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
CARIBOO
REGIONAL POPULATION
173,049 UNEMPLOYMENT RATE (MAY 2025)
6.9%
TOP EMPLOYERS BY INDUSTRY (2023) Health care & social assistance
16.2% 12% Manufacturing 10.7% Retail trade
FORECAST EMPLOYMENT GROWTH, 2024-34
2,800
BUILDING PERMIT VALUES (2024)
$428.7
TOP LEFT, CLOCKWISE: BUNLEE/SHUTTERSTOCK; NORTHERN BC TOURISM/ANDREW STRAIN; ARTEMIS GOLD
MILLION
Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
HOUSING STARTS (2024)
696
VALUE OF MAJOR PROJECTS PLANNED OR UNDER CONSTRUCTION (Q4 2024)
$14.5 BILLION
BUSINESS INCORPORATIONS (2024)
754
SOURCES: B.C. LABOUR MARKET OUTLOOK , STATISTICS CANADA AND B.C. STATS.
INVEST in BC 2 0 2 5
47
CARIBOO
B.C.’S HEARTLAND The Cariboo, spread across the plateau country at the centre of B.C., features several small, out-of-the-way settlements like McBride. It also includes Prince George, B.C.’s northern crossroads with its own university, international airport serving half a million passengers a year and a diverse industrial base. And it has a handful of mid-sized resource towns in between. The region’s economy is built on forest products, mining, agriculture, transportation and tourism. The Cariboo was the site of a gold rush in the 1850s and ’60s and continues to yield mineral wealth to this day. In fact, this year saw the first gold and silver pour at Artemis Gold’s Blackwater mine southwest of Prince George, creating more than 400 permanent jobs on-site. Also this year, Osisko Development obtained $450 million in financing to complete its Cariboo Gold Project near Wells, which is now expected to go into production in 2027 and operate for at least 16 years. The Gibraltar copper-molybdenum mine near Williams Lake, meanwhile, is the region’s largest private-sector employer with some 700 workers. In a vote of confidence for the local mining sector, multinational mining consultancy and service provider Metso Corp. announced the opening of a service centre in Prince George in 2024. Though the forest industry has retrenched as a result of depleted timber supplies, trade action and low lumber prices, businesses that support 48 INVEST in BC 2 0 2 5
cost efficiency and market diversification continue to prosper. Having acquired the Madill line of log loaders in 2023, DC Equipment commenced manufacturing the machines at a Prince George plant last year. Also in 2024, the provincial government approved a $1.6-billion expansion to the University Hospital of Northern B.C. that will include an acute cardiac care unit. Expected to break ground in 2026, the new facilities will open in 2031. Prince George continues to liven up its downtown with the opening of the Nanguz ’an Market, a cluster of retail outlets housed in brightly painted shipping containers at the Canada Games Plaza, next to the Prince George Conference and Civic Centre. Visitors can rent skates, bikes or fishing gear, shop for artisanal gifts, catch live performances and check out the visitor information centre all in one spot. THE FUELS OF THE FUTURE As in other regions, investment in renewable energy is ramping up. The Lheidli T’enneh Nation this year partnered with Spanish power producer Ecoener to develop a 140-megawatt wind farm in its territories at a cost of more than $400 million. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2029, backed by a 30-year power purchase agreement with BC Hydro. “We’ve got a low-carbon energy sector
developing in our region, which is very exciting,” says Deklan Corstanje, manager, economic development for the City of Prince George. The city is home to a renewable diesel refinery operated by Tidewater Renewables and this year Arbios Biotech opened a plant that converts forest waste into a renewable alternative to crude oil. Prince George is also helping lead a hydrogen hub centered on hydrogen production facilities proposed throughout the region. These plants are meant to supply a network of fuelling stations for the benefit of transport, logging and mining trucks across central and northern B.C. and into Alberta, and provide a clean feedstock for other fuel production. “Our region is supported greatly by heavy industries,” Corstanje explains, “and if we can make a lower-carbon energy accessible to our local companies and thereby mitigate the impact of carbon taxes, our region becomes more economically sustainable.” •
Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
TOP TO BOTTOM: ARBIOS BIOTECH; ECOENER
WHAT LIES BENEATH: Arbios Biotech (leftt) is making black gold from wood waste; Spain's Ecoener is partnering with Lheidli Tenneh on renewables (below)
PR INCE GE OR GE
PRINCE GEORGE: THE ECONOMIC ENGINE OF THE NORTH and manufacturing, and employed at over 8,200 local businesses. A STRATEGIC HUB FOR TRADE & TRANSPORT Prince George is strategically located at the intersection of Highways 16 and 97, and supported by an International Airport and CN Rail’s Intermodal hub. Its proximity to the Port of Prince Rupert positions the city two days closer to Asia-Pacific markets than any other major North American port.
N
estled at the confluence of the Fraser and Nechako Rivers, on the Traditional Territory of the Lheidli T’enneh, Prince George acts as a gateway for new opportunity, innovation and natural beauty. Long known for its resource-rich foundation and industrial roots, Prince George is a city where community
thrives, businesses scale and the wilderness is nearby. A GROWING CITY WITH PURPOSE With over 89,000 residents and a trade area of 332,000, Prince George is growing. The local workforce of 55,000 is diverse and skilled, contributing to high-value job sectors such as mining, construction
AN ECONOMY ON THE RISE Prince George set a new development record in 2024 with 417 building permits issued, totaling $267 million in value. This growth signals strong investor confidence in the city’s industrial and commercial sectors and reinforces its expanding economic base. Prince George also generated $65.4 million in hotel room revenue in 2024, suggesting a robust tourism sector.
Prince George_v2.indd 1
GROW YOUR BUSINESS IN PRINCE GEORGE 12-26 TRUCK HOURS
Access to North America Markets
2 MAJOR HIGHWAYS CROSS Location where Hwy 97 and 16 intercept
82 RAIL HOURS from Chicago 17 RAIL HOURS from Prince Rupert 2 DAYS FASTER FREIGHT
to Asia - Pacific via Port of Prince Rupert
250.561.7633 | www.princegeorge.ca
EDUCATION & HEALTHCARE: ENGINES OF GROWTH In 2023, UNBC secured $17.7 million in research funding, and its Northern Baccalaureate Nursing Program has been instrumental in addressing healthcare staffing needs in the region. Northern Health is undertaking the expansion of the University Hospital of Northern British Columbia (UHNBC) through the addition of a new Acute Care Tower, valued at $1.6B. As of early 2025, the organization employs over 3,200 positions in Prince George.
