Invest in BC 2014

PACIFIC RIM POWER PLAY World awakens to fast two-way trade between British Columbia and Asia’s economic giants | 10

INVEST IN BC BUSINESS AND INVESTMENT ACROSS BRITISH COLUMBIA PUBLISHED BY

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION

BC Economic Development Association

02_INVEST IN BC 2014_P1-31_CS3.indd 1

18

24

27

FILM FRENZY

ADVENTURE TOURISM

REGIONAL ROUNDUP

2/11/14 8:37:39 AM

Kitimat Modernization Project Building the future together.

Over the years, Rio Tinto Alcan has been fueled by the dreams of people wanting to build a better future. In Kitimat it’s a dream that’s shared by our employees, unions, community leaders and local First Nations.

Working together we are building a cleaner, more environmentally responsible new smelter that will allow us to increase our production by 48%, securing well-paying jobs for our community for decades to come.

02_INVEST IN BC 2014_P1-31_CS3.indd 2

2/7/14 2:56:24 PM

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2/7/14 11:35:57 AM

CONTENTS OPEN GATEWAY Completion of 40-kilometre road latest link in $47 billion B.C. supply chain

14

BCEDA PARTNERS DIAMOND BC Hydro PLATINUM Wedler Engineering Legacy Pacific Land Corporation The Westin Bayshore, Vancouver Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel GOLD Grieg Seafood BC Ltd. Fortis BC SILVER Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of BC Vancouver Airport Authority BRONZE Prince Rupert Port Authority AdvantageBC Business in Vancouver Media Group International Council of Shopping Centers

LETTERS

Community Futures

7

Communica

INFOGRAPHICS 8 Population B.C. real estate investments B.C. housing by region B.C. 2014 economic forecasts snapshot Real GDP by sector Real GDP by industry

Downtown Surrey BIA Investment Consulting Associates

FEATURES Eastern promises Set up for opportunities Open gateway Lights! Camera! Invest!

Smart growth Adventurous investments BCEDA ASSOCIATION MEMBERS

18

10 12 14 18 21 24

Lights! Camera!

Invest!

More than 50 shades of locations make B.C. a film shooter’s fantasy

106

24

ADVENTUROUS INVESTMENTS Wilderness tour business has legs — and bounding interest from Asia

02_INVEST IN BC 2014_P1-31_CS3.indd 4

2/7/14 11:36:01 AM

The weld — A spark. A connection. Designed to assemble. To manufacture.

To build. Cars, boats, buildings, cities, economies, livelihoods.

The weld. Simple. Yet so essential.

The Northern Gateway Education and Training program is helping to provide the skills needed for pipeline and other construction jobs. At the end of 2013, the program had already impacted the lives of over 1,800 people in British Columbia and Alberta. This is just one of the ways we’re working to meet BC’s five conditions.

Find out more at gatewayfacts.ca

Working in partnership with B.C. and Alberta First Nations and Métis Communities, and leading energy companies in Canada.

© 2014 Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc.

02_INVEST IN BC 2014_P1-31_CS3.indd 5

2/7/14 11:36:01 AM

6 | INVEST IN BC 2014 PUBLISHED BY BUSINESS IN VANCOUVER

Contents 1"$*'*$ 3*.

108&3 1-": 8PSME BXBLFOT UP GBTU UXP XBZ USBEF CFUXFFO #SJUJTI $PMVNCJB BOE "TJB T FDPOPNJD HJBOUT

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REGIONS Lower Mainland/Southwest 27 Vancouver Island/Coast 44 Cariboo 54 Kootenay 60 Thompson Okanagan 70 North Coast 84 Northeast 91 Nechako 102

Lower Mainland/ Southwest

27

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#64*/&44 "/% */7&45.&/5 "$3044 #3*5*4) $0-6.#*" 16#-*4)&% #:

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PUBLISHER: Paul Harris MANAGING PUBLISHER: Gail Clark EDITOR-IN-CHIEF : Fiona Anderson EDITOR : Frank O’Brien GRAPHIC DESIGN: Randy Pearsall PROOFREADERS: Noa Glouberman,

Meg Yamamoto WRITERS : Noa Glouberman, Gordon Hamilton, Darah Hansen, Sean Kolenko, Peter Mitham Frank O’Brien, Frank Peebles, Scott Simpson, Janet Steffenhagen PRODUCTION MANAGER: Don Schuetze PRODUCTION: Rob Benac VP SALES: Kerry MacDonald SALES MANAGER: Joan McGrogan ADVERTISING SALES : Lori Borden, Corinne Tkachuk ADMINISTRATOR: Katherine Butler CONTROLLER: Marlita Hodgens PRESIDENT, BIV MEDIA GROUP: Paul Harris Invest in BC 2014 is published by BIV Magazines, a division of BIV Media Group, 102 Fourth Avenue East, Vancouver, B.C. V5T 1G2, 604-688-2398, fax: 604-688-1963, www.biv.com.

Nechako

Copyright 2014 Business in Vancouver Magazines. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or incorporated into any information retrieval system without permission of BIV Magazines.

The list of services provided in this publication is not necessarily a complete list of all such services available in Vancouver, B.C. The publishers are not responsible in whole or in part for any errors or omissions in this publication.

ISSN 1205-5662

102 Thompson Okanagan

70

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| 7

Letter from president and CEO, BC Economic Development Association

Investing in B.C. a smart decision

W Dale Wheeldon

elcome to Invest in BC 2014, the offical publication of the BC Economic Development Association (BCEDA). This annual publication strives to give you valuable information on the eight economic regions of British Columbia, as well as timely trends in our ever-changing economy. I hope that you find this information of value, and take the time to consider what an investment in British Columbia could do for you, or your business. Within these pages you will discover why investing in a British Columbia community will be one of the best decisions you will ever make.

BCEDA is the leading professional association of economic development practitioners in the province of B.C. BCEDA currently has more than 300 members from communities throughout the Province. BCEDA provides services that help member communities grow and expand new and existing businesses, attract new business investments and work towards strategic infrastructure investment, land use planning and community enhancement.

Our members make up a diverse group of professionals

committed to helping build British Columbia and its communities. They make it their agenda to bring the right people together at the right time to create valuable partnerships and build prosperity for all those involved.

It is widely known that British Columbia’s quality of life is second to none. If you have never had the opportunity to experience all that British Columbia has to offer, we invite you to pack your bags and take in one of the endless recreational possibilities. Snowboarding on a snow-capped mountain can be done on the same day as a sunbathing excursion to a pristine sandy beach. British Columbia’s only limits are your imagination.

Please feel free to contact me, my staff or any of our members to discuss anything about economic development in British Columbia. British Columbia communities are equipped to undertake investment and offer competitive advantages to help you maximize your profitability and success.

Dale Wheeldon President and CEO British Columbia Economic Development Association

Letter from the chair, BC Economic Development Association

British Columbia truly ‘open for business’

W Scott Randolph

02_INVEST IN BC 2014_P1-31_CS3.indd 7

elcome to the 2014 edition of Invest in BC. The British Columbia Economic Development Association (BCEDA) is pleased to once again partner with Business in Vancouver to produce this excellent publication. BCEDA represents more than 300 economic development professionals located in every region of the province, and its mandate is to assist them in making their communities and regions economically vibrant places to live and invest.

Inside the pages of this magazine you will find great information on the communities that comprise BCEDA’s membership and the many and varied opportunities that they have to offer. Whether it’s natural resources, energy, technology, food production, tourism, international education, or transportation and shipping, B.C. has a multitude of investment opportunities. The province’s many other advantages include a highly skilled workforce, low corporate tax rates, world-class infrastructure and services, as well as welcoming and inclusive communities.

Although many say it, British Columbia is truly “open for business.” The provincial government has worked diligently to create an investment-friendly environment by dispensing with red tape and streamlining regulatory processes. It has two ministries dedicated to developing B.C.’s economy. The Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training has many departments that assist investors in

being successful as well as working to help communities reach their economic goals. The Ministry of International Trade is the first stop for foreign companies and investors looking for opportunities in the province, and operates offices all over the world. BCEDA is proud to work closely with both ministries to help leverage the approximate $60 million that communities across B.C. invest annually in economic development and tourism services.

Besides professional development and investment attraction programs, the BCEDA is proud to deliver “BC Business Counts”, one of North America’s top business retention and expansion programs. More than 85 communities across British Columbia participate in the program in order to ensure the tools and supports are in place to assist businesses that have invested in them to be successful. These communities understand that a strong and stable business community produces growth and further investment.

In closing, I want to encourage all who read this publication to use it as a primer to further explore the investment opportunities that abound in all regions of the great province of British Columbia. The BC Economic Development Association stands at the ready to provide you with the information and direction you need to be a success.

Scott Randolph Chair British Columbia Economic Development Association

2/7/14 11:36:13 AM

8 | INVEST IN BC 2014 PUBLISHED BY BUSINESS IN VANCOUVER

REGIONAL POPULATION (2012) Biggest cities in each region (2011)

Northeast 70,682 FORT ST. JOHN

18,609

North Coast 58,068 PRINCE RUPERT

12,508

Nechako 39,249 SMITHERS

5,404

Cariboo 157,459 PRINCE GEORGE

71,974

Vancouver Island/Coast 788,756 SAANICH

109,752

Thompson/ Okanagan 531,657 KELOWNA

117,312

Kootenay 150,286 CRANBROOK

19,319 Lower Mainland/ Southwest 2,826,416 VANCOUVER

Millions

B.C. POPULATION 4.6 4.4 4.2 4.0 3.8 3.6 3.4 3.2 3.0

SOURCES: CENSUS CANADA 2011; STATS CANADA 2012

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SOURCE: STATISTICS CANADA,

02_INVEST IN BC 2014_P1-31_CS3.indd 8

2/7/14 11:36:15 AM

| 9

B.C. REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS

B.C. HOUSING BY REGION

(Properties $5 million and higher)

2.5

1.5 1.0 0.5 08 09 010 011 012 13* 2 2 20 20 20 2 *PROJECTED SOURCE: AVISON YOUNG MID-YEAR 2013 INVESTMENT REVIEW

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ĂŠ

3.5%

Corporate profits, percentage change

11.3%

ĂŠ

15.3%

Personal income, percentage change

2.7%

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Net immigration (000s)

35.9

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REAL GDP BY SECTOR Goods-producing industries

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SOURCES: BANK OF CANADA, CENTRAL 1 CREDIT UNION

76% Service-producing industries

COMPOSITION OF B.C. REAL GDP BY INDUSTRY Real estate sales & leasing Other Wholesale and retail trade Construction Manufacturing Natural resources Health care & social assistance Public administration

$189 billion

Finance & insurance Transportation & warehousing

Real British Columbia GDP 2013*

Educational services Professional, scientific & technical services 2%

4%

6%

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* PROJECTED

02_INVEST IN BC 2014_P1-31_CS3.indd 9

14%

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SOURCE: MINISTRY OF FINANCE, BC STATS

2/7/14 11:36:18 AM

10 | INVEST IN BC 2014 PUBLISHED BY BUSINESS IN VANCOUVER

EASTERN PROMISES Two-way trade with China has increased sixfold in a decade

GORDON HAMILTON

W

hen Chinese-owned Roc Holdings bought West Fraser Timber’s Terrace sawmill in 2011, owner Teddy Cui knew he was getting an old mill with a problematic timber supply.

Roc Holdings owner Teddy Cui holds a wafer from a 124-yearold hemlock tree from Skeena sawmill’s Tree Farm Licence 41 near Terrace. Chinese-owned Roc Holdings bought the sawmill and forest tenure from West Fraser Timber in 2011, reopening the mill one year ago | GORDON HAMILTON

l

The lumber market was bouncing a lon g t he b ot tom of a re cord downturn; prices couldn’t get much worse. But by November 2012, when the refurbished mill opened, prices had picked up and business analysts were talking about the beginning of a “supercycle”.

Roc Holdings bought the defunct business for an undisclosed amount, making a foreign direct investment (FDI) into the B.C. economy.

As the province looks increasingly to Asia for new markets, the new face of investment in B.C. is people like Cui – entrepreneurs willing to take risks. Their strategy is simple: as Asia’s economy grows, so will demand for B.C. products.

All nations seek to attract FDI to enhance economic growth. In B.C., Asian investment and trade has grown to the point where it is a new driver of growth.

There is no accurate data to measure FDI in B.C. alone. National statistics show that for Canada as a whole, Asian investment remains a small piece of the pie. In 2012, Japan and China together accounted for only 4.7 per cent of the $634 billion in total FDI in Canada.

Although there is no B.C.-specific data, anecdotal evidence suggests that just as trade is on the rise, so is foreign investment.

“We are starting to see a lot more activity inbound,” says Ben Arber, head of trade and supply chain for HSBC Canada.

“We are now seeing Asian companies more acquisitive; they are more keen to set up businesses and acquire businesses as a whole.”

However, he says, tighter federal policies governing FDI by sovereign wealth funds have prompted Asian companies to be less conspicuous. They are picking up medium-sized Canadian enterprises rather than making billion-dollar deals. $15 billion takeover Most of the big investments revolve around the province’s potential to export liquefied natural gas (LNG). China National Offshore Oil Corp., whose $15 billion takeover of Nexen in 2013 prompted the federal policy change, says it expects capital spending in the Liard basin in northern B.C. hit $200 million by the end of 2013.

The number of companies with LNG plans, the billions of dollars they plan on spending and the gas reserves to support the plants keep going up. The world’s largest energy companies are all players, proposing to build 12 LNG facilities ranging in cost from $500 million to $16 billion each. The B.C. government estimates that companies have spent $6 billion in the last year alone acquiring upstream gas assets. In November, a new report doubled the volume of B.C.’s total gas reserves to 2,933 trillion cubic feet – a 150-year supply.

Asian companies are also investing indirectly through bonds. The B.C. government issued a $409 million bond denominated in Chinese renminbi (RMB) in November. It was oversubscribed. B.C. is the first foreign government to issue bonds from outside China in the RMB market. The bond’s attraction is that it provides investors with exposure to the RMB, but through a secure AAA-rated investment.

“It fits in perfectly with B.C.’s Asia-looking strategy,” says Arber.

LOOKING FORWARD: METRO VANCOUVER GATEWAY TO 2050

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| 11

Value of B.C. origin exports 25

Billions of dollars

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02_INVEST IN BC 2014_P1-31_CS3.indd 11

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2013 SOURCE: BC STATS

Share of B.C. origin exports 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20%

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“In order to really penetrate the Chinese construction sector for wood products, we need to be locally responsive to their dimension and size needs, grade preferences and quick delivery,” says Christine Kennedy, vice-president of brand and external relations at Canfor, in explaining the strategy behind the investment.

Canfor mills will supply the lumber through a long-term supply contract, securing worker jobs, Kennedy says.

B.C. minerals are also in demand. At Teck Resources, Marcia Smith, senior vice-president of sustainability and external affairs, says Teck’s copper and steelmaking coal are central to infrastructure projects. And China is where infrastructure growth is booming.

“When we look at where we are going to sell those products, over the long term, we certainly expect China to be a key driver for the demand of those products,” she says.

China is Teck’s single largest customer. Further, the sovereign wealth fund China Investment Corp. made a $1.7 billion investment in Teck in 2009, acquiring a 17 per cent stake in the company. That investment has strengthened Teck’s ties with China and helped identify new markets, she says.

Smith says the Chinese investment has spinoff benefits for Teck’s 14,000 employees, half of whom live in B.C. She notes that, largely because of Chinese demand, Teck has re-permitted its Lime Creek steelmaking coal mine so it can continue operating. The mine employs 525 people.

“When we look at investing in our operations and creating jobs here in Canada, it’s because of that demand – because you’ve got that huge demand in Asia. That demand is continuing to grow. There is a direct link between that demand and the jobs that we create here in the province.” Á

cif ic

China exports The spike in investment is not surprising given the remarkable growth of B.C. exports to China. Exports have jumped from $920 million in 2003 to $5.8 billion in 2012.

It’s that six fold increase that gave Cui, who attended the University of B.C. and lives here with his wife and children, the confidence to invest in this province.

Originally designed to make low-cost dimension lumber for the U.S. market, Roc Holdings’ Skeena sawmill is now producing lumber for Asian markets.

To restart the mill, Cui hired more than 100 employees, pumping new life into the Terrace forest industry. Loggers went to work harvesting timber in the forest licences.

Truckers were hired to haul it out. The mill started paying taxes to the City of Terrace– about $300,000 a year.

Roc Holdings is also investing in new Canadian equipment, spreading the impact of the investment beyond Terrace.

“If I had just bought an old mill, hired employees and didn’t improve it, it would be like dumping money in the ocean,” Cui says of the capital investments.

Forest products, from lumber to pulp and paper, are the province’s leading Asian export.

After more than a decade of building markets, forest companies now export $3 billion worth of products a year to China. Lumber sales alone have grown from $58 million to $1.36 billion over the last decade.

That growth continues. In November, Canfor signed an agreement with Tangshan Caofeidian Wood Industry Co. Ltd. to review the potential for a value-added plant in Hebei province. The proposed plant is a link in a strategy to build a supply chain beginning in the B.C. Interior and ending at construction sites across the Pacific.

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China National Offshore Oil Corporation paid $15 billion for Canadian resource giant Nexen, which is active in B.C.’s northern gas fields | CHINA NATIONAL OFFSHORE OIL CORPORATION

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2004

2004 2013 SOURCE: BC STATS

2/7/14 11:36:25 AM

12 | INVEST IN BC 2014 PUBLISHED BY BUSINESS IN VANCOUVER

SET UP FOR

OPPORTUNITIES CEO of Initiatives Prince George plans to welcome 1,000 residents per year

FRANK PEEBLES

H

eather Oland and her husband have rock-paper-scissors games to see who will do the 6 a.m. drives to hockey practice.

Some winter mornings they look out at the frozen lake in front of their Prince George house and wonder why the team couldn’t come to them once in awhile.

Even with the cold morning drives, the Olands know they are sharing the Canadian good life: a comfortable home with an easy going mortgage in a city where time and money have helped to make it one of the volunteer capitals of the county.

Her husband aready knew Prince George, but Oland – born and rasised in Toronto – admits it was a strange sensation to be falling in love with this small, apparently disconnected city. But she wasn’t fooled by the lack of lines on the local map: she realized quickly that all roads in the region led to Prince George, as did all the economic needs of an area the size of France.

It is a city and lifestyle that Oland has embraced and now trumpets to the world.

Oland is the chief executive officer for Initiatives Prince George, the city’s arm’s-length economic development agency. Her office of seven is located in the city’s downtown. If staff members look out their south windows, they see the burgeoning bustle of new boutiques and chic café of a modern city; if they look north, they see the forests, wood-product manufacturers and hustling CN Rail operations that helped establish the city 99 years ago. A glance up from downtown reveals a gleaming slice of the future: the University of Northern British Columbia that opened in 1993 after hard lobbying by the City of Prince

HEATHER OLAND |

George and its residents.

“This city has become diverse and sophisticated in the last 20 years, and the economy has become more complex and resilient as a result,” Oland says. The proof is that the 2008 collapse of the U.S. housing market did not translate into the collapse of B.C.’s self-proclaimed northern capital. The city not only held its own, it stepped forward on many economic fronts, including bio-energy, Asian trade and industrial services.

Oland credits municipal planning for allowing Prince George to take advantage when the economy shifted from logging to oil, gas, trade and technology.

“We have incredible major infrastructure,” Oland says.

“At about 88,000 people in the immediate area we are set up for 150,000, so as we grow we will not suffer the same fate as many other western Canadian cities that couldn’t keep up to their population.”

The infrastructure planning extends to the revamped rail system leading directly from the coal and grain supplies in northeastern B.C. to the port of Prince Rupert, the southern route to Vancouver, and the 90-hour straight shot to Chicago so intoxicating for Asian imports. All of it converges in Prince George. Major highways run the same patterns. The Prince George Airport was recently upgraded to one of the most globally utilitarian on the

CEO, INITIATIVES PRINCE GEORGE

Most economic growth comes from existing businesses

02_INVEST IN BC 2014_P1-31_CS3.indd 12

2/7/14 11:36:26 AM

| 13

Heather Oland, raised in Toronto, now helps shape the future of Prince George | DAVID MAH

continent, with refuelling capacity to link Europe and Asia.

All of it is working together like an economic tracer beam, pulling prosperity to Prince George, Oland says.

If every industrial project proposed for the region comes to fruition, it will represent an injection of about $70 billion in the next 10 years. Oland and her team know that each project will have a long and lucrative procurement list. Capturing it for local businesses is Oland’s chief mission.

“Most economic growth comes from existing businesses already invested, with employees, hardware and track records of dealing in the north,” she says.

“We know we face a skilled-labour shortage, so we are

02_INVEST IN BC 2014_P1-31_CS3.indd 13

focusing on identifying what those jobs will be, and where, in Canada and the world, can we find people who already have those skills? Next, we will identify who among them will most likely find Prince George a good fit for their family. That is how we will facilitate these major projects and it is how we will grow our municipal population.”

Oland has set a target of 100,000 permanent residents in Prince George in the next 10 years. When she brings this dream up at municipal meetings, nobody scoffs. In fact, money from the public and private sector is already flowing in to keep the Prince George economy – and its population – expanding.

“We are set up to embrace opportunities,” Oland says. Á

2/7/14 11:36:27 AM

14 | INVEST IN BC 2014 PUBLISHED BY BUSINESS IN VANCOUVER

OPEN

GATEWAY

Completion of 40-kilometre South Fraser road is just the latest link in $47 billion B.C. supply chain

SCOTT SIMPSON

B

r it i sh Colu m bi a’s multibillion-dollar Pacific Gateway h it a major milestone in December 2013.

Port Mann Bridge was recently widened to 10 lanes | TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENT CORP.

That’s when final touches were applied to the $1.3 billion, 40-kilometre South Fraser Perimeter Road, one of the critical pieces of infrastructure supporting national efforts to ease the movement of goods through Canada’s largest port and expand trade relationships with nations in Asia.

The four-lane expressway follows the south arm of the Fraser River northeast from Deltaport through Surrey to connect traffic to 176th Street – the primary conduit for the Pacific Highway border crossing for trucks – as well as Highways 1, 91 and 99, the Golden Ears Bridge to Maple Ridge and Lougheed Highway.

At a local level it will lessen traffic bottlenecks in Delta around a bustling container port that already handles 3,000 trucks a day. But it’s only one increment of what’s needed to fully realize Gateway.

Since 2005, $22 billion has been committed by privateand public-sector Gateway partners to finance projects such as expansion of Vancouver International Airport, upgrading the Port Mann Bridge crossing and Cape Horn Interchange, expanding rail and port capacity in Metro Vancouver and establishing a container port at Prince Rupert.

Last year, the Christy Clark Liberals advised that Gateway would need a further $25 billion worth of infrastructure investment. The investment includes at least 18 infrastructure projects- such as a $2 billion doubl i ng of ter m i n a l c apacity at Deltapor t a nd development of liquefied natural gas export terminals on B.C.’s North Coast.

Beyond those projects is a similarly extensive list of what the Asia Pacific Foundation calls “softer” initiatives

02_INVEST IN BC 2014_P1-31_CS3.indd 14

2/7/14 3:16:00 PM

| 15

The Pacific Gateway includes: ■The South Fraser Perimeter Road; ■Expanding Deltaport terminal; ■Expansion of Vancouver International Airport; ■Upgrading the Port Mann Bridge crossing and Cape Horn Interchange; ■Expanding rail and port capacity in Metro Vancouver; ■Establishing a container port at Prince Rupert; and ■Liquefied natural gas export terminals on B.C.’s North Coast.

02_INVEST IN BC 2014_P1-31_CS3.indd 15

2/7/14 11:36:29 AM

16 | INVEST IN BC 2014 PUBLISHED BY BUSINESS IN VANCOUVER

Open gateway

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The 40-kilometre, four-lane South Fraser Perimeter Road (shown outlined in red) follows the south arm of the Fraser River northeast from Deltaport through Surrey to connect traffic to 176th Street as well as Highways 1, 91 and 99, the Golden Ears Bridge to Maple Ridge and *Lougheed Highway

aimed at fostering stronger economic and trade ties with Asian partners including China, Japan, Malaysia and South Korea.

Amid all of this, South Fraser Perimeter Road is considered a cornerstone, particularly for a B.C. trucking industry that desperately wanted a more efficient route into and out of Deltaport. The plan by Deltaport operator TSI Terminal Systems Inc. to double container capacity at Roberts Bank, for example, would be premature without the greater road capacity the South Fraser expressway creates.

“The completion of the South Fraser Perimeter Road is a major component of the transportation system we have been seeking since the 1990s. It’s a key component of the transportation grid we need for goods movement,” says Bob Wilds, managing director of the Greater Vancouver Gateway Council.

The council was formed in 1994, initially to work out the logistics of handling more container traffic at Deltaport on behalf of western provinces and Transport Canada.

Then, as now, the Gateway project was intended to operate as a national enterprise, Wilds says.

CHRIS HARTMAN |

One of the major strategic initiatives has been obtaining support from Tsawwassen First Nation. As a result of a treaty with Tsawwassen in 2009, the First Nation became a significant landholder in the immediate vicinity of Deltaport.

Chris Hartman, chief executive officer for the Tsawwassen First Nation economic development office, notes that the First Nation has 70 acres of industrial-zoned land under negotiation for activities supporting Gateway.

In September 2013, for example, International Trade Minister Ed Fast announced $50 million in federal funding for a container inspection facility on Tsawwassen land.

“Let’s face it, the South Fraser Perimeter Road is a game changer in terms of how industrial lands will be developed and serviced in the Lower Mainland for the next generation. For us, it establishes our lands at mile zero of the transportation network, not only in the Lower Mainland but across Canada,” Hartman says.

Louise Yako, president and CEO of the BC Trucking Association, sees South Fraser, Port Mann and Highway 1 widening in Surrey and Langley as components creating “a lot more fluidity” for truck movement.

TSAWWASSEN FIRST NATION

The South Fraser Perimeter Road is a game changer in terms of how industrial lands will be developed and serviced in the Lower Mainland for the next generation

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Beyond hard assets The regional road improvements - and here is a part of the story that’s often overlooked - make trucking a more attractive industry for young workers. Fewer traffic delays mean drivers can make more runs, and more money, per day, with less frustration. In an industry where drivers average 46 years of age – five years older than the national average – and 26 per cent of drivers are over 55, better roads make it more competitive for young workers.

“Infrastructure is key” for Eva Busza, vice president for knowledge and research at the Asia Pacific Foundation, but it involves more than hard assets such as roads and bridges.

“It’s ensuring that we have the right skills, the labour force, the customs procedures, the logistical expertise, the legal expertise. All of these sets of skills and industries are necessary for that hard infrastructure to be as efficient, as effective and as attractive to traders both on this side of the continent and in Asia,” Busza says.

“A final element – and this is in some ways the most challenging part – is that there have to be the goods to transport. That requires us accelerating the kind of trade agreements we have with Asia, to ensure there’s more movement of imports and exports.”

B.C. Transportation Minster Todd Stone has been touring communities around the province to emphasize the value of Gateway to the provincial economy. A lot of British Columbians, he says, do not yet understand its

Deltaport – terminus for the South Fraser Perimeter Road – handles 3,000 trucks a day | PORT METRO VANCOUVER

long-term significance.

“We really want to make sure British Columbians understand the connection among all of these major infrastructure investments and their quality of life. It’s about opening up markets in Asia and moving our goods and people more efficiently, and creating jobs and all the rest of it,” he says.

“We also made significant investments in four-laneing the Trans-Canada from Kamloops to the Alberta border and we are continuing with that, [and with] the Cariboo Connector from Cache Creek to Prince George. We’re halfway through a $440 million upgrade of that corridor.

It’s all part of the Pacific Gateway transportation strategy. Á

UNPARALLEL NATURE BASED TOURISM INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY ATLIN, BC

Located in the most pristine natural and diverse environment in BC. Trophy 23 ha all approved spectacular waterfront property on glacier fed Atlin Lake. Jump off point to a variety of world class niche tourism products for the affluent traveller. Rich klondike gold rush history and aboriginal culture. Only 90 min. drive from international airport and accessible all year. BC government support through the passport nominee program.

www.bcpremierwaterfrontplace.ca. Info@lakeatlinwaterfrontplace.ca tel 01 (905) 823-6963

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2/7/14 11:36:31 AM

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LIGHTS! CAMERA!

INVEST!

More than 50 shades of locations make B.C. a film shooter’s fantasy

DARAH HANSEN

Number of feature films shot in B.C. 60 50 40 30 20 10 07 08 09 10 011 012 20 20 20 20 2 2

Domestic

Foreign

SOURCE: BRITISH COLUMBIA FILM COMMISSION

Millions of dollars

Production dollars spent in B.C. $1,400 1,200 1,000 800 600 400 200 07 08 09 10 011 12 20 20 20 20 2 20

SOURCE: BRITISH COLUMBIA FILM COMMISSION

T

here aren’t many places in the world that boast of long, cold winters and a rugged landscape bound in ice and snow for months on end.

Yet, when it comes to attracti ng the attention of Hollywood big shots and their even bigger-budget movie and television productions, the predictably chilly weather that characterizes winter in the northern half of British Columbia has proven a distinct competitive advantage.

From the slopes of Hudson Bay Mountain in Smithers to the epic Kinuseo Falls near Tumbler Ridge, the region is often used to mimic more remote locations in Alaska and the Arctic.

“At the end of the day, for the north, it is all about snow,” says Clint Fraser, a marketing strategist with Northern BC Tourism.

Making movies is an important economic generator in B.C. The province is the second-busiest television and film production centre in the country behind Ontario and the fourth-largest centre in North America. The industry generates an estimated $1.2 billion annually and employs about 36,000 people in direct and spinoff production work, from hair and makeup artistry to visual effects and animation.

Vancouver and the surrounding Metro area absorb the vast majority of those dollars – more than 90 per cent, according to Peter Leitch, chair of the Motion Picture Industry Association of BC and president of North Shore and Mammoth studios.

That’s been true since the 1980s when wildly popular TV series such as MacGyver and 21 Jump Street, the latter featuring a young Johnny Depp, helped put Vancouver on the map as an inexpensive alternative to Los Angeles.

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Actor Liam Neeson in scenes from The Grey. a Hollywood thriller shot near Smithers in northern B.C. | OPEN ROAD FILMS

10 famous movies shot in B.C. ■ The Twilight Saga series ■ X-Men Origins: Wolverine ■ Man of Steel ■ Night at the Museum ■ I, Robot ■ Fantastic Four ■ The Cabin in the Woods ■ Final Destination ■ Jumanji ■ The Grey

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Lights! Camera! Invest!

German producer Florian Koerner von Gustorf, with Vancouver’s Red Cedar Films, used B.C.’s Big Bar area as an Old-West stand-in for the 2013 feature film, Gold about the Klondike Gold Rush of the 1890s | LANDWITHOUTLIMITS The Bowron Lakes are among natural locations where wildlife films and other documentaries are filmed every year in B.C. | LANDWITHOUTLIMITS

PETER LEITCH |

The industry has seen tremendous growth since then.

Major feature films (with staggering budgets of between $100 and $200 million) are routinely shot in and around the city, with Hollywood’s hottest stars and starlets frequently spotted sauntering around the seawall or sipping coffee in trendy downtown cafés.

Heating up Fifty Shades of Grey is the latest project to heat up the Vancouver film industry. Work on the big-screen adaption of E.L. James’ steamy bestseller began in November 2013 with Dakota Johnson (daughter of actors Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith) in the lead role.

Leitch says the publicity surrounding the film and its celebrity stars is always welcome. But Vancouver needs little help to sell itself in Hollywood. “[Hollywood producers] love shooting up here because we make it easy for them,” Leitch says.

Communities outside of Vancouver have largely been content to take more of a supporting role in the industry’s overall success. Regional film commissions, formed to promote location shoots beyond the big-city borders, work hard to tempt creative crews looking for the perfect sunset, beach or old-growth cedar forest that will add an air of authenticity that a movie studio and all its technical wizardry just can’t match.

It’s a big deal for a small community when a movie comes to town. Hotels and restaurants fill up. Car and helicopter rentals skyrocket. Locals are employed in the trades or as extras.

It’s also really fun.

The north Okanagan town of Enderby was recently transformed into small-town New York state after it was selected as one of several international locations to feature in the upcoming $200 million Disney production of Tomorrowland. Local entrepreneurs took advantage of all the buzz by cooking up a clever marketing game that encouraged residents and visitors alike to visit local shops and cafés in search of a life-size cut-out of the movie’s star, George Clooney.

“It was a brilliant business ploy,” says Jon Summerland of the Okanagan Film Commission.

Summerland says that the region is now working to develop its reputation as the go-to place for smaller-scale foreign and domestic productions with modest budgets in the range of $2 million.

With its heritage neighbourhoods, natural parks, vineyards and rolling hills, the Okanagan has a lot to offer a film crew, Summerland says. It’s also a lot cheaper relative to Vancouver – an attractive option to a movie company looking to maximize its dollars.

It’s proved a winning strategy. Over the past six years, the region has seen an average of four to five movies filmed exclusively on its streets, parks and neighbourhoods.

“We get a lot less rain here than on the coast. It looks more like California, Arizona or Mexico, so you can match a lot of different places,” Summerland said.

Farther north, it usually doesn’t take long for film crews to realize the region’s frosty reputation applies only to the weather.

The Grey, a survival thriller starring Liam Neeson, was recently shot on location, as was the pilot for the television series The Last Ship.

Clint Fraser says many of the crew members are “blown away” by the warm reception they receive from local residents.

It’s a welcome contrast to the crazy cold outdoors.

“That’s exactly the identity that the North wants because it makes it easier for us to get movies,” Fraser says. Á

CHAIR, MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF BC

[Hollywood producers] love shooting up here because we make it easy for them

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SMART

GROWTH

Focus on university expansion creates economic and employment hubs across B.C.

JANET STEFFENHAGEN

T

he luminaries at Vancouver Island University (V IU) have long been con fident about the i nstitution’s role as an economic driver in the communities it serves.

But recently they decided to seek independent validation of that view to help residents fully understand the university’s vital role in furthering the mid-Island’s transformation from a resource-extraction economy to one that is knowledge based.

“[We wanted] to help people understand the incredible impact of this institution and how it’s absolutely key to the future,” president Ralph Nilson explains.

The university hired Roslyn Kunin and Associates to conduct an economic impact analysis, documenting the ways in which VIU benefits Nanaimo, the Cowichan Valley, Parksville-Qualicum and Powell River.

The findings, released in October 2013, were impressive: “Overall, VIU’s total economic impact is $406 million, with over $204 million in value-added impacts, producing 3,095 jobs and generating more than $38 million in tax revenues for governments,” the report says.

VIU is one of five post-secondary institutions in British Columbia granted full university status in 2008. That change, approved by former premier Gordon Campbell, enhanced the school’s reputation – especially among foreign students unfamiliar with its former name, Malaspina University College.

