Saanich has never had an economic development function as council has generally taken a regional approach. Saanich is a founding member of SIPP which is consistent with the regional approach. The municipal strategic plan now recognizes that a more local approach needs to be taken to economic development and a strategy is to be developed.

The economy of the region is based on the public sector and incubation of new businesses through the Vancouver Island Technology Park (VITP) operated by the University of Victoria. Business attraction has been mainly reactive as there has been no strategy.

The municipality is well served by infrastructure and expansion of the tax base has allowed a program of infrastructure renewal to keep everything in good working order. Recent weather events have shown the infrastructure can hold up as Saanich did not have any catastrophic events related to infrastructure.

The city has clusters in healthcare services, post-secondary education, the technology park and an industrial cluster at Vanalman. Going forward the municipality will look to attract businesses related to the COAST initiative, film studios and production as well as expansion of the technology park cluster.

The main campus of the University of Victoria (UVIC) is located in Saanich and Oak Bay and the VITP, owned and operated by UVIC, is located in Saanich. The university is focused on building the talent base regionally and for the island. UVIC is developing expertise in innovation for oceans, extended reality and virtual reality and looking to build cluster around those areas. Under the new president there is a renewed emphasis on community engagement and connecting locally.

As an incubator, UVIC has investment opportunities in a number of start ups and for later stage development of a variety of technologies, particularly in wave energy.

The City of Colwood revised their economic development plan two years ago and adopted a Covid recovery plan. The focus of the economic development component of the plan is mobility, prosperity and vibrance. Colwood is well served for transportation, power, water and connectivity. Road infrastructure is a concern as expansion of the road network has not kept pace with population growth. Going forward the city is placing more emphasis on active transportation.

The local economy is based around knowledge workers, construction and finance and insurance. The economic development strategy is to attract more of these types of businesses along with knowledge workers in professional, scientific and technical services along with information and communication technology. Colwood is trying to develop a cluster around the construction industry and the businesses that support it as the city estimates there are 800-1,000 such businesses already in the community.

Colwood is home to Royal Roads University (RRU) and offers programs to support both the public and private sector. The university helps provide a pool of highly skilled workers to the region and beyond. Research programs at look to make positive contributions to the local, national and international communities and strive to make the research accessible.

Lantzville is a small community just north of the City of Nanaimo. The town has a small industrial area on the Island Highway that serves as the main economic activity. The district is looking at expanding the light industrial footprint and is working on rezoning another piece of land to allow for industrial use. There is also a vacant lumber yard in the village corridor that could be developed.

Lantzville has a contract with the City of Nanaimo for water and has good sewer capacity and is well served for power and connectivity. The community has good road access into Nanaimo and to the rest o the island from the Island Highway. The proximity to Nanaimo provides access to the Nanaimo airport and float plane service as well as the ferry terminals at Departure Bay and Duke Point. The district offers lower property tax rates compared to the other areas nearby, creating an incentive to locate in Lantzvlle.

The economic development strategy in Cumberland is still in development as having a dedicated economic development staff member is a relatively new function. The local economy is based around agriculture and tourism. The community is well served for power and connectivity infrastructure, but water is a concern.

Cumberland is in close proximity to Courtenay and Comox so residents have easy access to the Comox airport and marine transportation. The Inland Island highway provides good road connection to other parts of the island. The village does not own any land and is dependent on private land owners to make sites available for development. Bevan Industrial land is the majority of land available and is owned by Hancock Forest Management.

Cumberland is looking to continue to grow the nascent agrifood industry and a cluster is starting to grow on the Bevan land site. Cumberland is home to a world class mountain bike area and a wheel manufacturer recently located to the community. The village is looking to grow outdoor recreation and related services going forward.

The City of Langford is one of the fastest growing cities in Canada. With a young, motivated, hard-working and diverse population, Langford has stacked up some recent awards including Best Community in BC, and #18 in Canada by Maclean’s Magazine, proving it is a dynamic City worth considering for business investment. 