Learn more at ecdev@princegeorge.ca www.investprincegeorge.ca 250.561.7633 Connect on @cityofpg or @InvestCityofPG
2025-07-04 10:37 AM
NORTH COAST/NECHAKO ▷ Atlin
▷ Granisle
▷ Port Clements
▷ Skidegate
▷ Burns Lake
▷ Hazelton
▷ Port Edwards
▷ Smithers
▷ Cassiar
▷ Houston
▷ Port Simpson
▷ Telegraph Creek
▷ Dease Lake
▷ Kitimat
▷ Prince Rupert
▷ Telkwa
▷ Fort St. James
▷ Masset
▷ Queen Charlotte City
▷ Terrace
▷ Fraser lake
▷ New Hazelton
▷ Sandspit
▷ Vanderhoof
OF B.C. 1.8% SHARE POPULATION
Generational Opportunity The North Coast and Nechako regions are the site of mining development and energy export projects of national importance
50 INVEST in BC 2 0 2 5
Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
NORTH COAST/NECHAKO
REGIONAL POPULATION (2024)
100,681
NEW MARKETS OVERSEAS: Ridley Island Propane Export Terminal (right); LNG Canada site in Kitimat (below)
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE (MAY 2025)
6.6%
TOP EMPLOYERS BY INDUSTRY (2023) Health care & social assistance
5.7% 5.0% Transportation & Retail trade
TOP: PRINCE RUPERT PORT AUTHORITY; LEFT: LNG CANADA
I
n a speech to the business community in May, following the Trump administration’s imposition of tariffs on Canadian exports, B.C. Premier David Eby singled out the province’s North Coast and Nechako regions in his plan to respond to the new world economic order taking shape. “Today, communities in B.C.’s northwest—near the Alaska and Yukon borders—stand on the brink of a generational opportunity: to build lasting prosperity for our province and nation through true partnership with First Nations, while conserving the lands and waters we all depend on,” Eby said. “This region is rich in critical minerals and precious metals—the building blocks of modern life and the green technologies of tomorrow, from electric vehicles to wind turbines. As global demand for these minerals is projected to grow fivefold by 2040, B.C. has a vital role to play.” Indeed, the area north of Stewart has long been known in the mining exploration business as the Golden Triangle for its mineral abundance. It already has a handful of mines in operation and several more are in development, aided by new road and electric power infrastructure. The province is working towards agreements with First Nations and other stakeholders that will help expedite project approvals in the northwest and across B.C. The North Coast is likewise a linchpin to Canada’s export diversification efforts for its port and energy transportation infrastructure. LNG Canada, the country’s largest ever capital project, commenced operations in Kitimat in 2025. The first liquefied natural gas terminal to be built on the Pacific Coast of the Americas, it is designed to export 14 million tonnes of LNG to Asia per year, equivalent to around 8 percent of Canada’s entire natural gas production in 2024. Two more LNG terminals, Cedar LNG and Ksi Lisims, are in development on the North Coast. In March, natural gas producer ARC Resources signed a 20-year offtake agreement with ExxonMobil LNG Asia Pacific for approximately half the planned throughput for Cedar LNG. A joint venture between Pembina Pipeline Corp. and the Haisla First Nation, Cedar LNG is scheduled to come into service in 2028.
Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
warehousing
5.0%
FORECAST EMPLOYMENT GROWTH, 2024-34
4,800
BUILDING PERMIT VALUES (2024)
$155
MILLION HOUSING STARTS (2024)
233
(PRINCE RUPERT AND TERRACE ONLY)
VALUE OF MAJOR PROJECTS PLANNED OR UNDER CONSTRUCTION (Q4 2024)
$130.9 BILLION
BUSINESS INCORPORATIONS (2024)
357
SOURCES: B.C. LABOUR MARKET OUTLOOK , STATISTICS CANADA AND B.C. STATS.
INVEST in BC 2 0 2 5
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GATEWAY TO THE PACIFIC RIM Prince Rupert, meanwhile, is at long last coming into its own as the North American port served by transcontinental railways that is closest to Asian markets. Its Fairview container terminal, opened in 2007, continues to take business from more congested ports in Metro Vancouver and the U.S. West Coast. Port upgrades in progress include the $1.35-billion Ridley Island Energy Export Facility, a liquified petroleum gas (LPG) and methanol terminal, as well as South Kaien Logistics Park and CANXPORT, to support transloading, container storage and breakbulk operations. With the completion of Wolverine Terminals’ marine fuelling project, which allows visiting ships to refuel using fuel barges, “now we’re a full-service port,” says Paul Vendittelli, the City of Prince Rupert’s director of economic development and transportation. In June, Trigon Pacific Terminals committed a further $750 million to build a second LPG terminal at its existing bulk terminal capable of exporting 2.5 million tonnes of LPG beginning in 2029. Part of the effort to create a “hydrogen corridor” providing the emission-free fuel
HYDROGEN CORRIDOR: Empire Hydrogen set up three fuel stations in the Northwest
for heavy equipment and transport trucks between Prince George and the North Coast, Empire Hydrogen Energy Systems this year set up portable fuel stations in Smithers, Kitimat and Prince Rupert. Prince Rupert is also working with Hy2gen Canada to develop a facility on city-owned Watson Island to produce and export hydrogen and hydrogen-based feedstock. And last year Source3 Energy X signed a memorandum of understanding with the City of Terrace and the Kitselas First Nation to develop a clean hydrogen hub at the Skeena Industrial Development Park in that city.
Though the forest industry in the northwest, as in other regions, has been hampered by timber supply declines, low commodity prices and tariffs, innovation points to new opportunities. In late 2024, for example, Chrysalix Venture Capital of Vancouver committed funding to Deadwood Innovations for the purpose of building a plant in Fort St. James that can turn aspen and other waste wood into lumber using a thermo-chemical process. The project, in partnership with the Nak’azdli Whut’en First Nation’s Nak'azdli Development Corp., promises to make use of wood hitherto left to rot. •
SMI THER S
Where
Ambition Meets Adventure
WELCOME TO SMITHER’S— NORTHERN BRITISH COLUMBIA’S HIDDEN TREASURE
S Smithers is an economic, recreation, and cultural hub, offering a strategic location, vibrant community, and skilled workforce. With a sophisticated transportation network providing direct connections to major urban centres, it’s a place where business, lifestyle, and adventure come together. Whether you’re launching a venture or looking for balance, it all starts here.
www.smithers.ca
Town of Smithers: ecdev@smithers.ca Ph: 250-847-1600 52 INVEST in BC 2 0 2 5
mithers, the hub of economic development, recreation and culture in Northern BC’s Bulkley Valley, is bursting with opportunity. The town serves a regional population of 15,000, connected to major urban centres by Highway 16 (Yellowhead Highway), Smithers Regional Airport, and the CN Rail line, which links the bustling Port of Prince Rupert to global markets. Entrepreneurs, businesses and site selectors seek opportunities to grow and thrive, drawn by the town’s skilled labour and vibrant, growing community. The local economy includes forestry, mining
and exploration, healthcare, government services, education, retail, and tourism sectors—and entrepreneurs are delving into the diversity by exploring cluster development and leveraging the region’s transferable labour base. Visit the Town of Smithers website for business development support, including information on commercial space, business opportunities, statistics, and growth opportunities. Discover Smithers at smithers.ca/invest-smithers or connect on , or @TownofSmithers
Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
EMPIRE HYDROGEN ENERGY SYSTEMS
NORTH COAST/NECHAKO
K I TIMAT
KITIMAT 2025: INDUSTRY, OPPORTUNITY, COMMUNITY In British Columbia’s Northwest, Kitimat is transforming into a national centre for LNG exports and economic resilience.