Nilson says the school now attracts 1,700 full-and part-time students from abroad each year, representing roughly 14 per cent of the university’s full-time total enrolment.

The University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) also got a

l

status boost in 2008. Although it hasn’t conducted a study like VIU’s, it estimates it has an economic impact of $500 million a year on the region encompassing Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Hope and Mission. That flows from a budget in 2014 of about $100 million, which is spent on wages for more than 1,400 employees, plus benefits, procurements, renovations and construction.

Engineering students use the glass wall as a whiteboard in one of the breakout rooms in the Engineering, Management and Education Building at UBC Okanagan | UBC OKANAGAN

Award-winning campus One recent development saw the transformation of the abandoned Canadian Forces Base Chilliwack, which was closed in 1995, into a multi-building education and research park for UFV, the Justice Institute and a proposed new Chinese Cultural University. The new Canada Education Park won a prestigious World Architecture News award this year for innovative renovation and renewal.

With almost 16,000 full- and part-time students, UFV also ensures the Fraser Valley has an educated workforce, offers other residents a variety of learning and cultural opportunities and gives young people a chance to pursue career dreams without going far from home.

EXPLORE HOSPITALITY, CULTURE AND CULINARY TRAINING

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Smart growth

The University of the Fraser Valley has an economic impact estimated at $500 million annually and boasts 1,400 employees. Its latest campus was created from the shell of a former Canadian Forces Base in Chilliwack | STANTEC

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In addition to new public universities, B.C. has also gained five new private universities over the past dozen years.

One of those, Quest University, is now one of the main employers in Squamish with 103 full-time staff.

University president David Helfand says Quest tops them all in terms of wages, given that the university’s median salary of $58,000 is well above that paid by other major employers such as Walmart and Home Depot.

Other Quest contributions to the community include $19 million spent on construction – almost entirely with local labour – during the past 18 months and the arrival of students and the families of potential students.

“We have over 600 families who visit campus from all over the world each year and a large number of visiting delegations from secondary and post-secondary institutions who are interested in our unique educational model,” Helfand says, noting that the manager of a high-end hotel recently told him that the university’s annual Parents’ Weekend is his biggest event of the year.

Quest’s enrolment continues to grow and is expected to hit 660 students in September 2014 .

Universities have an economic impact regardless of where they are located, but the effects are more obvious in small communities, says Nilson of VIU. According to the Roslyn Kunin report, VIU’s innovative

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Vancouver Island University, Cowichan campus: The university generates $406 million in midIsland economic activity and more than 3,000 jobs | SHARP AND DIAMOND LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

programs have made the central-Island region “a destination for new business, entrepreneurs and startups.”

For example, it highlights the aquaculture and coastal ecosystems research occurring at the university’s Deep Bay Marine Field Station, northwest of Parksville.

Further, VIU is “helping the community grow into… a new role as a respected participant and leader in the regional, provincial, national and global economic and academic communities,” the report states.

UBC upgrades As well as the five new universities, B.C. has six older schools that also boast of generating economic activity.

The University of Northern British Columbia, for example, says it has produced more than half the university graduates living and working in the province’s North, even though it enrolls only 1.9 per cent of post-secondary students in B.C. About 800 students graduate from the university each year and two-thirds of them stay in the North, notes Robert van Adrichem, vice-president, external relations.

The older institutions are still growing.

The University of British Columbia (UBC) won awards last year for the creative use of wood in the construction of two new buildings: the Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability, which houses 200 researchers, and the Earth Sciences Building, a space shared by Earth Ocean and Atmospheric Studies, the Department of Statistics, the Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences and the dean of science.

UBC, B.C.’s largest university with 49,400 students at the Vancouver campus, generates an estimated $10 billion input to the provincial economy.

UBC Okanagan opened in 2005 and has been growing

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ever since, recently completing a $450-million project to create more teaching and research facilities as well as residences for 8,300 students in six faculties.

Simon Fraser University (SFU), meanwhile, hopes to sell the province on one of its most ambitious expansion projects. SFU wants to create space at its Surrey campus for 2,500 additional students, which would double the current enrolment.

In making its pitch to the province for funding, SFU noted a larger Surrey campus would help prepare workers for the 1.1 million jobs expected to open up in B.C. this decade due to retirements and expanding opportunities. Á

UBC’s new Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability houses 200 researchers | UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMIBIA

2/7/14 11:37:04 AM

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ADVENTUROUS INVESTMENTS

Wilderness tour business has legs – and bounding interest from Asia PETER MITHAM

W

ilderness tourism is big business in B.C., worth $1.6 billion in direct revenues and employing approximately 50,000 people. The sector encompasses a broad range of adventures, from heli-skiing to kayaking, that bring people in touch with the province’s natural splendour.

Kayaking puts the adventure in tourism at Clayoquot Wilderness Resort in Tofino | CLAYOQUOT WILDERNESS RESORT

l

Since the financial crisis of 2008 and the ensuing recession, however, the landscape for tour operators has changed dramatically.

Business from the U.S. has declined, and guest ranches that once served up the last best West to visitors from stateside now focus on offerings that play up a frontier of Europe’s imagining. Diversification and upscale offerings are the game, and visitors and revenues for the sector have rebounded accordingly.

“The industry continues to grow incrementally across the board,” says Evan Loveless, executive director of the Wilderness Tourism Association of BC, based in Cumberland. He points to upscale wilderness retreats, like popular Clayoquot Wilderness Resort, which now mix the wild and mild.

While skiing in its many forms – from basic downhill runs at the province’s renowned resorts to backcountry expeditions – remains a draw, the resorts themselves have become four-season departure points for backcountry day trippers. The resorts offer luxury a tree’s length from the great outdoors, and provide a comfortable base for rugged experiences; some of them are even self-guided, such as hiking and mountain biking.

According to a study the B.C. Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training released early last year, 91 per cent of the province undertakes some kind of outdoor recreation in a given year, typically hiking, swimming and camping, but also wildlife viewing, boating and backcountry camping.

DISCOVERING B.C. BY WATER

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Resorts and base camps are integral to the pursuits, Loveless says, as the emerging generation of adventure tourists prefer intense, one-day hits to the more immersive experiences older travellers continue to favour.

“There seems to be a bit of an evolution in the market,” he says. “They don’t tend to go for the longer trip and immersing themselves in the wilderness experiences so much as a day trip ... and being able to pack a whole lot of different stuff into their holiday.”

Many tourists are also seeking a unique cultural component to tour offerings; wildlife viewing, fishing and hunting are great, but outfitters and guides who can offer the perspective of First Nations are finding strong demand for their offerings.

Just as the Osoyoos Indian Band has been able to put

an aboriginal spin on the wine industry through Nk’Mip Cellars and golf courses such as Canyon Desert, Loveless says excursions incorporating First Nations culture are in demand.

Can’t do that at home A growing source of interest is Chinese tourists keen to experience the open spaces B.C. has to offer.

“The outdoors, the remoteness and the adventure of it – catching big fish or hunting, it’s just not available to them [at home],” says Brian Alexander, sales manager for West Coast Resorts, a venture of Haida Enterprise Corp.

(HaiCo) that operates four fishing lodges on the central coast and Haida Gwaii.

“They like to be treated well, and we can do that.”

Adventure by the numbers

2,250

Number of wilderness or nature-based tourism businesses

50,000

Number of (seasonal) workers in wilderness or nature-based tourism

980,000

Number of clients, annually

3m

Number of client days, annually

$1.5m

Annual spending on wilderness or nature-based businesses

$13.8b

Total tourism spending in B.C., annually

SOURCE: WILDERNESS TOURISM ASSOCIATION OF BC (2008)

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Adventurous investments

Horseback riding is among the activities at Clayoquot Wilderness Resort in Tofino | CLAYOQUOT WILDERNESS RESORT

Spirit Bear Lodge in Klemtu is among the venues that blend wilderness adventure with First Nations culture | DOUG NEASLOSS

Where adventure tourists come from Per cent of total visitors

35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% A .C. da pe ia er US B ana uro As Oth E rC he Ot

SOURCE: WILDERNESS TOURISM ASSOCIATION OF BC

Size of adventuretourism businesses by employees

More than 10 (20%) Less than 3–10 3 (55%) (55%)

Alexander recently concluded an agreement with a Beijing tour operator that promises to see a small number of tourists arrive in 2014.

“They’re seeing a lot of demand for fishing and hunting from their Chinese clientele,” he says.

Alexander expects Chinese traffic to be a greater part of HaiCo’s tourism operations in 2015, but representation was necessary first – the Chinese company needed a connection in Canada and, conversely, HaiCo and other companies have needed representation in China to tap into visitors there.

The move parallels what China’s Suzhou Youth Travel Services Co. Ltd. is planning through its subsidiary, SSS Manhao International Tourism Group.

SSS Manhao has received approval for a 240-room hotel in downtown Nanaimo – an investment pegged at $50 million – that would be linked to the city’s convention centre and be integrated within Suzhou’s overall tour offerings.

While such investments have been rare to date, there are signs they’re increasing – boding well for tourism operators across the province.

A handful of investors from Asia scouted the Aerie Resort when it was listed in 2010, but the first major investment Randy Holt of DTZ Barnicke Victoria Ltd. saw on Vancouver Island was the February 2012 sale of the Huntingdon Hotel and Gatsby Mansion to a small group of Chinese investors.

“Prior to that we hadn’t seen any significant traffic that way,” he says. “This year the increase has been quite dramatic.”

The interest has extended north from Victoria to Campbell River and across Vancouver Island to Pacific Sands Beach Resort in Tofino. On the mainland, the province and Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission introduced potential investors from China to Lake Okanagan Resort, generating what listing agent

SOURCE: WILDERNESS TOURISM ASSOCIATION OF BC

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Mark Lester of Jones Lang LaSalle termed “very serious interest.”

With the past year having seen the purchase of the Harrison Hot Springs Resort and Spa an hour’s drive east of Vancouver near Chilliwack and Brentwood Bay Resort and Spa near Victoria by Chinese-backed investment groups, the move of Chinese investors to more adventurous properties may herald a new phase of investment in B.C. Mark Sparrow, director of CBRE Ltd.’s hotels division in Western Canada, says that interest has historically dissipated the farther away a property is from downtown Vancouver and Richmond. “They do tend to stay within a 45-minute to an hour drive of those hubs,” he says.

While the promise is great, Loveless says the Wilderness Tourism Association isn’t holding its breath. He sees the backcountry as being a niche market for Asian visitors.

“It just doesn’t seem to resonate as much as it does with our traditional markets which are really the U.S., Europe and Australia,” he says. “There has been some growth in South America, but not from Asia. And I don’t know if it ever will [grow].” Á

EVAN LOVELESS | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WILDERNESS TOURISM ASSOCIATION OF BC The industry continues to grow

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Lower Mainland/Southwest

MAIN EVENT B.C.’s beautiful business hub continues to buzz as 22 distinct municipalities forge an economic powerhouse

3.9%

Share of B.C. land area

■Abbotsford ■Burnaby ■Chilliwack ■Coquitlam ■Delta ■Gibsons ■Hope ■Langley ■Lillooet ■Maple Ridge ■Mission ■New Westminster ■North Vancouver ■Pitt Meadows ■Port Moody ■Richmond ■Sechelt ■Squamish ■Surrey ■Vancouver ■West Vancouver ■Whistler Port Metro Vancouver has plans for a series of terminal expansion projects to meet forecasted demand through 2030 | PORT METRO VANCOUVER

NOA GLOUBERMAN

M

ade up of 22 distinct municipalities, the MainlandSouthwest of British Columbia is truly a sum of its parts. Vancouver, with a population of more than 600,000, could be considered the region’s crown jewel. Beautiful and busy, several major sectors make the city’s economy one of the country’s most energetic.

Tourism is a $4 billion-plus annual industry in the Mainland-Southwest, a region that attracts more than

02_INVEST IN BC 2014_P1-31_CS3.indd 27

seven million overnight visitors every year. An all-season destination, highlights include everything from summer beaches to hiking and climbing in nearby Squamish, skiing in the Coastal Mountains, all-year whale-watching tours and non-stop casinos.

Firmly established as the nation’s gateway to the Pacific Rim, Vancouver is also home to Canada’s largest and North America’s most diversified port. The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, doing business as Port Metro Vancouver (PMV), covers 600 kilometres of shoreline,

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Lower Mainland/Southwest

(Counter-clockwise) New federal shipbuilding contracts mean North Vancouver’s Seaspan is ramping up its infrastructure and hiring more than 1,000 new employees | DOMINIC SCHAEFER

The 2013 BC Bike Race, covering hundreds of kilometres of trails, drew 550 riders from 33 countries and pumped nearly $4 million in direct spending into the economy in 2013 | TOURISM WHISTLER/MIKE CRANE

Vancouver, with a population of more than 600,000, is as beautiful as it is busy | PIERRE LECLERC

Fraser Valley communities figure among Canada’s most productive agricultural areas | PICTURE BC/ JOSH MCCULLOCH

facilitates trade with 160-plus world economies and handles nearly 130 million tonnes of cargo a year – with room for growth.

An economic impact study released in June 2013 showed the amount of cargo handled by PMV in 2012 finally neared pre-recession levels, supporting plans for a series of terminal expansion projects to meet forecasted demand through 2030.

COLIN MACRAE |

Key to both trade and tourism, the award-winning Vancouver International Aiport is an economic engine for Richmond, which borders Vancouver’s southwest, just across the Fraser River. Richmond’s population of 205,000 is considered Canada’s most diverse, with 60 per cent of residents of Chinese or South Asian ancestry.

Manufacturing is a stalwart of the entire region and recently received a boon with federal shipbuilding contracts.

COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, EA SPORTS

Vancouver is one of the biggest gaming hubs in the world

02_INVEST IN BC 2014_P1-31_CS3.indd 28

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$1.8 1.6 1.4 1.2 1.0 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2

Of

fic

e/

La nd Re ta il Ind u Mu stria ltil fam ily

Billions of dollars

Total commercial real estate investments

Jan–Sept 2012 Jan–Sept 2013 SOURCES: COMMERCIAL EDGE, REAL ESTATE BOARD OF GREATER VANCOUVER

Abbotsford, which hosted the 2013 Aerospace, Defence and Security Expo, boasts the region’s second largest international airport | CITY OF ABBOTSFORD

02_INVEST IN BC 2014_P1-31_CS3.indd 29

future and create new opportunities for our residents and our city.”

Watts has put a number of strategies in place to ensure the continued economic growth of her city. From luring biomedical and clean-tech firms with business incentives to protecting and enhancing the profitability and sustainability of local agriculture, Surrey’s development is an ongoing B.C. success story.

Farther east and north of the Fraser River, Maple Ridge, Mission and Pitt Meadows are taking a collaborative approach to economic development. Under the Invest North Fraser banner, these three districts are working to become the Lower Mainland’s new investment centre.

“When investors and site selectors are looking for locations to start up or relocate a business, they’re engaged in a process of elimination,” explains Pitt Meadows Economic Development Corp. past interim CEO Vicki McLeod. “This regional partnership maximizes

Building permit values

Billions of dollars

After winning part of the $38.3 billion of federal work, North Vancouver’s Seaspan is ramping up infrastructure and hiring more than 1,000 new employees. In 2013 the company was also shortlisted to bid on constructing three new ships for BC Ferries, which will be dual-powered by diesel and liquefied natural gas.

Bu rnaby, borderi ng Va ncouver to the east, is a technology centre and home to B.C.’s biggest game studio, Electronic Arts Inc. The EA campus – a stateof-the-art facility with a theatre, restaurants and a fullsized soccer field – employs approximately 1,300 staff.

Though the industry has suffered for several years, the late 2013 release of two new consoles – the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 – that require a new generation of games to be developed could be a boost for local players.

“It’s a new chapter for the industry, and Vancouver is one of the biggest gaming hubs in the world,” says EA Sports communications director Colin Macrae. “All the attention that comes onto the new consoles will bring a certain number of new people in.”

The Tri-Cities region, composed of Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody, with a combined population of 220,000, is one of the fastest-growing regions. The Evergreen Line, an extension of the Skytrain rapid transit system, is now being built and spurring a rush of new residential and commercial development. Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart sums up plans for the region. “We want jobs and high-density residential [development] around high-capacity rail transit,” he says.

Directly linked to the Tri-Cities by the expanded Port Mann Bridge and Highway 1 upgrades, Surrey is a rising economic star. Recognized by the Real Estate Investment Network as the best place in B.C. to invest for four years running, the city’s economy is powered by a range of industries, including clean energy, finance, technology, manufacturing, education, health, agriculture and the arts.

“Surrey has repeatedly been ranked one the best places in the country to invest,” says Mayor Dianne Watts. “But we can’t stop there, we have to continue to plan for the

$4.5 4.0 3.5 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 l

ia

nt

e sid

re

n-

No

l

ia

nt

e sid

Re

Jan–Oct 2012 Jan–Oct 2013 SOURCE: STATISTICS CANADA

Economic activity Top 10 industries by number of employees Retail & wholesale trade Health care & social assistance Manufacturing Professional, scientific & technical services Construction Educational services Accommodation & food services Finance, insurance & real estate Information, cultural & recreation Public administration 00 000 000 000 000 0, 50, 00, 50, 1 2 10 2

,0

50

SOURCE: STATISTICS CANADA, LABOUR FORCE SURVEY

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Lower Mainland/Southwest

Rendering of new headquarters for Coast Capital Savings in Surrey central | COAST CAPITAL SAVINGS

the opportunities to build relationships at a variety of levels, from local to global. As a result of our combined natural and built assets, our appeal is much greater when we market ourselves as a region.”

The communities of Abbotsford, Langley and Delta are among Canada’s most productive agricultural areas, yielding $650 million-plus annually in the verdant Fraser Valley. In recent years local farmers have tapped into more creative ways to “live off the land” through agri-tourism, advanced growing technology and niche markets.

A profitable harvest is also seen in the Valley’s aviation industry. Avcorp Industries in Delta employs roughly 480 people; another 600 work at Cascades Aerospace in Abbotsford. In fact, Abbotsford, which hosted the 2013 Aerospace, Defence and Security Expo (and will do so again in 2014), boasts the region’s second international airport and attracts huge crowds to its annual summer air show.

To the east, Chilliwack has much to offer, economically speaking. Major national and international firms like Stream Global Services, Kal Tire, IMW Industries, Rogers Foods, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers and Coast Hotels and Resorts have chosen to establish operations in the city, due in large part to its competitive labour, energy and land costs.

“The City of Chilliwack is dedicated to our businesses, with a goal to helping our economy grow and provide the best business retention and expansion services possible,” says Mayor Sharon Gaetz. “Combine CEPCO’s [Chilliwack Economic Partners Corp.] abilities with the City of Chilliwack’s commitment to eliminate bureaucracy, limit regulations and restrictions and ensure speedy permit approvals, and you have the perfect recipe for substantial business growth.”

Nestled in the fertile Fraser Valley, Chilliwack and district’s deep farming roots recently garnered a $1 million investment from the provincial government toward a new demonstration barn and greenhouses at the University of the Fraser Valley’s Chilliwack campus. Á

PITT MEADOWS REGIONAL AIRPORT

Do you own an aviation business or are you a pilot?

U Commercial leasing opportunities

The Future of business is here.

available!

U Over 325 acres of land still available for development U Lot-sizes not pre-determined U Over 40 aviation businesses already here!

U Aircraft Avionics, Maintenance and Repair

emerging t growth t innovation t success t development potential t progress t opportunity t venture

www.surreycitycentre.ca

VISITING? U Air Taxi and Charter U Flight schools U Sightseeing and Skydiving U Restaurant with patio U Electric vehicle charging station Dual level 2

U Jet A1 - 100LL - PRIST(r) U Float Dock and Ramp U Easy Accessibility and central location to various destinations in BC and beyond

Continuing growth for the coming years!

100-18799 Airport Way, Pitt Meadows Tel: 604-465-8977

www.pittmeadowsairport.com

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2/7/14 11:37:42 AM

426".*4) Squamish - Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada

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quamish, B.C. is a vibrant, growing community located midway between Vancouver and Whistler. World-class outdoor recreation assets draw people to visit and move here for a balanced lifestyle that offers some of the best mountain biking, rock climbing, kite boarding, hiking and snowsport opportunities anywhere.

Growing, young workforce – With one of the fastest population growth rates in the province, close to 63 per cent of the population is under the age of 40, with the under-14 age category far outpacing provincial growth rates.

Unique outdoor recreation lifestyle – Nestled between ocean and mountains, the small-town setting, spectacular natural environment, and world-class outdoor recreation make for a lifestyle few places can offer. As the “Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada,” no other place offers so many outdoor recreation pursuits in such proximity.

Multimodal transportation infrastructure (deep sea port, rail, highway) – Our infrastructure moves cargo to major markets worldwide and is connected to industrial land development opportunities. A newly upgraded highway improves travel time to Vancouver and Whistler (45 minutes each way).

Commercial/Industrial Incentive Program – Municipal property tax exemptions for eligible commercial and mix-use developments in the Downtown and for industrial developments in the business park.

Visit us online: www.squamish.ca Contact: economicdevelopment@squamish.ca 1-877-892-5217

5)& $*5: 0' 8)*5& 30$, Come see why Our City by the Sea is the place to live, work and play!

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s one of the sunniest locations in the Lower Mainland, and only 45 km from Vancouver, White Rock is an ideal place to work, live and play. Situated along the seaside, the City of White Rock is well known for its historical pier and promenade, arts and cultural opportunities and annual events. One such event is the Tour de White Rock. This is one of the most prestigious and historic races in North America, attracting professional cyclists from all over the world to test their endurance and strength on our picturesque course.

A number of regular events increase the sense of community and bring residents together. The weekly Farmers’ Market that runs throughout the summer is such an event, featuring a wide range of vendors’ goods ranging from artisan crafts to food and more. Visitors are able to browse an outdoor gallery of paintings, artist prints, photography and sculpture along the promenade.

The demand for housing continually increases as more people discover that White Rock is a jewel. Developments in the Town Centre and along the waterfront are a mix of retail with residential above.

White Rock offers a growing Town Centre Area for mixed commercial/ residential development, which is creating a positive investment environment ensuring that new developments are strategically situated, increase density, and in keeping with the overall character of the city.

Invest in White Rock Our compact size, connected community, ĂŶĚ ŽƉĞŶ ĨŽƌ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ĂƫƚƵĚĞ ŝŶ ŝƚLJ ,Ăůů ĐŽŶƚƌŝďƵƚĞƐ ƚŽ Ă ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŵĞŶƚ ĐůŝŵĂƚĞ͘ >ĞĂƌŶ ŵŽƌĞ ĂďŽƵƚ ŝŶǀĞƐƟŶŐ ŝŶ ŽƵƌ ƐĞĂƐŝĚĞ ĐŝƚLJ ďLJ ĐŽŶƚĂĐƟŶŐ WůĂŶŶŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚ͘ ͗ ƉůĂŶŶŝŶŐΛǁŚŝƚĞƌŽĐŬĐŝƚLJ͘ĐĂ d͗ ϲϬϰ͘ϱϰϭ͘Ϯϭϯϲ

Visit us online: www.whiterockcity.ca Contact Tel: 604.541.2136 Email: planning@whiterockcity.ca

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2/7/14 11:37:43 AM

*OWFTU /PSUI 'SBTFS o BO FDPOPNJD JOJUJBUJWF PG .BQMF 3JEHF .JTTJPO BOE 1JUU .FBEPXT Access & affordability drive North Fraser growth In any other place, Interfor Hammond Mill, the largest cedar mill in the world, would drive the economy. But in the North Fraser region, the forestry sector is just one of many that are thriving.

On a winning streak Together, Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows earned the No. 5 spot on the list of “Top Canadian Investment Cities” for 2010-2015 and the “Place to Live for Lifestyle” by the Real Estate Investment Network (REIN).

“It’s the smallest centre on the entire top investment list of Canada, and having a centre that small be that high up on the list shows that it does have something special going for it,” says Don Campbell, REIN’s senior analyst.

Campbell points to transportation infrastructure and affordability as key reasons. With the new Golden Ears and Pitt River bridges, it takes just 35 minutes to get into the heart of downtown Vancouver. The Vancouver (YVR) and Abbotsford (YXX) International airports are just minutes away, as are three U.S. border crossings. Meanwhile, low real estate prices make the accessible region affordable.

A recreational playground Stacey Crawford, economic development officer for Mission, notes that, along with the accessibility and affordability, quality of life is contributing to growth. With several lakes, forests, rivers and mountains in the North Fraser region, outdoor recreation is a huge draw for tourists and visitors alike.

The development of the North Fraser Tourism and Recreational Corridor, which includes the Golden Ears Provincial Park and the UBC Research Forest, won’t just expand and enhance regional tourism and create opportunity for tourism-related real estate development, it will also contribute to quality of life in the area. In the rapidly growing tech sector, for example, many employees are looking for extreme sports and recreation and outdoor activities, of which there are plenty.

The largest new recreational project is the Mission Interpretive Forest, a 12,000-acre park that is being developed into an unparalleled recreational playground. It will be the go-to place for a wide variety of outdoor activities, as well as forestry and natural resource industries.

There will also be opportunity for commercial ventures such as zip lining, RV sites and vacation resorts. As well, the Tim Hortons Children’s Foundation is scouting the area for its next camp. It will join the Zajac Ranch for Children. “This isn’t the camp that I remember,” says Crawford.

“These are $17-20 million resorts.”

A plan for the future When it comes to economic development, “we have a targeted strategy to attract commercial investment, and a welcoming, supportive local government working hard to achieve it,” says Sandy Blue, manager, economic development for Maple Ridge.

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For example, the three year Maple Ridge Town Centre Incentive Program, launched in January 2011, attracted more than 40 projects to the Town Centre and nearly 500 projects to other areas.

The province and the region are working together, as part of the BC Jobs Plan, on a number of investment and job-creation projects.

One of these is the BCTIA Centre4Growth acceleration program that gives tech entrepreneurs and business access to mentoring, workshops, and business clinics and other resources and tools.

They are also working with industry sector partners (advanced technology, aeronautics, tourism, education and agriculture) to help ensure the demand for skilled labour and talent can be met.

Agriculture is a critical sector for the North Fraser and is home to a number of major commercial producers. Through the True North Fraser branding and marketing initiative, plans are in place to strengthen the sector and attract high-value jobs and education. Two of these projects include the working farm school, which will teach farming techniques and the business of farming to a new generation, and the North Fraser Agri-food Hub, which will enable regional producers to capitalize on existing business opportunities, attract investment and expand the demand for locally grown produce.

Meeting business needs The North Fraser region is one of the few areas of Metro Vancouver where underdeveloped land is available in large quantity. The region boasts 480 hectares of commercial land, 1,120 hectares of industrial land and 11,800 hectares of agricultural land.

Kate Zanon, CEO, Pitt Meadows Economic Development, points to Pitt Meadows Regional Airport (YPK) with 300 acres of land for development. Affordable land on and off airport, a skilled workforce and multimodal transportation connections make YPK a great place to grow your aviation business.

Adjacent to YPK is a state-of-the-art light industrial park able to accommodate users who require large scale custom designed facilities, in addition to providing small and mid-sized options for growing companies. Additionally, along the Lougheed Highway, land is available for development in all three communities.

“With an abundance of commercial and industrial land, companies have an opportunity to create what they need. They can build to suit their ideal conditions in an ideal location,” says Zanon.

The recent launch of BusinessSTART, a program that offers entrepreneurs over 70 resources, is one of the many reasons that business owners feel well-supported and in a good position to start and grow their business in the North Fraser region.

Is it any wonder that the population and the number of jobs in the North Fraser region are expected to double by 2041? To learn more about becoming part of the growth, visit www.investnorthfraser.com today.

2/7/14 11:42:54 AM

1*55 .&"%084 Population: 18,500 A central location Pitt Meadows is the gateway between Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley and offers myriad opportunities for investors, entrepreneurs, recreation enthusiasts and families alike.

A growing, young workforce In respect to population, Pitt Meadows is one of the fastest growing communities in Metro Vancouver with one third of its population in the 25-44 demographic. The median age is 39.5 years. Within a 30 minute drive, Pitt Meadows businesses have access to 800,000+ people.

Multi-modal transportation infrastructure Pitt Meadows’ light industrial and business park lands are within minutes of truck, train and air transportation routes.

In driving time, Pitt Meadows is approximately 45 minutes from downtown Vancouver and Vancouver International Airport, 25 minutes from Abbotsford International Airport and within 30 minutes of three U.S. border crossings. In addition, the Pitt Meadows Regional Airport (YPK) and CP Rail’s Intermodal Facility are located in the community.

Investment opportunities If aviation, agriculture, tourism, manufacturing or distribution is your business, you may want to give Pitt Meadows some serious consideration. Pitt Meadows is one of few communities located in Metro Vancouver offering 200 acres of contiguous tracts of land for industrial and business park development. Current projects include: Golden Ears Business Centre (GEBC) – Located on 95 acres, the GEBC is the largest new business park in Metro Vancouver. It is able to accom-

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modate users who require large-scale, custom-designed facilities, in addition to providing small and mid-sized options for growing companies. Companies such as Euro-Rite Cabinets and Maurice Sporting Goods have recently moved in to 100,000+ square foot facilities in this growing business park.

YPK International Education and Business Park – YPK is situated on 700 acres of land and has over 300 acres available for international aviation education, business park development (flight operations and MRO), as well as support operations (part sales, fabrication, interiors and completions, paint and composites).

Agrifood Hub – There is a broad range of agricultural products that come from Pitt Meadows and the surrounding North Fraser region.

Recent studies have identified opportunities for a greater coordination of the industry in the way of an agrifood hub. Hubs can include a variety of services such as distribution/aggregation support, marketing, storage, processing and even an indoor farmers’ market. We are just at the beginning stages of this project and invite you to get involved.

Opportunity ahead A recent report suggested that Pitt Meadows’ employment base could grow by more than 130% over the next 20 years. This presents a possible 7,450 new jobs in the community. If you’re looking for available and affordable land with quick access to market and a skilled workforce, it’s time to THINK PITT MEADOWS. Contact Pitt Meadows Economic Development Corporation Tel 604.465.9481 Email EDinfo@thinkpittmeadows.ca Web www.thinkpittmeadows.ca

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/&8 8&45.*/45&3 The original As western Canada’s original city, New Westminster has a history of creating opportunity and setting trends. With close to $1 billion being invested over the past five years in new residential, commercial and public space, the city is reinventing itself as a vibrant, walkable, up-and-coming place to be. Today, “New West” is attracting innovative, imaginative and invested individuals and businesses that are changing the way the community interacts and does business.

Community New Westminster is quickly embracing the principles of the shared economy. Focusing on the growth and success of the community as a whole, businesses here are eager to support one another, and through that support, prosper together.

And City Hall is embracing the business community. Last year, the City of New Westminster received NAIOP’s Most Business Friendly Award for moving to lower light industrial taxes by 34%. New West also joined an Inter-municipal Business License pilot program with five other municipalities to provide a more affordable licensing option to constructionrelated mobile businesses. With an active economic development office, the City is creating a robust resource and advocate for business to thrive and grow.

nine floors of Class A, targeted LEED Gold office space will become active this year, bringing an estimated 500 professionals to the downtown core on a daily basis.

Throughout the city, new developments are underway. From Queensborough to Sapperton, and Uptown to Downtown, residential projects are adding homes in the community, while commercial and mixed-use construction is enhancing a diverse economic foundation and urban vitality.

Located in the centre of the lower mainland, New Westminster is projected to grow at a rate that outpaces its neighbouring cities over the next two decades. Seize the opportunity to be a part of the success.

Invest in New West.

Contact Economic Development Office City of New Westminster 604-527-4536 info@investnewwest.ca www.investnewwest.ca

Grow with us In September 2014 the new Anvil Centre will open, providing a mid-sized conference space, banquet rooms, theatre, art gallery and museums in the heart of Downtown New Westminster. Directly above Anvil Centre,

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."1-& 3*%(& Ë‹1016-"5*0/ ˟˟ ËšË´ËˇËŒ Discover why a move to Maple Ridge might just be the best move you’ll ever make

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t is often said that more than 80% of new jobs, companies and economic growth come from existing businesses. Accordingly, as Maple Ridge is about halfway to our forecast growth, we actively foster a business climate that encourages private investment and a thriving local economy. Investment by new and existing companies will help meet the growing demand for high value local jobs our community needs, and contribute to a sustainable, vibrant economy for generations to come.

Maple Ridge population, jobs and companies are forecast to grow to 132,000, 48,000, and 6,000 respectively.

In the BC Jobs Plan 24 month progress report Premier Christy Clark commented “The ultimate aim of The BC Jobs Plan is to create a climate that encourages a robust economy in which the private sector can thrive�.

As a BC Jobs Plan pilot community, we’re working on a wide range of investment attraction and job creation initiatives in priority sectors Technology, Education, Tourism and Agriculture. Creating a welcoming business climate is what we’re all about! Our motto “helping you turn business opportunties into success stories� describes our role connecting businesses with resources, programs and expertise. To that end, together with our Invest North Fraser economic partners Mission and Pitt Meadows, we’ve launched two new programs: Q BusinessSTART www.businessstart.ca is an innovative program designed to help new and existing businesses thrive and grow by connecting them to more than 70 available resources.

Q True North Fraser www.truenorthfraser. com is our online resource (showcasing Food & Markets / Farms & Artisans / Tours & Activities/ Events) that help local Agriculture & Tourism sector businesses easily profile their business to other businesses and visitors alike.

Incentives If our forecast growth and having some of the most affordable land in Metro Vancouver weren’t incentive enough, Western Investor describes the region as a “power corridor� for Commercial / Industrial development, citing our “open for business� attitude as a strong incentive for development. As well, a recent NAIOP survey noted that Maple Ridge had the second lowest cost (total municipal fees to construct at 100,000 sq. ft industrial warehouse) in the Metro Vancouver area.

And speaking of incentives for development, while the three-year Maple Ridge Town Centre Investment Incentive wrapped up in December 2013, there’s still time to get in on

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the action as the deadline for commercial projects has been extended to December 2014. This extension means that even more development projects can take advantage of program benefits including reduced fees, and up to six years municipal tax exemption. In its first three years the program attracted private investment valued at some $140 million dollars in more than 40 major projects.

The best move you’ll ever make. Whether you’re looking for a new home for your business,

your family or both, we look forward to welcoming you to Maple Ridge “2010 – 2015 #5 Top Canadian Investment City� and the “place to live for lifestyle�. We invite you to discover firsthand why making the move to Maple Ridge might just be the best move you’ll ever make.

Sandy Blue is Manager Strategic Economic Initiatives at the District of Maple Ridge. She can be reached at 604-467-7319 or sblue@ mapleridge.ca www.investmapleridge.ca

There’s still time to take advantage of our Exceptional Investment Incentive Program Deadline Extended Our three-year Town Centre Investment Incentive program wrapped up in December 2013; but there’s still time to get in on the action. Due to its success attracting more than 40 projects and some $140 Million in private investment to our Town Centre, the Commercial elements of the Incentive have been extended to December 2014.