Whether contemplating the city’s more than 3,000 businesses, its population of 45,000 or its range of community settings from metropolitan to rural, Langford is the perfect choice for businesses and families. Langford is a city surrounded by nature, and this is what attracts some of the best talent in the country. Langford offers all of the shopping and professional services you need while also providing the opportunity to be shredding bike trails, hiking some of the most beautiful trails on the West Coast or relaxing on a paddle board between meetings—all of this is available within minutes of your front door.

Sointula means “place of harmony” in Finnish. This charming seaside town on sprawling Malcolm Island was established as a community in 1901 when a colony of Finnish settlers arrived with utopian dreams of building the perfect community. While that vision was derailed within a decade, there’s no question these visionaries chose the right place for a fresh air and salt water paradise on earth.

The Greater Victoria region is the capital of British Columbia. Nestled in West Coast natural beauty, its historic heritage buildings which house education, business, and other world class amenities are sure to charm.

Sooke, nestled in a sheltered harbour of Vancouver Island’s south-western tip, is a vibrant, relaxed and casual waterfront community with an abundance of arts and eco-tourism opportunities.

Port Renfrew’s seashore neighbourhoods spread out along the south side of Port San Juan Harbour. It is also an access point for the world-renowned West Coast Trail.

Just a 20 minute drive from downtown Victoria, Sidney is home to the Sidney / Anacortes (Washington, USA) Ferry Terminal and just minutes from the Victoria International Airport and Swartz Bay, BC Ferry Terminal 

Sidney boasts many attraction and amenities including a scenic 3.6 kilometre waterfront walkway, a historical museum, the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea Aquarium, enchanting street statues and murals, a 420 ft. Fishing Pier with a thriving marine life Artificial Reef, a vibrant downtown boutique shopping district, and much more. Sidney's waterfront location allows for many other water-related activities such as boating, sailing, kayaking, diving and fishing

The pedestrian-friendly downtown offers an excellent variety of stores, specialty shops and businesses providing unique products and personalized service. Sidney is Canada's only Booktown where you can enjoy many hours of browsing through new and used bookstores. Sidney’s restaurants offer a diverse assortment of excellent meals and cater to all tastes.

Victoria International Airport is located in North Saanich. The airport offers connections to Vancouver and Toronto as well as other destinations in BC and Alberta. The airport has 1,200 acres of land and is able to do its own zoning and permitting. The airport currently has sixty tenants and there is new development underway. The airport will be the site of a new Warehouse and distribution centre for Amazon and that is expected to attract additional business to the airport. The airport is a good option for light industrial development given land constraints in other parts of the region.

Cowichan Bay’s waterfront village features sail and fishing boats, piers, and wharves alongside floating homes. Once primarily devoted to farming, Cowichan Bay now also features several vineyards.

Lake Cowichan provides a gateway to some of the most spectacular camping, hiking, and fishing available on Vancouver Island.

Duncan’s urban centre lies at the heart of the Cowichan Region. With its collection of 80 totems, Duncan’s downtown is rich with heritage buildings and a large array of exquisite shops and restaurants.

The region’s largest island, Salt Spring Island lies nestled in the Strait of Georgia between mainland Vancouver and Vancouver Island. Renowned for its creativity, Salt Spring Island is one of North America’s best small arts towns.

Located between Victoria and Nanaimo, the municipality of North Cowichan offers a serene, easy-going lifestyle amidst magnificent forests, mountains, lakes, rivers, and ocean inlets.

Ladysmith features all of the warmth and charm of small town living - outdoor recreational opportunities, a renowned trail system, historic downtown area, and waterfront activities at pristine Transfer Beach.

Gabriola Island’s 4,000 inhabitants thrive in a mild climate that is ideal for enjoying 45 kilometres of shoreline. Clearly recreation is a common activity on Gabriola.

The City of Nanaimo serves as a service and distribution centre for the mid-island area of Vancouver Island. The city is well connected with transportation infrastructure with the Island Highway, two ferry terminals, a float plane terminal and an airport. The community has good power, water and connectivity utilities and a deep water port.