A
nchored by the nearly complete LNG Canada terminal, Kitimat will begin shipping Canadian liquefied natural gas to international markets by late 2025. This milestone, along with construction of the Cedar LNG project—an Indigenous-led initiative spearheaded by the Haisla Nation—highlights Kitimat’s
vital role in advancing economic development in the region. Originally built in the 1950s to serve the aluminium sector, Kitimat remains home to Rio Tinto’s recently modernized smelter and a skilled workforce. Today, the town is a vibrant hub where global investment opportunities meet a balanced, West Coast lifestyle.
Kitimat boasts an impressive combination of robust infrastructure and affordability. With high-speed internet, rail connections, highway access and an airport just a 30-minute drive away, Kitimat is well-equipped to support growth. And with an average home priced at just $393,413, Kitimat offers a rare chance to own property in BC’s desirable real estate market. For residents, Kitimat’s short commutes mean more time to spend with loved ones in the easily accessible great outdoors or making new connections in the town’s many community gathering spaces. Kitimatians can hike, bike, boat or swim on the river, lake or ocean in summer; quench their thirst at the popular Two Peaks Brewery; perfect their swing at the Hirsch Creek Golf Club; work up a sweat at the town’s ample rec centres, yoga studios and ice rinks; or carve turns on the slopes
of nearby Shames Mountain in winter. Whether you’re looking for the right place to launch a project, grow your career or raise a family, Kitimat offers it all.
Connect with us: Walsham Tenshak Director of Economic Development, District of Kitimat 250-632-8900 ext.2255 wtenshak@kitimat.ca kitimatbound.ca Kitimat Bound Social Media: facebook.com/KitimatBound/ instagram.com/kitimatbound/ youtube.com/@kitimatbound8079
Kitimat_v2.indd 1
2025-07-02 9:14 AM
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Choose more freedom and adventure
Choose more investment opportunities
Choose more affordable homes
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INVEST in BC 2 0 2 5
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NORTHEAST ▷ Chetwynd
▷ Hudson’s Hope
▷ Dawson Creek
▷ Pouce Coupe
▷ District of Mackenzie
▷ Taylor
▷ Fort Nelson
▷ Tumbler Ridge
▷ Fort St. John
OF B.C. 1.3% SHARE POPULATION
The Few, the Proud The energy-rich Northeast punches well above its weight economically
T
hough sparsely populated, the plains and foothills of the Northeast make an outsized contribution to B.C.’s economic output. This is the wellspring of the energy industry, home to natural gas exploration, production, transmission and processing as well as much of the renewable hydroelectric and wind power that’s helping fuel the province’s energy transition. The Northeast is also the locus of metallurgical coal mines that supply the raw material for steel mills as far away as South Korea and Japan. It boasts a substantial forest sector, though this has suffered declines in recent years related to a falling timber supply, tariffs and duties and other issues. And, contiguous with the prairie provinces, it has a resilient agriculture industry based on grains and cattle ranching. Statistics consistently show the Northeast has the highest workforce participation rate among working-age people in B.C. and among the highest average household incomes. With average home prices roughly a third of the cost of Metro Vancouver, it’s a place where young families can thrive. The Site C hydroelectric project on the Peace River is now complete. In the coming years, it is projected to increase B.C. Hydro’s electrical output by approximately 8 percent. And more green energy may be on the way. Saulteau First Nations and Natural Forces have plans to expand their existing Sukunka wind farm with the Sukunka North Wind Project, an array of up to 10 seven-megawatt wind turbines south of Chetwynd. The Saulteau are also working with EDF Renewables to bring the 200-megawatt Taylor Wind Project online. Not to be outdone, the West Moberly First Nations have a joint venture with Innergex to build the 200-mW Stewart Creek Wind Project. 54 INVEST in BC 2 0 2 5
Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
NORTHEAST
REGIONAL POPULATION (2024)
72,015
POWER MOVE: The Site C dam (top left and below) began generating this year and there are more renewable projects (left) on tap
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE (MAY 2025)
8.5%
TOP EMPLOYERS BY INDUSTRY (2023) Retail trade
14.4%
Mining & oil & gas extraction
12.6% 11.8%
Construction
FORECAST EMPLOYMENT GROWTH, 2024-34
2,400
BUILDING PERMIT VALUES (2024)
$113.7 MILLION
HOUSING STARTS (2024)
TOP LEFT AND LEFT: BC HYDRO; TOP RIGHT: THINK A/SHUTTERSTOCK
177
Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
VALUE OF MAJOR PROJECTS PLANNED OR UNDER CONSTRUCTION (Q4 2024)
$35.4 BILLION
BUSINESS INCORPORATIONS (2024)
541
SOURCES: B.C. LABOUR MARKET OUTLOOK , STATISTICS CANADA AND B.C. STATS.
INVEST in BC 2 0 2 5
55
FEEDSTOCK: Pacific Canbriam plans to build a second natural gas processing plant near Fort St. John (above); there are also hopes for a hydrogen hub (left)
B.C.’S GAS FINALLY FINDS ITS MARKET The full impact on the natural gas sector of LNG Canada’s offtake has yet to be felt, and three more LNG export facilities are in the works. This promises to finally see the enormous Montney and Horn River gas formations, once considered too remote to be economical, to be developed at scale. Pipeline company Enbridge has plans for expansion of its Sunrise network in the region to boost the flow of natural gas to southern B.C. and the U.S. Pacific Northwest. Pacific Canbriam, which already operates the Altares gas plant in the Northeast, has applied to construct a second processing facility, Kobes, northwest of Fort St. John. It is meant 56 INVEST in BC 2 0 2 5
to supply gas to the Woodfibre LNG export terminal under construction near Squamish. Still awaiting a final investment decision from proponent NorthRiver Midstream is the Northeast B.C. Connector Project, consisting of two liquid natural gas pipelines running from Wonowon, north of Fort St. John, to a delivery site in Alberta. Looking further into the future, Foresight Canada and B.C.’s Clean Energy and Major Projects Office are exploring the opportunity to create a “hydrogen hub” in the Northeast that would capture “blue” hydrogen derived from hydrocarbons for use in emissions-free heavy truck and rail transport while sequestering the carbon dioxide produced deep underground. Conuma Resources, which restarted
three idled steelmaking coal mines near Tumbler Ridge between 2016 and 2020, is now taking steps to revive the Quintette and Peace River Coal mines to replace supply from its earlier acquisitions, now becoming depleted. These larger resource sites are expected to support mining activity for decades to come. Meanwhile a Calgary company, CTI Plus Resources, has entered the regulatory process to bring a new greenfield mine, Rocky Creek, into production south of Chetwynd. Canfor Corp.’s decision to close its Plateau and Fort St. John sawmills in late 2024 was a blow to the area’s forest industry, leaving loggers and remanufacturers looking for ways to create new products, markets and supply chains. The 2021 Yahey court decision, which found that past resource development had cumulatively infringed on the rights of Treaty 8 First Nations, and the ensuing 2023 accord between the Blueberry River First Nation and the provincial government has reconfigured the pathways to development in the Northeast. New relationships are intended to be more inclusive and responsive to the interests of the area’s Indigenous inhabitants while also establishing certainty for resource developers and investors. Bit by bit, the stakeholders are establishing a template for land and resource management being watched across Canada. •
Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
TOP TO BOTTOM: PACIFIC CANBRIAM ENERGY; SCHARFSINN/SHUTTERSTOCK
NORTHEAST
DI S TR IC T OF MA CK ENZIE
LIVE WILD AND FREE IN MACKENZIE, BC
L
eave the bustle of the city behind so you can grow your business—and your boundless lifestyle. That’s the pull of Mackenzie, BC, an incredible place to live, work and thrive. Located in north-central British Columbia, 185 km north of Prince George, Mackenzie sits in the epic Rocky Mountain Trench. Its 3,300 residents can attest—Mackenzie is a small town in a seriously big landscape with every imaginable adventure at your fingertips. Rich opportunities in mining, forestry, green energy, technology and tourism have attracted a highly skilled workforce with expertise in forestry, trades, transportation and logistics. Low land costs, competitive tax rates, and available power and rail access sweeten the draw for industry, as do low tax rates and municipally owned light to medium industrial lots for sale
near major industrial operations and service providers. Your ideal lifestyle starts with the average home priced at $205,000 and a median family income of $109,000. Enjoy short commutes, no lineups and the ability to start dinner within 10 minutes of leaving work. Walk to the lake from downtown, discover more than 800 lakes
within 70 km, and find big thrills on BC’s longest shuttle-access downhill mountain biking trail. With endless trails for hiking, Nordic skiing, mountain biking and snowmobiling, and exciting annual events, like Rockin’ the Ridgeline, Morfee Lake Scramble and Winter Quest, Mackenzie is your next step to quite literally living the dream.