7R ÀQG RXW KRZ \RXU QHZ FRPPHUFLDO mixed-use development or your commercial renovation or façade improvement can qualify for priority processing, reduced fees and up to 6 years municipal tax exemption visit www.investmapleridge.ca P: 604-467-7319 E: sblue@mapleridge.ca

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)01& Poised for Growth Hope’s strategic location at the gateway between the booming Fraser Valley and the resource-rich Northern BC Market positions it for growth in 2014 and coming years. At the convergence of Highways 1, 3, 5 and 7, all commercial highway traffic in southern B.C. flows through Hope.

Approximately seven million vehicles travel through the community annually on these major routes. This superb highway access combined with proximity to the U.S. border and large metropolitan trade areas, as well as low land and business costs, makes Hope an ideal location.

Companies using B.C.’s highway or rail network and looking for viable and cost-effective alternatives to locations elsewhere in the Fraser Valley will find what they are looking for in Hope.

Opportunities Abound 2012 and 2013 were banner years for most of Hope’s retailers, particularly those in the hospitality sector whose primary business is servicing the travelling public. There are excellent commercial opportunities available in Hope’s beautiful downtown core and on the higher traffic arterials and highway exits. Hope offers new retailers affordable start-up cots with access to a large travelling market and a primary domestic trade area of over 10,000 people.

Existing industrial and commercial land is available with quick highway access, and municipal servicing in place. Retail-commercial lands are also available for development and redevelopment at attractive price levels compared to neighbouring municipalities.

A Revitalization Tax Exemption Program Bylaw that has been recently adopted by the District of Hope offers a development/redevelopment

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incentive through graduated tax abatement to allow property owners to maximize the benefit of Hope’s low entry costs and to encourage newer, high-quality development in the community.

Quality of life A joint initiative of the District of Hope, AdvantageHOPE and the Hope & District Chamber of Commerce saw the development of a new community brand in 2013, and work continues to propel and market the brand along with the newly-adopted community logo in 2014. The essence of the brand is the idea of connectedness in Hope – to nature, to the rest of the province, and to oneself, and Hope’s advantage over competitive locations is the lifestyle element that is unique to this small-town community.

Housing costs in Hope are among the very lowest in all of the Fraser Valley, while the community still boasts excellent amenities similar to those in communities many times its size. Hope has a hospital, good schools and excellent recreational opportunities. The Hope Recreation Complex, operated by the Fraser Valley Regional District, includes an ice rink, a 25-metre competition pool, children’s pool and water features, an excellent library and new conference facilities. Trails for every level are within walking distance of any home in Hope, and climbing enthusiasts will enjoy challenging vertical experiences only minutes from town.

For more information on Hope opportunities, contact AdvantageHOPE, Hope’s Economic Development and Tourism Agency, now located at the Hope Visitor Centre. 919 Water Avenue, info@advantagehope.ca, 604-860-0930, or on the web at hopebc.ca

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.*44*0/ Mission on the move The District of Mission continues to be one of the faster growing communities in the province. With a current population of approximately 38,117, experts predict that Mission could exceed 45,000 within the next ten years. This tremendous growth is creating a wealth of opportunities within the community.

Downtown revitalization A priority focus for Mission is on Downtown revitalization. The broad intent of the MissionCity Downtown Action Plan is to facilitate revitalization of Downtown through practical improvements to the social, economic and environmental dimensions of the Downtown core. It is an innovative, practical and action oriented vision. “Downtown has several buildings that serve as good examples of what we would like to see in our redevelopment efforts, while others may need to be completely rebuilt,” explains Mayor Adlem. “It was a very comprehensive planning exercise so we will be looking at infrastructure, traffic flow, parking, redevelopment of property and also the creation of a gathering place in the form of a public square.” Mayor and Council also purchased a strategically located 11,000sf building on one acre of land in December of 2013 for $1.925M. This strategic downtown location is a catalyst project to instill investment confidence and demonstrate the commitment of the municipality.

Mission Interpretive Forest The Mission Interpretive Forest is an area of 12,000 acres on the western shore of Stave Lake. Development of the area will transform it into a family-friendly destination for outdoor recreation, tourism and discovery.

The project will create jobs and economic development through precedent-setting redevelopment of underutilized Crown land. In short, the area will become a recreational playground with distinct areas for

motorized activity, horseback riding, hiking and cross-country skiing, as well as providing venues for people to use the many lakes. Furthermore, the municipality is exploring the possibility of private development, including RV sites, private resorts and zipline facilities. Additionally, Mission is working with the Tim Horton’s Children’s Foundation to explore the possibility of the foundation’s next camp—the eighth in Canada—being built in the forest.

Economic environment Mission was recently designated as one of the top 25 most business friendly communities in Western Canada and has committed itself to becoming the most business friendly city in the lower mainland. Mission is working hard to be open and accommodating to business and investment interests. Mission is achieving this through significant business and development services improvements, as well as a 0 percent property tax increase in 2012, a modest 1.49 percent increase in 2013, and another 0 percent tax increase in 2014.

Quality of life In terms of drawing residents and visitors alike, Mission is blessed with a multitude of interesting recreational and cultural activities. The first Friday of December welcomes the annual Candlelight Parade, drawing about 15,000 people. This is the largest nighttime parade in Western Canada with 80 floats. Father’s Day at Fraser River Heritage Park includes Old Car Sunday with up to 1,500 vintage cars on display. The Mission Folk Music Festival draws close to 7,000 each year. The Envision Twilight Concert Series is put on every summer on Wednesdays and Fridays at the Fraser River Heritage Park. In August, thousands attend the Rockin’ River Music Fest. With many exciting prospects for the community on the horizon, we invite you to learn more about Mission.

www.mission.ca

With many exciting prospects for the community on the horizon, we invite you to learn more about how Mission is making waves by striving to be the most business friendly community in the lower mainland.

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$PRVJUMBN Population: 129,716 he City of Coquitlam, located in the heart of Metro Vancouver, is one of the fastest growing communities in the lower mainland and British Columbia. It is estimated that the population of Coquitlam will be 176,000 by 2021 and 224,000 by 2041.

Coquitlam’s proximity to Vancouver, access to markets, transportation and housing options, recreation opportunities, highly educated labour force, open and accessible local government and innovative business community are some of the factors that are driving economic growth. Coquitlam’s major sectors are Professional Services, Retail/Wholesale Trade, Manufacturing, Technology, Tourism, Public Administration, Transportation and Construction.

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Investment and Economic Growth The City of Coquitlam is the regional service centre for Northeast Metro Vancouver. Coquitlam is experiencing tremendous growth and investment. Recent public projects such as the Poirier Sports and Leisure Complex, the City Centre Public Library, the Port Mann Bridge and King Edward Overpass, as well as the coming Evergreen SkyTrain line combined with significant investment in private sector development projects in areas such as the City Centre, along with the growth of organizations like Douglas College, IKEA and Coquitlam Centre have made Coquitlam a popular destination. These infrastructure and amenity investments have created numerous business and economic development opportunities.

Proximity to Major Markets Coquitlam is located in the geographic centre of the lower mainland and is 30 minutes from downtown Vancouver and 40 minutes from the US border. Coquitlam provides excellent access to the 2 million plus Metro Vancouver market and the 10 million citizen trading area that stretches from Vancouver, BC, to Oregon State in the United States. Coquitlam’s proximity to the Vancouver and Abbotsford International airports and Port of Metro Vancouver also provides businesses convenient access to the Pacific Rim. This connection to major markets makes Coquitlam an attractive choice for a variety of transportation, logistics, and technology and manufacturing companies.

Transportation Options and Accessibility Coquitlam offers direct access to major highways, rail arterials, rapid transit (SkyTrain) and river ports. Access to these major transportation networks, combined with Coquitlam’s central location in the lower mainland, have helped Coquitlam become a magnet for businesses such as Coca Cola, The Oppenheimer Group, Williams Moving, Natural Factors, Canstar Restorations and others. Transportation infrastructure improvements like the Port Mann, Golden Ears and Pitt River Bridges, King Edward Overpass and the Trans Canada Highway upgrade, have improved the flow of goods and services. These transportation investments, as well as the Evergreen SkyTrain Line, will create numerous economic development opportunities while improving the transportation options available to businesses and residents.

Superb Quality of Life Coquitlam has competitive housing prices, diverse housing types, high quality education options, diverse dining and shopping choices and

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accessible transportation services like buses, SkyTrain and the Westcoast Express commuter rail train. The City of Coquitlam has vast recreation opportunities, a variety of sport and cultural amenities such as Place des Arts and the Evergreen Cultural Centre, an expanding network of civic facilities including the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex (a $53M project), new City Centre Public Library, and Town Centre Park. The City is also home to an extensive trail network and a variety of natural areas including provincial, regional and municipal parks, such as the 38,000 hectare Pinecone-Burke Provincial Park, the 175 hectare Minnekhada Regional Park, the 404 hectare Colony Farm Regional Park, the 176 hectare Mundy Park, and more. These attributes are driving population growth and motivating people and businesses to relocate to Coquitlam.

Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Technology The innovation, entrepreneurship and commitment of Coquitlam’s residents and businesses have created a vibrant business climate. The City of Coquitlam is keen to work with these groups to develop progressive solutions that would positively impact the community. This is demonstrated by QNet, a wholly owned subsidiary of the City of Coquitlam that has invested in fibre optic infrastructure - 60km to date. The network has allowed Coquitlam to connect the City’s traffic signal system and facilities and provide low-cost broadband services across the City for businesses and residents. The project has grown and allowed Coquitlam to open up access to high speed, competitive telecom services by leasing unlit fibre optic cable to the telecom industry.

Supporting Business Success The City of Coquitlam is committed to creating a business environment that fosters business growth and prosperity. The City has streamlined processes and is committed to the continuous improvement of the business environment. In 2013, the City of Coquitlam was honoured to receive the BC Small Business Roundtable’s Open For Business Award from the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training. The City received this award in recognition of its commitment to enhancing business success through innovative policy and program development.

We invite you to contact us to learn more about the advantages Coquitlam has to offer.

Contact David Munro, Manager Economic Development City of Coquitlam 3000 Guildford Way, Coquitlam, BC V3B 7N2 P: 604-927-3442 E: economicdevelopment@coquitlam.ca

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Coquitlam

Invest, Innovate, Grow

Coquitlam is one of the fastest growing communities in British Columbia.

Our City offers:

Proximity to the Metro Vancouver, US and Asian markets

Access to major transportation corridors and networks

Transportation infrastructure improvements like the Hwy 1 / Port Mann Bridge and Evergreen Line projects

A large, skilled and highly educated labour force

Diverse recreation, arts and culture, housing and education opportunities

QNet - a 60 km fibre optic network that provides businesses with low-cost broadband services

An open, accessible and progressive municipal government We invite you to contact us to learn more about the advantages Coquitlam has to offer.

Economic Development 3000 Guildford Way, Coquitlam, BC, V3B 7N2 Phone: 604-927-3442 | Email: economicdevelopment@coquitlam.ca

coquitlam.ca/economicdevelopment

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$IJMMJXBDL Population: 83,000 Chilliwack Offers Business A World Of Advantages Chilliwack, home of Canada Education Park, is one of the best places to operate a business. Located in southwest British Columbia (BC), in a regional market of about 2.5 million people, with easy access to international freight ways, Chilliwack is ideally located for industrial, commercial, and institutional businesses.

Competitive costs, combined with a strong economy and a superb quality of life, make Chilliwack a destination of interest for business investors locally and around the world.

Business-Friendly Government Chilliwack was voted “most business friendly” by the Vancouver Chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) in 2012. The municipal government is committed to ensuring that a competitive business environment is maintained by working with the business community and implementing development policies that lead to success. In 2013, Chilliwack received the BC Small Business Roundtable's Open for Business award, which recognizes Chilliwack for programs and policies that support small business.

Vibrant Economy Chilliwack’s economy, affordable real estate and skills-focused education put Chilliwack on the top 10 list of BC cities for investment in the British Columbia Investment Towns Report by the Real Estate Investment Network in 2013.

Enjoying a strong economy and a stable growth rate of three per cent, Chilliwack is attracting a multitude of employers. Currently, Chilliwack’s growing economic sectors include: agriculture, aviation and aerospace, education, film, food processing, health care, manufacturing, professional services, real estate, retail/wholesale trade, technology, and tourism.

Proximty To Markets – Closer Than You Think!

Chilliwack provides easy access to local, regional, national and international markets (American, Asian and European). Located along the Trans Canada Highway and next to local, national and international railways, Chilliwack is only 20 minutes away from a USA border crossing and Abbotsford’s International Airport, 90 minutes from Vancouver’s International Airport and one hour from the nearest shipping sea port.

There is an estimated population of 83,000 within Chilliwack, plus about 274,388 people living within a 30-minute commute. Also there are about 900,000 people living within 90 kms, and about 2.5 million people within 130 kms, including Vancouver.

Qualified Workforce Chilliwack’s first-rate education system, which is supported by the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) and the new Agriculture Centre of Excellence, School District #33 and other public and private advanced

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education opportunities, provide a wealth of qualified local talent.

Together, these institutions offer a wide variety of programming, ranging from apprenticeship training to university degrees. Chilliwack is also home to Canada Education Park, which showcases several major institutional facilities including the RCMP Pacific Region Training Centre (PRTC), Justice Institute of BC (JIBC), Canada Border Services Agency, and the University of the Fraser Valley.

Low Costs Chilliwack is one of the most cost-competitive locations for business in North America. r Industrial Tax Incentive: save on industrial property tax for five years with Chilliwack’s new Industrial Revitalization Tax Exemption program.

This translates into thousands of dollars of savings for industrial capital investments. r Low cost of living: Vancouver’s cost-of-living is very competitive with major metropolitan centres in the United States. Chilliwack’s living expenses are even lower than Vancouver — in some cases, about onethird less! r Low industrial, commercial and residential land costs: Chilliwack’s housing costs can be as much as 50 per cent less than Vancouver. Retail space can be as much as 75 per cent less than downtown Vancouver.

Also, Chilliwack’s industrial land prices are significantly lower (30-40 per cent) than neighbouring municipalities located closer to Vancouver. r Low labour and production costs: BC’s costs are lower than the USA and other G-7 countries. For example, costs for skilled technical and professional workers can be as much as 33 per cent below comparable US centres. Also employer-sponsored benefits, payroll, tax and health insurance rates are all lower than in the USA. Unbeatable Quality Of Life With a mild climate, proximity to the grandeur of BC’s great outdoors and its limitless recreational opportunities, and all the amenities of any major urban centre, Chilliwack is one of Canada’s more desirable places to live and work.

For More Information: Chilliwack Economic Partners Corporation (CEPCO) is responsible for attracting and facilitating economic growth for the City of Chilliwack.

CEPCO provides various business attraction and retention services, including site selection assistance, business relocation or expansion support, employee attraction and promotion, employee relocation services, immigration assistance and other related services.

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“Most Business-Friendly City�

“Top BC Investment Town�

— NAIOP 2012 REPORT

— 2013 REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT NETWORK LTD.

Chilliwack competitive by nature

Chilliwack – closer than you think.

Chilliwack has a thriving business community, a growing residential population, and millions of dollars in new developments.

Come to Chilliwack and enjoy all the beneďŹ ts of doing business in BC’s Lower Mainland at a much lower cost.

s E: info@chilliwackpartners.com

DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES

|

W: chilliwackeconomicpartners.com

LEADING-EDGE INDUSTRY

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WORLD-CLASS EDUCATION

SUPERB LIFESTYLE

LOW COST OF LIVING

AGRICULTURAL LEADERSHIP

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5PXOTIJQ PG -BOHMFZ Open for business The Township of Langley’s local economy features everything your business needs: r TLJMMFE MBCPVS GPSDF r DPNQSFIFOTJWF BSSBZ PG USBJOJOH FEVDBUJPO GBDJMJUJFT r GVMMZ JOUFHSBUFE SPBE SBJM QPSU BOE BJSQPSU JOGSBTUSVDUVSF r GVMM SBOHF PG SFMJBCMF VUJMJUZ BOE UFMFDPN TFSWJDFT r TVJUBCMF JOEVTUSJBM BOE DPNNFSDJBM MBOE TJUFT r FBTZ BDDFTT UP NBSLFUT DVTUPNFST BOE TVQQMJFST – 2 million consumers within a one-hour drive

Newly completed Deloitte office building in the Carvolth Business Park is part of the burgeoning cluster of professional offices at 200 Street and the Trans-Canada Highway.

Connecting People, Places, and Business Competitive industrial, commercial, and residential land costs, low labour, energy, and production costs combined with a great urban/rural mix of lifestyles make the Township of Langley a great choice for locating your business.

With the goal of supplying one job for each Langley resident in the labour force, and one of the lowest business bankruptcy rates in Metro Vancouver, the Township of Langley is an ideal place to do business.

Retail and commercial businesses have made the Township home to one of the largest retail centres in the Lower Mainland.

Similarly, many regional branches of major banking institutions and international legal and accounting firms have relocated here.

Supporting almost 4,900 companies and an expanding population base, currently estimated at 110,600 but expected to double to 210,000 in the next 30 years, the Township of Langley is poised to become an economic powerhouse in British Columbia.

New transportation projects connect people to jobs The Golden Ears Bridge opened new markets on the north shore of the Fraser River, complementing existing infrastructure. The movement of goods and services improved again with the newly expanded Port Mann Bridge (doubling from 5 lanes to 10) and the addition of truck climbing lanes on Highway 1 between 232 Street and 264 Street which will provide a free-flow entrance to the highway from 232 Street and an easy exit at 264 Street.

The Park and Ride at 202 Street, immediately south of the TransCanada Highway, is now fully operational, thereby making an easier and more sustainable commute for residents and employees.

These infrastructure improvements have also created an emerging business centre in the Township capitalizing on a prime location next to the Trans-Canada Highway and appealing to professional service firms catering to a growing client base in the Fraser Valley.

Sixth-largest industrial floor space in Metro Vancouver Serviced and unserviced vacant industrial lands, with stable and competitive land prices, are available in the Township’s five industrial areas.

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i0VU PG BMM PG XFTUFSO $BOBEB XF DIPTF (MPVDFTUFS *OEVTUSJBM &TUBUFT JO -BOHMFZ GPS PVS SFHJPOBM IFBE PĴDFT 1SPYJNJUZ UP LFZ NBSLFUT BOE EJTUSJCVUJPO QPJOUT XBT DSVDJBM JO PVS EFDJTJPO 1MVT UIF DPNCJOBUJPO PG JOEVTUSJBM FTUBUF XJUI B OBUVSBM TFUUJOH QSPWJEFT B HSFBU XPSL FOWJSPONFOU w o .BSL )PEHF (. #FOKBNJO .PPSF 8FTUFSO 3FHJPO Education and training facilities able to customize your in-house training Employers seeking to further their employees’ qualifications can do so through credit and non-credit courses from the number of specialized education and training facilities in the Township; especially at Trinity Western University or Kwantlen Polytechnic University.

More than 525 economic activities fuel the local economy r 3FUBJM r 5PVSJTN r 'JMNJOH r .BOVGBDUVSJOH r )JHI 5FDI BOE NVDI NPSFw Canada’s largest cluster of helicopter companies makes Langley Regional Airport a centre of excellence for rotary wing aircraft.

Agribusiness has the right mix – hobby to high tech The combination of predominately Class 4 land, featuring high-quality soils and innovative farmers, nets high yield on 12,970 hectares of agricultural land. The Township produces the most varied agricultural production in Canada.

The good life – no matter what your stage in life Finding the right location is just as important for a business as it is for its employees. The Township promotes healthy and sustainable communities supporting a diverse mix of people while offering a cost of living that’s very affordable.

All of these investments in the past few years are paying immediate dividends, as the Township of Langley for the first time, joined the annual list of “Top 10 Investment Towns in B.C.� as compiled by the Real Estate Investment Network.

Learn more by contacting: Gary MacKinnon, Economic Development Manager Township of Langley, 20338 – 65 Avenue, Langley, BC Tel: 604.533.6084 Email: gmackinnon@tol.ca Web: www.tol.ca

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Vancouver Island/Coast

INVESTMENT DESTINATION Triple-bottom line of “people, planet and profit” draws investors to the Island and the Coast

9.1%

Share of B.C. land area

FRANK O’BRIEN

■Campbell River ■Comox ■Courtenay ■Cowichan ■Duncan ■Ladysmith ■Lake Cowichan ■Langford ■Nanaimo ■North Cowichan ■Parksville ■Port Alberni ■Port Alice ■Port Hardy ■Port McNeill ■Powell River ■Qualicum Beach ■Saanich ■Sooke ■Sidney ■Tofino ■Ucluelet ■Victoria

P

erhaps no region best exemplifies the British Columbia lifestyle – and diverse economic potential – as Vancouver Island and the Coast.

Ringed by oceans and mountains and blessed with yearround, world-class golf, skiing and fishing in Canada’s mildest climate, it likely inspired B.C.’s marketing tag line of “the best place on earth.”

The size of Ireland, the region covers 9.1 per cent of B.C.’s total land base and has the second-largest population in the province with 788,756 residents, 98 per cent living on southern Vancouver Island between Victoria and Campbell River.

Metro Victoria, B.C.’s second-largest city, is the economic engine for the region and a prime example of how investment can strive without sacrificing lifestyle.

The provincial capital is the home of Canada’s Pacific navy, a strong public-sector employment base and thriving tourism, which keeps the unemployment rate among the lowest in Canada. Yet the real growth is being shaped by a knowledge economy characterized by high technology, advanced engineering, clean energy and two top-ranked post-secondary institutions, with the University of Victoria recently being named Canada’s No. 1 comprehensive university.

“The Metro Victoria region is really positioning as a tier-two creative and entrepreneurial centre in North America, very similar to a Boulder, Colorado, or Austin, Texas,” says Dallas Gislason, economic development officer for the Greater Victoria Development Agency.

“We’ve been ranked as the second most creative city in Canada by Dr. Richard Florida [author of The Rise of the Creative Class].”

Even as a multibillion-dollar shipbuilding contract fires up, a new wave of high-rise housing ascends and the airport expands to meet international demand, Gislason says lifestyle will remain Victoria’s economic trump card.

Metro Victoria provides “sustainable life choices, like biking to work, kayaking on weekends and seeing live music any night of the week. Our economic success is rooted in entrepreneurially driven companies that are

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guided by ‘triple-bottom-line’ principles of people, planet and profit,” Gislason says.

A $3.3 billion federal shipbuilding contract alone will provide decades of employment at Esquimalt’s Victoria Shipyards, where finishing and maintenance work will be done on non-combat vessels and smaller ships.

Such investments have further spurred $1.2 billion in residential and commercial developments, the most action the capital region has seen since 2009.

Among the largest is the $100 million, mixed-use Eagle Creek by Vancouver-based Omicron on a 10-acre site across from Victoria General Hospital. Now underway, it will include 176,000 square feet of retail and offices and 160 homes. The commercial space is already 85 per cent leased.

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Population by age group – Vancouver Island 2013

13.4%

20.4%

11.9%

37.3% 17.0% 0–14 15–24 25–39 40–65 Omicron’s $100 million Eagle Creek, a mix of retail and residential next to Victoria General Hospital, is part of $1.2 billion in construction now underway across Metro Victoria | OMICRON

SOURCE: BCSTATS POPULATION ESTIMATION REGIONAL DISTRICTS

BY AGE (ACCESSED: SEPTEMBER 25, 2013) CALCULATED BY VIEA STAFF

Building permit values

Millions of dollars

North of Victoria, $632 million in industrial, commercial and public-sector projects are either starting construction or nearing completion this year, with the bulk of it concentrated around Nanaimo, a key port city of 83,000 inhabitants.

Nanaimo projects underway include the $15 million E&N rail service track restoration, a $22 million Wellington Secondary School, upgrades to the Harmac paper mill, a new BC Hydro substation to service south Nanaimo, expansion of the Port Place Shopping Centre and construction of the Oceanview Golf Resort and Spa, reports the Nanaimo Economic Development Corp.

Leading the buzz, though, is the $50 million luxury hotel being built by Suzhou Youth Travel Services Co. Ltd., a major Chinese tourism and travel company. The 21-storey, 240-room luxury development, ascending next to the Nanaimo Convention Centre, will be a landing pad for 70,000 tourists a year visiting Vancouver Island, according to a Suzhou spokesperson.

Known as the Harbour City, Nanaimo is the largest port on Vancouver Island, handling approximately three

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Nanaimo’s bustling harbour will see container ships, cruise ships and – perhaps – a high-speed passenger ferry to Vancouver in 2014 | NANAIMO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORP.

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Retail & wholesale trade Construction Public administration Educational services Accommodation & food services Professional, scientific & tech services 10 ,00 20 0 ,00 30 0 ,00 40 0 ,00 50 0 ,00 60 0 ,00 0

Meanwhile, it appears that every major shopping mall in Metro Victoria is being renovated or expanded.

New condominium and rental-apartment construction in Victoria was running at more than 100 units per month in 2013, with much of the action downtown, where half a dozen high-rises are under construction.

Victoria city councillor Lisa Helps sums up the dynamic new pace in the Garden City: “It’s a new Victoria. It’s a different story of Victoria that’s not just about hanging baskets and high tea.”

Economic activity Top six industries by number of employees

SOURCE: INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

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Vancouver Island/Coast

Longboard surfer Leah Oke of Port Renfrew rides to victory in Tofino’s Queen of the Peak competition, an event sanctioned by the Association of Surfing Professionals in Canada | TOURISM TOFINO

million tonnes of cargo annually and more than 160,000 seaplane passengers. The cruise ship terminal, which opened in 2011, has seen the number of ships almost double in the past two years. In 2014, seven large cruise ships and two pocket cruisers are expected to sail into the bustling docks.

The harbour could also see the launch of a new highspeed passenger ferry to Vancouver this year under a $60 million proposal from Island Ferry Services. Company president Bob Lingwood says that if approvals and incentives are achieved, the 68-minute ferry run could sail this summer. The twin-ship service would employ about 85 people in a city that posted the lowest unemployment rate in B.C. – 4.2 per cent – last year.

Tofino, on the Island’s wild west coast, recently formed an economic development committee to explore opportunities. Adventure tourism, especially surfing, appears to be cresting the list.

In October 2013 dozens of female surfers and hundreds of spectators arrived for Tofino’s first surf competition sanctioned by the Association of Surfing Professionals in Canada. The Queen of the Peak event drew competitors from Canada and the United States and pumped hundreds of thousands of dollars into the local economy.

“The surf gods were looking down on us,” says coorganizer Mike Jacobsen. “The local girls were killing it, and we had lots of spectators.”

Tofino organizers are now angling for an internationally

P O R T A L B E R N I P O R T AU T H O R I T Y

Canada’s Inlet Port on the Pacific Port Alberni Port Authority 2750 Harbour Road, Port Alberni, BC 250-723-5312 www.portalberniportauthority.ca

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ort Alberni is well known for its forest industry, sport fishing, summer heat, generousity to charitable causes and hosting of sports tournaments.

A lesser known aspect of the community is the Focus on Innovation by its businesses. The range of innovations is remarkable for a community of 25,000 people and a testimony to the entrepreneurs and the hundreds of skilled trades’ people who live here. A few examples follow: Q The Coulson Group is an award-winning welldiversified operation that has developed a sand filter for Sikorsky helicopters working in a desert environment; ice-blast machines for removing paint, grease, and mud in commercial and industrial settings as well as addressing contaminated water in nuclear power plants; engineered Western Red Cedar siding & panels; and is also converting military C-130 Hercules aircraft for firefighting purposes.

shipping facilities at the same new location.

The Alberni Valley Regional Airport, with a 4,00o foot paved runway, is home to the Coulson Aviation division as well as the Vancouver Island Soaring Centre.

A modern 52-bed hospital, a private university, a community college, a brand new $60 million high school, public & private schools, a thriv-

ing arts community, unmatched parks, recreation and heritage facilities for a community of our size, a central Island location, public transit and quick & easy access to the outdoors are a few of the other reasons why we live, work and play here.

Contact: For more information contact Pat Deakin at the City of Port Alberni. 250.720.2527. patrick_ deakin@portalberni.ca. www.portalberni.ca

g Manufacturin Vancouver Island’s Most Affordable Community

^

Q DBA Silencing manufactures industrial exhaust & air intake systems for some of the world’s largest machines in the mining, marine & logging Industries.

Q Rev-Air Innovations developed the leading edge Dynamic Air Diffuser for commercial, industrial and institutional buildings that is now being sold across North America.

Q Port Alberni’s Catalyst Paper operation developed two additional levels of higher end grades of coated paper on equipment not designed for that.

Q The shore station for NEPTUNE Canada’s 812 kilometer loop of fibre optic cable is based in Port Alberni and transmits real time data from the system’s 130 instruments aboard five installations on the ocean floor.

Q Western Forest Products together with Lucidyne Technologies is installing automatic lumber grading technology in its Alberni Pacific Division sawmill; the first installation of its kind in the coastal forest industry.

Port Alberni is Vancouver Island’s Most Affordable Community and is located at the head of a 48 kilometer Inlet.

A sheltered ice-free deep-sea port capable of handling Panamax size freighters exports logs and lumber from the area’s forestry operations. A new Centennial Pier hosts up to four cruise ship tender vessels as well as float planes. The Port Alberni Port Authority has commissioned a feasibility study for a new port closer to the open ocean that would serve as a trans-shipment hub for container ships coming from Asia. Proponents for LNG and methanol plants and mineral projects also see a business case for locating their

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FOCUSED ON INNOVATION Sand Filters for Sikorsky S61 Helicopters Ice-Blast Machines for Nuclear Power Plants Conversions of Military C-130 Hercules for Fire Fighting Industrial Exhaust & Air Intake Systems for the Mining, Marine & Logging Industries Engineered Western Red Cedar Siding & Panels for Architectural Applications Dynamic Air Diffuser for Commercial and Industrial Buildings

www.portalberni.ca Contact Pat Deakin: 250.720.2527 patrick_deakin@portalberni.ca

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Vancouver Island/Coast

terminal. The Port Alberni Port Authority has already secured 750 acres of land for a proposed port expansion that could be worth up to $1 billion, says port authority CEO Zoran Knezevic.

There’s “strong interest” from a Korean-based LNG company on a potential facility worth more than $10 billion, Knezevic says. Potentially, more than 200 jobs for LNG and hundreds more for a modernized port, including spinoff benefits to the community, could be generated.

“This would be a game changer,” Knezevic says.

The 100-megawatt Cape Scott Wind Farm will generate enough power for 30,000 homes from its windy perch near Port Hardy on the northern tip of Vancouver Island | SEA

sanctioned competition this year, which should confirm the town’s title as Canada’s surf capital.

The forestry city of Port Alberni, situated inland but linked by the 40-kilometre Alberni Inlet to the Pacific Ocean, is now being eyed as a liquefied natural gas (LNG)

The Cowichan Valley Regional District encompasses the area between Nanaimo and Greater Victoria and east coast to west coast of Vancouver Island. The region has a population of 86,00o and includes four municipalities (Ladysmith, North Cowichan, Duncan and Lake Cowichan) and nine rural electoral areas.

In a move to attract more development and jobs, the District of North Cowichan has created a revitalization tax exemption by-law. The No. 1 development opportunity in the municipality would be the almost 15-acre Island Timberlands benchlands development in Chemainus, adjacent to the town centre’s business district, officials say. The municipality expects the submission of a comprehensive development plan for that site in 2014.

With a population of 64,000, the Comox Valley is best known as a prime tourist destination on the mid-Island,

RANDALL PEARSALL

BREEZE POWER CORP.

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but it’s stable and diversified economy has also made the valley an investment magnet.

At Cumberland, just west of the two major centres of Comox and Courtenay, Vancouver developer Trilogy Corp. is building an “instant town” that includes a giant commercial centre and thousands of new homes.

The valley’s solid economy is anchored by the 73-yearold Canadian Forces Base 19 Wing Comox, Canada’s only air force base on the West Coast, a National Sea Cadets training facility and North Island College. The valley is a popular retirement area for military people and has great golf courses, including the highly rated Crowne Isle, plus outstanding ocean recreation. The Mount Washington Ski Resort is about 30 minutes from the valley floor.

Farther north in Campbell River, BC Hydro created more than 100 jobs during the preparation on its $1 billion John Hart Replacement Project, and this will increase to at least 400 per year over the next five years of construction. SNC Lavalin has been awarded the contract to replace the 66-year-old generating facility, with the work to begin in 2014.

Meanwhile, Sea Breeze Power Corp. is completing Cape Scott Wind Farm, where 55 of the world’s largest wind turbines – each 75 metres tall with 50-metre blades – have been installed about 50 kilometres from Port Hardy on the northern tip of Vancouver Island.

In Powell River on the Sunshine Coast, directly across Georgia Strait from Comox, young entrepreneurs are changing the resource town’s economy. West Vancouver investor Stephen Brooks has bought an old shopping centre in the original townsite and is transforming it into a chic marketplace. Next door, former Vancouverite Karen Skadsheim has opened the first Sunshine Coast craft

Logs ready for market at Beaver Cove near Port McNeill | TIMBER WEST FOREST CORP.

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he Parksville/Qualicum Beach region is located on the east coast of Vancouver Island. Ideally located for a small town lifestyle within easy reach of major trade centres. Vancouver is two hours away by ferry or 30 minutes by air from our local airport. Comox and Nanaimo airports are 45 minutes from Parksville and offer direct flights to Vancouver, Calgary and Seattle.

The Parksville/Qualicum Beach region benefits from its natural beauty, moderate climate access to outdoor recreation, affordable real estate, and a history of attracting new residents to the area. The quality of life in central Vancouver Island, and affordability, make the region attractive to those seeking a high quality of life in smaller communities.

Many of the region’s business owners are looking to retire soon and there are businesses for sale of all types from restaurants to hotels and from bowling alleys to transportation companies. There is available land and leasable building space for both commercial and industrial uses.

Industrial land is available at several locations, including the Parksville Industrial Park and Qualicum Beach Airport The school system in the District covers K-12 and Vancouver Island University based in Nanaimo has a campus in Parksville offering a variety of university level courses and English as a second language.

Most people have chosen to live and work in Parksville for lifestyle reasons. Apart from the obvious recreational opportunities afforded by Vancouver Island and the mild climate compared to the rest of Canada, the Parksville region has a very high quality school system. Excellent health services and safe walkable communities.

The Live Work and Play on the entry sign truly says it all.

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Recreation opportunities are limitless and include surfing, skiing, mountain biking or just hanging out at the beach. This is the beautiful west coast with all that the oceans and mountains have to offer.

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Vancouver Island/Coast

Former Vancouverite Karen Skadsheim has opened the first Sunshine Coast craft brewery, Townsite Brewing Co., in Powell River.

Skadsheim is among the young entrepreneurs who are defining the coastal lifestyle | BAILA LAZARUS

brewery. Her Townsite Brewing Co. now sells its ale all across B.C. and has captured two industry awards.