A new economic development strategy was recently developed and adopts the principles of donut economics, equity and raising everyone together with less of a focus on growth. The economic development strategy has a number of priorities that includes partnering with other stakeholders such as the port, university and First Nation. The city is looking to improve infrastructure and the downtown core and is offering a ten year tax break for projects in the downtown with a value of $500,000 or more.

The city currently has clusters centred around healthcare, logistics, education, manufacturing and clean technology (professional, scientific and technical services). In addition to growing the existing cluster the city would like to add advanced manufacturing and seafood processing clusters.

The airport has a considerable amount of land and has an updated land use plan centred around aviation services. At the roadside the airport is looking to develop services such as hotels and service stations while airside the focus is on cargo and fulfillment. The airport is planning to expand infrastructure to meet the planned growth. As a federal facility the airport can do its own zoning and approval which is generally very quick.

The Port of Nanaimo is undertaking a $100 milllion upgrade project at Duke Point for a small container terminal that will provide barging direct to Vancouver. The port is focused on improving shipping and cargo to have better capacity for bigger ships to help take pressure off Vancouver.

The main campus of Vancouver Island University (VIU) is located in Nanaimo. VIU is a relatively new university and its research programs are still developing. The main role of the university in economic development is attracting students and building a pool of skilled workers. VIU is developing an applied research program looking at seafood innovation and ocean research in addition to the biosphere at Mount Arrowsmith. These programs are still in their infancy and relying on grants.

Parksville only recently opened and economic development office and has a strategy the runs to 2023. Tourism and forestry are important drivers of the economy. The themes of the economic development strategy is business retention and attraction, attracting a younger workforce and improving transportation infrastructure (transit) to rural areas. There are decent assets to attract business to the community, but no large tracts of serviced land.

The Chamber of Commerce opened a fulfillment centre and is managing it, but would like to have capital invested in it and run as a business. Qualicum Beach has a project for a glue lam facility under the PNP program. The community would like to grow agriculture and value added wood manufacturing and create opportunities for aquaculture, possibly land based fin fish, and seaweed.

One of the oldest holiday destinations on BC’s coast, Qualicum Beach is a quaint and unique coastal community boasting natural recreation and a relaxed lifestyle.

Set against the open Pacific Ocean, coastal islands, inlets and rain forests, Ucluelet serves as a major tourist destination while also providing quality services and amenities for permanent residents.

Port Alberni is a small (25,000 population), friendly community located at the top of the Alberni Inlet. Forestry and marine related industries (ship repair and maintenance, fishing and shipping/towing) along with healthcare, indigenous administration and education are the major industries.

Port Alberni has a good port facility and good road access to the east side of the island. Port Alberni has a regional airport that is an important community asset supporting the forest industry, wildfire suppression, medical evacuation, and general aviation activities. The city recently acquired a 43 acre parcel of land on the waterfront that will serve as a hub for redevelopment in the downtown area over the coming years. There is also some land around the airport that could be used for industrial activity for companies related to aerospace and the Coulson Aviation business in aerial forest fire fighting.

Port Alberni is well served for utilities. The town is connected to the BC Hydro grid and has a good power supply. Municipal water and sewage systems are also good and able to accommodate growth in the community. There is also good internet connectivity in Port Alberni.

Going forward, Port Alberni is looking to expand the tech sector related to existing industries particularly in the blue economy and aerospace. The town is part of the TechIsland.io initiative to attract technology investment opportunities to some of the smaller communities on the island. Growing the seaweed and aquaculture sectors is also a priority along with adding processing capacity for both seafood and agriculture products.

The port plays a significant role in the economic development of Port Alberni. Along with the San Group the Port Authority is looking to redevelop Terminal 3 in a $30 million project. This will improve the ability to ship forest products for the San Group, The Port Authority is also partnering with Canadian Maritime Engineering to build a floating dry dock to improve capacity for ship building and repair. This is a $38 million project with opportunity for private investment.