District of Mackenzie_v3.indd 1
Explore investment in Mackenzie before the competition catches on. Visit districtofmackenzie.ca or connect on @districtofmackenzie @tourismmackenziebc @districtofmackenzie
2025-07-04 7:55 AM
THIS IS WHERE HOME OWNERSHIP IS A REALITY Help your workforce put down roots, not just pay rent.
districtofmackenzie.ca
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INVEST in BC 2 0 2 5
57
F OR T S T. J OHN
ENTREPRENEURS CALL FORT ST. JOHN HOME FOR THE AFFORDABILITY, ECONOMY AND COMMUNITY HOMESTEADER HEALTH FOODS Trish and Steve Brousson were always interested in healthy living, but they had no idea how this passion would change their lives, until a small health food business came up for sale in Fort St. John in 1989. They couldn’t resist. Fort St. John offered everything they wanted—affordable rents, reasonable taxes and a strong community. “A big advantage of doing business in a tight-knit community is, you get to know your customers,” Trish says. “That means your customers are also your friends.” The couple truly learned about community in 1998, after they lost the store in a fire. Within five days, the community had come together to help set up a new location, where the store operated for the next 15 years. Today, the store brings wholesome food and supplements to its four locations in BC and Alberta. 58 INVEST in BC 2 0 2 5 Fort St John.indd 1
“Living in a smaller community, there’s always so much more,” Trish says. COBS BREAD BAKERY Hardik Patel moved to Fort St. John from India in 2013 to continue his education and settle down in Canada. He finished a diploma in Business Management from Northern Lights College and set his sights on a business opportunity—COBS Bread Bakery. He loved that the fresh bread franchise donates its leftovers to charities and food banks. “I was a customer before and always loved COBS products,” Patel says. “We decided to invest our time, money and life in Fort St. John.” He and his wife opened the bakery in 2020 after researching the economic advantages of Fort St. John—affordability, abundant real estate options and friendly, helpful landlords. Community support was instrumental to the bakery’s success while navigating the
challenges of opening during the pandemic. Customers visited every day while patiently following the pandemic’s safety guidelines— sometimes waiting in -40 degree Celsius cold! PIMM’S PRODUCTION EQUIPMENT, INSTRUMENTATION, ELECTRICAL Ted Primm, general manager of Pimm’s Production Equipment, Instrumentation, Electrical, has felt connected to Fort St. John his entire life. The family business was founded there in 1980, and three generations later, it is still providing for the oil and gas industry from northern BC to western Alberta. Thanks to endless possibilities in the Peace River region, the business has expanded its services to include telecommunications, IT, computer communication equipment, air compressors, millwrighting and more. “Economically, the city has been a boon for the company,
and geographically, it has been well-positioned to thrive in multiple industries,” Primm says. The company’s multigenerational success has allowed it to stay agile and branch out to other industries. “We didn’t choose Fort St, John,” Primm says. “It chose us.” POWERING POSSIBILITY Fort St. John is well-known as a Peace River Region hub and an area of progress, growth and opportunity.
Ready to discover yours? Visit | fortstjohn.ca Connect |
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2024-07-18 10:53 AM
34
MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS ASSOCIATIONS/TRUSTS BC Aviation Council Dave Frank, Executive Director info@bcaviationcouncil.org 306 – 8300 Bennett Road, Richmond, BC, V6Y 1N5 bcaviationcouncil.org BC Council of Forest Industries (COFI) Travis Joern, Director of Communications Joern@cofi.org 585 Howe St, Suite 1220, Vancouver, BC, V6C 2T5 cofi.org BC Centre for Agritech Innovation, a Simon Fraser University initiative bc_cai@sfu.ca 13450 - 102nd Avenue, Surrey, BC, V3T 0A3 sfu.ca/agritech-innovation.html Cando Ray Wanuch, Executive Director cando@edo.ca 9635 – 45 Avenue, Edmonton, AB, T6E 5Z8 edo.ca Economic Developers Association of Canada Penny Gardiner, Executive Director gardiner@edac.ca edac.ca ETSI-BC (Economic Trust of the Southern Interior) Laurel Douglas, Chief Executive Officer laurel@etsi-bc.ca 201 – 460 Doyle Avenue, Kelowna, BC, V1Y 0C2 etsi-bc.ca Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium David Munro, Manufacturing Consortium Manager, British Columbia dmunro@emccanada.org Box 396, Owen Sound, ON, N4K 5P7 emccanada.org Hydrogen British Columbia Todd Romaine, Executive Director info@canadaH2.ca canadah2.ca International Economic Development Council Nathan Ohle, President & CEO 1275 K Street, Suite 300, Washington, DC USA, 20005-4083 iedconline.org Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC TJ Schur, CEO info@iafbc.ca PO Box 8248, Victoria, BC, V8W 3R9 iafbc.ca Island Coastal Economic Trust Brodie Guy, Chief Executive Officer brodie@islandcoastaltrust.ca #108 – 501 4th Street, Courtenay, BC, V9N 1H3 islandcoastaltrust.ca Northern Development Initiative Trust Felicia McGee, Senior Director, Economic Development and Programming info@northerndevelopment.bc.ca 301-1268 Fifth Avenue, Prince George, BC, V2L 3L2 northerndevelopment.bc.ca PNWER Matt Morrison, CEO/Executive Director matt.morrison@pnwer.org 2200 Alaskan Way, Suite 460, Seattle, WA USA, 98121 pnwer.org
60 INVEST in BC 2 0 2 5