In Westview, Mike and Sarah Salome, once managers of a trendy Vancouver restaurant, recently opened Costa Del Sol Cuisine – a Latin-flavoured and wildy popular Powell River restaurant.

Lower living costs, especially real estate values, are likely a key reason for the exodus of young entrepreneurs from the Lower Mainland to the Sunshine Coast.

“We bought a nice house 20 feet from the ocean for less than the cost of a small condo in Vancouver,” Sarah Salome says. Á

Cowichan Region on Vancouver Island

Business is

Growing Come to a land of opportunity surrounded by natural beauty and wonder. A chance for a new beginning in a thriving and growing region, close to major cities and filled with economic prosperity.

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he Cowichan Region on Vancouver Island is looking for your business to become a part of our community. Located between Victoria and Nanaimo, the Cowichan has created a favourable business environment led by a new Sustainable Economic Development Strategy and a willingness to work closely with new business investors and developers. The Cowichan has the best of what “Island Living” has to offer, plus all the amenities you and your business need to survive. The region is an ideal blend of urban and rural with easy access to major services and business supports plus all the fringe and recreational benefits of coastal life in British Columbia. The Cowichan is the second largest wine region in BC and is home to 16 wineries as well as the first estate cidery in BC. You will find the Cowichan is vibrant with an active arts and cultural scene and our climate is one of the best in Canada.

New and re-locating business owners are discovering the diversity and affordability of the region…..the Cowichan is the perfect place to mix business and pleasure. Discover the best of both worlds in the Cowichan Region on southern Vancouver Island.

For more information on the Cowichan Region visit our website at discovercowichan.com or call Economic Development Cowichan at 1-866-746-2508.

Tel: 1.250.746.7880 Toll Free: 1.866.746.2508

discovercowichan.com

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ith its central Vancouver Island location and critical transportation links, the Comox Valley is a dynamic nucleus of economic sectors and opportunities. Boasting abundant land and natural resources, attracting a temperate climate and superb quality of life, the Comox Valley is a strategic business investment location.

A 30-minute flight from Vancouver brings you to the Comox Valley, which is composed of the distinctive communities of Courtenay, Comox, and Cumberland. To the east the area encompasses the beautiful Strait of Georgia and to the west, the Strathcona Provincial Park.

The Comox Valley is one of the fastest-growing regions in BC over the last decade, growing by 16% from 2001 to 2011, and it’s economy is diverse and thriving. The region attracts investment in new and expanded resorts and hotels, making it a prime location for further investment in resort and tourism services, while a growing number of technology entrepreneurs and contractors attracted by the region’s spectacular quality of life, are now calling the Comox Valley home. The diverse regional economy benefits from a highly-educated population; 63% of residents aged 25-64 are post-secondary graduates.

With one of the longest growing seasons in Canada, more than 450 farms, a critical mass of lower-cost agricultural land and access to nearly a million-person trading area, the region attracts vineyards, niche product producers, including cranberries, sprouts, organic fruits and vegetables, and diary and meat processing. The region also produces 50% + of all BC shellfish.

Contact: Comox Valley Economic Development John Watson, Executive Director 1-877-848-2427 1-250-792-0375 john@investcomoxvalley.com investcomoxvalley.com discovercomoxvalley.com

Population: 19,906 (region) Location: 135 km north of Vancouver

L

ocated North of Vancouver on the upper Sunshine Coast, Powell River has become a destination for urban professionals who are choosing to build a life in the region because of the ability to buy a decent home at an affordable price. They are attracted to its safe environment, moderate climate, strong cultural sector, excellent recreational amenities and its strong sense of community.

The Powell River region’s chief exports are paper, lumber, crushed limestone, clean energy, seafood, fruit and value added products such as windows and cabinetry. Millions of tonnes of product are shipped out of the region on an annual basis bound for markets in the United States, South America and Asia, supporting about 8000 jobs in the community.

The Powell River Region has a strong history of creating innovative partnerships to move projects forward for the betterment of the community. The City took a bold approach to reducing major industrial tax rates for Catalyst Paper Corporation ($18-million in savings) and in turn made a deal to take ownership of needed lands and assets.

School District 47 and Vancouver Island University partnered to create dual credit trades programs that have become a model for the rest of BC. The City has partnered with the Sliammon First Nation to form a Limited Partnership to sell lands for redevelopment to create new jobs and tax revenues. These partnerships are just a few examples of how the community works together to make things happen.

Come Partner With Us Powell River offers a wide range of service and cost advantages for your business: r .BSJOF *OEVTUSJBM -BOET TUBSUJOH BU QFS BDSF r "HSJDVMUVSBM -BOET TUBSUJOH BU QFS BDSF r " UP #VTJOFTT 5BY SBUJP r %VBM $SFEJU 5SBEFT USBJOJOH QSPHSBNT r " TUSPOH #VTJOFTT 3FUFOUJPO BOE &YQBOTJPO QSPHSBN r ĂłJHIUT EBJMZ UP 7BODPVWFS Powell River is an innovative and BĂ­PSEBCMF DPNNVOJUZ CVJMU PO TUSPOH QBSUOFSTIJQT BOE JU JT SFBEZ UP XPSL XJUI CVTJOFTTFT UP IFMQ UIFN CF TVDDFTTGVM Contact Powell River Economic Development at 1-877-330-8118 or srandolph@prreds.com to learn more.

To learn more about the Powell River region and the opportunities it offers, contact Powell River Economic Development at 1-877-330-8118 or srandolph@prreds.com.

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/BOBJNP Nanaimo has it all!

Location, location, location …

Nanaimo, nestled between the mountains and the ocean, is a 20 minute flight from downtown Vancouver or a 95 minute ferry ride from Vancouver. The economic hub of Vancouver Island, picturesque Nanaimo is easily accessible by sea or air to the lower mainland and the Pacific Northwest. Air Canada offers daily service between Vancouver International Airport and Nanaimo Airport, an all-weather facility.

WestJet Encore provides daily direct flights to Calgary, and Kenmore Air to Seattle. Seaplane flights leaving every 30 minutes link Nanaimo downtown to Vancouver downtown in just 20 minutes. BC Ferries operates passenger and vehicle ferries between greater Nanaimo and the Lower Mainland 16 times per day. Home to three deep sea berths, this oceanside city receives more than one million tons of cargo annually through its port facilities and deep-sea terminal at Duke Point.

Low business costs are a competitive advantage!

Prime commercial real estate in Nanaimo has among the lowest lease rates in British Columbia for communities of similar size. Real estate costs are significantly lower when compared with Victoria or Vancouver for each class of real estate.

Class Nanaimo Victoria Vancouver

A $18+ $29+ $32+

B $12+ $16+ $22+

C $7+ $10+ $13+

At one third the price of Vancouver, and roughly half that of Victoria, business owners and employees are often pleasantly surprised at the cost advantages of doing business & owning real estate in Nanaimo.

With a full spectrum of housing options, most with Spectacular Ocean and mountain views, Nanaimo offers the most bang for your buck in real estate!

Nanaimo Victoria Vancouver

Average new single-family home price $513,513 $718,339 $1,366,994

“New businesses and residents continue to locate in Nanaimo because of the desirable mix of modern infrastructure, affordable housing, access to all of the services that are essential for successful business start-ups and growth” says Sasha Angus, CEO, Nanaimo Economic Development Corporation. In the last decade Nanaimo has seen significant infrastructure improvements in telecommunications, transportation and education along with major downtown revitalization.

Nanaimo is a business-friendly community, and Civic leaders are committed to making continuous improvements based on business input and needs. The Nanaimo Economic Development Corporation supports local business growth and attracts new business and investment to the region.

Nanaimo’s local government, in collaboration with business leaders, is working to minimize regulations and to expedite development and permitting processes. This is helping businesses save both time, and money.

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Nanaimo business class tax rates are significantly lower than Prince George, Kamloops and other similar sized communities in BC. Telecommunications Nanaimo companies have access to an excellent telecommunications infrastructure. This includes a sophisticated network of fibre optics, providing worldwide Internet links and a high level of reliability. “Nanaimo has a fantastic telecommunications infrastructure, with all the services and amenities that any budding or growing business needs!” says Charles Hamer, owner Resonance Software.

Growth Nanaimo is the 5th fastest growing mid-size urban centre in BC. Local, provincial and federal governments have made significant infrastructure investments in the last decade, including the Vancouver Island Conference Centre, Nanaimo Museum, parks & trails improvements, Nanaimo Airport expansion, a new cruise ship terminal, and additions to the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, including a new prenatal wing and expansion to the emergency wing. This public sector investment spurred significant private sector investments, including major multidwelling and condominium projects sprinkled throughout the City.

Population base 102,000 – Nanoose to Cedar (NEDC boundaries), 20-minute drive 151,000 – Regional District of Nanaimo, 25-minute drive 374,000 – Secondary and tertiary trade area, within one-hour drive The City of Nanaimo has seen a net 5% growth in businesses in the last five years (2009-2013). The largest Sectors in the current economy are Construction, Retail Trade, Professional Scientific & Technical, Healthcare and Financial services.

Labour force and education Nanaimo is home to a well-trained, highly motivated, stable and educated workforce.

Helping build the human capital of the future is Vancouver Island University (VIU). VIU has long responded to the needs of industry by providing custom training programs for employees, while building on an extensive track record of successful private sector partnerships with small business. University graduates from various disciplines provide a constant stream of new employees for area companies.

Infinite possibilities!

A recent survey of area companies report recruiting outside of the area is easy due to our coastal location, affordable housing, a broad range of recreation options, excellent public amenities and a lower cost of living.

A diverse range of recreational opportunities are available to Nanaimo residents. Nanaimo offers an enviable lifestyle with variety of employment and investment opportunities.

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!

Nanaimo Economic FP ad 34823.indd 1 02_INVEST IN BC 2014_P32-59_CS3.indd 53

1/30/13 10:10:02 AM 2/7/14 11:43:09 AM

54 | INVEST IN BC 2014 PUBLISHED BY BUSINESS IN VANCOUVER

Cariboo

CARIBOOM Rip-roaring resource sector prepares to transform the Cariboo – the portal to B.C.’s new investment frontier

14.2%

Share of B.C. land area

SCOTT SIMPSON

■100 Mile House ■Barkerville ■Mackenzie ■McBride ■Prince George ■Quesnel ■Valemount ■Wells ■Williams Lake

T

he numbers seem too big to grasp, let alone to believe, and they make a lot of people in Northern British Columbia excited.

Proposals are on the books for $70 billion worth of capital investment in the Cariboo and the North over the next few years. A lot of that money is focused on B.C.’s rip-roaring resource sector, involving investments in mine development and mineral exploration, forestry, electricity and energy pipeline development. But it also encompasses industrial facility upgrades, highways, hospitality, tourism and academic research.

No community feels more pressure to keep pace with northern development than Prince George, the economic, logistics, professional and service hub for the Cariboo development region. There are 163,000 people living in the region, and 83,000 of them are nestled in the Prince George area.

The city has a little bit of everything – including momentum. Three years ago, in 2011, building permit values totaling $20 million within city limits reflected commercial investment in Prince George. In 2012 that total grew to $35.5 million. In 2013 it was estimated at $45.3 million.

That includes expansion of local hotels to accommodate business travel and tourism and a $25 million Wood Innovation and Design Centre intended to expand the global market for B.C. wood products. Outside city limits, near the Prince George Airport, there’s a $382 million proposal for a sprawling, 688-hectare business and industrial park that’s intended to take advantage of Prince George’s role as Northern B.C.’s transportation hub for rail, road and air travel.

South of the city, a $200 million second phase of the Cariboo Connector project widening Highway 97 between Prince George and Cache Creek – part of the province’s Gateway transportation initiative to connect B.C. with the Asia Pacific – continues.

“I would say the Prince George economy grew at almost twice the rate of the B.C. economy as a whole over the last several years,” Heather Oland, CEO of Initiatives Prince George, reflects. “What’s fuelling that growth is the $70

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| 55

Labour market outlook to 2020

26% 74% 9,700–new jobs due to economic growth 27,100–openings due to workers retiring SOURCE: B.C. GOVERNMENT/ LABOUR MARKET SCENARIO MODEL CN Rail intermodal yards at Prince George: rail links from northeast ports to the U.S. Midwest | INITIATIVES PRINCE GEORGE

$70

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In the interim, the biggest recent infrastructure development to impact the Cariboo region is the October 2013 commissioning of the $1.5 billion Mount Milligan copper-gold mine, southwest of Mackenzie. Milligan employs 350 people.

As well, 700 mine workers celebrated the revitalization of Taseko Mines’ $700 million Gibraltar copper-

Building permit values

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billion worth of resource and resource-related projects that are happening throughout Northern B.C.” That’s a big number that’s hard for people to visualize.

There are mines in exploration, mines in construction, mines in operation. There is preliminary work being completed for pipelines, expansion of CN’s rail sidings, road construction, BC Hydro capacity increases and expansions to the Prince Rupert Port.

Decisions about the $5.4 billion Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline, running through the northern Cariboo and led by Prince George-based Janet Holder, are pending.

So is a decision about the $7.9 billion Site C dam project on the Peace River, which will resonate with jobs throughout the north.

Jan–Oct 2013 SOURCE: STATISTICS CANADA

Economic activity Top five industries by number of employees

Retail & wholesale trade Manufacturing Health care & social services

Prince George, shown from above the UNBC campus, is the self-proclaimed capital of Northern B.C. and the Cariboo | UNBC

2,0 00 4,0 00 6,0 00 8,0 00 10 ,00 12 0 ,00 14 0 ,00 0

Forestry, mining, oil & gas Construction

SOURCES: STATISTICS CANADA/ BC STATS

AND TIM SWANKY

02_INVEST IN BC 2014_P32-59_CS3.indd 55

2/7/14 11:43:11 AM

56 | INVEST IN BC 2014 PUBLISHED BY BUSINESS IN VANCOUVER

Cariboo

Thompson Creek Metals opened the $1.5 billion Mount Milligan copper-gold mine near Mackenzie late last year | PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

molybdenum mine near Williams Lake in September 2013.

Taseko’s New Prosperity copper-gold project, also near Williams Lake, stalled after the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency in November 2013 stated that it would have “severely adverse environmental effects” on nearby Fish Lake. That decision is under appeal.

Other major projects, either proposed or approved, that will generate economic activity in the Cariboo region in 2014 include:

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nvesting in Williams Lake is a good business decision. Strong market potential in downtown and big box retail, resource sector services, and housing development are a few of the prospects on the table in this city of 11,000 people. The diversity of the surrounding geography –rainforest to desert within an hour’s drive of the city– parallel the community’s business and lifestyle opportunities.

Williams Lake is host to a hotbed of nearby mining activity with hundreds of millions in mine capital improvements, and tens of millions of dollars in mine exploration activity driving hundreds of new jobs and demand for additional supply services. Lumber companies have also invested millions in local mill facilities in 2013 to ensure they meet continued Asian market demands.

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■100 Mile House Bioenergy Project, a $45 million wood residue biomass energy project by Ainsworth Energy Co.; ■Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, $5.4 billion, Valemont to Burnaby; ■proposed North Cariboo multi-centre, $30 million (estimated), Quesnel; and ■Robson Valley hydroelectric project, $200 million, McBride. Á

The Williams Lake campus of Thompson Rivers University continues to be an economic driver by establishing innovative partnerships and programs to meet the training demands of local industries and the community at large.

World class log home builder Pioneer Log Homes has always been a local company to watch. Watching the company is now easy as they are profiled each week on Timber Kings, a new reality program on HGTV. Market driven investment opportunities in the lake city are helped along by progressive City government. Established downtown and industrial tax exemptions, a Community Sustainability Plan and a proven ability to fast track new developments ensure the path is clear to ‘make your way here’.

Contact: Alan Madrigga, Manager, Economic Development T: 250.392.1764 E: invest@williamslake.ca www.investwilliamslake.com

2/7/14 11:43:12 AM

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rince George’s thriving economy and its superior transportation connectivity make the city a preferred location for expanding or establishing operations. The local economy has experienced an average of 4.7% growth annually since 2010, which is nearly double the growth of the British Columbia (BC) economy (2.4%).

The city’s economy is diversified across a variety of sectors and provides exceptional connectivity to provincial, national and global markets through an international airport (YXS), a CN Rail intermodal facility, Highways 16 and 97, the Port of Prince Rupert and Port Metro Vancouver.

Entrepreneurship is strongly supported in Prince George and is the foundation of the local economy. Opportunities exist for professionals looking to expand into all sectors. A broad selection of competitivelypriced commercial space is available, development cost charges are amongst the lowest in BC and the City offers competitive tax rates.

The city’s population of nearly 80,000 is relatively young with 42.1% of residents between the ages of 15 and 44. Prince George is home to the main campuses of the University of Northern British Columbia and the College of New Caledonia, which provide a wide range of programming to facilitate the continued development of the local workforce.

Prince George offers an affordable quality of life, where four-season outdoor recreation opportunities are complemented by a full range of urban amenities. All of these qualities make the city a preferred location to live, work, and invest.

For more information about Prince George, contact: Initiatives Prince George Economic Development Corporation 250.564.0282 info@initiativespg.com www.initiativespg.com

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uesnel is located in the central interior of British Columbia, at the confluence of the Quesnel and Fraser Rivers. It is the commercial centre of the North Cariboo and is well served by rail, road and air connections to major centres in BC, Alberta and beyond.

Quesnel acts as a service centre to approximately 25,000 people and is home to 10,000 residents that enjoy affordable real estate, indoor and outdoor sports within the community and adventures minutes from downtown.

Our area is rich in natural resources, complemented by a strong agricultural community. As a stopping point for the Rocky Mountaineer, our community prides itself on its hospitality and community spirit.

Quesnel is also home to the North Cariboo Community Campus, offering a wide range of courses and trades training from the College of New Caledonia and the University of Northern British Columbia.

The Quesnel Regional Airport is open for business. In 2014, the airport will undergo a major apron expansion and that, with the considerable land base, lends itself to new opportunities. Its proximity to the city centre makes it a prime location, opening Quesnel up to the rest of the world. Quesnel’s air service provider, Central Mountain Air, provides daily scheduled service to Vancouver.

Quesnel Community and Economic Development Corporation, three Business Improvement Areas, Community Futures North Cariboo and a strong, long-standing Chamber of Commerce support Quesnel’s vibrant business community. More than 80 new businesses chose to call Quesnel home last year and for good reason. Quesnel is a beautiful, affordable city, perfect for families to grow and be nurtured in. You and your business could be next!

Contact Amy Reid, Economic Development Officer areid@quesnelinfo.com 250.992.3522

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More than 80 new businesses chose to call Quesnel home last year. You could be next!

T: 250 992 3522 areid@quesnelinfo.com

2/7/14 11:43:13 AM

%JTUSJDU PG .BDLFO[JF Mackenzie…the Sky’s the Limit Mackenzie lies at the southern end of Williston Lake, the largest man-made reservoir in North America, formed by the W.A.C. Bennett Dam on the Peace River.

Residents enjoy pristine wilderness, endless recreation opportunities, affordable housing and the benefits of life in a small town. There is truly something for everyone with picturesque lakes for boating and fishing, an abundance of trails for winter and summer activities, and enviable snow conditions for skiers and snowmobilers alike.

The District of Mackenzie was incorporated in 1966 after the development of large pulp and lumber manufacturing mills. Today, Mackenzie is home to several large industrial facilities including sawmill complexes, a pulp mill, and finger jointing mill.

For new business prospects, the municipality boasts low land costs, competitive tax rates, and availability of power and water for industrial applications.

Forestry Forestry is the backbone of Mackenzie’s economy and has a bright future. With the reopening of the Canfor Mackenzie operation, the Mackenzie Pulp Mill and Conifex Mackenzie our economy is back stronger than ever. New businesses have been formed as a result and there is also interest being generated regarding the utilization of the residual fibre supply that results from this activity. While many communities are planning for a sharp drop in available timber supply and reduced timber harvesting in the near future, Mackenzie is gearing up for a period of increased harvesting, without a drop in long term timber supply. Our Timber Supply Area has a solid softwood timber base and Mackenzie’s forest industry is here for the long term as major forest companies are making significant capital investment to their operations. Forest companies are looking for people to join their teams and openings are available in the mills as well as numerous opportunities on the timber harvesting side.

Mining The construction of the Mount Milligan copper-gold mine located just 98 km from Mackenzie is now complete and is fully operational. The concentrate is trucked daily from the mine to a load out facility in Mackenzie which is then transported by rail to port facilities in Vancouver.

Geologists have discovered deposits of lead, zinc, silver, gold and niobum in our area that are being considered as potential sites for future mine development. There are several coal projects that are investigating the possibility of barging coal down Williston Lake to a load out facility in Mackenzie. With the increasing amount of exploration in the area, Mackenzie will likely see added investment and business creation in the local economy. Mackenzie has an excellent strategic location to service these developments during their exploration, construction and operational stages. Our road structures and barge and rail services are all capable of providing access to the mineral wealth in the area.

Green Energy Conifex Timber is in the process of constructing a Bioenergy Power Facility in Mackenzie which will complement their existing woodland

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operations and lumber manufacturing business. Waste fibre from their sawmilling and timber harvesting operations will be used to fuel the bioenergy plant which will supply power to its sawmills and be sold to BC Hydro.

Gas Transmission Pipelines TransCanada and Spectra Energy are proposing to construct gas transmission pipelines just north of our municipal boundaries. Both the TransCanada – Prince Rupert Gas Transmission Project and the Spectra Energy – Westcoast Connector Gas Transmission Project are in the BC Environmental Assessment process.

The Future The District of Mackenzie continues to work towards diversifying its economy. The opportunities are truly endless in the District of Mackenzie. The community welcomes you to consider Mackenzie as your future home, place of work, and outdoor playground.

In Mackenzie, the sky’s the limit.

For more information: Phone: (250)997-3221 Email: info@district.mackenzie.bc.ca Website: www.district.mackenzie.bc.ca

2/7/14 11:43:13 AM

• Quality infrastructure supporting industry • Surrounded by world class year-round recreation • Community openly welcomes new industries, businesses, residents and visitors Pytlowany Photography

Ph: 250.997.3221

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info@district.mackenzie.bc.ca

www.district.mackenzie.bc.ca

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60 | INVEST IN BC 2014 PUBLISHED BY BUSINESS IN VANCOUVER

Kootenay

COOL KOOTENAYS Tourism, locals, native crafts and coal craft an investment paradise in eastern British Columbia

6.2%

Share of B.C. land area

DARAH HANSEN

■Castlegar ■Cranbrook ■Creston ■Fernie ■Grand Forks ■Invermere ■Kaslo ■Kimberley ■Nakusp ■Nelson ■New Denver ■Radium Hot Springs ■Rossland ■Slocan ■Sparwood ■Trail

T

he Colander Restaurant has something of a cult following among those who live in Trail, B.C. T h i s i s no t rendy u rba n ga s t rop u b. T he unassuming little eatery tucked off the city’s modest main street has been serving up heaping plates of classic pasta dishes like spaghetti and meatballs and penne rigate for decades.

Anyone who’s ever been there knows this may be the most authentic Italian cooking outside of Italy. But it isn’t just what’s on the menu that keeps people coming back. Every dish offers a taste of the rich history behind this west Kootenay community.

Trail’s strong Italian roots date to the early 1900s when thousands of immigrants settled along this naturally vibrant stretch of the Columbia River Valley between the Monashee and Selkirk mountains – each one drawn by the plentiful work at the Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company of Canada.

Now called Teck, the company is still the economic heart and soul of the region. Teck’s Trail operations are the largest single employer in the region and include one of the world’s largest zinc and lead smelting and refining complexes and the giant Waneta hydroelectric dam and transmission system. Generations of families have worked here.

In 2012, the company strengthened its long-term commitment to the region, signing an historic five-year contract with its unionized workforce. The deal came with an 18 per cent pay hike and a $10,000 signing bonus for about 1,300 workers and spurred a mini-boom in the sale of new homes, cars, boats and campers.

Teck announced another major regional investment in October 2013: the $19 million purchase from Tembec Inc. of approximately 7,150 hectares of private land in the Elk Valley and the Flathead River Valley, near the east Kootenay town of Sparwood. Teck, which has coalmining operations in the area, said it intends to work with First Nations, local communities and other groups to preserve the land as key wildlife and fish habitat.

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Kootenay residents are rightly proud of their rustic roots in mining and forestry. But life here isn’t all about work.

The region is considered one of Canada’s pre-eminent outdoor play destinations. It is renowned for its hiking and mountain biking trails, as well as fishing, golfing and whitewater rafting. Four of B.C.’s seven national parks are located here, with local ski hills offering some of the finest powder to be found anywhere in North America.

At the popular Panorama Mountain Village in the heart of the Purcell Mountains, work is gearing up to celebrate the resort’s 50th anniversary this season. Several

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| 61

Labour market Total employment in Kootenays: 74,800

29% 71%

Goods-producing sector Service-producing sector

SOURCE: B.C. STATS

Building permit values $140

Millions of dollars

120

A new zip line is among the all-season investments at Fernie Alpine Resort | FERNIE ALPINE RESORT

100 80 60 40

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Jan–Oct 2013 SOURCE: STATISTICS CANADA

Economic activity Top five industries by number of employees

Retail & wholesale trade Health care & social services

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Construction Forestry, mining & resources

4,0

00 6,0 00 8,0 00 10 ,00 0 12 ,00 0

Accommodation & food services 00

The Flathead: mine giant Teck has purchased 7,150 hectares of land in the Elk Valley and the Flathead River Valley for preservation as a wildlife habitat | TECK

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expansion projects are planned, including new ski runs, new lifts and plansare in the works to offer more ski-in/ ski-out, overnight accommodations as the resort village continues to grow.

The resort is also building a new guest lodge and a new $4 million clubhouse for the Greywolf Golf Course. Future plans include the construction of 750 new homes with an estimated completion value of more than $350 million.

Resort president Steve Paccagnan says the majority of Phase 1 of the project has already been pre-sold, driven largely by Alberta’s strong economy.

SOURCE: STATISTICS CANADA LABOUR FORCE SURVEY

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Kootenay

Fernie is “coolest town in North America” according to Rolling Stone magazine | FERNIE ALPINE RESORT

But, he says, the project has also drawn investment interest from Ontario and the United Kingdom, signalling a renewed interest in B.C.’s recreational market for the first time since 2008. “We are starting to see some positive signals in terms of people’s confidence levels,” Paccagnan says.

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Improvements are also underway at the Fernie Alpine Resort, named the best North American resort at the 2012 World Snow Awards in London (and the “coolest town in North America” by Rolling Stone magazine). The new Polar Peak lift, installed last season, has opened up a whole new world of terrain for skiers and snowboarders.

The resort also began investing in trail widening and expansions, with snow-making upgrades to give the slopes better coverage. The resort’s winter zip-line adventure has become a visitor craze.

Kimberley, too, is looking to the future with the construction of a new ski trail for beginners to make their way safely and smoothly down to the mountain from the top of Northstar chair, among other planned improvements.

The resort is set to host 40 of the world’s top para-athletes as part of an International Paralympic Committee event in 2014.

First Nations play an important role in the region’s economic health. The Lower Kootenay First Nation near Creston have signed a memorandum of understanding with Diacarbon Energy on a project that will see wood waste turned into energy. Chief Jason Louie says the deal is the most ambitious business venture yet for the small community of just 220 members, but he believes it is just the beginning of a brighter future for the region.

“One of my priorities is to get the economic development opportunities we need in order to build the capacity of our community,” Louie says. Á

F

irst discovered by prospectors from Dewdney Trail, the Le Roi mine claim started the gold rush in Rossland in 1890. They developed the mine and the town was born. The resulting wealth and immediate population explosion brought prospectors from around the world, and even gave rise to the first stock exchange in Western Canada.

Scandinavians brought with them their knowledge and love of skiing and soon organized the Rossland Ski Club, which held the first recorded competitions in Canada, forever embedding a love for skiing and other outdoor pursuits into Rossland culture and tradition.

What remains of the golden past are heritage buildings and sites; a testament to the historic importance of the community.

Today, the Golden City looks to a new future. The natural beauty and lifestyle of BC’s Lower Columbia region have been drawing a diverse and talented range of people for decades. This has shifted the resource-based economy to a well-rounded region where science and technology businesses are taking it to the next level. The internet is also allowing for a new generation of entrepreneurs who realize they don’t need to be in a major centre to succeed.

The summer of 2012 saw a major infrastructure replacement project including the road and streetscape, creating a significant aesthetic appeal to the downtown core and residing businesses. The construction of a municipally-owned open access broadband fibre network downtown in 2014 completes the package.

Relocate to Rossland to gain the lifestyle you deserve and watch your business prosper.

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2/7/14 11:45:19 AM

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“I

nspiring”, what more aptly describes it. With the majestic Rockies to our east and the stately Purcell Mountains to our west, this uncommon corridor is simply… Inspiring!

But there is much more to us than our spectacular setting. Cranbrook and Kimberley are alive with opportunity for those seeking a vibrant, welcoming and affordable place to call home; and for those trail blazers seeking to create and grow their business.

A Large and Expanding Market As the largest city and regional service centre for south-eastern British Columbia, Cranbrook offers a range of services and amenities you would expect to find in a much larger centre, while still maintaining the warmth and charm of a smaller rural town. And just a short distance to the north, the mountain resort community of Kimberley offers a four-season suite of recreational opportunities to meet the lifestyle sought by energetic entrepreneurs and professionals alike.

The corridor is a closely integrated market, where upwards of 700 vehicles travel the 30 minute drive between the communities daily. Our regional population is in excess of 73,000 permanent residents with Cranbrook itself accounting for some 20,000 and Kimberley 7,000 of these.

In addition approximately 30,000 seasonal residents live and enjoy the region.

Our broader market includes a neighbouring population of 1.7 million (1.2 million in nearby southern Alberta-Calgary) and 329,000 in the neighbouring US counties.

These surrounding regions play an important role in Cranbrook and Kimberley’s economy and future.

Strategic Assets Cranbrook provides ground transport links to markets across North America with direct access to CP Rail’s and Union Pacific’s rail network, four common carriers, and bonded warehouse services. Quick access to the US by both road and rail is only a short 40 km away through Kingsgate, Idaho. In addition, enjoy the benefits of proximity to Calgary and Spokane.

In terms of air services, the newly expanded Canadian Rockies International Airport is rapidly emerging as a growth engine for the region. It is the 10th busiest airport in the province with 117,125 passengers in 2013, an 11% increase in traffic since 2010. Our regular scheduled service to Vancouver, Calgary and Kelowna is a great complement to the 70 hectare business-industrial airport park planned for 2015.

If health care or education services are a deciding factor for you and your employees, we have that covered as well. Our firstclass regional hospital, full complement of medical specialists and wide range of associated healthcare facilities are able to respond to your needs. And whether it’s for your children’s education, enhancing the strength of your workforce or simply your own interests, our K to 12 school system and post-secondary College of the Rockies – offering both degree and diploma level studies – will fit the bill.

And finally, when it comes to high-speed telecommunications that won’t be an issue. In addition to services provided by the major carriers (TELUS, Shaw, Bell and Rogers Wireless) local networks such as FlexiNet and Cranbrook’s own municipal fibre-optic network are available in the downtown core and targeted areas.

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With such assets, it is no wonder Kimberley and Cranbrook are home to an increasing population of entrepreneurs who value a place that offers that uncommon balance of business opportunity and unparalleled quality of life.

The Opportunities Kimberley and Cranbrook are growing and diversifying their economy.

Building on its role as a regional service centre, its strategic location to major markets, and access to key distribution networks Cranbrook is well positioned for the future. And with Kimberley’s emergence as a premiere mountain lifestyle community, its state of the art-conference centre, and national Paralympic Alpine Training Centre, Kimberley is in a class of its own.

Complimenting all of this, new investments in strategic infrastructure will only enhance the opportunities.

Opportunities in our renewed natural resources sector with a focus on: untapped mineral resources; advanced forest products; value-added agriculture; and, renewable energy.

Opportunities to build on our manufacturing in: wood, metal; food processing; electronics, textile and other specialty manufacturing.

Opportunities to be part of our growing services sector in: retail; accommodations & hospitality; finance and professional services.

And opportunities in our all important support services: public services such as health and education; commercial services such as heavy equipment and repair; and our ever growing role in telecommunication, logistics and transport.

All the Right Reasons For motivated and energetic people seeking the ultimate in work/life balance, the timing has never been better. And when your workday is over the fun really begins!

Skiing, snowmobiling, golf, hiking, mountain biking, water sports, fishing, nature watching… it’s all to be found here And if it’s a night-out you seek, we have that in abundance, whether it’s simply some fine dining, a night of fun a the the Casino or the Rockies, cheering on our WHL “Kootenay Ice”, taking in the symphony, or one of the many head-line performances (Bob Dylan, The Tragically Hip, River Dance, Barney Bentall, Natalie McMaster, Holly Cole and Nickel Back to name a few) you can find it here.

All of this is waiting for you in one of B.C.’s most affordable areas. So check us out; you’ll be glad you did!

Contact Kevin Weaver, Business & Economic Development Manager City of Cranbrook 40 - 10th Avenue South Cranbrook, BC V1C 2M8 Phone: (250) 489-0232 or 1-800-728-CRAN Email: invest@cranbrook.ca, www.cranbrook.ca

Kevin Wilson Economic Development Officer City of Kimberley 340 Spokane Street Kimberley BC V1A 2E8 Phone: (250)-427-9666 email: kwilson@kimberley.ca www.kimberley.ca

2/7/14 4:06:33 PM

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he West Kootenay has a distinct cultural flavour and warmth of humanity that will bring a quick smile to your face‌ and a lingering feeling of contentment. Lifestyle is not urban rush, but a relaxed mix of outdoor rugged and urban cool. There is a creative undertow to the human tide. Business is important, but the lifestyle dog still wags the business tail.

Castlegar is the West Kootenay’s commercial service centre, including the West Kootenay Regional Airport and Selkirk College’s main campus. Castlegar’s location squarely midway between Vancouver and Calgary has produced today’s investment opportunity. Castlegar’s competitive advantage lies in its central location in the West Kootenay region, low business costs/cost of living, and cultured outdoor lifestyle.

Sited midway between Vancouver and Calgary, the West Kootenay region is an increasingly attractive investment option to the Okanagan and the East Kootenay region. This business opportunity and an affordable cost of living support the notion that entrepreneurs can both balance the books and balance life.

Castlegar’s economic base is stable and diversified (forestry, mining, hydro, government services, retail, tourism). Business conditions are dynamic and affordable. The City is big enough to support full services and its commercial service centre vision is ambitious.

A Rare Investment Opportunity – West Kootenay Regional Centre Currently the West Kootenay regional market (65,000 population) is underserved by the major retail sector. This is a rare opportunity to provide a centralization of key commercial services to the entire market. By

locating centrally, the proposed West Kootenay Regional Centre is accessible to 70 per cent of the region’s population within 40 minutes.

The West Kootenay Regional Centre commercial lands are the largest and most accessible tract of raw, flat commercial land in the West Kootenay. This city owned 37 acre site is central to the regional marketplace with access to Highway 3, Highway 3A and Highway 22 that intersect at the project site. Direct site access to Highway 3 has Provincial approval in principle for a full primary access intersection with secondary access. The site has been recently serviced with water and sewer and it is pre-zoned in terms of regulatory approval. The City has a preliminary grading plan for the site’s development and the land is available for purchase or long term (99 year) lease. In a region that continues to show consistent positive growth, there are very few, if any, other flat serviced commercial 20 – 30 acre plus sites in the region.

The site is adjacent to the West Kootenay Regional Airport, which is serviced by Air Canada and enjoys 70,000 passenger movements per year. A new Regional Gaming Centre was recently opened on the adjacent airport lands and a new Fortis Regional Operations Centre is planned for an adjacent site on the other side of the airport.

For more information about the West Kootenay Regional Centre commercial lands contact the City of Castlegar at economicdevelopment@castlegar.ca or phone the City of Castlegar, Chief Administrative Officer at 250.365.7227.

Life’s an adventure. Start a new one in Castlegar, B.C. www.castlegar.ca

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02_INVEST IN BC 2014_P60-87_CS3.indd 64

2/7/14 11:45:20 AM

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ince 2005, Invest Kootenay has brought together Canadian and international investors with opportunities in the Kootenay region – where opportunity meets lifestyle.

Why invest in the Kootenay region? Abundant investment opportunities; affordable real estate; proximity to U.S. markets; and business-friendly communities provide the ideal investment climate.

Combine that with a spectacular lifestyle that includes extensive year-round recreational opportunities and clean family-friendly communities set in the midst of four spectacular mountain ranges.

Invest Kootenay services for investors include: r 0OF PO POF BTTJTUBODF UBLF BEWBOUBHF PG POF PO POF BTTJTUBODF in order to make your investment and relocation process as easy as possible. r "NCBTTBEPS QSPHSBN KPJO B MPDBM "NCBTTBEPS GPS MVODI PS HP skiing, golfing or fishing while learning about our region’s assets. r $POOFDU %BUBCBTF HFU DPOOFDUFE XJUI DVSSFOU JOWFTUNFOU opportunities in our region on InvestKootenay.com Visit www.InvestKootenay.com for recent news, business success stories, community profiles and more resources for investors. Let us help connect you to your investment dream.

Discover your Kootenay investment opportunity

Contact Lisa Cannady 250-352-1933 ext 104 lisa@investkootenay.com Gerri Brightwell 250-342-0309 gerri@investkootenay.com

3&7&-450,& Population: 8,500

REVELSTOKE, B.C.

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evelstoke is located in southeastern B.C. in the Columbia River Valley, adjacent to two national parks and among some of the most spectacular scenery to be found in British Columbia. Approximately halfway between Vancouver and Calgary on the Trans-Canada Highway and the CPR mainline, Revelstoke’s market area is central to the West Coast, the Okanagan and Kootenay regions, and Alberta.

Key sectors of the economy include forestry, transportation and a rapidly expanding tourism industry. The development of a major fourseason resort is underway at Mount Mackenzie, minutes away from the beautifully restored downtown. At over 1,900 metres (6,000 feet), Revelstoke Mountain Resort boasts the longest vertical of any ski resort in North America and the fourth-longest in the world. This project has excellent investment potential. For more information, visit www.discoverrevelstoke.com.

Heli and cat skiing/boarding are well-established winter attractions, and Revelstoke has been rated as the No. 1 snowmobile destination in North America! The summer adventure tourism market is also a growing industry with mountain biking, boating, hiking and backcountry treks, all popular pursuits. Revelstoke has been rated as one of the top seven adventure destinations in the world and as one of the top 10 outdoor adventure communities in North America!

Contact Alan Mason Director of Community Economic Development 1-800-487-1493 amason@revelstoke.ca www.seerevelstoke.com or www.cityofrevelstoke.com

02_INVEST IN BC 2014_P60-87_CS3.indd 65

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pectacular scenery, excellent recreational opportunities, strong support for business, good access to transportation routes, a rich heritage, and a quality of life second to none!

The mountain community of Revelstoke welcomes you as a visitor, a new resident or a new business owner.

For more information visit us at

www.cityofrevelstoke.com or call 1-800-487-1493 amason@revelstoke.ca

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place where your business can thrive What can we tell you about the Elk Valley?

We have all the things you expect from communities in the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

Yes, we have a great lifestyle. Yes, we have mountains, stunning vistas, lakes, fishing, mountain biking, world class skiing, snowmobiling, hiking, fantastic recreation facilities, beautiful homes, friendly neighbors, great transportation links, super-high-speed internet and the list goes on.

We are responsible for over 4% of British Columbia’s GDP and our receptive outlook towards business, existing or new is what sets us apart.

We want your business to locate here. We want your business to take advantage of all the things we have to offer. We want you to invest in the Elk Valley and reap the rewards. We want you to become part of our flourishing communities and we want you to be part of our future story.

To find out more about why this is the place to access the healthy lifestyle that you have been longing for, as well as the perfect place for your business, visit www.theelkvalley.ca We welcome you to get in touch. We’d love to show you around and we would love your business to become part of our narrative.

To be continued…

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02_INVEST IN BC 2014_P60-87_CS3.indd 67

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AN UNCOMMON CORRIDOR Connection, Kootenay culture and a collection of the best of mountain living.

The Canadian Rockies International Airport is

Where mountains of opportunity meet a good place to be,

situated just minutes from Cranbrook — the

a story of possibility awaits.

Kootenay Rockies’ central city, and Kimberley — Canada’s highest city.

Discover more:

What parts of our story will work best for you?

www.FlyCanadianRockies.com \ www.Cranbrook.ca \ www.InvestKimberley.com

02_INVEST IN BC 2014_P60-87_CS3.indd 68

2/7/14 11:45:24 AM

REGIONAL HIGHLIGHTS: s

Canadian Rockies International Airport, YXC

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Direct ights to Calgary, Vancouver & Kelowna

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Transport centre, national highway and rail

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College of the Rockies and regional hospital

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Advantage affordability: commercial & residential

s

8 golf courses and a major ski resort

s

Major centre amenities and small town charm

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300+ days of sunshine per year

s

Regional pop. nearly 75,000

02_INVEST IN BC 2014_P60-87_CS3.indd 69

2/7/14 11:45:24 AM

70 | invest in bc 2014 published by Business in VAncouver

Thompson Okanagan

Historic crossroads Unbridled trade and traffic have long characterized business growth in B.C.’s Thompson Okanagan

10.2% Peter Mitham

• Barriere • Cache Creek • Clearwater • Clinton • Golden • Kamloops • Kelowna • Lytton • Merritt

T

hompson Okanagan has been a crossroads of British Columbia for centuries, with traffic flowing back and forth to the coast and the plains of Alberta, as well as to the north through Kamloops and south across the basin of the Columbia River.

Significant investments are helping upgrade the infrastructure to allow trade and traffic to continue. Most significantly, $650 million has been allocated to expand Highway 1 to four lanes from the Alberta border to Kamloops – facilitating the movement of $1.9 billion in goods each year.

More than $225 million has been spent on improvements

Share of B.C. land area

to the Highway 3 corridor in the past decade, improving east-west connections to the orchards and resort communities of Penticton and Osoyoos.

Plans for the twinning of Kinder Morgan’s pipeline from Edmonton to Burnaby ensure that infrastructure important for the movement of resources continues.

But it’s not only the trade moving through the region that makes it strategic: local businesses are transforming it from a centre of agriculture, forestry and recreation to one with top-flight universities and technological innovation.

Revelstoke, long known for wood products, is now home to Revelstoke Mountain Resort, a multi-phase ski hill development backed by Northland Properties Inc. of

• Oliver • Osoyoos • Peachland • Penticton • Revelstoke • Salmon Arm • Summerland • Vernon

UBC Okanagan attracts top-tier talent that’s sometimes out of this world, including guest speaker and astronaut Chris Hadfield | UBC OKANAGAN

02_INVEST IN BC 2014_P60-87_CS3.indd 70

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| 71

Median detached house price

537,000

315,000

1,800,000 Thompson Okanagan City of Vancouver British Columbia SOURCE: BC REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATION 2013

Building permit values $300 Millions of dollars

250 200 150 100

2012

ion ut tit Ins

Co

mm

erc

ial

al

50

2013

SOURCE: CENTRAL 1 CREDIT UNION ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF B.C. 2013

Economic activity

02_INVEST IN BC 2014_P60-87_CS3.indd 71

Construction Accommodation & food services Manufacturing Scientific/technical services Finance/insurance/real estate Okanagan Crush Pad in Summerland is part of Thompson Okanagan’s vibrant agriculture | LIONEL TRUDEL

5,0 00 10 ,00 0 15 ,00 0 20 ,00 0 25 ,00 0 30 ,00 0

Vancouver to the tune of more than $200 million.

Revelstoke Mountain joins ski hills and golf courses throughout Thompson Okanagan such as Big White, Silver Star, Predator Ridge and Canyon Desert, which have made the region a favourite recreational destination conveniently located midway between Vancouver and Calgary.

The venues are the basis for a lifestyle in the region that has attracted workers to the second-largest cluster of digital media companies in the province, including Club Penguin (acquired by Disney in 2007), Vineyard Networks Inc. (acquired earlier this year by Californiabased Procera Networks Inc.) and Rackforce, which has capitalized on cheap, environment-friendly power and a secure seismic environment to provide data-storage services to companies around the world.

Technology companies are backed by myriad educational institutions that have bolstered their facilities to serve

Top five private-sector employers by number of employees

SOURCE: INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS OF BC

A row of temperature controlled concrete fermentation “eggs” at Okanagan Crush Pad | OKANAGAN CRUSH PAD

2/7/14 11:45:31 AM

72 | INVEST IN BC 2014 PUBLISHED BY BUSINESS IN VANCOUVER

Thompson Okanagan

Sutton Place Hotel Revelstoke Mountain Resort is a ski-in, ski-out hotel at the heart of Revelstoke Mountain Resort | SUTTON PLACE HOTELS Canyon Desert Golf Course in Oliver is one of many recreational venues in the Thompson Okanagan | PETER MITHAM

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the region’s growing population.

Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops is home to Canada’s newest law school and also offers a flexible MBA program that trains students in the essentials of management.

UBC Okanagan recently completed a $450 million development program that provides teaching and research space, and residences for 8,300 students enrolled in six faculties ranging from arts and sciences to management and health.

The school also supports a thriving aerospace sector, led by Kelowna Flightcraft Ltd. at Kelowna International Airport – the main passenger hub in the Southern Interior, conveniently located opposite UBC Okanagan, which has attracted international research talent including French chemist Cédric Saucier, who has spearheaded development of an efficient new assay for assessing the composition of red wine.

UBC Okanagan works alongside the federal Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre, best known for developing new tree-fruit varieties, including the Staccato cherry and Salish apple, and research programs supporting the wine industry.

Private endeavours also contribute, however: Ambrosia and Oksana are two new varieties identified by the region’s apple growers, while Arctic is a genetically

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| 73

12%

500

10%

400 ■

8%

■

300

6%

200

4%

100

2%

Unemployment rate

600

20

12 20 13

Thousands

Economic growth

Population Employment Unemployment rate

■

SOURCE: CENTRAL 1 CREDIT UNION/ ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF BC 2013

Housing 9,000 8,000 7,000 6,000 5,000 4,000 3,000 2,000 1,000

02_INVEST IN BC 2014_P60-87_CS3.indd 73

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Summerland is also pursuing an 18-acre expansion to its Bentley Road Industrial Area to accommodate an established industrial cluster that includes steel fabricator and tank-maker Ripley Stainless Ltd., Mission Bottlewashing Ltd. and ElectroMotion Energy Corp., which produces a natural gas-fired system integrating power generation, hot water and heating/cooling systems.

Other manufacturing hubs are found in Vernon, headquarters of automotive supplier Kal Tire, lumber giant Tolko Industries Ltd. and Armstrong, known for its eponymous brand of cheeses and Rhinokore, which manufactures durable, lightweight mats and stabilization pads for the oil and gas sector.

The resource sector continues to drive business, with four mines in the Kamloops area alone and several mills processing lumber. Penticton is home to Structurlam Products Ltd., which produces engineered timbers – an evolution of the forest sector – while Unit Electrical Engineering Ltd. supplies substations and related equipment to clients across North America and Asia from a base in Okanagan Falls.

Oliver is the site of Senkulmen Business Park, which the Osoyoos Indian Band is developing in tandem with initiatives that include vineyards, Nk’Mip Cellars, Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort and Spa and residential developments. Á

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modified apple from Okanagan Specialty Fruits Inc. in Summerland. Okanagan Crush Pad, also in Summerland, helps local winemakers develop promising new wines.

2012

2013

SOURCE: CENTRAL 1 CREDIT UNION/ ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF BC 2013

The Jim Pattison Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Building Technologies and Renewable Energy Conservation at Okanagan College in Penticton is training students for the future | OKANAGAN COLLEGE Salish is the newest apple variety from the breeding program at the Pacific AgriFood Research Centre in Summerland | TOURISM BC

2/7/14 11:45:42 AM

Summerland Where lifestyle and opportunity meet

DOWNLOAD OUR NEW INVESTMENT AND RELOCATION GUIDE AT

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e live in a world where rapid development is changing the face of communities everywhere, even here in the Okanagan. In Summerland, though, we only use the phrase ‘go big or go home’ for our festivals and our ice cream cones.

We’re a community of just over 11,000 people perfectly situated on Lake Okanagan between Penticton and Kelowna. Characterized by meandering roads with views of brilliant blue water, lush orchards and spectacular vineyards, it’s hard to believe our town is only 15 minutes from an additional 45,000 people and an hour away from more than a quarter million people, an international airport and the US border.

Families particularly love Summerland for our recreational opportunities, our excellent schools and our culture of helping our neighbors. And if you’re a locavore, rest assured that every type of farm-fresh fruit and produce is available at your fingertips and two organic coffee roasters will provide all the buzz you need to hit the trails at the end of the work day.

On the business side, agriculture, tourism and custom manufacturing are all important components of our economy.

When it comes to growth, we are careful planners ready to welcome businesses to our newly available industrial land. We know that our mix of world class technology and scientific firms as well as the federal Pacific Agri-food Research Center will keep our face both turned toward the future and rooted in our agricultural past.

Contact www.summerland.ca www.summerlandchamber.com

www.summerlandchamber.com or contact: Ian McIntosh, Director of Development, District of Summerland at 250-404-4048 or imcintosh@summerland.ca.

D

o you seek a friendly community that understands the needs of business and strives to provide a climate for success? Would a sustainable community plan and a progressive economic development model work with your business plan? Are you looking for a municipality that has the foresight to provide revitalization tax exemptions should your enterprise fit the model?

Barriere, British Columbia, is the community you seek.

We are within 45 minutes of Sun Peaks, one of B.C.’s best family ski resorts, and the City of Kamloops with its numerous large city amenities and services like an International airport, regional hospital and Thompson Rivers University. Right in Barriere you will find a medical clinic and associated services easily available.

Located on the Yellowhead Highway #5, midway between Vancouver and Edmonton, Barriere’s strong business and industrial base and the abundant resource and recreational opportunities in the surrounding area contribute to a diverse and thriving economy.

A blend of pre-zoned, serviced and fully accessible industrial, small business and agricultural opportunities of various sizes are available as well as ample affordable employee housing options.

Whatever your needs, either in the District of Barriere or in the surrounding Thompson Nicola Regional District – Area O, we are here to help.

Come to Barriere and “Grow With Us!” Contact: Mayor Bill Humphreys Tel: 250-851-6165 Email: mayor@barriere.ca Website: www.barriere.ca

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2/7/14 11:45:43 AM

8&45 ,&-08/" New Investment Demonstrates Confidence in Westbank Centre

W

EST KELOWNA –Westbank Centre is abuzz with activity as new investment pours into West Kelowna’s urban core and the southern gateway to this beautiful lakeshore and mountainside community of 31,000.

The District of West Kelowna’s has acted highly strategically when it comes to Westbank Centre. When Council commissioned a revitalization plan in 2010, they wanted a clear vision and implementable actions that would generate new development and encourage renewal of existing businesses and residences. Their objective was to create a vibrant, mixed use, walkable and transit oriented urban place with a range of businesses, services, cultural and civic facilities and open spaces that would re-established Westbank Centre as the social, cultural and civic heart of the community and a desirable place to live, work, shop and play.

The municipality has moved quickly to implement the plan, making a series of key investments that have demonstrated its confidence in Westbank Centre. Three major public infrastructure projects are currently in the works.

In August 2013, a $2.6 million streetscape improvement project along Brown Road began. The boulevard will become the new “High Street� for Westbank Centre, serving as the alternative to Main Street, which also serves as the Highway 97 South Corridor. Brown Road has been designed to draw in highway traffic, but to also balance transportation uses. Priority has been placed on pedestrian pathways, sharing the road with cyclists, attractive landscaping with benches and decorative streetlights, and formalized parking areas. Aging utilities have been upgraded and moved underground in place of cluttered overhead telephone lines.

Phase 1, from Main Street to Gateway Lane, will be completed in spring with future phases in the planning stages. This flagship Westbank Centre revitalization project will officially open with a summer street festival. The event will complement the popular, nearby Music in the Park free concert series, which draws up to 1,000 people each Friday night in July and August.

Plans are unfolding for a new Municipal Hall to be located in Westbank Centre. The District of West Kelowna’s administrative headquarters will total 23,000 square feet and be designed to accommodate future expansion.

Complimentary civic uses or leasing opportunities are being considered in the design to add economic benefits to the project. Once completed, approximately 100 professional administrative staff will be based in Westbank Centre; and, the facility will draw in contractors, consultants and residents doing business with the

02_INVEST IN BC 2014_P60-87_CS3.indd 75

municipality, creating additional economic spinoffs for nearby shops, restaurants and service providers.

West Kelowna has partnered with the Government of Canada, Province of British Columbia and BC Transit to construct a new bus exchange in Westbank Centre. The transit hub will be the southern terminus for BC RapidBus in the Central Okanagan. The transportation hub will create direct links to major

centres in the region including UBC Okanagan.

The anticipated increase in ridership will bring new opportunities for Westbank Centre businesses.

To be part of the transformation taking place in Westbank Centre, contact Business Development Officer John Perrott at 778-7972215 or email john.perrott@districtofwestkelowna.ca.

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$0-6.#*" 4)648"1 3&(*0/"- %*453*$5 Our Business is your Business Here!

Find out why the Shuswap works!

How would you describe the Shuswap?

The Shuswap is home to great lakes, warm water, sandy beaches, incredible house boating, golf, skiing, music festivals, farmers markets, wineries, great touring and endless trails. The Shuswap invites you to explore this region and decide that this may just be the best place for your business and your family to succeed and prosper.

You will find us in the central lower third of British Columbia, conveniently midway between Vancouver, BC and Calgary, AB. Canada’s central roadway, the Trans-Canada Highway 1, runs right through the Shuswap and Highway 97 joins us from the Southern Okanagan. In addition to a number of road routes, you can easily access the Shuswap by air into the Kamloops Airport or the Kelowna International Airport.

Seven distinct regions – One unforgettable Shuswap!

The Shuswap is one region with seven distinct regions. Our communities are the municipalities of Chase, Salmon Arm, Sicamous, and Enderby and then the Columbia Shuswap Regional District has four electoral areas which include the communities of Sorrento, Blind Bay, Sorrento, Scotch Creek, Celista, Falkland, Malakwa, and many more small unincorporated communities.

We are different from urban centres. We sometimes function at a different pace. We place great value on our freedom to be different and we pride ourselves on our community spirit. We celebrate together, look after our communities together, and continue to grow and develop together to shape our future.

Our lifestyle is unique. Incredible nature comes to rest here. It is a place to ascend towering cliffs, glide across snowy meadows, listen to the whispers of a lush forest, or step inside an inviting café to let go of your hurry, stay awhile, and smile. It is a place where you can golf, then bike, then swim, then dine on fine local fare. It is a place where you can taste great local wines and tour vineyards, explore hidden natural treasures, witness the amazing cycle of the salmon, and watch the clear night sky wheel overhead. A place to revel in culture and community.

Our communication with our region and people is one of straight forwardness and directness. We don’t portray something that we are not; that would simply be condescending. When we speak to each other, we always remind ourselves of our pride in our region, of our positive attributes, of what we are trying to accomplish, and congratulate each other on our successes. Our tone of voice in communicating with others is sometimes informal but it doesn’t mean that we don’t have the sophistication or the knowledge, we just chose to be honest and speak without any pretenses.

Ready to look for more information – go to www.shuswapecdev.ca.

We are in the process of redeveloping our website so if you can’t find the information you need call: Contact Robyn Cyr Economic Development Officer Columbia Shuswap Regional District Email: rcyr@csrd.bc.ca Phone: 250-833-5928

Join us! Put your foot down and stand up for new business thinking, original work and the freedom of a business casual culture.

The path to Shuswap success begins with a single step. What will you discover about doing business in the Shuswap?

Learn more at:

02_INVEST IN BC 2014_P60-87_CS3.indd 76

2/7/14 11:45:44 AM

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t’s 2014. Why is your business dealing with site selection like it is 1954?

High prices. Small spaces. Limited facilities. All so that you can leave the office and enjoy sitting in stop and go traffic for an hour and a half. Is this really how you saw yourself living your life?

It’s time to live life the Okanagan way.

Starting your business in Lake Country means having all of the convenience of operating in a major centre, but none of the downsides. Your business will be less than 10 minutes from an international airport. 15 minutes from a world class university. You will be able to access staff from up and down the Okanagan Valley. All without traffic headaches, safety nightmares and inflated housing prices. Exactly why aren’t you here already?

Location Lake Country is a community of more than 12,000 residents, directly at the heart of a 270,000 person commuter-shed. With easy access to the cities of Kelowna and Vernon, your staff will have access to all of the comforts of any major city.

Lake Country remains a fast growing community, with growth rates averaging 3.4% annually since 2006.

The Kelowna International Airport, only ten minutes from Lake Country – if you hit the traffic light – is now one of the ten busiest airports in Canada. With flights all over Canada and increasingly into the United States, you can reach your clients as easily as those in the Lower Mainland can.

Lifestyle Wanting to go skiing? Sailing? Fishing, hiking or cycling? The Okanagan is where people come to take their vacation. Don’t you want to live and work where people take their vacation?

Within a forty minute drive, Lake Country has access to 2 world class ski hills, 3 major lakes, and over 50 wineries. The classic Okanagan weekend of skiing in the morning and sailing in the afternoon is an unbeatable attractant to young workers.

going to go enjoy my ten minute commute home and go fishing. Enjoy sitting in traffic.

style. With the youngest population base in the Central Okanagan, Lake Country is where your young staff wants to be.

You and your staff are working 50 weeks a year to be able to take a 2 week Okanagan vacation. Why not flip that equation on its head, and bring your business to the heart of the Okanagan? Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m

Contact District of Lake Country Economic Development ecdev@lakecountry.bc.ca okanaganway.ca

This is where your business should be.

It’s been said that Lake Country is the best place in British Columbia. And since British Columbia is the best province in Canada, and Canada the best country in the world, that means Lake Country is where you want to be. Great climate, great lifestyle, and even better access to markets you want to be in.

Population (2012)

12,041

Regional Population

188,500

Average Housing Price

$478,000

Growth Rate (2006-2013)

3.4% annually

Highway Traffic

26,000 cars per day

Vernon

Kelowna

Advantages The Okanagan is home to a fast growing young tech centre, with companies as large as Disney opting to take advantage of the low costs, high quality staff and unbeatable life-

LAKE COUNTRY Penticton Osoyoos

For more information:

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OKANAGANWAY.CA

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very town, city and community has unique local conditions that either help or hinder your business opportunities. If you are looking to build your business in a progressive community that is strategically located, the City of Merritt is your location of opportunity.

The City of Merritt’s Economic Development Department is here to provide a conduit to disseminate quality information, increase the growth and competitiveness of our value-added sectors, facilitate economic development, work to attract investment and promote the City of Merritt.

Coordination Working with the City of Merritt’s Economic Development Department will help ensure the co-ordination of efforts to maintain and strengthen a sound economic climate. The partnerships between government, community, industry, post-secondary institutions and other organizations are the cornerstone for economic development success.

Diversification Economic development in Merritt is focused on municipal competitiveness, where the emphasis is on the need to be effective but efficient, and an open-for-business regulatory approach. Our diverse economy ensures that your business can capitalize on our diversity of people and culture; leverage our workforce, location, infrastructure to your advantage over competing communities; and build a strong relationship between your business, industry, government and education to ensure sustainability.

Location Located at the intersection of key major transportation routes, the City of Merritt offers transportation and distribution to all points throughout British Columbia and beyond. Merritt offers a cost-effective approach to business as an intersection point for transportation and distribution. According to the City of Merritt’s Economic Development Manager, James Umpherson, “relocating, building or establishing your business in Merritt is a smart business decision and a wise lifestyle choice”. He says that “Merritt is strategically located to support efficient distribution channels, there is a post-secondary institution that supports tailored to meet industry specific requirements, and the critical infrastructure to allow businesses to easily develop and expand.” But Merritt is so much more.

Sustainability If you are looking for a long-term sustainable environment to grow your business, look no further than the City of Merritt. Merritt has a significant “baby boomer” and “baby bounce” population. Of the 7,113-strong population, 30% are under 25. With such a mix of experience and youth, the labour force can meet the long-term sustainable growth of your business.

But Merritt is so much more.

Post-Secondary Training The Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT) offers university degree programs and university transfer programs, trade and skills programs, adult education and upgrading, BCIT technical skills training, and other customized programs to meet your business needs.

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Progressive Taxation Progressive taxation policies to encourage business growth, expansion, and attraction are the cornerstone of our business friendly environment.

The City of Merritt has two revitalization tax exemption bylaws that offer up to 100% tax exemption for up to five years, depending on project, location, and bylaw criteria.

Urban Yet Country Merritt has an urban lifestyle in a country setting. There are modern facilities to meet your recreational needs, national chain retailers, unique shopping, cafés, diverse dining and access to the outdoors at your doorstep. But Merritt is so much more.

A Lifestyle Choice Merritt is more than business; it is a lifestyle choice. Merritt supports the longest established franchise in the B.C. Junior Hockey League. There is a modern aquatic centre, a mountain bike park, skateboard park and children’s water park as well as sports, rugby and lacrosse fields, tennis courts, a bowling alley, hockey and curling rink, and a nine-hole golf course.

Outdoor Adventure Outdoor opportunities are plentiful: drop your canoe or kayak right from your back door. The Nicola and Coldwater Rivers run through the heart of the City of Merritt. There are also mountain bike, ATV and hiking trail networks surrounding Merritt. The Kettle Valley Rail Trail network is accessible from within the city.

Event Destination Merritt also hosts a number of special events: the stage and music performances at outdoor venues in the summer, to the Canadian Rally Championship each fall, the Cowtrail Classic Mountain Bike Race and the Pacific Forest Rally Off-Road race. The City of Merritt caps off the year with the Merritt Country Christmas Parade (North America’s seventhlargest Christmas parade).

We are here to support the routes (and roots) of growth for your business, your industry.

The City of Merritt is strategically located to support your business and lifestyle opportunities. Contact Jerry Sucharyna, Economic Development Manager at the City of Merritt for further information.

Contact Jerry Sucharyna Economic Development Manager City of Merritt Telephone: 250-378-8619 Email: jsucharyna@merritt.ca Website: www.merritt.ca

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,BNMPPQT Invest in Our City Kamloops’ economy is strong, diverse and continues to see consistent growth. Our city is Western Canada’s key transportation hub and we enjoy low business costs and a highly educated workforce. These factors help us attract and support an ever increasing number of businesses that recognize Kamloops as a sustainable community and a centre for innovation. Other advantages include our unparalleled natural environment, cosmopolitan urban areas and unique lifestyle which all factor into why so many look to start, move or grow their businesses here.

Key Sectors Forestry, mining, manufacturing, transportation and logistics, health services, agriculture and retail have always anchored the economy of Kamloops as core industries. Now more than ever, emerging areas of high-tech, education and tourism are strengthening this business base, contributing to our growth.

Forestry B.C. is the largest producer of forest products in Canada and our area accounts for the 2nd highest concentration of value-added plants in the province. Additionally, the number of value-added wood products manufactured in Kamloops continues to grow ranging from plywood and veneer products to prefabricated housing units and custom kitchen cabinets.

Mining Kamloops’ mining history dates back over 100 years and as such, mineral exploration and mining have been a regional economic strength for decades. As a mining hub, there are four major active mines, four in environmental assessment and two in drilling programs located in our area.

This significant concentration has resulted in a cluster of industries locating here to support mining operations and bringing skilled mining personnel, consultants, assay labs and mining suppliers to our city ready to work.

Manufacturing Manufacturing is a major contributor to our local economy with 120+ companies operating here and employing over 7.1% of the population.

Approximately 75% of local manufacturers are exporting to the international market and most companies service both a local market and broader regional markets including Western Canada, the U.S., Europe and Asia.

Transportation and Logistics Kamloops is a vital transportation hub in Western Canada providing a diverse range of logistics solutions with direct links to the rest of the world by road, rail and air. The city is the meeting place of Western Canada’s four major highways, the North and South Thompson Rivers, and the CN and CP Railways. We also provide service throughout North America with connections to every part of the world through the Kamloops Airport (YKA).

Health Services The city is the regional health centre for the Thompson Nicola Regional District with major facilities including the Royal Inland Hospital, Kamloops’ Cancer Centre and two new state-of-the-art mental health

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facilities. Over 50 agencies and 150 physicians provide healthcare services here making our city a centre of healthcare excellence. Thompson Rivers University’s Respiratory Therapy, Nursing and other programs help fill the all important need for skilled workers.

Agriculture Over 2,000 hours of annual sunshine lends to the ideal climate that supports our agriculture industry. Warm, dry summers are desirable for field, fruit, and vegetable crops as well as specialty crops such as herbs, berries and specialty trees. Approximately 50% of local production is shipped to the west coast of B.C. making our ability to move products to other locations cost-efficient.

Retail Kamloops is the regional geographic centre for commercial trade and services in the Thompson Nicola Regional District with a primary and secondary trade area exceeding 220,000 people. As the largest economic sector in the city, the retail segment employs 12.9% of the labour force and our city offers a variety of shopping with three enclosed shopping centres and four big box-style retail centres.

High-Tech With over 200 high-tech firms located in the region, our high-tech sector is robust and on par with major metropolitan areas in terms of communications infrastructure, which includes an extensive fibre optic network.

Software providers, technology support services, and many research organizations call Kamloops home including TELUS who just opened their $75 million “state-of-the-art” Tier III Internet data centre citing our geography, climate, clean power and the presence of a highly skilled workforce as reasons for locating here.

Education Kamloops boasts exceptional and diverse education facilities and programs including 33 elementary schools, 13 secondary schools and Thompson Rivers University (TRU), the 4th largest university in B.C. with over 13,000 students attending the campus school and another 11,000+ accessing online courses.

Tourism Tourism continues to grow here with 9% of the population employed in the hospitality industry. Rocky Mountaineer Vacations injects over $15 million into our economy and we see benefits as a stopover point for bus tour companies travelling to the Rocky Mountains. As “Canada’s Tournament Capital” the city hosted over 120 tournaments last year, not including other countless events.

If you’re considering starting, moving or expanding your business, put Kamloops at the top of your list where transportation, technology, business and lifestyle come together. Contact me for additional information.

Jim Anderson, Executive Director Venture Kamloops jim@venturekamloops.com

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7FSOPO Population: 39,000 ouldn’t you rather be in shorts? Welcome to Vernon and the sunny North Okanagan, where our casual lifestyle matched with spectacular outdoor recreation opportunities has led Vernon to become one of the most economically diverse communities in British Columbia. Vernon is the economic anchor of the North Okanagan, serving a regional population of more than 100,000. Situated between Vancouver and Calgary and surrounded by three lakes the area offers hot summers and mild winters, which has attracted businesses and residents from across Canada to the area.

Vernon has a diverse economic base, with employment being generated from a growing professional services sector, the traditional resource sectors of forestry and agriculture, as well as the tourism, technology, manufacturing and service sectors. Vernon is home to a number of made-in-Vernon success stories, including Kal Tire, Tolko Industries and Okanagan Spring Brewery. Operating in 20 countries across the globe, Kal Tire opened their new 80,000-squarefoot head office on Kalamalka Lake road in Vernon in 2012. Kal Tire, North America’s largest commercial tire dealer, employs approximately 350 staff in their corporate headquarters and over 5,000 across the globe. Tolko Industries, a leading manufacturer and marketer of a broad range of forest products, completed their 55,000-squarefoot corporate office in downtown Vernon in 2008.

The privately held company delivers products to more than 30 countries worldwide and employs 3,000 people across Western Canada including over 1,000 in the Okanagan. Okanagan Spring Brewery started in Vernon in 1985 and has grown to employ approximately 150 people in the community. The brewery is now part of Sleeman Breweries, the third largest brewing company in Canada, with facilities in Vernon BC, Guelph Ontario and Chambly Quebec.

Vernon has a well-deserved reputation for its recreational opportunities, including ready access to Okanagan, Swan and Kalamalka Lakes. The area is home to three of BC’s best known resort developments; Predator Ridge, Silver Star and Sparkling Hill. Predator Ridge Resort is much more than a golf resort as it is now one of Canada’s top resort communities offering homeowners and resort guest the best of the Okanagan lifestyle. Silver Star Mountain Resort, Canada’s number one family ski resort, along with Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre are only 20 minutes from downtown Vernon. To soothe those aching muscles after a day on the slopes, the one of a kind Sparkling Hill Resort offers European spa luxury right here in Vernon. The 170,000-square foot 152 room resort is unlike anything to be found in North America. The $122 Million development opened in 2010 and offers guests spectacular views of Okanagan Lake and the Monashee Mountains.

The City Centre Neighbourhood Plan has been completed and adopted by council. The plan offers a clear vision that promotes development in Vernon’s downtown and surrounding neighbourhoods. A Revitalization Tax Incentive Program for development in the City Centre and the Waterfront Neighbourhoods were adopted in 2012. Already several new downtown developments are completed or under construction in the downtown, including Nixon Wenger Lawyers four-storey office building, a new Regional Library, the 32,500 square foot Sterling Medical Centre and the Silver Rock Professional building.

Recent and ongoing investments in public services and amenities are enhancing Vernon as a desirable place to locate. The hospital expan-

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sion is complete, and a new public library and secondary school were completed in 2012. The City of Vernon has been investing in improved civic spaces, transit expansion, more sidewalk and trail connections and the creation of cycling infrastructure to enhance the livability of the community.

Companies seeking to locate in Vernon have access to a highly skilled workforce. The University of BC Okanagan and Okanagan College provide post-secondary opportunities to both high school graduates and returning students looking to upgrade their skills. These two institutions, as well as other private post-secondary institutions, facilitate the growth of local talent.