Technology Professionals BC John Leech, CEO info@techprobc.org techprobc.org Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association Ellen Walker-Matthews, CEO info@totabc.com 101–1865 Dilworth Drive, Suite #329, Kelowna, BC, V1Y 9T1 totabc.org WeBC Shauna Harper, CEO hello@we-bc.ca Suite 201, 1726 Dolphin Avenue, Kelowna, BC, V1Y 9R9 we-bc.ca
CARIBOO Cariboo Regional District Beth Holden, Regional Economic & Community Development Officer bholden@cariboord.ca Suite D, 180 North Third Avenue, Williams Lake, BC, V2G 2A4 cariboord.ca City of Prince George Deklan Corstanje, Manager, Economic Development deklan.corstanje@princegeorge.ca 1100 Patricia Boulevard, Prince George, BC, V2L 3V9 princegeorge.ca City of Quesnel Amy Reid, Manager of Economic Development & Tourism areid@quesnel.ca 410 Kinchant Street, Quesnel, BC, V2J 7J5 quesnel.ca City of Williams Lake Beth Veenkamp, Economic Development Officer bveenkamp@williamslake.ca 450 Mart Street, Williams Lake, BC, VG 1N3 williamslake.ca District of 100 Mile House Joanne Doddridge, Director of Economic Development & Planning jdoddridge@100milehouse.com PO Box 340, 100 Mile House, BC, V0K 2E0 100milehouse.com District of Mackenzie Rachelle Richman, Economic Development Clerk rrichman@districtofmackenzie.ca 1 Mackenzie Blvd, Bag 340, Mackenzie, BC, V0J 2C0 districtofmackenzie.ca Sasuchan Development Corporation Michael Robert, CEO mrobert@sasuchan.ca 510 Carney St, Prince George, BC, V2M 2K6 sasuchan.ca Tsilqot’in National Government Dolly Kershaw, Economic Opportunities Coordinator dkershaw@tsilhqotin.ca 253 4th Ave N, Williams Lake, BC, V2G 4T4 tsilhqotin.ca Village of McBride Karen Dube, Community Economic Development Coordinator karen@mcbride.ca 100 Robson Centre, 855 SW Frontage Rd., PO Box 519, McBride, BC, V0J 2E0 mcbride.ca
Williams Lake First Nation Kirk Dressler, Director of Legal and Corporate Services kirk.dressler@wlfn.ca 315 Yorston Street, Williams Lake, BC, V2G 1H1 wlfn.ca Xatsull First Nation Chylane Diablo, CAO cao@xatsull.com 3474A Mountain House Rd., Williams Lake, BC, V2G 5L5 xatsull.com
CORPORATE 468 Communications 468insider.com Tim Fry, President tim@468communications.com 468insider.com AFC Services Dr. Alireza Farahani, Business & Urban/Regional Economic Development Expert alirezaffarahani@outlook.com Port Moody, BC, V3H 3A5 Airbnb airbnb.ca BC Hydro bizdev@bchydro.com 333 Dunsmuir St, 15th floor, Vancouver, BC, V6B 5R3 choose.bchydro.com BC Infrastructure Benefits Greg Johnson, Executive Director, Stakeholder & Community Relations gjohnson@bcib.ca bcib.ca Borrow Enterprises Ltd. Doug Borrow, President dborrow@beltd.ca Clearwater, BC, V0E 1N2 beltd.ca Business Development Bank of Canada info@bdc.ca bdc.ca Cityviz Sasha Bogdanovic, Chief Technical Officer info@cityviz.ca cityviz.ca Deloitte Jamie Vann Struth jvannstruth@deloitte.ca Vancouver, BC deloitte.com Destination BC Spencer Toth, Senior Program Advisor, Destination Development spencer.toth@destinationbc.ca 12th Floor – 510 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6C 3A8 destinationbc.ca Empowell Enterprises Inc. Michelle Wu, Project Coordinator michelle.wu@sunshinecoastbc.org 204 - 7385 Duncan St, Powell River, BC, V8A 1W6 ExecutivePulse Laith Wardi, President lwardi@e-pulse.net executivepulse.com FortisBC Surrey, BC, fortisbc.com
Gafka, Valerie ProjectsByVal@gmail.com Langley, BC, Indigenous Tourism BC Paula Amos, Chief Marketing and Development Officer paula@indigenousbc.com 707-100 Park Royal South, West Vancouver, BC, V7T 1A2 www.indigenousbc.com John Watson Consulting John Watson, Economic Development john@johnwatsonconsulting.com Courtenay, BC, V9J 1W4 Localintel Dave Parsell, Co-Founder & CEO dave@localintel.co Suite 1680; 401 W Georgia St, Vancouver, BC, V6B 5A1 ecdev.org Meet in Penticton Karen Davy, Convention Bureau Manager ask@meetinpenticton.com Penticton, BC meetinpenticton.com O’Leary & Associates Ltd. Colin O’Leary, Principal colin@olearyandassociates.ca Kamloops, BC olearyandassociates.ca ResearchFDI Amber Hunter, EVP, North America info@researchfdi.com 2075 Blvd Robert-Bourassa, Suite 1202, Montreal, QC, H3A 2L1 researchfdi.com Sklar Consulting Alissa Sklar, Ph.D. alissa@sklar-consulting.com Montreal, QC sklar-consulting.com SuccessionReady James Grieve, Co-Founder james@catalyst-strategies.com Kelowna, BC successionready.ca
GOVERNMENT Ministry of Jobs and Economic Growth Provincial programs and supports for economic development: economicdevelopment@gov.bc.ca Investment, business expansion and trade: International@gov.bc.ca Small business supports: Business.Advisors@gov.bc.ca gov.bc.ca Procurement Assistance Canada questions@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca canada.ca/en/public-services-procurement. html Provincial Nominee Program PNPConcierge@gov.bc.ca welcomebc.ca
KOOTENAY Castlegar and District Chamber of Commerce Tammy Verigin-Burk, Executive Director cdcoced@castlegar.com 1810 8th Avenue Unit A, Castlegar, BC, V1N 2Y2 chamber.castlegar.com