Vernon is readily accessible by air, rail and road networks, providing businesses with excellent transportation linkages. The Kelowna International Airport is located 25 minutes from downtown Vernon. As Canada’s 10th largest airport, Kelowna International Airport offers direct flights to a variety of locations including Los Angeles, Seattle, Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton and Victoria. For rail users, CN Rail has made a substantial investment in the region by taking over operations of the branch line from Lumby, through Vernon and to their main line in Kamloops in the fall of 2013. The investment has provided surety to rail users in the North Okanagan for years to come.

Good food and a rich agricultural history play a large role in the economy, as evidenced by the many farmers markets and agri-tourism opportunities. Local produce and farm products abound, offering tremendous variety in organic and locally produced foods. Some key agritourism attractions include Davison Orchards, Planet Bee and O’Keefe Ranch along with numerous vineyards throughout the Okanagan.

With a strong sense of community and beautiful Okanagan location, Vernon offers a great business climate and unmatched livability. We invite you to join us, but don’t forget your shorts!

Contact City of Vernon Kevin Poole, Manager of Economic Development and Tourism Telephone: 250-550-3249, ecdev@vernon.ca, www.investvernon.ca

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North Coast

THIS IS WHERE THE SHIP COMES IN B.C.’s future prosperity is anchored firmly on the North Coast – terminus for the nascent LNG industry

12%

Share of B.C. land area

SEAN KOLENKO

■Hazelton ■Kitimat ■Masset ■New Hazelton ■Port Clements ■Port Edward ■Port Simpson ■Prince Rupert ■Queen Charlotte City ■Sandspit ■Skidegate ■Telegraph Creek ■Terrace

F

lanked on all sides by mountains, trees and water, the District of Kitimat, at first glance, hardly paints a picture of large-scale industrial development.

The town moves slowly, its scenic, natural surroundings appear untouched.

But i ndustry is the fou ndation upon wh ich the 9,000-person coastal town was built – and it’s currently bracing for a job boom unlike any it’s seen since Kitimat was first incorporated in the 1950s.

The centrepieces looming are the liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facilities planned for the Douglas Channel.

To date, there have been three LNG plants proposed: Apache Corp. and Chevron Canada’s $4.5 billion Kitimat LNG, Shell Canada’s $12 billion LNG Canada joint venture with Korea Gas, Mitsubishi Corp. and PetroChina Co., and BC LNG, a small project co-owned by the Haisla First Nation and London-based natural gas shipping firm Golar.

Currently, Rio Tinto Alcan is undergoing a $3 billion makeover of its aluminum smelter, also located on the Douglas Channel, and the terminus of Enbridge’s Northern Gateway pipeline is planned for the area as well.

No final investment decisions have yet been made on any of the proposed LNG projects, but preliminary work has the town’s real estate market hopping.

Shannon Dos Santos, a realtor with Re/Max Kitimat Realty, was the top Re/Max salesperson by transaction in B.C. in 2012 with 172 sales. And 2013, she says, was much of the same.

“Activity here is tenfold and inventory is low,” says Dos Santos.

Most popular among buyers are 1950s-era 1,000square-foot bungalows, priced at about $200,000. They sell the day they are listed, Dos Santos says.

Commercial properties are also popular, she adds. The City Centre Hotel, a 48-room hotel downtown, sold for $1.75 million last year. The North Start Inn, a 24-unit motel east of the city centre, sold for $1.96 million to a construction company. And the old Aluminum City Motel, a long-abandoned motel comprised of small cabins, sold for $1.25 million.

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The Fairview Container Terminal in Prince Rupert is 500 nautical miles closer to China than Port Metro Vancouver | PRINCE RUPERT PORT AUTHORITY

Bungalows and renovated hotels will hardly hold the expected stream of workers coming into town, however.

Camps are also being planned.

Kitimat LNG, for instance, has selected the old Eurocan mill site it purchased from West Fraser Timber as the location for its work camp. Edmonton-based PTI Group

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Kitimat employment stats Kitimat LNG

2,800

Construction jobs. Currently about 150 people are at work in town on the project

Northern Gateway

3,000

The Kalum Quarry in Terrace, owned by the Kitsumkalum First Nation, is in its second year of operation | TERRACE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Jobs during its peak construction period and 165 full-time positions during operation

Rio Tinto Alcan

2,500

Jobs during construction and 1,000 fulltime positions during operation

LNG Canada

5,400

Prince Rupert Grain handling facilities have capacity to ship seven million tonnes annually | PRINCE RUPERT PORT AUTHORITY

Jobs during construction and up to 300 full-time jobs during operation

B.C. LNG

750

Rio Tinto Alcan is completing a $3 million upgrade to its aluminum smelter in Kitimat | RIO TINTO ALCAN

Jobs during construction, 25 full-time positions during operation

Fairview container terminal volumes TEU stands for 20-foot equivalent unit, a standard measure used to describe container traffic 600,000 500,000

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and our grandchildren so they can stay here.”

Energy companies are also wooing Prince Rupert, a coastal municipality of approximately 13,000 residents about two-and-a-half hours west of Kitimat.

Neighbouring Port Edward, where Pacific Northwest Gas (PNG) has proposed a $10 billion LNG export facility, is also in the direct path of development. “We want to make sure our residents are first in line for LNG jobs,” said Port Edward Mayor Dave MacDonald following the

300,000 200,000 100,000 20 2008 0 20 9 10 20 20 11 12

has purchased land close to downtown where it plans to build a camp of up to 2,100 beds.

That surge in workers will alter the small-town feel many residents have come to enjoy, says Kitimat Mayor Joanne Monaghan. But change is what she wants – Kitimat will be a better place for it, she says.

“I want vibrant. When I see semis coming into town I get excited,” says Monaghan. “Otherwise, what are we doing? I want things to change. This is for our children

TEUs

400,000

SOURCES: STATISTICS CANADA / BC STATS

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North Coast

Terrace is the service centre for the North Coast retgion | TERRACE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

December 2013 opening of PNG’s community office.

Malaysian state-owned energy company Petronas has proposed an $11 billion LNG facility in Prince Rupert, while London-based energy giant BG Group is also investigating a $10 billion plant.

Most recently, Nexen ULC, a subsidiary of China’s state-owned energy company China National Offshore

Oil Co. and Japanese oil and gas firms INPEX Corp. and JCG Corp., signed a sole-proponent agreement in November 2013 to design and build its Aurora LNG plant just north of Prince Rupert.

But while large-scale LNG plants inevitably command the headlines, Prince Rupert Mayor Jack Mussallem said it was the expansion of the century-old Port of Prince Rupert that deserves the most credit for growth in town.

In 2007, the Fairview Terminal, historically a breakbulk depot, reopened as a container terminal. The plan was to leverage Prince Rupert’s proximity to Asia to entice clients shipping goods to North America. The port of Prince Rupert is about 500 nautical miles closer to China than Port Metro Vancouver is.

Within a year of its reopening, the port was growing and the eyes of international companies became fixed on Prince Rupert. “This is the most efficient port on the west coast of North America through which to trade with Asia,” Mussallem says.

But the Fairview Terminal is just one tenant of the port; others are growing and changing as well. Ridley Terminals, a coal export facility, is in the midst of a $200 million expansion. The Pinnacle Pellet terminal is now open, and a potash terminal is proposed. Even a condo development is being discussed for a plot across from the port’s administration offices.

“We’re very much a development company. And from a build-out perspective, we’re young,” says Shaun

www.ypr.ca

G AT E W AY T O C A N A D A’ S N O R T H W E S T C O A S T

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Stevenson, vice-president of trade development and public affairs with the Prince Rupert Port Authority, the organization charged with managing the port. “There is phenomenal opportunity for growth – huge construction opportunities. There is a generational opportunity playing out in northwestern B.C.�

Unlike Kitimat and Prince Rupert, Terrace, the service hub of the northwest, isn’t readying itself for a slew of multibillion-dollar energy projects. But that doesn’t mean the looming industrial boom in the region hasn’t affected the town – it has.

Terrace is well-positioned to service the influx of new people and businesses to the region. It is marketing the 2,000-acre Skeena Industrial Development Park straddling Highway 37 just south of the Northwest Regional Airport. So far, 165 acres is cleared for development and the first tenant has set up on the site. Recently, Terrace inked a memorandum of understanding with potential investors from Qinhuangdao, China, for land in the new business park, an indication of international interest.

Power plants, forestry companies, warehouses, factories, mills – all are welcomed in a site billed as “ready for unhindered new development.� “It could be anything,� says Terrace Mayor Dave Pernarowski. “It is an extension of what Terrace is – servicing this region.�

With development comes pressure on real estate. Nearly 25 per cent of Rio Tinto Alcan employees, for instance, live in Terrace. Terrace municipal council has therefore

Terrace major projects â– Skeena Industrial Development Park: a joint venture between the City of Terrace and the Kitselas First Nation.

The development park is 2,000-acres earmarked “for heavy industrial development.� The park is adjacent to Highway 37, nine kilometres from a CN Rail line, six kilometres from the Skeena River and 150-kilometres east of the Port of Prince Rupert.

â– Northwest Transmission Line: a $736-$746 million, 287-volt transmission line that will run 344 kilometres from the Skeena Substation near Terrace to remote Bob Quinn Lake. The Northwest Transmission Line is being built to open industrial development, primarily mining, in the Highway 37 corridor.

Completion of the project is expected in spring 2014.

Economic impacts of the Port of Prince Rupert Jobs

2,330 1,350

Direct Indirect

Wages

$130m $40m

Direct Indirect

GDP

$290m $70m

Direct Indirect

Economic output launched a housing action plan to investigate infill developments, redrawing residential lot sizes, plus encouraging new home development and secondary suites to increase the amount of affordable housing. “This will help us understand what our need are – prices, availability,â€? says Pernarowski. “We’re looking to attract real estate investment. Apartments, condos, multi-family developments in pockets all around the city.â€? Ă

$550m $140m

Direct Indirect

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estled at the head of Douglas Channel in northwestern British Columbia, the District of Kitimat enjoys both natural beauty and a strong industrial heritage.

Kitimat is located in one of the few wide, flat, coastal valleys in British Columbia, with a stunning backdrop of rugged Coast Mountains and the glacier-fed Kitimat River. Carved out of the coastal wilderness in the 1950s, it has become a vibrant community of approximately 10,000 residents. Kitimat’s wilderness setting is a tourist attraction offering worldrenowned salt- and fresh-water fishing, and sailing and power boating on Douglas Channel. Skiing and hiking options abound, and the challenging 18-hole Hirsch Creek golf course offers an unparalleled golfing experience in a pristine wilderness setting. Safe neighbourhoods and ample recreational opportunities make Kitimat a welcoming community.

Throughout its history, Kitimat has had a diverse and varied economy primarily based on value-added manufacturing and natural resource processing. The town was initially built in the early 1950s to house the employees of Alcan, an aluminum smelter which is set to be replaced by a new facility following completion of the $3.3 billion (US) Kitimat Modernization Project near the end of 2014. Now owned by Rio Tinto Alcan, this smelter has been shipping goods globally through Douglas Channel since 1954. The Eurocan Pulp and Paper mill opened in 1969, producing linerboard and kraft paper for more than 30 years until closing in 2010. Ocelot Industries/Methanex operated from 1982 to 2005, producing 500,000 tonnes of methane and ammonia annually. The same features that attracted Alcan, Eurocan and Methanex to locate their operations in Kitimat are today drawing interest from numerous and varied proponents.

After nearly 60 years of heavy industry, the essential infrastructure, an experienced labour force and a comprehensive supply and service sector are in place. Northwest Community College and Kitimat Valley Institute offer industry training programs and employment skills geared to the needs of local industry. Location, harbour, growth potential and industrial heritage make Kitimat one of the most promising trade and manufacturing locations in North America.

Thanks to the significant strategic advantages to attract businesses to locate here – including the ice-free, wide, deep-sea harbour and a seamlessly integrated international transportation network – Kitimat is bursting with new activity. Billions of dollars in direct inward investments have been announced and work has begun on several major projects.

Kitimat LNG, a 50/50 partnership between Chevron Canada and Apache Canada, is the most advanced of the liquefied natural gas proposals.

Preparatory activities are ongoing and the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract for the terminal, to be built on Haisla Nation reserve land at Bish Cove, was recently awarded to a joint venture involving JGC Corp. and Fluor Corp.

Among the other projects announced is LNG Canada, a joint venture involving Shell (40 per cent), Korea Gas, Mitsubishi Corp. and PetroChina Company (each 20 per cent) to develop a four-train (at full build out) LNG export facility on the former Methanex site. Three natural gas pipeline projects have also been announced. As a result of this industrial activity, Kitimat’s economic development office is increasingly busy fielding inquiries from various sectors. New businesses and residents are coming to Kitimat, recognizing the unique opportunity and potential in the region.

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Kitimat is a world-class port and manufacturing centre on the Pacific Rim and an emerging energy hub and transportation link for Asia-North America trade. Connections to international trade networks, access to Western Canada’s natural resources and proximity to key Asian markets make Kitimat an increasingly popular location for manufacturing, processing and transportation operations.

Canada’s northern transportation corridor spans over half of continental Canada, reaching into the American Midwest, and forms the straightest, shortest and flattest route for Asian–North America trade.

The northern corridor is a full day closer for shipping to or from Asia than southern transportation routes, offering time and cost savings. Kitimat’s port is the third-largest on the west coast of Canada, with all existing port facilities built, owned and operated by private enterprise. There is no federal port authority and no harbour dues – just steady, productive levels of shipping. The port has vehicle clearance to 320,000 Dead Weight Tonnes (DWT).

The Kitimat Valley is unique on the west coast of North America. It is the only wide and flat coastal valley with an inventory of available greenfield land. Tidewater and inland sites, both large and small, are pre-zoned and available for industrial development.

The provincial and federal governments are dedicated to working with industry to make British Columbia’s ports the preferred gateway for Asia-Pacific trade, the most competitive port system and supply chain on the west coast of the Americas. This commitment builds on Canada’s longstanding and strong cultural and economic ties with Asia. In the new global economy, Canada’s Pacific Gateway is the path to the future.

Contact Rose Klukas Economic Development Officer District of Kitimat 250-632-8921 rklukas@kitimat.ca

2/7/14 11:47:25 AM

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THE PORT OF PRINCE RUPERT

Growing fast. Going strong.

At the Port of Prince Rupert, fast transit times and high delivery reliability set us apart.

Planned expansion means significant opportunities for growth and further enhancement of the capacity of North America’s leading-edge gateway. It’s time to discover how to share our advantages with your customers.

@rupertport | www.rupertport.com

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Northeast

TALKING TRILLIONS Northeast is where B.C.’s energy bonanza begins with “stupendous” natural gas, coal and gold deposits

22.1% FRANK O’BRIEN

■Chetwynd ■Dawson Creek ■Fort Nelson ■Fort St. John ■Hudson’s Hope ■Pouce Coupe ■Taylor ■Tumbler Ridge

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hree trillion cubic feet of natural gas. $70 billion in investments.

A $1 trillion payoff and more than 100,000 highpaying jobs.

Throw in the potential for one of the richest gold mines in the world and the largest power and pipelines projects on the continent and you get a grasp of why Northeast British Columbia is Canada’s new economic power centre.

Home to fewer than 70,000 people in an area three times bigger than Texas, the Northeast holds stupendous

Share of B.C. land area

natural gas, coal and gold deposits.

In a report filed in late 2013, the National Energy Board confirmed natural gas reserves in the region are twice as big as previously thought: nearly three trillion cubic feet.

Premier Christy Clark says this amounts to 150 years of natural gas supplies. “We have some of the richest, best and largest reserves to be found anywhere on the globe.”

Even before the latest deposits were confirmed, 12 liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects had been proposed and seven had already been approved for federal export licences. The B.C. government projects that just five LNG

Fort Nelson is looking to expand city boundaries as it grows to meet development linked to the Horn River Shale Basin gas fields | NORTHERN BRITISH COLUMBIA TOURISM

l

THE FUTURE OF B.C.’S LNG INDUSTRY

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Northeast

Jobs needed by 2021

21,600

Building LNG facilities and pipelines

41,900

Goods and service suppliers

2,400

Plants, pipeline maintenance and operations

61,700

Gas drilling, processing and transport

Building permit values $120

Millions of dollars

100 80 60 40 20

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BC Hydro’s Site C dam project – nearly on Fort St. John’s doorstep – would need 7,500 workers if construction proceeds | BC HYDRO

Jan–Sep 2012 Jan–Sep 2013 SOURCES: STATISTICS CANADA/ BC STATS

Median household incomes $100,000 80,000 60,000 40,000

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SOURCE: CANADA CENSUS 2011 Technician John Scroten perches above Spectra Energy’s McMahon Gas Plant in Taylor. Spectra is spending $1.5 billion on northern gas and pipeline projects | SPECTRA ENERGY

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projects would represent a cumulative gross domestic product of $1 trillion by 2046.

The rush to the Northeast is on and accelerating.

“I had a group of investors in my office the other week with $4 million to spend and they were prepared to sign on the dotted line right away,” says Ron Rodgers, owner-broker of Northeast BC Real Estate Ltd. in Fort St. John, who said this is not a rare occurrence. “There are a lot of investors who are looking for commercial or industrial real estate in the area, both locally and from out of town.”

Fort St. John is at the centre of the natural gas drilling in B.C.’s Northeast, which has transformed the town of 20,000 into a high-income, high-house-price boomtown.

The self-styled “Energy Capital of B.C.” posts a median family income of $79,800 – the highest in the North – and an average house price of $350,000.

While the gas fields provide jobs, they may soon be dwarfed by BC Hydro’s Site C dam. The $7.9 billion project, just seven kilometres from Fort St. John, will require an estimated 7,500 construction workers. The giant dam began stage three of the provincial review process in 2013.

At Dawson Creek, TransCanada Pipelines is proposing a $4 billion gas pipeline that would run west to Kitimat when it completes in seven years. This project will require 2,000 to 2,500 construction workers. Meanwhile, Spectra Energy, which opened a natural gas processing plant in Dawson Creek in 2011, plans an 850-kilometre pipeline from the Dawson Creek area to the northwest coast.

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Spectra is also running the giant McMahon Gas Plant in Taylor and a gas processing plant in Fort Nelson, where the economy is fuelled by the Horn River Shale Basin.

In Tumbler Ridge,south of Fort St. John, Anglo American PLC has announced plans to expand its Roman coal mine, expected to employ 450 workers when it opens this year.

Meanwhile, HD Mining International and Huiyong Holdings Ltd. have proposed a new $300 million coal mine, which remains in the pre-assessment stage.

In tiny Hudson’s Hope – population 1,100 – there are four coal mines in the planning or environmental review stage and three major pipelines in the preliminary stages of environmental review. A gas processing plant is expected to commence its environmental review this year.

Then there is the potential of a massive gold discovery just to the north.

In September 2013, Toronto-based Seabridge Gold toured local officials, including Smithers Mayor Taylor Bachrach, through its KSM exploration site, where the company claims it has “probable� reserves of a staggering 38.2 million ounces of gold. If accurate, this would represent the biggest gold find in Canada and the ninth-largest gold reserves in the world. The B.C. environmental assessment process for the KSM project is currently underway.

While west of the Northeast, the KSM mine would add to the job and investment rush that will characterize northern B.C. for decades to come. Ă

Elizabeth Miller, Seabridge Gold environmental manager, tours local officials, including Smithers Mayor Taylor Bachrach, through its KSM mine exploration site, which could represent the largest gold reserves in Canada and ninth biggest in the world | SEABRIDGE GOLD

Village of Pouce Coupe Cradled in the Pouce Coupe River Valley, this quaint historical Village is located in the northeast corner of British Columbia surrounded by rolling hills and crop laden fields.

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Pouce Coupe Museum Displays from the very founding of the village, including a heritage house, trapper's cabin, caboose, and the original Northern Alberta Railway Station, which houses the museum.

Pouce Coupe Park RV Elec Outlets l BBQ Pits l Covered Cookhouse l Picnic Tables l Washrooms l Coin-op Showers l Bandstand. For reservations call 250.786.5139 Self-Guided Walking Tour Community Information Centre (with wireless hotspot) l Post Office, Firehall & Municipal Office l Wooden Train Trestle l Historic Hart Hotel Canada Day Celebrations Pouce Coupe holds its annual July 1st Celebration. With the enthusiasm of the people participating in the parade and the famous annual BBQ. Truck Light Parade and Food Drive This parade utilizes the local businesses to put on a show in the dark winter nights. Looping the Town Square the trucks are illuminated by twinkling lights.

5011-49th Avenue PO Box 190 Pouce Coupe, BC Canada V0C 2C0

Pouce Coupe

British Columbia Canada

Phone: (250) 786-5794 Fax: (250) 786-5257

www.poucecoupe.ca

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/035)&3/ 30$,*&4 Population 5,290 (2011 Appealed Stats Canada Census) Regional Development in the Northern Rockies: Laying the Groundwork for Success The Northern Rockies Regional Municipality (NRRM), Provincial partners, industry, and Fort Nelson First Nation (FNFN) work diligently to ensure sustainable, balanced growth in British Columbia’s most northeastern region. Mounting discoveries as the result of ongoing natural gas exploration, refinement of technologies in both upstream and downstream production, and momentum in the development of west coast Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) projects set the stage for continued growth in both the natural gas sector and the community. Canfor’s disposal of assets (two production facilities and equipment) in the Fort Nelson area have opened up opportunities for fresh investment, with a healthy and diverse wood supply to support any range of new operations.

The Infrastructure Development Contribution Agreement was announced by the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality and the Province of BC on April 11, 2013. This agreement represents the Province’s commitment to reviving aging infrastructure, assisting in the capital growth of the region, and the support of the Northern Rockies as the service sector for shale gas in North East BC, supplying future Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) developments on BC’s West Coast. With Provincial land sales and royalties in excess of $3.5B from the Horn River, Liard, and Cordova Basins, the NRRM maintains that investment to aging infrastructure is essential to sustainable industry access and development.

A region of major natural gas supply to future LNG developments in Kitimat and Prince Rupert, Fort Nelson and the NRRM sees 2014-2016 overall as a period of preparation. Forecasts for direct employment of

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future natural gas sector expansion show the potential for a workforce of up to 10,000 in the NRRM by 2020.

The Alaska Highway, combined with railhead access and regular scheduled and charter air service at the Northern Rockies Regional Airport (NRRA), makes Fort Nelson a natural transportation hub. Strategic business and capital planning of these methods of transportation (NRRA expansion, and the Alaska Highway Corridor Study) will ensure that development stays ahead of the curve. In response to the development of shale gas resources and the steadfast growth of the service sector, new light-industrial lands are in the second phase of development. 250 local, fully serviced acres are available for public ownership, accessed by an industrial traffic route off of the Alaska Highway.

Tourism in this incredible region also remains strong, being that the world-famous Alaska Highway serves as Fort Nelson’s main street, and the globally significant 6.4M hectare Muskwa-Kechika wilderness lies in the backyard. The number of visitors to the area steadily climbs annually, as the desire to explore and experience the “true north” remains a motivational driver for many of those with time to spare.

Over 300 new businesses of all sizes have established themselves in Fort Nelson since 2009, with a continued expectation of the same growth through 2013 and beyond. Storefronts in retail, service-sector providers, corporate oil and gas drilling, completion and production services, and expansion of the accommodations sector all show the value and measurable potential of the NRRM. Reaching the peak of business success is not a small feat: doing so in the Northern Rockies is well within reach.

Contact: Invest Northern Rockies Email: ecdev@northernrockies.ca, Tel: 250-774-2541, www.InvestNorthernRockies.ca

2/7/14 11:47:37 AM

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a four season playground with an abundance of activities for all ages

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BC’s Most Vibrant Economy xplorers, fur traders and then homesteaders joined the First Nations and settled the vast northeast region of British Columbia with dreams of freedom and a better life. These same dreams continue to attract people to the North Peace today. But now, instead of hardship, new-comers find contemporary community facilities, and remarkable job and business opportunities.

Bisected by the Peace River, the BC Peace region comprises nearly one-quarter of the province’s land area. The people of this region find many benefits to living in a vibrant and diversified economy. The largest demographic of the region’s population is comprised by young, growing families. This is largely due to the numerous child development, healthcare, education and activity programs that are provided to the residents of the region. The North Peace region is not only a great place to raise a family and live an active lifestyle; it is also a place that is rich with opportunities for employment, investment and to start a business.

The North Peace region’s competitive advantages are its low tax rates, low cost of energy, connectivity to the shortest link between Shanghai and Chicago through the Port of Prince Rupert, low over-all business costs (including a regional airport) and low cost of land. From prairie farmland and boreal forest to alpine tundra and rugged Rocky Mountains, the Peace Region produces 90 percent of the province’s grains, 38 percent of its hydro-electric power, has some of the largest gas fields in North America with more than 20,000 wells drilled, employs about 2,300 forestry workers and plays host to more than 500,000 visitors each year.

The North Peace region plays a significant role in the province’s economy, contributing in excess of 15 percent of BC’s net exports. While a significant share, it is made even more remarkable when considered in the context of the region’s workforce: with only two percent of the province’s labour force, the export value per experienced labour force participant in the Northeast was $240,858, compared to $31,935 in the rest of BC. This staggering contribution to the province’s exports is made possible by its vibrant and diversified economy which includes strong industries in Energy and Fuels, Mining, Agriculture, Forestry, Tourism, and Retail and Construction.

E

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The Energy sector is currently driving the economy in the North Peace and greatly contributing to the provincial economy, accounting for 90 percent of BC’s energy and fuels exports. The Province of British Columbia has made a commitment to have 3 Liquified Natural Gas plants operational by 2020. This means 150% increase in the up-stream production in northeastern British Columbia. The majority of this activity will be pulled from the Montney & Horn River unconventional gas plays and improving technologies are allowing the region to reach resources that we were previously unable to extract. This production alone will account for an additional 12,300 jobs for the region.

Worldwide demand for coal has increased dramatically and created many more opportunities in the North Peace which has hundreds of years of coal reserves remaining. There are currently proposals for three separate coal mines that border the edges of the District of Hudson’s Hope with expected reserves of over 50 years each. Currently, the region’s mining activities contribute 14 percent of BC’s total mining exports with the expectation that this with grow significantly with the approval of the proposed mining projects.

Site C is a proposed third dam and generating station on the Peace River in northeast B.C. It would provide 1,100 megawatts of capacity and about 5,100 gigawatt hours of energy each year to the province’s integrated electricity system. The BC Hydro Site C Clean Energy project has completed the public hearing process with the Joint Review Panel. The recommendation on the project will be made to government this spring and a final decision will be made before the end of 2014. The construction of this project is valued at $7.9 billion, will be approximately 10 years and will create 35,000 direct and indirect jobs.

The agriculture sector includes prairie crops of wheat, barley, canola and forage seed production. The region contributes 90 percent of BC’s wheat, 95 percent of BC’s canola, 30 percent of BC’s honey production and exceptional quality grass seeds which help make livestock production in the North Peace particularly competitive. Livestock production includes traditional beef and dairy cattle, sheep, hogs, goats and horses, and a growing diversification into game farming of bison, reindeer and exotic livestock like llama, alpaca, fox, ostrich, emu and wild boar. The region is home to some of the largest herds of bison in the province, producing nearly three-quarters of BC’s bison.

The forestry sector includes a wide array of tree species that vary from spruce to balsam poplar and paper birch. The majority of the timber harvested from the 4.673 million hectares of the Fort St John TSA is processed by the pulp mill, sawmill and one of the world’s largest OSB plants that are located in the North Peace.

The explosive growth in the region has led to a dire need for development across commercial and residential sectors in the region as a whole. Forecasts for the population to double by the year 2020 demonstrate a community that is ripe for investment. The North Peace is rich with opportunities and welcomes your with an entrepreneurial spirit!

Written by Jennifer Moore, Regional Economic Development Officer North Peace Economic Development Commission Tel: 250-785-5969 Email: invest@npedc.ca

2/7/14 11:47:39 AM

Invest in the

NORTH PEACE BC’s most vibrant economy

City of Fort St John District of Taylor District of Hudson’s Hope PRRD Areas “B” and “C”

Explore the Opportunities: Industrial Developments Mining Exploration and Development Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Agriculture and Alternative Energy Development Commercial and Industrial Transportation Opportunities Tourism Development- over 300,000 tourists pass through the region to view the beautiful landscape and historic sites every year.

Residential and Commercial Developments needed for a booming population that is expected to nearly double in the next 5 to 10 years.

“This place gets in your blood...”

- Cam Carruthers, Technical Sales

Contact us for an investment profile or any other information T: (250)785.5969 E: invest@npedc.ca 9325 100th Street | Fort St John , BC | V1J 4N4 9505

www.npedc.ca

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The place to...live...play...invest Live…

Hudson’s Hope, the Playground of the Peace, is a unique northern community with a wide range of outdoor recreational activities. It has an especially rich past, from dinosaur to fur trading and early pioneering. Located in a tranquil valley with the Rocky Mountains providing a backdrop, the community benefits from a microclimate that offers mild temperatures. The beauty of the town’s location along the banks of the mighty Peace River draws people from around the world to come… and to stay.

Play…

Surrounded by lakes and rivers, Hudson’s Hope offers a wide range of outdoor recreational activities including excellent fishing, boating, ATV’ing, water skiing, canoeing, hunting, camping, hiking, swimming, sailing, and wildlife viewing. Bald eagles, in particular, are in abundance and can be viewed and photographed throughout the year. Hudson’s Hope is a unique place in today’s busy world. It is blessed with incredible natural beauty-prairie farmland, wooded Crown lands and the Peace River with the Rocky Mountains as a backdrop.

Historically the staging area for guide and outfitting for the region, Hudson’s Hope is still home to elk, moose, deer, black bear, grizzly, cougar, lynx, fox and coyote.

Hudson’s Hope has lots of attractions to explore. Tour the WAC Bennett Dam, on the world’s largest earth filled dams, visit the Peace Canyon Dam with its replica dinosaur and displays, or check out the Hudson’s Hope Museum where there is a fossil of a dinosaur named after our town, the Hudsonelpidia! We invite you to also join one of our many events happening throughout the year, such as the Hudson’s Hope Fall Fair held in August and the Winter Carnival held in January each year.

Invest…

We are located within the booming North Peace Region which produces 90 percent of the province’s grain, 38% of its hydro electric power with those BC Hydro facilities located within Hudson’s Hope’s boundaries. Some of the largest gas fields in North America are located in the region with over 10,000 wells drilled. Over 1,100 wells will be drilled in the Montney shale just on the north boundary of the community over

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the next 10 years by Talisman Energy and Canbriam Energy. The area employs about 2,300 forestry workers and plays host to 300,000 tourists each year, many of who choose to visit Hudson’s Hope – The Playground of the Peace.

Current industries in Hudson’s Hope include energy, forestry, oil & gas, agriculture, guide outfitting, and eco-tourism. Forestry companies are harvesting both aspen and coniferous stands, which are processed in nearby mills. Oil and gas exploration is ongoing with pipelines existing to transport natural gas to the lower mainland and projects are proposed for new pipelines to transport natural gas to proposed Liquefied Natural Gas Plants on BC’s west coast. Agricultural endeavors include cattle and buffalo ranching, grain farming, and honey production.

Contact For further information, please contact: CAO, District of Hudson’s Hope cao@hudsonshope.ca or phone: 250-783-9901 www.hudsonshope.ca

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With the majestic Rocky Mountains as a backdrop, Hudson’s Hope’s array of landscape and wildlife is a unique region in today’s busy world...

Take the scenic hudson’s hope loop:

9 Museum 9 Historical Touring 9 Fossil Displays 9 Annual Fishing Derby 9 Outdoor Swimming Pool

9 Walking Trails 9 Hiking 9 Baseball Fields 9 ATV Trails 9 Skating/Curling Rinks

9 WAC Bennett & Peace Canyon Dams 9 High School Rodeo 9 Cross Country Skiing at Cameron Lake

Enjoy a variety of scenic camping options: ( 4 Municipal campgrounds (open May - September) ( Dinosaur Lake ( Cameron Lake ( King Gething ( Alwin Holland ( 3 private RV parks

For more information, contact our Visitor Centre: 250-783-9154 (May - September) 250-783-9901 (Off Season) Email: hhinfo@pris.ca

www.hudsonshope.ca

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2/7/14 11:47:40 AM

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Population: 3000 umbler Ridge is not what you think it is – in fact, it’s much more than what you might have heard. It is a community that continues to redefine what opportunity and quality of life are in Northern B.C. Over the past decade, the town has been a victim of its own success. Their massive marketing and PR campaign that took place over the course of 2000-01 resulted in the sale of more than 900 houses at rock-bottom prices to people from all over the world.

Unfortunately, this image of what Tumbler Ridge once was has been etched in the collective memory of most people living outside of the region. It is with this in mind that the community has resolved to let the rest of the province, and the world, know who they really are today.

The District of Tumbler Ridge is one of the youngest communities in British Columbia. This town of approximately 3,000 people is idyllically situated in the rolling foothills of the Northern Rocky Mountains, within the Alaska Highway corridor. Gifted with a diverse topography that has earned the community the moniker “Waterfall Capital of the North,” Tumbler Ridge sits amidst a wilderness of lakes, rivers and numerous breathtaking falls. The town site itself is reminiscent of a wilderness village resort equipped with all possible recreational amenities, some of which include a multimillion-dollar Community Centre, a network of 47 non-motorized recreational trails, 300 km of snowmobile and offroad vehicle routes and the most challenging/ scenic nine-hole golf course in Northern B.C. At first glance, it is readily apparent that this town cannot be compared to any other. In fact, its design was a social experiment of sorts. Not only was Tumbler Ridge created to retain a stable workforce for the Northeast B.C. coal project, it was master-planned in such a way that people would likely choose to live there, regardless of the presence of active coal mining. Underground utilities, expansive pedestrian-oriented infrastructure and a centralized commercial core are just a handful of representative samples that reflect Tumbler Ridge’s No. 1 selling feature: its quality of life.

The social experiment worked. Not only did this superior lifestyle attract new residents at a time when the town was economically

T

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shaky, it continues to draw people in and provides the town with a firm toehold towards reaching its goal of becoming a destination of choice. Surrounded by nearly 1,600 sq km of provincial parks and wilderness on the eastern slopes of the Northern Rockies, this fourseason destination offers unlimited year-round recreational opportunities for all ages, interests and abilities. Elevated to global recognition in 2000 by the discovery of dinosaur footprints, Tumbler Ridge is also home to the Peace Regional Palaeontology Research Centre and the Dinosaur Discovery Gallery offering insight and hands-on experiences in dinosaur exploration in one of the world’s finest and abundant fossil areas. The only apparent missing component at this point in time is operators/service providers that can enhance the experiences currently available.

Fortunately, service providers that decide to set up shop in Tumbler Ridge will not have to wait for the town to reach its desired visitor destination status before reaping huge benefits. The Northeast coal slopes are buzzing once again with two operating mines under expansion and numerous additional mines undergoing feasibility and permitting. The natural gas industry in the area has grown year after year. It’s an investor and business owner’s dream. Recent investments include a 102-room hotel, restaurant and conference centre valued at over $10 million, a Subway™ franchise and an equipment rental outlet.

While Tumbler Ridge’s traditional industries continue to thrive, the economic horizon holds the potential for the establishment of new, uncharted development opportunities. With investigative use permits issued for virtually every mountaintop, Tumbler Ridge’s wind resources have proven to be a lucrative prospect for new, multi billion-dollar green energy projects. The final progression of these projects will bring several years of construction-based activity and permanent employment. Most recently, the District of Tumbler Ridge has welcomed Capital Power Corporation and their 72-turbine (142 MW) Quality Wind Project north of the community.

Looking ahead, Tumbler Ridge is preparing to accommodate a growing population coming to the community for employment, retirement and a change of pace. Not only are they working to secure more product and services options, there is also an immense desire to increase the amount and diversity of housing within the community. The current stock of houses, built in the early 1980s, offers a limited range that may not suit everyone that wishes to relocate. Tumbler Ridge has an immense amount of affordable land and a foundational base of infrastructure that was originally designed to accommodate up to 10,000 residents. Estate lots, accessible houses for an aging population and multi-family developments all have a place in the community’s range of desired housing options.

Let it be known that Tumbler Ridge is redefined. It wishes to be viewed by the outside word as a proud, vibrant, diverse, and sustainable community where life is as spectacular as its natural surroundings. Tumbler Ridge has already proven that it isn’t going anywhere – now it’s working to reinforce that permanency and growth even further.

Contact For more information please contact the Community Development Office at 250-242-4242, cdo@dtr.ca, or visit www.investTumblerRidge.com.

2/7/14 11:47:40 AM

INVEST IN TUMBLER RIDGE Northeastern BC’s most desirable community

The perfect place...

A place for people. A place for business.

A place for you to grow.

Economic Drivers A 2 operating mines under expansion; numerous others undergoing feasibility & permitting.

A Abundant natural gas activity applications approved.

A Recent start-up of 142 MW (79 turbines) wind facility.

Impressive Opportunities A A A A A A A

Residential & commercial development needed for growing population.

Demand for multi-family and age-friendly housing.

Land available for estate lots.

Service Commercial lots starting at $1.67/sq. ft.

Heavy Industrial lots starting at $38,886/acre.

Child care facilities required for working families.

Demand for healthcare providers (chiropractor, optometrist).

Emerging industries A Additional wind power industry under development.

A Tourism operators needed to provide outdoor experiences in the Northern Rockies.

A Community Forestry – recently approved application is providing the community with its own forest with an annual allowable cut of 20,000m3.

B R I T I S H

For other info please contact: Community Development Office T: 250.242.4242 | cdo@dtr.ca | www.investTumblerRidge.ca

C O L U M B I A

C A N A D A

TUMBLER RIDGE

Lasting Impressions

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Nechako

SECOND NATURE Trees, rocks and raw wilderness characterize the economic potential of B.C.’s giant Nechako region

22.2%

Share of B.C. land area

NOA GLOUBERMAN

■Atlin ■Burns Lake ■Cassiar ■Dease Lake ■Fort St. James ■Fraser Lake ■Granisle ■Houston ■Smithers ■Telkwa ■Vanderhoof

N

echako boasts thousands of crystal-clear lakes, mountains of raw timber and rock, wide-open skies and – despite covering nearly 200,000 square kilometres in central and northern British Columbia – relatively few residents.

At last count, fewer than 40,000 people called Nechako home. Yet it remains B.C.’s largest economic development region in size, holding some of the province’s best potential for growth and prosperity.

Key economic drivers here are logging, mining and agriculture. Though the mountain pine beetle and a collapsing U.S. housing market battered forestry players several years back, Nechako is working to regain its footing in the global lumber game – and going green to boot.

Among several firms changing the script is Nechako Lumber in Vanderhoof, which uses beetle-kill trees to create renewable, carbon-neutral, solid biofuel to replace traditional, “dirtier” energy sources. Clean Energy BC recently honoured the company for its work with a project excellence award.

Meantime, mining activity continues to stoke Nechako’s economic engine. The tiny community of Atlin maintains its gold-rush roots with interest from companies like BCGold Corp., which has been working the nearby Engineer Mine since 2007 with plans to take the property to near-term, sustainable, small-scale production.

More than 1,000 kilometres south, near Houston, Imperial Metals’ Huckleberry Mine yielded an estimated 40 million pounds of copper at the end of 2013. The recent extension of the mine’s life to 2021 – seven years longer than first anticipated – should preserve 260 positions on site and create 70 new jobs.

“We are proud to be a B.C.-based company and that the majority of our exploration work is in this province,” says Imperial president Brian Kynoch. “We are convinced B.C. is a place where we can find and build world-class mines.”

Nechako mineworkers also work atThompson Creek Metals’ $1.5 billion Mt.Milligan Mine, which kicked off in 2013. The open-pit mine is projected to produce an average of 81 million pounds of copper and 194,500

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ounces of gold a day over an estimated 22-year lifespan, plus create about 400 permanent jobs.

“We understand this is a major event in the industry in B.C.,” says company president Kevin Loughrey. “Hopefully, [we] can help augur more projects in B.C.” With concern over future skills shortages in the province, Northwest Community College’s School of Exploration and Mining in Smithers is working with government and industry to ensure a skilled, job-ready workforce

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The Huckleberry Mine near Houston yielded approximately 40 million pounds of copper in 2013. The extension of Huckleberry’s life to 2021 is expected to preserve 230 full-time and 30 contract positions on site and create 70 new jobs in the Houston area | IMPERIAL METALS CORP.

Millions of dollars

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Re Northwest Community College’s School of Exploration and Mining in Smithers is working with government and industry to ensure a skilled, job-ready workforce is available to the mining sector | NORTHWEST

Jan–Sept 2012 Jan–Sept 2013 SOURCES: STATISTICS CANADA / BC STATS

COMMUNITY COLLEGE

is available to the mining sector. To date, more than 84 per cent of 1,300 graduates have found employment or returned to school.

On the farm front, agriculture in the region has long been largely tied to livestock. To ensure the rich ranching tradition doesn’t die, the provincial government’s Agrifoods Program provides funding to help cattle operations launch “buy local” campaigns aimed at educating consumers on the range of meat products

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Retail & wholesale trade Construction Manufacturing Forestry, mining, oil & gas Scientific/technical services 00 2,0 00 3,0 00 4,0 00 5,0 00 6,0 00

RHOADES - PICTURE BC

Economic activity Top five private-sector employers by number of employees

1,0

Over in Granisle, the Pinkut Creek and Fulton River fish hatcheries are the largest of their kind in the world | GEORGE

SOURCE: INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS OF BC

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Nechako

Tourism forms a large piece of Nechako’s economic pie, with many local opportunities for adrenaline-pumping outdoor adventure and breathtaking wildlife tours | OKSANA PERKINS

raised and produced in Nechako.

“By purchasing our products, consumers [are] supporting food production that contributes to our community and our province,” says Little Valley Farms owner Ken Fawcett, who received $36,000 to market his products in retail outlets and restaurants between Vanderhoof and Prince Rupert.

Tourism, too, forms a large piece of the economic pie, with many local opportunities for adrenaline-pumping outdoor adventure, breathtaking wildlife tours – and even some well-deserved R&R opportunities. With several airports, VIA railway service and an upgraded Yellowhead Highway, Nechako is becoming more accessible to travellers each year.

Aside from world-class among mountain bikers, a popular Burns Lake attraction is a walking tour among several well-preserved heritage buildings.

A similar tourist draw in Vanderhoof features 11 original structures dating back to the 1920s, while the Village of Telkwa showcases its colourful past with the four-acre, turn-of-the-century Aldermere Townsite.

The Fort St. James National Historic Site, ranked as one of B.C.’s top visitor destinations, recently won an Interpretation Canada Gold Award for its “Ripples of the Past” self-guided walk.

But tourists aren’t the only ones coming to Fort St. James. Last year Fort St. James Green Energy LP, a partnership between Dalkia Canada Inc., a subsidiary of a French power firm, and Fengate Capital Management Ltd. raised funds for the construction of a 40-megawatt, $235-million biomass power plant outside town. Construction is expected to be completed in 2015.

In Smithers, Hudson Bay Mountain ski area not only boasts the highest number of operating days in northwest B.C., it has also served as a set for several Hollywood films.

Over in Granisle, the Pinkut Creek and Fulton River fish

1-800-320-3339 mining.rdbn.bc.ca visitbulkleynechako.bc.ca

corrine.swenson@rdbn.bc.ca

www.rdbn.bc.ca/economicdevelopment

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BIG PROJECTS Mt. Milligan copper-gold mine Production at Thompson Creek Metals’ $1.5 billion Mt. Milligan Mine kicked off in 2013. The open-pit mine needs 400 workers, including those from Nechako.

Huckleberry copper/silver/ molybdenum mine Huckleberry Mine, 86 kilometres south of Houston. The recent extension preserves 260 positions on site and creates 70 new jobs.

Total investment is more than $400 million.

COMMUNITY INITIATIVES COMMUNITY DRIVEN

Hudson Bay Mountain Adventures The Fort St. James National Historic Site, ranked as one of B.C.’s top visitor destinations, recently won an Interpretation Canada Gold Award for its “Ripples of the Past� self-guided walk | DEXTER HODDER/PICTURE BC

hatcheries – the largest of their kind in the world – plus First Nation petroglyphs provide a year-round draw for travellers. Ă

LAKE BABINE NATION ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 2014-2015

Hudson Bay Mountain Adventures Inc. (HBMA) will invest $10 million in the recreational infrastructure of the mountain. The total investment on Hudson Bay Mountain will eventually exceed $100 million.

www.lakebabine.com (250) 692-4700

'035 45 +".&4

F

ort St. James is a town of deep roots involved in resource development. Originally established as a fur trade hub in 1806, the town has operated for centuries as an outpost for forestry and mining operations.

Present day mining operations include 14 nearby exploration sites, and Fort St. James offers a prime route to the $1.6 Billion Mt. Milligan Mine which launched operations in 2013. Home to two commercial sawmills as well as many hauling and service operations Fort St. James is nestled in the heart of BC’s Northern resource boom.

The quickly growing population of Fort St. James (25%, 2011 Census) provides opportunity for housing developers and niche business startup. A recently announced $235 Million Fort Green Energy project has begun earthworks for construction and holds a 30 year agreement with BC Hydro. The project is scheduled to complete construction in 2015.

CN rail access and geographic positioning of the community is spurring discussion with a variety of LNG proponents exploring the potential of using Fort St. James as a construction hub. Innovative First Nations in the area actively engage with project proponents and take an industrious approach to local training, complementary business start-up, resource development protocols, and member working groups. A local college, hospital, accessible amenities and commercial tax incentives are placing Fort St. James in a strong position to support further investment.

Information on opportunities to participate in the resource boom in Fort St. James can be provided by the community’s Economic Development Officer, Emily Colombo at 250-996-8233 or edo@fortstjames.ca.

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250-996-8233 FEP!GPSUTUKBNFT DB t &YQFSJFODFE QSPGFTTJPOBM TFSWJDF QSPWJEFST GPS ZPVS FOWJSPONFOUBM FBSUI XPSLT mSTU BJE DPOTUSVDUJPO BOE TFSWJDF OFFET t )PUFM BOE NPUFM BDDPNNPEBUJPOT USVDL TIPQT BOE TLJMMFE MBCPVS GPSDF t 8FMM DPOOFDUFE UISPVHI UFDIOPMPHZ MPDBM BJSQPSU IJHIXBZ BOE $/ 3BJMXBZ t -PDBM $/$ DPVSTFT JO .JOJOH $FSUJmDBUJPO .JOFSBM 1SPDFTTJOH 0QFSBUPS &OWJSPONFOUBM 'JFME "TTJTUBOU BOE NPSF

www.fortstjames.ca/economic-development

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MEMBERS BULKLEY-NECHAKO Wilf Adam, Chief Lake Babine Nation Box 879, Burns Lake, BC V0J 1E0 p: 250-692-4700 e: wilf.adam@lakebabine.com Quinten Beach, Councillor Village of Burns Lake Village Office #15 3rd Avenue, Burns Lake, BC V0J 1E0 p: 250-692-7587 e: village@burnslake.ca

Ron Winser, Economic Development Officer Tl’azt’en Nation 4221 Felix Rd, Lakeshore Dr., Tachie, BC V0J 1P0 p: 250-648-3212 e: whatsyour.smokesignal@gmail.com

CARIBOO Melissa Barcellos, Economic Development Officer Initiatives Prince George Ste 201 - 1300 Fist Avenue, Prince George, BC V2L 2Y3 p: 250-649-3204 e: barcellos@initiativespg.com

Jerry Botti, Manager Community Futures of Nadina PO Box 236, Houston, BC V0J 1Z0 p: 250-845-2522 e: jerry.botti@cfdcnadina.ca

Eureka Carty, Board Member McLeod Lake Indian Band General Delivery, McLeod Lake, BC V0J 2G0 p: 250-750-4415 e: ecarty@mlib.ca

Emily Colombo, Economic Development Officer District of Fort St. James P.O. Box 640, Fort St. James, BC V0J 1P0 p: 250-996-8233 e: edo@fortstjames.ca

Adele Chingee, Band Manager McLeod Lake Indian Band General Delivery, McLeod Lake, BC V0J 2G0 p: 250-750-4415 e: adchingee@mlib.ca

Maureen Czirfusz, Manager, Economic Development Officer Houston & District Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 396, Houston, BC V0J 1Z0 p: 250-845-7640 e: manager@houstonchamber.ca

Jami Dillabough-Cruz, Grant Writer/Marketing Assistant Quesnel Community and Economic Development 339A Reid Street, Quesnel, BC V2J 2M5 p: 250-992-3522

Marilyn Joseph-Williams, Economic Development Officer Lake Babine Nation Box 879, Burns Lake, BC V0J 1E0 p: 250-690-4700 e: marilyn.joseph@lakebabine.com Dwayne Lindstrom, Mayor Village of Fraser Lake P.O. Box 430, Fraser Lake, BC V0J 1S0 p: 250-699 6257 e: dwaynelindstrom@fraserlake.ca Jackie Lytle, Economic Development Officer Village of Fraser Lake P.O. Box 430, Fraser Lake, BC V0J 1S0 p: 250-699 6257 e: lytlej@unbc.ca Clinton Mauthe, Chief Administrative Officer Village of Fraser Lake P.O. Box 430, Fraser Lake, BC V0J 1S0 p: 250-699 6257 e: clinton.mauthe@fraserlake.ca

Joanne Doddridge, Planner District of 100 Mile House P.O. Box 340, 385 Birch Ave., 100 Mile House, BC V0K 2E0 p: 250-395-2434 e: jdoddridge@dist100milehouse.bc.ca Christina Doll, Manager, Marketing & Communications Initiatives Prince George 1300 First Avenue, Suite 201, Prince George, BC V2L 2Y3 p: 250.564.0282 e: doll@initiativespg.com Karen Eden, General Manager Community Futures Cariboo Chilcotin 266 Oliver Street, Williams Lake, BC V2G 1M1 p: 250-392-3626 e: karen@cfdccariboo.com

Terry McEachen, General Manager of Development Services Regional District of Fraser Fort George 155 George Street, Prince George, BC V2L 1P8 p: 250-960-4450 e: tmceachen@rdffg.bc.ca Neil O’Farrell, Business Development Officer Initiatives Prince George 1300 First Avenue, Suite 201, Prince George, BC V2L 2Y3 p: 250-649-3215 e: ofarrell@initiativespg.com Heather Oland, Chief Executive Officer Initiatives Prince George Ste 201 - 1300 Fist Avenue, Prince George, BC V2L 2Y3 p: 250-649-3201 e: oland@initiativespg.com Nancy Oppermann, Project Manager Economic Development Xeni Gwentin First Nation Box 4565, Williams Lake, BC V2G 2V6 p: 250-398-2646 e: nancyo@shaw.ca Amy Reid, Economic Development Officer Quesnel Community and Economic Development 339A Reid Street, Quesnel, BC V2J 2M5 p: 250-992-3522 e: areid@quesnelinfo.com Zishan Shah, Trade and Investment Officer Initiatives Prince George 201-1300 First Avenue, Prince George, BC V2L 243 p: 250-649-3215 e: shah@initiativespg.com Diane Smith, Economic Development Officer District of Mackenzie Bag 340, Mackenzie, BC V0J 2C0 p: 250-997-3221 e: diane@district.mackenzie.bc.ca Susan Stearns, General Manager Community Futures of Fraser Fort George 1566 7th Avenue, Prince George, BC V2L 3P4 p: 250-562-9622 Ext 106 e: susans@cfdc.bc.ca

KOOTENAY

Margaret Graine, Economic Development Officer Village of McBride 100 Robson Centre, McBride, BC V0J 2E0 p: 250-569-7556 e: msgraine@telus.net

Lisa Cannady, Project Coordinator Invest Kootenay 201, 514 Vernon Street, Nelson, BC V1L 4E7 p: 250-352-1933 e: lisa@investkootenay.com

Shari Green, Mayor City of Prince George 1100 Patricia Boulevard, Prince George, BC V2L 3V9 p: 250-561-7600 e: sgreen@city.pg.bc.ca

Curtis Helgesen, Chief Administrative Officer District of Elkford P.O. Box 340, Elkford, BC V0B 1H0 p: 250-865-4002 e: chelgesen@elkford.ca

Charlene Lawrence, Office & Project Manager Quesnel Community and Economic Development 339A Reid Street, Quesnel, BC V2J 2M5 p: 250-992-3522 e: clawrence@quesnelinfo.com

Scott Manjak, Business Development Liaison District of Sparwood P.O. Box 520, Sparwood, BC V0B 2G0 p: 250-424-7277 e: smanjak@sparwood.ca

Erin Siemens, Economic Development Officer District of Vanderhoof Box 900, Vanderhoof, BC V0J 3A0 p: 250-567-4711 e: edo@district.vanderhoof.ca

Alan Madrigga, Manager, Economic Development City of Williams Lake 450 Mart Street, Williams Lake, BC V2G 1N3 p: 250-392-1764 e: amadrigga@williamslake.ca

Luke Strimbold, Mayor Village of Burns Lake PO Box 570, 15 - 3rd Avenue, Burns Lake, BC V0J 1E0 p: 250-692-7587 e: mayor@burnslake.ca

Renee McColskey, Manager of External Relations Regional District of Fraser Fort George 155 George Street, Prince George, BC V2L 1P8 p: 250-960-4450 e: rmccloskey@rdffg.bc.ca

Alan Mason, Director of Community Economic Development City of Revelstoke P.O. Box 2398, Revelstoke, BC V0E 2S0 p: 250-837-5345 e: amason@cityofrevelstoke.com

Jeff Ragsdale, Development Services Coordinator Village of Burns Lake 15 - 3rd Ave., Burns Lake, BC V0J 1E0 p: 250-692-7587 e: jragsdale@burnslake.ca Susan Schienbein, Councillor Village of Burns Lake Village Office #15 3rd Avenue, Burns Lake, BC V0J 1E0 p: 250-692-7587 e: village@burnslake.ca

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Terry Van Horn, Executive Assistant Lower Columbia Initiatives # 1 - 1355 Pine Avenue, Trail, BC V1R 4E7 p: 250-364-6461 e: tvanhorn@lcic.ca Kevin Weaver, Economic Development Officer City of Cranbrook 40 - 10th Avenue South, Cranbrook, BC V1C 5V7 p: 250-489-0232 e: kweaver@cranbrook.ca Denise Wheelhouse, Administrative Manager Golden Area Initiatives PO Box 20190, Golden, BC V0A 1H0 p: 250-344-2420 e: dwheelhouse@goldenbritishcolumbia.com Andrea Wilkey, General Manager Community Futures Central Kootenay 201-514 Vernon Street, Nelson, BC V1L 4E7 p: 250-352-5926 e: awilkey@futures.bc.ca Kevin Wilson, Economic Development Officer City of Kimberley 340 Spokane Street, Kimberley, BC V1A 2E8 p: 250-427-9666 e: kwilson@city.kimberley.bc.ca Sarah Winton, Community Economic Development Community Futures of Boundary PO Box 2949, Grand Forks, BC V0H 1H0 p: 250-442-2722 Ext 226 e: sarah@boundarycf.com

MAINLAND SOUTHWEST Bob Andrews, Planning Assistant Township of Langley 20338 - 65th Avenue, Langley, BC V2Y 3J1 p: 604-532-7548 e: bandrews@tol.ca Garry Angus, EDP Provincial Coordinator Community Futures British Columbia #C230-7871 Stave Lake Street, Mission, BC V2V 0C5 p: 604-289-4222 e: gangus@communityfutures.ca Terry Becker, Director Pitt Meadows Economic Development Corporation 12047 Harris Road, Pitt Meadows, BC V3Y 2B5 p: 604-465-9481 e: tbecker@thinkpittmeadows.ca Bruce Bell, Councillor City of Pitt Meadows 12007 Harris Road, Pitt Meadows, BC V3Y 2B5 p: 604-465-5454 e: bbell@pittmeadows.bc.ca Chris Bishop, Director of Development Services District of Squamish 37955 Second Avenue, Squamish, BC V8B 0A3 p: 604-892-5217 e: cbishop@squamish.ca Sandy Blue, Manager, Economic Development District of Maple Ridge 11995 Haney Place, Maple Ridge, BC V2X 6A9 p: 604-467-7320 e: sblue@mapleridge.ca Ray Boogaards, Director Pitt Meadows Economic Development Corporation 12047 Harris Road, Pitt Meadows, BC V3Y 2B5 p: 604-465-9481 e: rboogaards@thinkpittmeadows.ca

Wendy McCulloch, General Manager Community Futures of Boundary PO Box 2949, Grand Forks, BC V0H 1H0 p: 250-442-2722 e: wendy@boundarycf.com

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Brian Buggey, Director - Business Development Vancouver Economic Development Commission 1620 - 1075 West Georgia, Vancouver, BC V6E 3C9 p: 604-632-9668 ext.108 e: bbuggey@vancouvereconomic.com

Marie Gallant, Manager Director Community Futures Development Association 1056 - 409 Granville Street, Vancouver, BC V6C 1T2 p: 604-685-2332 ext. 226 e: mgallant@communityfutures.ca

Danielle Millin, Communications and Marketing City of Abbotsford 32315 South Fraser Way, Abbotsford, BC V2T 2W7 p: 604-851-4167 e: dmillin@abbotsford.ca

Jake Rudolph, Deputy City Manager City of Abbotsford 32315 South Fraser Way, Abbotsford, BC V2T 2W7 p: 604-853-2281 e: jrudolph@abbotsford.ca

Dave Captein, Director Pitt Meadows Economic Development Corporation 12047 Harris Road, Pitt Meadows, BC V3Y 2B5 p: 604-465-9481 e: dcaptein@thinkpittmeadows.ca

Linda Glenday, General Manager of Development Services and Public Works District of Squamish 37955 Second Avenue, Squamish, BC V8B 0A3 p: 604-892-5217 e: lglenday@squamish.ca

Gerald Minchuk, Director Development Services & Economic Development City of Langley 20399 Douglas Crescent, Langley, BC V3A 4B3 p: 604-514-2815 e: gminchuk@city.langley.bc.ca

Ron Sander, Councillor District of Squamish 37955 Second Avenue, Squamish, BC V8B 0A3 p: 604-892-5217 e: rsander@squamish.ca

Jacky Graham, Director Pitt Meadows Economic Development Corporation 12047 Harris Road, Pitt Meadows, BC V3Y 2B5 p: 604-465-9481 e: jgraham@thinkpittmeadows.ca

Tracy Miyashita, Councillor City of Pitt Meadows 12007 Harris Road, Pitt Meadows, BC V3Y 2B5 p: 604-465-5454 e: tmiyashita@pittmeadows.bc.ca

Lori Graham, Economic Development Coordinator Pitt Meadows Economic Development Corporation 12047 Harris Road, Pitt Meadows, BC V3Y 2B5 p: 604-465-9481 e: lgraham@thinkpittmeadows.ca

Elizabeth Model, Executive Director Downtown Surrey BIA Suite 300-10524 King George Blvd., Surrey, BC V3T 2X2 p: 604-580-2321 e: elizabeth@downtownsurreybia.com

Erin Chadwick, Administrative Assistant District of Maple Ridge 11995 Haney Place, Maple Ridge, BC V2X 6A9 p: 604-467-7320 e: echadwick@mapleridge.ca Susan Chapelle, Councillor District of Squamish 37955 Second Avenue, Squamish, BC V8B 0A3 p: 604-892-5217 e: schapelle@squamish.ca Chris Clarke, Communications Assistant City of Surrey 204-23343 Mavis Ave, Fort Langley, BC V1M 2R7 p: 778-846-0522 e: christopher.clarke1@mytwu.ca Brian Coombes, President CEPCO 46093 Yale Road, Chilliwack, BC V2P 2L8 p: 604-792-7839 e: info@chilliwackpartners.com

Kim Grout, CAO City of Pitt Meadows 12007 Harris Road, Pitt Meadows, BC V3Y 2B5 p: 604-465-5454 e: kgrout@pittmeadows.bc.ca Patricia Heintzman, Councillor District of Squamish 37955 Second Avenue, Squamish, BC V8B 0A3 p: 604-892-5217 e: pheintzman@squamish.ca

Stacey Crawford, Economic Development Coordinator District of Mission 34033 Lougheed Highway, Mission, BC V2V 5X8 p: 604-820-3789 e: scrawford@mission.ca

Colleen Hurzin, Economic Development Assistant City of Coquitlam 3000 Guildford Way, Coquitlam, BC V3B 7N2 p: 604-927-3905 e: churzin@coquitlam.ca

Warren Dale, Director Pitt Meadows Economic Development Corporation 12047 Harris Road, Pitt Meadows, BC V3Y 2B5 p: 604-465-9481 e: wdale@thinkpittmeadows.ca

Donna Jones, Economic Development Manager City of Surrey 14245 - 56th Ave, Surrey, BC V3X 3A2 p: 604-591-4289 e: dljones@surrey.ca

Jeff Dawson, General Manager Community Futures of Howe Sound PO Box 2539, Squamish, BC V8B 0B7 p: 604-892-5467 e: jeff.dawson@cfhowesound.com

Rob Kirkham, Mayor District of Squamish 37955 Second Avenue, Squamish, BC V8B 0A3 p: 604-892-5217 e: rkirkham@squamish.ca

Murray Day, Director Pitt Meadows Economic Development Corporation 12047 Harris Road, Pitt Meadows, BC V3Y 2B5 p: 604-465-9481 e: mday@thinkpittmeadows.ca

Dan Kosicki, Director Pitt Meadows Economic Development Corporation 12047 Harris Road, Pitt Meadows, BC V3Y 2B5 p: 604-465-9481 e: dkosicki@thinkpittmeadows.ca

Joan Elangovan, Acting CEO Vancouver Economic Development Commission 1620 - 1075 West Georgia, Vancouver, BC V6E 3C9 p: 604-632-9668 e: jelangovan@vancouvereconomic.com

Rick Kreklewetz, Director Pitt Meadows Economic Development Corporation 12047 Harris Road, Pitt Meadows, BC V3Y 2B5 p: 604-465-9481 e: rkreklewetz@thinkpittmeadows.ca

Janis Elkerton, Councillor City of Pitt Meadows 12007 Harris Road, Pitt Meadows, BC V3Y 2B5 p: 604-465-5454 e: jelkerton@pittmeadows.bc.ca

Gary MacKinnon, Economic Development Officer Township of Langley 20338 - 65th Avenue, Langley, BC V2Y 3J1 p: 604-533-6084 e: gmackinnon@tol.ca

Kristi Ferguson, Economic Development Coordinator Pitt Meadows Economic Development Corporation 12047 Harris Road, Pitt Meadows, BC V3Y 2B5 p: 604-465-9481 e: kferguson@thinkpittmeadows.ca

Gary Manson, Director Pitt Meadows Economic Development Corporation 12047 Harris Road, Pitt Meadows, BC V3Y 2B5 p: 604-465-9481 e: gmanson@thinkpittmeadows.ca

Katie Ferland, Business Development Liaison City of Richmond 6911 No. 3 Road, Richmond, BC V6Y 2C1 p: 604-247-4923 e: kferland@richmond.ca Sabina FooFat, Planner District of Squamish 37955 Second Avenue, Squamish, BC V8B 0A3 p: 604-892-5217 e: sfoofat@squamish.ca Blair Fryer, Communications and Economic Development Manager City of New Westminster 511 Royal Avenue, New Westminster, BC V3L 1H9 p: 604-527-4688 e: bfryer@newwestcity.ca

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Sarah McJannet, Planner District of Squamish 37955 Second Avenue, Squamish, BC V8B 0A3 p: 604-892-5217 e: smcjannet@squamish.ca John McPherson, Business Deveopment Officer Vancouver Economic Development Commission 1620 - 1075 West Georgia, Vancouver, BC V6E 3C9 p: 604-632-9668 e: jmcpherson@vancouvereconomic.com Dan McRae, Economic Development Officer District of Squamish 37955 Second Avenue, Squamish, BC V8B 0A3 p: 604-815-5020 e: dmcrae@squamish.ca JP Merceica, Business Deveopment Officer Vancouver Economic Development Commission 1620 - 1075 West Georgia, Vancouver, BC V6E 3C9 p: 604-632-9668 e: JPMercieca@vancouvereconomic.com

Nancy Mott, Business Deveopment Officer Vancouver Economic Development Commission 1620 - 1075 West Georgia, Vancouver, BC V6E 3C9 p: 604-632-9668 e: nmott@vancouvereconomic.com

Natalie Scopaz, Economic Development Coordinator District of Squamish 37955 Second Avenue, Squamish, BC V8B 0A3 p: 604-892-5217 e: nscopaz@squamish.ca Tammy Shields, Executive Director Advantage Hope 345 Raab Street P.O. Box 37, Hope, BC V0X 1L0 p: 604-869-0930 e: executivedirector@advantagehope.ca Jeff Slater, Director Pitt Meadows Economic Development Corporation 12047 Harris Road, Pitt Meadows, BC V3Y 2B5 p: 604-465-9481 e: jslater@thinkpittmeadows.ca

David Munro, Manager Economic Development City of Coquitlam 3000 Guildford Way, Coquitlam, BC V3B 7N2 p: 604-927-3442 e: dmunro@coquitlam.ca

Randy Stoyko, General Manager of Business and Community Services District of Squamish 37955 - 2nd Avenue, Squamish, BC V8B 0A3 p: 604-815-5217 e: rstoyko@squamish.ca

David Murray, Councillor City of Pitt Meadows 12007 Harris Road, Pitt Meadows, BC V3Y 2B5 p: 604-465-5454 e: dmurray@pittmeadows.bc.ca

Netty Tam, Manager of Business Development CEPCO 201- 46093 Yale Rd, Chilliwack, BC V2P 2L8 p: 604-702-9503 e: info@chilliwackpartners.com

Elaine Naisby, Planner District of Squamish 37955 Second Avenue, Squamish, BC V8B 0A3 p: 604-892-5217 e: enaisby@squamish.ca

Alice To, Film & Economic Initiatives Coordinator District of North Vancouver 355 West Queens Road, North Vancouver, BC V7N 4N5 p: 604-991-2241 e: aliceto@dnv.org

Gwen O’Connell, Councillor City of Pitt Meadows 12007 Harris Road, Pitt Meadows, BC V3Y 2B5 p: 604-465-5454 e: goconnell@pittmeadows.bc.ca Larry Orr, Manager, Special Projects and Services City of North Vancouver 141 West 14th Street, North Vancouver, BC V7M 1H9 p: 604-990-4221 e: lorr@cnv.org

Deb Walters, Mayor City of Pitt Meadows 12007 Harris Road, Pitt Meadows, BC V3Y 2B5 p: 604-465-5454 e: dwalters@pittmeadows.bc.ca Juvarya Warsi, Economic Strategist Vancouver Economic Development Commission 1620 - 1075 West Georgia, Vancouver, BC V6E 3C9 p: 604-632-9668 e: jwarsi@vancouvereconomic.com

Andrea Parkerson, Economic Development Assistant City of New Westminster 511 Royal Avenue, New Westminster, BC V3L 1H9 p: 604-527-4536 e: aparkerson@newwestcity.ca

Kate Zanon, CEO Pitt Meadows Economic Development Corporation 12047 Harris Road, Pitt Meadows, BC V3Y 2B5 p: 604-465-9481 e: kzanon@thinkpittmeadows.ca

Jayne Perrault, Director Pitt Meadows Economic Development Corporation 12047 Harris Road, Pitt Meadows, BC V3Y 2B5 p: 604-465-9481 e: jperrault@thinkpittmeadows.ca

Heather Adel, Economic Development Officer Misty Isles Economic Development Society Box 652, Queen Charlotte, BC V0T 1S0 p: 250-559-8050 e: edo@mieds.ca

Ted Prior, Councillor District of Squamish 37955 Second Avenue, Squamish, BC V8B 0A3 p: 604-892-5217 e: tprior@squamish.ca

Kathy Bedard, Chief Administrative Officer Hecate Strait Employment Development Society 208 First Ave East, Prince Rupert, BC V8J 4M8 p: 250-627-4397 e: kathyb@hseds.ca

Doug Race, Councillor District of Squamish 37955 Second Avenue, Squamish, BC V8B 0A3 p: 604-892-5217 e: drace@squamish.ca

Techla Fladhamer, Office Assistant Terrace Economic Development Authority 3224 Kalum Road, Terrace, BC V8G 2N1 p: 250-635-4168 e: info@teda.ca

Bryan Raiser, Councillor District of Squamish 37955 Second Avenue, Squamish, BC V8B 0A3 p: 604-892-5217 e: braiser@squamish.ca

Rose Klukas, Economic Development Officer District of Kitimat 270 City Centre, Kitimat, BC V8C 2H7 p: 250-632-8921 e: rklukas@kitimat.ca

Stan Rogers, President Legacy Pacific Land Corporation #428, 44550 South Sumas Road, Chilliwack, BC V2R 5M3 p: 604-824-8733 e: stanrogers@legacypacific.com

Bert Mercer, Economic Development Manger Nisga’a Nation 2000 Lisims Drive, P.O. Box 231, New Aiyansh, BC V0J 1A0 p: 250-633-3000 e: bertramm@nisgaa.net

NORTH COAST

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BC Economic Development Association

Tyler Noble, Business & Communications Officer District of Kitimat 270 City Centre, Kitimat, BC V8C 2H7 p: 250-635-8900 e: tnoble@kitimat.ca Andrew Webber, Manager, Development Services Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine 300-4545 Lazelle Avenue, Terrace, BC V8G 4E1 p: 250-615-6100 e: awebber@rdks.bc.ca

NORTH COAST Ellen Calliou, Economic Development Officer District of Chetwynd PO Box 357, Chetwynd, BC V0C 1J0 p: 250-401-4113 e: calliou@gochetwynd.com Elaine Davis, Economic Development Assistant District of Chetwynd PO Box 357, Chetwynd, BC V0C 1J0 p: 250-401-4125 e: edavis@gochetwynd.com

James Baker, Mayor District of Lake Country 10150 Bottom Wood Lake Road, Lake Country, BC V4V 2M1 p: 250-766-6671 e: baker@lakecountry.bc.ca

Colin O’Leary, Business Retention & Expansion Specialist Venture Kamloops 297 1st Avenue, Kamloops, BC V2C 3J3 p: 250-828-6818 e: colin@venturekamloops.com

Chris Bower, Business Development Officer South Osoyoos Indian Band Development Corporation RR#3 S25 C1, Oliver, BC V0H 1T0 p: 250-498-3444 ext. 305 e: Chris@nkmip.com

Mike O’Reilly, New Business Development Specialist Venture Kamloops 297 1st Avenue, Kamloops, BC V2C 3J3 p: 250-828-6818 e: mike@venturekamloops.com

Mandi Caroll, Communications Officer Westbank First Nation 301-515 Highway 97 S, Kelowna, BC V1Z 3J2 p: 250-769-2436 e: mcarroll@wfn.ca

Colleen Pennington, Economic Development City of Penticton 171 Main Street, Penticton, BC V2A 5A9 p: 250-493-3323 e: colleen.pennington@penticton.ca John Perrott, Business Development Officer District of West Kelowna 2760 Cameron Road, West Kelowna, BC V1Z 2T6 p: 778-797-2215 e: john.perrott@districtofwestkelowna.ca

NORTHEAST

Robyn Cyr, EDO/Film Commissioner Columbia Shuswap Regional District Box 978, 781 Marine Park Drive N/E, Salmon Arm, BC V1E 4P1 p: 250-832-8194 e: rcyr@csrd.bc.ca

Lori Ackerman, Mayor City of Fort St. John 10631 - 100 Street, Fort St John, BC V1J 3Z5 p: 250-787-8160 e: lackerman@fortstjohn.ca

Derek de Candole, Economic Development Officer District of Logan Lake #1 Opal Drive PO Box 190, Logan Lake, BC V0K 1W0 p: 250-523-6225 e: ddecandole@loganlake.ca

Jaylene Arnold, Economic Development & Tourism Officer Northern Rockies Regional Municipality 5319 - 50th Avenue South, Bag Service 399, Fort Nelson, BC V0C 1R0 p: 250-774-2541 ext 2040 e: jarnold@northernrockies.org

Alberto De Feo, Chief Administrative Officer District of Lake Country 10150 Bottom Wood Lake Road, Lake Country, BC V4V 2M1 p: 250-766-6671 e: adefeo@lakecountry.bc.ca

Fred Banham, Chief Administrative Officer South Peace Economic Development Commission PO Box 810, Stn. Main, Dawson Creek, BC V1G 4H8 p: 250-784-3200 e: fred.banham@prrd.bc.ca

Patti Ferguson, Chief Administrative Officer City of Armstrong PO Box 40, Armstrong, BC V0E 1B0 p: 250-546-3023 e: pferguson@cityofarmstrong.bc.ca

Nathan Chiles, Business Analyst Community Futures of Peace Liard 904- 103 Avenue, Dawson Creek, BC V1G 2B7 p: 250-782-8748 e: nchiles@communityfutures.biz

Robert Fine, Director of Economic Development Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission 1450 KLO Road, Kelowna, BC V1W 3Z4 p: 250-469-6280 e: rfine@investkelowna.com

Mike Gilbert, Community Development Officer Northern Rockies Regional Municipality Bag Service 399 5319 - 50th Avenue South,, Fort Nelson, BC V0C 1R0 p: (250) 774-2541 ext 2043 e: mgilbert@northernrockies.ca

Lana Fitt, Economic Development Manager Salmon Arm Economic Development Corp.