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Christina Gateway Community Development Association Tracey MacGregor, Community and Economic Development Coordinator info@christinagateway.ca 1675 Highway 3, Christina Lake, BC, V0H 1E2 christinagateway.ca City of Cranbrook Darren Brewer, Business Development Officer darren.brewer@cranbrook.ca 40 10 Ave S, Cranbrook, BC, V1C 2M8 choosecranbrook.ca City of Revelstoke Cat Moffat, Community Economic Coordinator ced@revelstoke.ca 301 Victoria Road West, PO Box 2398, Revelstoke, BC, V0E 2S0 chooserevelstoke.ca Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce Pete Bourke, Executive Director executivedirector@cvchamber.ca 651 Hwy 93/95, PO Box 1019, Invermere, BC, V0A 1K0 cvchamber.ca Community Futures Central Kootenay Andrea Wilkey, Executive Director awilkey@futures.bc.ca 201-514 Vernon St, Nelson, BC, V1L 4E7 futures.bc.ca Community Futures East Kootenay Kerstin Renner, General Manager info@cfek.ca #100 131 7th Ave S, Cranbrook, BC, V1C 2J3 cfek.ca Golden Community Economic Development Jill Dewtie, Executive Director jill@goldenced.ca 202- 421 9th Ave North, ox 746, Golden, BC, V0A 1H0 goldenced.ca Ktunaxa Enterprises Ltd. Kevin Weaver, Director - Business Development kevin.weaver@ktunaxaenterprises.ca 1629 Baker St., Cranbrook, BC, V1C 1B4 ktunaxaenterprises.ca Lower Columbia Community Development Team Society Cam Whitehead, Executive Director cam@lccdts.com 1499 Bay Ave, Trail, BC, V1R 4A9 lccdts.com Nakusp and Area Development Board Aidan McLaren-Caux, Economic Development Coordinator aidan@nadb.ca Box 15, Nakusp, BC, V0G 1R0 nadb.ca
MAINLAND SOUTHWEST Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce Alex Mitchell, CEO ceo@abbotsfordchamber.com 207 - 32900 South Fraser Way, Abbotsford, BC, V2S 5A1 abbotsfordchamber.com Bowen Island Municipality Stefania Shortt, Committee Clerk & EDC Liaison bim@bimbc.ca 981 Artisan Lane, Bowen Island, BC, V0N 1G2 bowenislandmunicipality.ca Chilliwack Economic Partners Corporation Brian Coombes, President info@chilliwackpartners.com 46115 Yale Road, Chilliwack, BC, V2P 2P2 businessinchilliwack.com City of Abbotsford Kim O’Sullivan, Economic Development Coordinator econdev@abbotsford.ca 32315 South Fraser Way, Abbotsford, BC, V2T 1W7 abbotsfordsitefinder.ca
City of Coquitlam Edward Tain, Business Growth Manager economicdevelopment@coquitlam.ca 3000 Guildford Way, Coquitlam, BC, V3B 7N2 coquitlam.ca City of Delta Donny van Dyk, City Manager citymanager@delta.ca 4500 Clarence Taylor Crescent, Delta, BC, V4K 3E2 delta.ca City of Langley Wendy Dupley, Economic Development Advisor business@langleycity.ca 20399 DOUGLAS CRESCENT, Langley, BC, V3A 4B3 langleycity.ca City of Maple Ridge Karen Hansen, Economic Development Assistant invest@mapleridge.ca 11995 Haney Place, Maple Ridge, BC, V2X 6A9 mapleridge.ca City of Mission Stacey Crawford, Director of Economic Development scrawford@mission.ca 34033 Lougheed Highway, Mission, BC, V2V 5X8 mission.ca City of New Westminster Carolyn Armanini, Acting Manager, Economic Development carmanini@newwestcity.ca 511 Royal Avenue, New Westminster, BC, V3L 1H9 newwestcity.ca City of Richmond Jill Shirey, Manager, Economic Development economicdev@richmond.ca 6911 No. 3 Road, Richmond, BC, V6Y 2C1 businessinrichmond.ca City of Surrey Stephen Wu, Manager, Economic Development swu@surrey.ca 13450 - 104 Avenue, Surrey, BC, V3T 1V8 investsurrey.ca City of Vancouver Siobian Smith, Director, Business and Economy siobian.smith@vancouver.ca 453 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Y 1V4 vancouver.ca Community Futures South Fraser Nicole Read, General Manager nicole.read@southfraser.com 303 – 46167 Yale Road, Chilliwack, BC, V2P 2P2 southfraser.com District of North Vancouver Neonila Lilova, Business and Economic Development Manager lilovan@dnv.org 355 West Queens Road, North Vancouver, BC, V7N 4N5 dnv.org District of Squamish Jen Stone, Economic Development Officer economicdevelopment@squamish.ca 37955 Second Avenue, PO Box 310, Squamish, BC, V8B 0A3 investsquamish.ca Downtown Surrey BIA Elizabeth Model, CEO info@downtownsurreybia.com 10362 King George Blvd, Surrey, BC, V3T 2W5 downtownsurrey.ca Hope Business Development Society Shilou Wold, Operations Coordinator operations@hopebc.ca 919 Water Ave, PO Box 370, Hope, BC, V0X 1L0 hopebc.ca Invest Vancouver Jacquie Griffiths, President info@investvancouver.ca Metrotower III, 4515 Central Boulevard, Burnaby, BC, V5H 0C6 investvancouver.ca
Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
Leq'a:mel Development Corporation Ron Smith , Chief Executive Officer ecdev@leqamel.ca #200 - 41350 Lougheed Highway, Deroche, BC, V0M 1G0 leqameldevelopmentcorporation.ca Stó:lō Community Futures Rocio Zielinski, General Manager rzielinski@stolocf.ca Bldg #5A - 2nd Floor, 7201 Vedder Road, Chilliwack, BC, V2R 4G5 stolocf.ca TTQ Economic Development Corp Darryl Peters, Business Manager dpeters@ttqecdev.com P O Box 606, Mount Currie, BC, V0N 2K0 xaxtsa.ca Xaxli'p Development Corporation Andrew Mercer, General Manager andrew.mercer@xaxlip.ca P.O. Box 1330, Lillooet, BC, V0K 1V0 xaxlip.ca Xwísten Michael McGee, Economic Development Coordinator ecdev@xwisten.ca Lot 1A Joseph Road, PO Box 190, Lillooet, BC, V0K 1V0 xwisten.wordpress.com
NECHAKO/NORTH COAST Central Coast Regional District Wylie Bystedt, Economic Development Officer grant.writer@ccrd.ca PO Box 186, Bella Coola, BC, V0T 1C0 ccrd.ca City of Prince Rupert Paul Vendittelli, Manager of Transportation and Economic Development paul.vendittelli@princerupert.ca 424 - 3rd Avenue West, Prince Rupert, BC, V8J 1L7 princerupert.ca Community Futures Nadina Kim Martinsen, General Manager kmartinsen@cfnadina.ca Unit A - 2430 Butler Avenue, PO Box 236, Houston, BC, V0J 1Z0 cfnadina.ca District of Fort St. James district@fortstjames.ca 477 Stuart Drive West, Box 640, Fort St. James, BC, V0J 1P0 fortstjames.ca District of Houston Viktor Elias, Economic Development Officer velias@houston.ca 3367 - 12th Street, PO Box 370, Houston, BC, V0J 1Z0 houston.ca District of Kitimat Walsham Tenshak, Director of Economic Development and Communications wtenshak@kitimat.ca 270 City Centre, Kitimat, BC, V8C 2H7 kitimat.ca Key-Oh Business Development Corporation Corrine Swenson, General Manager generalmanager@key-ohbusiness.ca Bag 9000, Burns Lake, BC, V0J 1E0 tsilkazkoh.ca/kbdc Kispiox Band Jessica Tait, Economic Development Officer ecdev@kispioxband.ca 1336 Kispiox Valley Rd, Kispiox, BC, V0J 1Y4 kispioxband.ca Kitselas Development Corporation Darrin McCormack, CEO ceo@kitselasdlp.ca 2225 Gitaus Road, Terrace, BC, V8G 0A9 kitselas.com/business/developmentcorporation