20 Hudson Avenue NE P.O. Box 130, Salmon Arm, BC V1E 4N2 p: 250-833-0608 e: edo@saeds.ca

Colin Griffith, Director of Strategic Initiatives Northern Rockies Regional Municipality Bag Service 399 5319 - 50th Avenue South, Fort Nelson, BC V0C 1R0 p: 780-733-9054 e: cgriffith@northernrockies.ca

Corie Griffiths, Marketing and Research Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission 1450 KLO Road, Kelowna, BC V1W 3Z4 p: 250-469-6283 e: cgriffiths@investkelowna.com

Sue Kenny, General Manager Community Futures of Peace Liard 904 -102 Avenue, Dawson Creek, BC V1G 2B7 p: 250-782-8748 e: skenny@communityfutures.biz

Leslie Groulx, Chief Administrative Officer District of Clearwater Box 157, Clearwater, BC V0E 1N0 p: 250-674-2257 e: lgroulx@docbc.ca

Jennifer Moore, Regional Economic Development Officer North Peace Economic Development Commission 9505 100th St , Fort St. John, BC V1J 4N4 p: 250 -785- 5969 e: invest@npedc.ca

Mary Ellen Heidt, Manager, Community Futures Okanagan Similkameen 102-3115 Skaha Lake Road, Penticton, BC V2A 6G5 p: 250-493-2566 ext. 202 e: maryellen@cfokanagan.com

Jack Stevenson, Director of Planning Northern Rockies Regional Municipality Bag Service 399 5319 - 50th Avenue South,, Fort Nelson, BC V0C 1R0 p: 250-774-2541 ext 2041 e: jstevenson@northernrockies.ca

THOMPSON OKANAGAN Jim Anderson, Executive Director Venture Kamloops 297 1st Avenue, Kamloops, BC V2C 3J3 p: 250-828-6818 e: jim@ventureKamloops.com Debbie Arnott, General Manager Community Futures of Sun Country PO Box 1480, 203 Railway Avenue, Ashcroft, BC V0K 1A0 p: 250-453-9165 e: darnott@cfsun.ca

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Bill Humphreys, Mayor District of Barriere P.O. Box 751, Barriere, BC V0E 1E0 p: 250-672-9751 e: mayor@barriere.ca Sherri-Lynne Madden, Services Coordinator Thompson Nicola Regional District 300 - 465 Victoia Street, Kamloops, BC V2C 2A9 p: 250-674-3530 e: smadden@tnrd.bc.ca Glenn Mandziuk, Chief Executive Officer Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association 2280 D Leckie Road, Kelowna, BC V1X 6G6 p: 250-860-5999 e: gmandziuk@totabc.com

Kevin Poole, Manager of Economic Development & Tourism City of Vernon 3400 30th Street, Vernon, BC V1T 5E6 p: 250-550-3249 e: kpoole@vernon.ca John Powell, Economic Development Coordinator Regional District Okanagan Similkameen 101 Martin Street, Penticton, BC V2A 5J9 p: 778-515-5520 e: jpowell@rdos.bc.ca Paula Presta, Secretary/Treasurer Venture Kamloops 297 1st Avenue, Kamloops, BC V2C 3J3 p: 250-828-6821 e: ppresta@kpmg.ca Barry Romanko, CAO Town of Osoyoos 8708 Main Street P.O. Box 3010, Osoyoos, BC V0H 1V0 p: 250-495-4614 e: bromanko@osoyoos.ca Ryan Roycroft, Economic Development Manager District of Lake Country 10150 Bottom Wood Lake Road, Lake Country, BC V4V 2M1 p: 250-766-6671 e: rroycroft@lakecountry.bc.ca Reyna Seabrook, Corporate Services Manager District of Lake Country 10150 Bottom Wood Lake Road, Lake Country, BC V4V 2M1 p: 250-766-6671 e: rseabrook@lakecountry.bc.ca Jerry Sucharyna, Business & Economic Development Manager City of Merritt PO Box 189, Merritt, BC V1K 1B8 p: 250-378-4224 ext. 211 e: jsucharyna@merritt.ca

VANCOUVER ISLAND/COAST Felicity Adams, Director of Development Services Town of Ladysmith PO Box 220, Ladysmith, BC V9G 1A2 p: 250-245-6405 e: fadams@ladysmith.ca Sasha Angus, CEO Nanaimo Economic Development Corporation 104 Front Street, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5H7 p: 250-591-1551 ext 22 e: sasha.angus@investnanaimo.com Lisa Brinkman, Planner Town of Ladysmith P.O.Box 220, Ladysmith, BC V9G 1A2 p: 250-245-6415 e: lbrinkman@ladysmith.ca Kim Burden, Executive Director Parksville & Dist. Chamber of Commerce PO Box 99, Station Main, Parksville, BC V9P 2G3 p: 250-248-3613 e: kim@parksvillechamber.com

Pat Deakin, Economic Development Manager City of Port Alberni 4850 Argyle Street, Port Alberni, BC V9Y 1V8 p: 250-720-2527 e: patrick_deakin@portalberni.ca Chris Fawcus, Board Chair Sechelt Innovations PO Box 129 2nd Floor, 5797 Cowrie St, Sechelt, BC V0N 3A0 e: chris@secheltinnovations.ca Rob Flux, Treasurer Sechelt Innovations PO Box 129 2nd Floor, 5797 Cowrie St, Sechelt, BC V0N 3A0 Dave Formosa, Mayor City of Powell River 4760 Joyce Avenue, Powell River, BC V8A 3B6 p: 604-485-6291 e: Davic83@gmail.com Teresa Fournier, Secretary Sechelt Innovations PO Box 129 2nd Floor, 5797 Cowrie St, Sechelt, BC V0N 3A0 George Gates, Economic Development Commission Board Member Cowichan Region Economic Development Commission 135 Third Street, Duncan, BC V9L 1R9 p: 250-746-7880 e: ggates@nutechit.ca Dallas Gislason, Economic Development Officer Greater Victoria Development Agency 100 – 852 Fort Street, Victoria, BC V8W 1H8 p: 250-383-7179 ext. 204 e: dgislason@gvda.ca Vic Goodman, CEO Campbell River EDC Rivercorp Enterprise Centre E - 900 Alder Street, Campbell River, BC V9W 2P6 p: 250-830-0411 e: vic.goodman@rivercorp.ca Sandra Goth, Economic Development Commission Board Member Cowichan Region Economic Development Commission 135 Third Street, Duncan, BC V9L 1R9 p: 250-746-7880 e: sandra_goth@shaw.ca Lara Greasley, Manager, Marketing & Communications Comox Valley Economic Development Society 102-2435 Mansfield Drive, Courtenay, BC V9N 2M2 p: 250-334-2427 e: lara@investcomoxvalley.com Jolynn Green, Executive Director Community Futures Central Island 104 - 5070 Uplands Drive, Nanaimo, BC V9T 6N1 p: 250-585-5585 e: jolynn@cfnanaimo.org Roger Hart, Economic Development Commission Board Member Cowichan Region Economic Development Commission 135 Third Street, Duncan, BC V9L 1R9 p: 250-746-7880 e: roger@island.net Blair Herbert, Vice-Chair, Economic Development Commission Cowichan Region Economic Development Commission 135 Third Street, Duncan, BC V9L 1R9 p: 250-746-7880 e: blairherbert@royallepage.ca Russ Jenkins, Economic Development Commission Board Member Cowichan Region Economic Development Commission 135 Third Street, Duncan, BC V9L 1R9 p: 250-746-7880 e: russjenkins@telus.net Dave Jephcott, Manager, Business Development Sechelt Innovations PO Box 129 2nd Floor, 5797 Cowrie St, Sechelt, BC V0N 3A0 p: 604-885-1986 x.8433 e: dave@secheltinnovations.ca

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Mike Kelly, Economic Development Commission Board Member Cowichan Region Economic Development Commission 135 Third Street, Duncan, BC V9L 1R9 p: 250-746-7880 e: gpBike1001@gmail.com

Jennifer Salisbury, Business Retention & Expansion Coordinator Powell River Regional Economic Development Society 4760 Joyce Avenue, Powell River, BC V8A 3B6 p: 604-485-0325 e: jsalisbury@prreds.com

Phil Kent, Economic Development Commission Board Member Cowichan Region Economic Development Commission 135 Third Street, Duncan, BC V9L 1R9 p: 250-746-7880 e: pkent@cvrd.bc.ca

Wendy Smitka, Chair Community Futures Central Island #102- 3032 Waterstone Way, Nanaimo, BC V9T 6S8 p: 250-758-7175 e: smitka@shaw.ca

Pam Krompocker, Executive Director Community Futures of Powell River 4717 Marine Ave. 2nd Avenue, Powell River, BC V8A 2L2 p: 604-485-7901 e: pam@prfutures.ca Kathy Lachman, Business Development Officer Cowichan Region Economic Development Commission 135 Third Street, Duncan, BC V9L 1R9 p: 250-746-7880 e: klachman@cvrd.bc.ca Greg Latham, Board Member Sechelt Innovations PO Box 129 2nd Floor, 5797 Cowrie St, Sechelt, BC V0N 3A0 Maurice Magowan, Director of Finance and Corporate Development We Wai Kai First Nation 690 Headstart Cres, Campbell River, BC V9H 1P9 p: 250-287-6178 e: Magowan.m@shaw.ca Amrit Manhas, Economic Development Officer Nanaimo Economic Development Corporation 104 Front Street, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5H7 p: 250-591-1551 ext. 26 e: amrit.manhas@investnanaimo.com Michael McGee, Administrator Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation PO Box 459, Gold River, BC V0P 1G0 p: 250-283-2424 e: admin@yuquot.ca Peter McGee, Economic Development Coordinator Nanaimo Economic Development Corporation 104 Front Street, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5H7 p: 250-591-1551 ext 21 e: peter.mcgee@investnanaimo.com Geoff Millar, Manager of Economic Development Cowichan Region Economic Development Commission 135 Third Street, Duncan, BC V9L 1R9 p: 250-746-7880 e: gmillar@cvrd.bc.ca Ian Morrison, Economic Development Commission Board Member Cowichan Region Economic Development Commission 135 Third Street, Duncan, BC V9L 1R9 p: 250-746-7880 e: imorrison@cvrd.bc.ca Scott Randolph, Manager Powell River Regional Economic Development Society 4760 Joyce Avenue, Powell River, BC V8A 3B6 p: 604-485-0325 e: srandolph@prreds.com George Robbins, Chair, Economic Development Commission Cowichan Region Economic Development Commission 135 Third Street, Duncan, BC V9L 1R9 p: 250-746-7880 e: g.robbins@shaw.ca Vance Rosling, Director of Economic Development Tsawout First Nation P.O. Box 121-7728 Tetayut Road, Saanichton, BC V8M 2C3 p: 250-652-9101 e: vrosling@tsawout.ca

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Lance Sparling, Vice-Chair Sechelt Innovations PO Box 129 2nd Floor, 5797 Cowrie St, Sechelt, BC V0N 3A0 Marsha Stanley, Economic Development Commission Board Member Cowichan Region Economic Development Commission 135 Third Street, Duncan, BC V9L 1R9 p: 250-746-7880 e: marsha.stanley@mnp.ca Sheana Stevenson, Deputy Corporate Officer Bowen Island Municipality 981 Artisan, Bowen Island, BC V0N 1G2 p: 604-947-4255 e: SStevenson@bimbc.ca Dana Thorne, Economic Development Commission Board Member Cowichan Region Economic Development Commission 135 Third Street, Duncan, BC V9L 1R9 p: 250-746-7880 e: dana.thorne@cowichantribes.com

Allison Gavin, Senior Sales Manager The Westin Bayshore, Vancouver 1601 Bayshore Drive, Vancouver, BC V6G 2V4 p: 604-682-3377 e: allison.gavin@westin.com

Lisa Moore, Manager Business Development SRY Rail Link 2102 River Drive, New Westminister, BC V3M 6S3 p: 604-527-6311 e: lmoore@sryraillink.com

Victor Godin, Consulting Director StartingOver BC Inc. 8651 Minler Road, Richmond, BC V7C 3V1 p: 604-277-8719 e: startbc@shaw.ca

Kristen Mucha, Senior Manager, Community, Commercial & Industrial Energy Solutions Fortis BC e: kristen.mucha@fortisbc.com

Paul Harris, Publisher Business in Vancouver Magazines 102 - 4th Avenue East, Vancouver, BC V5T 1G2 p: 604-608-5156 e: pharris@biv.com Chris Heminsley, Director, Economic Development Programs BC Hydro 333 Dunsmuir Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 5R3 p: 604-699-7661 e: Chris.Heminsley@bchydro.com Amy Hennessy, Community Relations Manager Fortis BC e: amy.hennessy@fortisbc.com Marilyn Hutchinson, Director Sustainability and Growth Grieg Seafood BC Ltd #106 - 1180 Ironwood Street, Campbell River, BC V9W 5P7 p: 250-286-0838 e: marilyn.hutchinson@griegseafood.com John Korenic, Director, Aviation Marketing Vancouver Airport Authority PO Box 23750 APO, Richmond, BC V7B 1Y7 p: 604-276-6008 e: janice_murray@yvr.ca

John Murray, Managing Director Economic Growth Solutions Inc. 5377 Monte Bre Court, West Vancouver, BC V7W 3B2 p: 604-913-1170 e: jmurray@economicgrowthsolutions.com Paul Murrin, Managing Partner Wedler Engineering 201-9300 Nowell Street, Chilliwack, BC V2P 4V7 p: 604-792-0651 e: pmurrin@wedler.com Brad Nakagawa, Sales Manager Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel 7551 Westminster Highway, Richmond, BC V6X 1A3 p: 604-223-3950 e: brad.nakagawa@sheratonvancouverairport.com Steve Nicol, Consulting Director Lions Gate Consulting Inc. #207-2902 Broadway, Vancouver, BC V6K 2G8 p: 604-733-5622 e: steve@lgc-inc.com Trudy Parsons, Director, Workforce Development Millier Dickinson Blais 589 Barton St. Suite 203, Stoney Creek, ON L8E 6E4 p: 855-367-3535 Ext237 e: tparsons@millierdickinsonblais.com

Warren Weir, Economic Development Commission Board Member Cowichan Region Economic Development Commission 135 Third Street, Duncan, BC V9L 1R9 p: 250-746-7880 e: Warren.Weir@viu.ca

Zoran Kovacevic, CEO Amoveo Group Ltd. 601-15-1 Haro Street, Vancouver, BC V6G 1G4 p: 778-938-2010 e: zkovacevic@amoveogroup.com

Allison Powell, Customer Engagement & Communications Spacelist Vancouver, BC p: 604-872-8770 e: allison@spacelist.ca

Clint Williams, Chief Sliammon First Nation 6686 Sliammon Rd, Powell River, BC V8A 0B8 p: 604-483-9646 e: clint.williams@sliammon.bc.ca

Mackenzie Kyle, Partner Meyers Norris Penny LLP 2300-1055 Dunsmuir Street, Vancouver, BC V7X 1J1 p: 604-685-8408 e: mackenzie.kyle@mnp.ca

Catherine Proulx, Managing Director Twist Marketing #215 - 1235 26th Avenue SE, Calgary, AB T2G 1R7 p: 403-242-4600 e: cathy@twistmarketing.com

Jay Yule, President Powell River Regional Economic Development Society 4760 Joyce Avenue, Powell River, BC V8A 3B6 p: 604-485-0325 e: jyule@sd47.bc.ca

Les Lawther, President Cheakamus Consulting Inc. Unit #51 - 1275 Mount Fee Road, Whistler, BC V0N 1B1 p: 604-935-2669 e: leslawther@gmail.com

Ray Proulx, Community and Aboriginal Affairs Coordinator Teck Coal Ltd. P.O. Box 1500, Tumbler Ridge, BC V0C 2W0 p: 250-242-6335 e: ray.proulx@teck.com

Doug Little, Vice President of Economic and Business Development BC Hydro 333 Dunsmuir Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 5R3 p: 604-699-7373 e: doug.little@bchydro.com

Chris Steele, Consultant Investment Consulting Associates 1005 Boylston St. # 243 , Newton Highlands, MA 02461 p: 617-314-6527 e: chris@ic-associates.com

Keith Britz, Partner Meyers Norris Penny LLP 45780 Yale Road, Suite #1, Chilliwack, BC V2P 2N4 p: 604-792-1915 e: keith.britz@mnp.ca

Terri MacDonald, Regional Innovation Chair in Rural Economic Development Selkirk College Rural Development Institute 301 Frank Beinder Way, Castlegar, BC V0G 2J0 p: 250-365-1434 e: tmacdonald@selkirk.ca

Randy Sunderman, President Peak Solutions Consulting 666 Braemar Drive, Kamloops, BC V1S 1H9 p: 250-314-1842 e: rsunman@telus.net

Victor Cumming, Regional Economist Westcoast CED Consulting Ltd 7816 Okanagan Landing Road, Vernon, BC V1H 1H2 p: 250-260-4484 e: wcced@shawbiz.ca

Ian MacPherson, Consultant Ian MacPherson 10588 - 159 Street, Surrey, BC V4N 3J4 p: 604-582-9448 e: heathian@telus.net

Joe DiLiello, District Manager Thyssenkrupp Materials CA 19044 95A Avenue, Surrey, BC V4N 4P2 p: 604-882-3493 e: joe.diliello@thyssenkrupp.com

Patrick Nelson Marshall, Consulting Economic Developer Capital EDC Economic Development Company 4341 Shelbourne Street, Victoria, BC V8N 3G4 p: 250-595-8676 e: patrick.marshall@capitaledc.com

CORPORATE Maynard Angus, Manager, Community Relations Prince Rupert Port Authority 200 - 215 Cow Bay Road, Prince Rupert, BC V8J 1A2 p: 250-627-2521 e: mangus@rupertport.com

Courtenay Ellingson, Senior Consultant Millier Dickinson Blais 405, 1100-8 ave S.W., Calgary, AB T2P 3T8 p: 855 367 3535 Ext261 e: cellingson@millierdickinsonblais.com Bruce Flexman, President Advantage BC 1170 - 666 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6C 2X8 p: 604-683-6627 e: bflexman@advantagebc.ca

David McCormick, Manager of Property and Community Relations Port Alberni Port Authority 2750 Harbour Road, Port Alberni, BC V9Y 7X2 p: 250-723-5312 e: dmccormick.papa@portalberni.ca Melissa Mills, Founder/Consultant Taken4Granted 1010 Sabine Rd, Parksville, BC V9P 1S1 p: 250-741-6207 e: t4gbiz@gmail.com

Jamie Vann Struth, Principal Van-Struth Consulting Group 2395 Lakewood Drive, Vancouver, BC V5N 4T8 p: 604-762-6901 e: jamie@vannstruth.com Ken Veldman, Director, Public Affairs Prince Rupert Port Authority 200-215 Cow Bay Road, Prince Rupert, BC V8J 1A2 p: 250-627-2526 e: pcorp@rupertport.com Laith Wardi, President and CEO ExecutivePulse Inc. 11 East 4th Street, Erie, Pennsylvania 16507 p: 866-397-8573 ext 2 e: lwardi@e-pulse.net

GOV’T/INDUSTRY Soo-Kyung Ahn, Senior Manager - Korea Ministry of International Trade # 288 - 800 Hornby Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2C5 p: 604-660-5916 e: sookyung.ahn@gov.bc.ca

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BC Economic Development Association

Jim Anholt, Senior Manager, Europe Ministry of International Trade BC Trade and Investment Office #730, 999 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC V6C 3E1 p: 604-775-2275 e: jim.anholt@gov.bc.ca Robert Arthurs, Senior Manager Ministry of International Trade Suite 730-999 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC V6C 3E1 p: 604-660-3358 e: robert.arthurs@gov.bc.ca Harbs Bains, Senior Manager Ministry of International Trade Suite 730-999 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC V6C 3E1 p: 604-660-2241 e: harbs.bains@gov.bc.ca David Baleshta, Portfolio Manager Investment Capital Branch PO Box 9800, Stn Prov Govt, Victoria, BC V8W 9W1 p: 250-952-0614 e: David.Baleshta@gov.bc.ca Karen Borden, Executive Coordinator Northern Development Initiative Trust 301 - 1268 Fifth Avenue, Prince George, BC V2L 3L2 p: 250-561-2525 e: karen@northerndevelopment.bc.ca Rick Braam, Regional Manager Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training Bag 5000, 1020 Murray St, Smithers, BC V0J 2N0 p: 250-847-7797 e: rick.braam@gov.bc.ca Ashleigh Brewer, Director of Membership Initiatives BC Economic Development Association #102 - 9300 Nowell Street, Chilliwack, BC V2P 4V7 p: 604-795-7119 e: ashleigh@bceda.ca Diana Brooks, Regional Manager Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training 101 - 100 Cranbrook Street North, Cranbrook, BC V1C 3P9 p: 250-426-1301 e: diana.brooks@gov.bc.ca Myles Bruns, Regional Manager Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training Suite 250 - 455 Columbia Street, Kamloops, BC V2C 6K4 p: 250-371-3931 e: myles.bruns@gov.bc.ca Klaus Buttner, Executive Director, International Market Development Ministry of International Trade # 288 - 800 Hornby Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2C5 p: 604 660-3549 e: klaus.buttner@gov.bc.ca Darby Cameron, Policy & Program Management Analyst Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training P.O. Box 9853 Stn Prov Govt, Victoria, BC V8W 9N7 p: 250-953-4258 e: darby.cameron@gov.bc.ca Janet Cho, Manager - North China Ministry of International Trade # 288 - 800 Hornby Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2C5 p: 604-660-5919 e: janet.cho@gov.bc.ca Tamara Danshin, Regional Manager Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training Room 120A, 10600 - 100th Street, Fort St John, BC V1J 4L6 p: 250-787-3351 e: tamara.danshin@gov.bc.ca Carrie Dusterhoft, Manager Aboriginal & Community Relations Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training Box 9837 Stn Prov Govt, Victoria, BC V8W 9T1 p: 250-356-0728 e: carrie.dusterhoft@gov.bc.ca Greg Eidsness, Manager- China Ministry of International Trade # 288 - 800 Hornby Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2C5 p: 604-660-5910 e: greg.eidsness@gov.bc.ca

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Lisa Erven, Manager Planning & Development Columbia Basin Trust Suite 300 - 445 13th Avenue, Castlegar, BC V1N 1G1 p: 250-304-1636 e: lerven@cbt.org

Paul Irwin, Senior Director - North Asia Division Ministry of International Trade # 288 - 800 Hornby Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2C5 p: 604-660-5906 e: paul.irwin@gov.bc.ca

Katie Ralph, Regional Economic Policy & Projects Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training P.O. Box 9853 Stn Prov Govt, Victoria, BC V8W 9N7 p: 250-952-0614 e: Katie.Ralph@gov.bc.ca

Jeff Finkle, President & CEO International Economic Development Association 734 15th Street NW / Suite 900, Washington, DC 20005 p: 202-223-7800 e: jfinkle@iedconline.org

Charles Joyner, Registrar Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of BC 10767-148th Street, Surrey, BC V3R 0S4 p: 604-585-2788 e: cjoyner@asttbc.org

Dale Richardson, Regional Manager - Northwest Region Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training Ste 220 - 132 West 1st Avenue, Prince Rupert, BC V8J 1A8 p: 250-624-7499 e: dale.richardson@gov.bc.ca

Ted Fischer, Program Coordinator - Community Relations Intl Council of Shopping Centers 555 12th Street, NW, Suite 660, Washington, DC 20004 p: 202-626-1408 e: tfischer@icsc.org Hugh Flinton, Pine Beetle Epidemic Response Branch - Director, Williams Lake Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training p: 250-398-4224 e: hugh.flinton@gov.bc.ca Sarah Fraser, Executive Director, Community Partnerships Branch Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training 2nd Floor, 800 Johnson Street, Victoria, BC V8W 9N7 p: 250-387-0220 e: sarah.fraser@gov.bc.ca Penny Gardiner, Executive Director Economic Developers Association of Canada Suite 200, #7 Inovation Drive, Flamborough, ON L9H 7H9 p: 905-689-8771 e: gardiner@edac.ca Brenda Gendron, Chief Financial Officer Northern Development Initiative Trust 301- 1268 Fifth Ave, Prince George, BC V2L 3L2 p: 250-561-2525 e: brenda@northerndevelopment.bc.ca Christopher Gilmore, Executive Director, Industrial & Land Initiatives Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training P.O. Box 9846 Stn Prov Govt, Victoria, BC V8W 9T2 p: 250-356-7578 e: christopher.gilmore@gov.bc.ca Greg Goodwin, Executive Director, Regional Economic Policy & Projects Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training 4/F, 800 Johnson St., PO Box 9853, Victoria, BC V8W 9T5 p: 250-953-3008 e: greg.goodwin@gov.bc.ca Brodie Guy, Director, Economic Development Coast Opportunity Funds 1455 - 409 Granville St, Vancouver, BC V6C 1T2 p: 604-684-0223 e: brodie@coastalfunds.ca Leann Hackman-Carty, Executive Director Economic Developers Alberta Suite 127, #406 917-85th Street, SW, Calgary, AB T3H 3Z9 p: 403-214-0224 e: leann@edaalberta.ca Henry Han, Director - Business Development Initiatives Ministry of International Trade 730-999 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC V6C 3E1 p: 604-660-5888 e: henry.han@gov.bc.ca Lori Henderson, Regional Director Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training 2nd Floor, 800 Johnson Street, Victoria, BC V8W 9N7 p: 250-356-7828 e: lori.henderson@gov.bc.ca Jordan Howard, Regional Economic Projects Coordinator BC Economic Development Association #102 - 9300 Nowell Street, Chilliwack, BC V2P 4V7 p: 604-795-7119 e: jordan@bceda.ca Marc Imus, Pine Beetle Epidemic Response Branch - Director, Economic Development Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training p: 250-371-3741 e: marc.imus@gov.bc.ca

Jason Jung, Manager, Member and Program Development Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of BC 10767-148th Street, Surrey, BC V3R 0S4 p: 604-585-2788 e: jjung@asttbc.org Arlene Keis, Chief Executive Officer GO2 - The Resource for People in Tourism 450-505 Burrard Street, PO Box 59, Vancouver, BC V7X 1M3 p: 604-633-9787 e: akeis@go2hr.ca Brian Krieger, Director, Business Services & Olympic Legacy Ministry of International Trade Suite 730-999 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC V6C 3E1 p: 604-660-3358 e: brian.krieger@gov.bc.ca Heather Lalonde, Executive Director Economic Developers Council of Ontario Inc. Box 8030, Cornwall, ON K6H 7H9 p: 613-931-9827 e: edco@edco.on.ca Karen Lam, Senior Manager, Americas Ministry of International Trade 730-999 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC V6C 3E1 p: 604-775-2188 e: karen.lam@gov.bc.ca Jeanette Lam, Senior Information Officer Ministry of International Trade 3585 Gravely Officer, Vancouver, BC V5K 5J5 p: 604-660-1691 e: jeanette.lam@gov.bc.ca John Leech, Executive Director Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of BC 10767-148th Street, Surrey, BC V3R 0S4 p: 604-585-2788 e: jleech@asttbc.org Tavis McDonald, Regional Economic Development Manager Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training 2nd Floor, 800 Johnson Street, Victoria, BC V8W 9N7 p: 250-638-6523 e: tavis.mcdonald@gov.bc.ca Dean McKinley, Director, Economic Development Northen Development Initiative Trust 301 - 1268 Fifth Avenue, Prince George, BC V2L 3L2 p: 250-561-2525 e: dean@northerndevelopment.bc.ca Mark Morrissey, Executive Director Nunavut Economic Developers Association PO Box 1990, Iqaluit, NU X0A 0H0 p: 867-979-4620 e: exdir@nunavuteda.com Michael Nicholas, Director, India & South East Asia Ministry of International Trade 730-999 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC V6C 3E1 p: 604-775-2144 e: michael.nicholas@gov.bc.ca Helen Patterson, Accounting and Economic Development Officer Southern Interior Development Initiative Trust 103-2802, 30th Street , Vernon, BC V1T 8G7 p: 250-545-6829 e: support@sidit-bc.ca Luby Pow, Chief Executive Officer Southern Interior Development Initiative Trust 103-2802, 30th Street , Vernon, BC V1T 8G7 p: 250-545-6829 e: ceo@sidit-bc.ca Renata Pylypiv King, Director, Business Development Northern Development Initiative Trust 301 - 1268 Fifth Avenue, Prince George, BC V2L 3L2 p: 250-561-2525 e: renata@northerndevelopment.bc.ca

Irina Richardson, Senior Information Officer Ministry of International Trade BC Trade and Investment Office 730, 999 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC V6C 3E1 p: 604-660-3355 e: irina.richardson@gov.bc.ca Line Robert, Chief Executive Officer Island Coastal Economic Trust 201A 2435 Mansfield Drive, Courtenay, BC V9N 2M2 p: 250-871-7797 EXT 227 e: line.robert@islandcoastaltrust.ca Richard Sawchuk, Senior Manager, Americas Ministry of International Trade 730-999 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC V6C 3E1 p: 604-775-0030 e: richard.sawchuck@gov.bc.ca Amy Schneider, Director, Strategic Initiatives and Analysis Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training PO Box 9853 Stn Prov Govt, Victoria, BC V8W 9T5 p: 250-356-0784 e: amy.schneider@gov.bc.ca Jianye (Jason) Si, Senior Manager - East China Ministry of International Trade # 288 - 800 Hornby Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2C5 p: 604-660-5911 e: jianye.si@gov.bc.ca Verona Thibault, Executive Director Saskatchewan Economic Devlopment Association Box 113, Saskatoon, SK S7K 3K1 p: 306-384-5817 e: seda@seda.sk.ca Josh Thompson, Policy & Program Analyst Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training PO Box 9853 Stn Prov Govt, Victoria, BC V8W 9T5 p: 250-952-0150 e: josh.thompson@gov.bc.ca Leslie Wada, Senior Manager, Japan Ministry of International Trade BC Trade and Investment Office 730, 999 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC V6C 3E1 p: 604-775-2201 e: Leslie.Wada@gov.bc.ca Dale Wheeldon, President & Chief Executive Officer BC Economic Development Association #102 - 9300 Nowell Street, Chilliwack, BC V2P 4V7 p: 604-795-7119 e: dwheeldon@bceda.ca Raymond Zhu, Senior Manager - South China Ministry of International Trade # 288 - 800 Hornby Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2C5 p: 604-660-5910 e: raymond.zhu@gov.bc.ca

HONOURARY MEMBERS Valerie Anne Caskey, Retired Honourary Member p: 604-530-8469 e: valerietoo@shaw.ca Peter Monteith, Chief Administrative Officer City of Chilliwack 8550 Young Road, Chilliwack, BC V2P 8A4 p: 604-793-2966 e: monteith@chilliwack.com

ALBERTA Dan Dibbelt, Executive Director Northwest Corridor Development Corporation PO Box 1414, Grande Prairie, AB V8V 0L4 p: 780-527-6232 e: dandibbelt@nwcorridor.com Sandra Lemmon 315 Sierra Morena Green S.W., Calgary, AB T3H 3H8 p: 587-899-6470 e: sandra.lemmon@shaw.ca

2/7/14 11:47:51 AM

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