North Coast Regional District Chantal Wentland, Planning/Economic Development Officer planning@ncrdbc.com 14-342 3rd Ave Prince Rupert, BC V8J 1L5 ncrdbc.com Old Masset Village Council Ivy Bell, Lands Manager ecdev@omvc.ca 348 Eagle Ave, Masset, BC, V0T 1M0 oldmassettvillagecouncil.com Regional District of Bulkley Nechako Nellie Davis, Manager of Regional Economic Development nellie.davis@rdbn.bc.ca 37 3rd Avenue, PO Box 820, Burns Lake, BC, V0J 1E0 rdbn.bc.ca Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine Meghan Bowles, Economic Development Officer mbowles@rdks.bc.ca 4545 Lazelle Ave – Suite 300, Terrace, BC, V8G 4E1 rdks.bc.ca Saik'uz First Nation Vincent Wickham, Manager, Economic Development vincent.wickham@saikuz.com 135 Joseph St, Vanderhoof, BC, V0J 3A1 saikuz.com Town of Smithers Jill Barrowman, Economic Development Officer ecdev@smithers.ca 1027 Aldous Street, PO Box 879, Smithers, BC V0J 2N0 smithers.ecdev.org Village of Burns Lake Frank Peebles, Economic Development Officer edo@burnslake.ca 15 3rd Ave, PO Box 570, Burns Lake, BC, V0J 1E0 burnslake.ca Village of Fraser Lake Jesse Gervais, Economic Development Officer and Deputy Corporate Officer jgervais@fraserlake.ca PO Box 430, Fraser Lake, BC, V0J 1S0 fraserlake.ca Village of Granisle Selina Pechlaner, Economic Development and First Nations Liaison ecdev@villageofgranisle.ca PO Box 128, Granisle, BC, V0J 1W0 granisle.ca
NORTHEAST Chetwynd Chamber of Commerce Naomi Larsen, Executive Director manager@chetwyndchamber.ca Box 870, Chetwynd, BC, V0C 1J0 chetwyndchamber.ca City of Fort St. John Jennifer Decker, Director of Planning & Engineering jdecker@fortstjohn.ca 10631 - 100 Street, City of Fort St. John, BC, V1J 3Z5 fortstjohn.ca District of Taylor Ryan Galay, Director of Community Services rgalay@districtoftaylor.com 10007 – 100th A Street, Box 300, Taylor, BC, V0C 2K0 districtoftaylor.com District of Tumbler Ridge Jessie Olsen, Director, Economic & Community Development jolsen@dtr.ca 305 Iles Way, Box 100, Tumbler Ridge, BC, V0C 2W0 investtumblerridge.ca Northern Rockies Regional Municipality Krista Vandersteen, Regional Development Officer kvandersteen@northernrockies.ca 5319 - 50 Avenue South, Bag Service 399, Fort Nelson, BC, V0C 1R0 investnorthernrockies.ca
INVEST in BC 2 0 2 5
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Prophet River First Nations Lori Ackerman, Chief Administrative Officer lori.ackerman@prophetriverfn.ca PO Box 3250, Fort Nelson, BC, V0C 1R0 prophetriverfirstnation.com Saulteau First Nations Tonia Richter, Employment & Training Coordinator manager@chetwyndchamber.ca 1717 Boucher Lake Rd., Moberly Lake, BC, V0C 1X0 saulteau.com
NOT FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATION Co-operatives First info@cooperativesfirst.com 4-1810 8th Street East , Saskatoon, SK, S7H 0T6 cooperativesfirst.com Futurpreneur Canada Amy Moroni, Business Development Manager amoroni@futurpreneur.ca 2015 Main Street, Vancouver, BC, V5T 3C2 futurpreneur.ca North American Strategy for Competitiveness (NASCO) Rachel Connell, Vice President, Membership & Events rachel@nasconetwork.com 14902 Preston Road, Suite 404-533, Dallas, TX USA, 75254 nasconetwork.com
THOMPSON OKANAGAN Armstrong Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerce Patti Noonan, Executive Director manager@aschamber.com 3550 Bridge St, Box 118, Armstrong, BC, V0E 1B1 aschamber.com Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission Krista Mallory, Manager info@investkelowna.com 1450 K.L.O. Road, Kelowna, BC, V1W 3Z4 investkelowna.com City of Merritt David Zakall, Director of Community Services dzakall@merritt.ca Box 189, 1950 Mamette Ave, Merritt, BC, V1K 1B8 merritt.ca City of Penticton Blake Laven, Director of Development Services blake.laven@penticton.ca 325 Power Street, Penticton, BC, V2A 7K9 penticton.ca City of Vernon Roy Nuriel, Planning Assistant rnuriel@vernon.ca 3001 - 32 Ave, Vernon, BC, V1T 2L8 vernon.ca Community Futures Nicola Valley Mike Sahota, General Manager generalmanager@cfdcnv.com 2181 Quilchena Ave., Merritt, BC, V1K 1B8 cfdcnv.com Community Futures North Okanagan Leigha Horsfield, Executive Director leighah@futuresbc.com 3105 33rd Street, Vernon, BC, V1T 9P7 futuresbc.com Community Futures Thompson Country Blair Gray, General Manager bgray@communityfutures.net 330 Seymour St., Kamloops, BC, V2C 2G2 communityfutures.net District of Clearwater edo@docbc.ca 209 Dutch Lake Road, PO Box 157, Clearwater, BC, V0E 1N0 districtofclearwater.com District of Lake Country Ruth Sulentich, Economic Development & Public Engagement Specialist rsulentich@lakecountry.bc.ca Box 1414, Lake Country, BC, V4V 2M1 lakecountry.bc.ca
62 INVEST in BC 2 0 2 5
District of Sicamous/District of Sicamous Development Corporation Carly Procyshyn, Tourism & Economic Development Coordinator c.procyshyn@dosdc.ca 446 Main Street, PO Box 219, Sicamous, BC, V0E 2V0 sicamous.ca Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce Dan Proulx, General Manager manager@vernonchamber.ca 204-3002 32nd Ave., Vernon, BC, V1T 2L7 vernonchamber.ca Kelowna Chamber of Commerce Colleen Clark, Director of Operations hello@kelownachamber.org 544 Harvey Ave, Kelowna, BC, V1Y 6C9 kelownachamber.org Lytton First Nation Economic Development Corporation Troy MacBeth Abromaitis, Board Member tabromaitis@gmail.com 1570 Silo Road, Lytton, BC, V0K 1Z0 lfn.band Merritt and Nicola Valley Destination Marketing Society Melvina White, President envmerritt@gmail.com Box 159, Merritt, BC, V1K 1C6 experiencemerritt.com Neskonlith Indian Band Brad Arnouse, Councillor bradarnouse@neskonlith.net 737 Chief Neskonlith Drive, PO Box 318, Chase, BC, V0E 1M0 neskonlith.net Salmon Arm Economic Development Society edo@saeds.ca 220 Shuswap St NE, Salmon Arm, BC, V1E 4N2 saeds.ca Sc.wén_wen Economic Development Corporation Krista Stoesz, Manager businessdevelopment@ttes.ca 345-345 Chief Alex Thomas Way, Kamloops, BC, V2H 1H1 tkemlupsbusiness.ca Shuswap Economic Development Society Sue McCrae, President sue@shuswapecdev.ca 220 Shuswap St NE, PO Box 489, Sorrento, BC, V0E 2W0 shuswapecdev.ca South Okanagan Chamber Denise Blashko, Manager manager@sochamber.ca Box 1414, Oliver, BC, V0H 1T0 sochamber.ca Tourism Kamloops Nic Zdunich, Manager, Destination Development nic@tourismkamloops.com D-1420 Hugh Allen Drive, Kamloops, BC, V1S 1L8 tourismkamloops.com Town of Princeton Gary Schatz, Director of Economic Development & Tourism businessdevelopment@princeton.ca PO Box 670, Princeton, BC, V0X 1W0 princetonecdev.ca Venture Kamloops Jim Anderson, Executive Director janderson@venturekamloops.com 297 First Avenue, Kamloops, BC, V2C 3J3 venturekamloops.com Village of Ashcroft Margaret Moreira, Economic Development and Tourism Coordinator edt@ashcroftbc.ca 601 Bancroft Street, PO Box 129, Ashcroft, BC, V0K 1A0 ashcroftbc.ca
Village of Lumby Tom Kadla, CAO tomk@lumby.ca 1775 Glencaird Street, PO Box 430, Lumby, BC, V0E 2G0 lumby.ca
VANCOUVER ISLAND/COAST Ahousaht Nation Rob Bullock, Executive Director Rob.Bullock@ahousaht.ca General Delivery c/o Ahousaht Administration, Ahousaht, BC, V0R 1A0 ahousaht.ca City of Campbell River Rose Klukas, Director of Economic Development and Indigenous Relations rose.klukas@campbellriver.ca 301 St. Ann’s Road, Campbell River, BC, V9W 4C7 campbellriver.ca City of Langford Donna Petrie, Manager of Business Development and Events dpetrie@langford.ca 2nd Floor, 877 Goldstream Avenue, Langford, BC, V9B 2X8 langford.ca City of Nanaimo Amrit Manhas, Economic Development Officer economic.development@nanaimo.ca 455 Wallace Street, Nanaimo, BC, V9R 5J6 nanaimo.ca City of Port Alberni Patrick Deakin, Economic Development Manager Patrick_Deakin@portalberni.ca 4850 Argyle Street, Port Alberni, BC, V9Y 1V8 portalberni.ca City of Powell River Callie Matthews, Manager of Properties, Partnerships, and Public Relations cmatthews@powellriver.ca 6910 Duncan Street, Powell River, BC, V8A 1V4 prdiscoveryourself.ca City of Victoria Quinn Anglin, Business Ambassador qanglin@victoria.ca 1 Centennial Square, Victoria, BC, V8W 1P6 victoria.ca Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce Tracey Clarke, Executive Director executivedirector@comoxvalleychamber.com #103 576 England Ave, Courtenay, BC, V9N 2N3 comoxvalleychamber.com District of Saanich Mitchell Edgar, Economic Development Manager mitchell.edgar@saanich.ca 770 Vernon Ave, Victoria, BC, V8X 2W7 saanich.ca District of Sooke Gail Scott, Community Economic Development Officer gscott@sooke.ca 2205 Otter Point Road, Sooke , BC, V9Z 1J2 sooke.ca Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce Kim Smythe, President & CEO cao@nanaimochamber.bc.ca 2133 Bowen Road, Nanaimo, BC, v9s 1h8 nanaimochamber.bc.ca Heiltsuk Tribal Council Evangeline Clifton, Economic Development Officer evangeline.clifton@heiltsuk.ca 226 Wabalisla, PO Box 880, Bella Bella, BC, V0T1Z0 heiltsuknation.ca Hupa_asath First Nation Brandy Lauter, Chief Councillor brandy@hupacasath.ca 5500 Ahahswinis Dr, Port Alberni, , V9Y 8J9 hupacasath.ca
Huuayaht First Nations Piyush Pushkarna, Economic Development Manager piyush.p@huuayaht.org 4644 Adelaide Street, Port Alberni, BC, V9Y 6N4 huuayaht.org K’awat’si Economic Development Corporation Andrew Nixon, Business Development Manager andrew@kedc.ca PO Box 2009, Port Hardy, BC, V0N 2P0 kedc.ca Matullia Holdings LP - Songhees Nation John Rice, Property Manager matulliaholdingslp@gmail.com 1100 Admirals Road, Victoria, BC, V9A 2P6 songheesdevco.com Namgis Business Development Corp Gaby Wickstrom, Inerim CEO gaby.wickstrom@nbdc.ca P.O. Box 210 , Alert Bay, BC, V0N 1A0 nbdc.ca Nanoose Economic Development Corporation Kim Burden, Chief Executive Officer kim@nanoose-edc.com 209 Mallard Way, Lantzville, BC, V0R 2H0 nedmlp.com Sunshine Coast Regional Economic Development Organization Yarrow Drtina, Communications & Programs Manager info@scredo.ca PO Box 1754, Gibsons, BC, V0N 1V0 scredo.ca Town of Port McNeill Marilyn MacArthur, Economic Development Manager ecdev@portmcneill.ca PO Box 728, Port McNeill, BC , V0N 2R0 portmcneill.ca Town of Sidney Liam Edwards, CAO admin@sidney.ca 2440 Sidney Avenue, Sidney, BC, V8L 1Y7 sidney.ca Township of Esquimalt Terése Finegan, Manager of Economic Development terese.finegan@esquimalt.ca 1229 Esquimalt Rd, Esquimalt, BC, V9A 3P1 esquimalt.ca Tseshaht First Nation Ken Watts, Chief Councillor kenwatts@tseshaht.com 5091 Tsuma-as Drive, Port Alberni, BC, V9Y 8X9 tseshaht.com Uchucklesaht Tribe Government David McCormick, Economic Development Manager David.McCormick@uchucklesaht.ca 5251 Argyle Street, Port Alberni, BC, V9Y 1V1 uchucklesaht.ca Ucluelet First Nation Corey Rich, Economic Development Officer Corey.rich@ufn.ca 700 Way Road, Hitacu, BC, V0R 3A0 ufn.ca Village of Sayward Mark Baker, Mayor village@saywardvalley.ca 652 H’Kusam Way, PO Box 29, Sayward, BC, V0P 1R0 sayward.ca WestShore Chamber of Commerce Julie Lawlor, Executive Director jlawlor@westshore.bc.ca 2830 Aldwynd Road, Victoria, BC, V9B 3S7 estshore.bc.ca
Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
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