Tofino is a tranquil community on the West Coast’s Esowista Peninsula. Ancient coastal temperate rain forests, stunning vistas, and kilometers of pristine sandy beaches draw over one million visitors a year.

The economic development strategy in Courtenay is developing as there are no longer regional priorities. The local economy is based around aerospace, agrifood, construction (and construction materials) and tourism. Development is managed to limit public cost. With no regional economic development function, Courtenay is working collectively with Comox and Cumberland in developing economic priorities. 

Courtenay is well served for power, water and connectivity utilities. Land is available, but mostly in private hands and there are not a lot of serviced sites zoned for commercial or industrial activity. The Inland Island Highway provides good road connection to other parts of Vancouver Island.

Going forward is looking to develop and aerospace cluster and is working with North Island College for programs to support that. Continued growth in services supporting industries in the valley particularly agrifood.

The town of Comox is located on the ocean immediately adjacent to Courtenay. The local economy is based around the public sector, marine industries, fishing, marine tourism and air services.

Comox is well served for power, water and connectivity infrastructure and is working with land owners around the airport to improve the availability of commercial and industrial land. The town has an international airport, a float plane terminal and a deep water harbour with a marina. The airport provides connections to Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary and some low cost carriers are looking to provide service to Comox.

Priorities to grow the local economy are based around existing industries attracting air transportation services, marine tourism businesses, hospitality services and expanding the number of knowledge workers in the professional, scientific and technical services sector.

Gold River, the gateway to Nootka Sound, is a jumping off point for wilderness adventures on central Vancouver Island and the Pacific Ocean.

Campbell River is the largest city in the SRD and third largest on the island. Forestry, aquaculture, fishing (sport and commercial) and tourism are the main industries in the local economy. 

Campbell River has good infrastructure for power, water and digital connectivity and offers CR Advantge, a subsidised high speed internet service, for businesses. The city is served by an airport that has good connections to Vancouver as well as the Inland Island Highway offering good road transport to the southern part of the island. There is a deep water port at the former Elk Falls mill site that is usable and the site itself is used as an industrial park.

The City of Campbell River is looking to grow its technology sector both within existing industries and new ones. Agritech, including vertical farming is an area of focus as part of a broader clean tech strategy. Campbell River is part of the TechIsland initiative to attract technology companies to mid and small size communities on Vancouver Island. Campbell River is looking to develop industry clusters for value added wood manufacturing, wave energy technology and clean tech.

Tahsis is a small village that is still dependent on forestry as the main industry in the area through Tree Farm License 19. Given the declines in forestry and expected change to regulation the village is looking to transition to more of service oriented economy based around tourism and outdoor recreation activity.

Tahsis is well served for utilities with power and water along with good cellular service. Fibre optic connectivity will be available in 2022 through the Connected Coast initiative. There is an old mill site in Tahsis that has potential for redevelopment once the contamination is dealt with. Given the small size of the community the focus is on attracting small businesses and the village does not require a business license for any form of home-based business.

Nestled among towering forest-cloaked mountains, Zeballos sits at the head of Zeballos Inlet, gateway to Nootka Sound, world-famous for salmon fishing and kayaking opportunities.

The Village of Sayward is a small community that has limited opportunities to grow due to natural features and the Agricultural Land Reserve. The main industries are forestry and tourism and a large log sort operates in the Village. The community is looking to retain the “small town” feel while looking to provide some additional services for residents

The Official Community Plan for the Sayward looks to partnerships to assist economic development in the community. Future investment is centred around tourism and the near term goal is to develop a waterfront strip on the water adjacent to the sort. Longer term the community would like to see the log sort redeveloped. Increasing density for housing to accommodate future growth is a goal of the OCP and to continue to keep housing affordable as Sayward has a high proportion of seniors. The Village is trying to develop a small cluster around the residential construction industry as there are five companies in the community.

The Village of Port Alice is a pretty, well-kept community, located on Neroutsos Inlet. This peaceful village attracts fresh-air enthusiasts craving crowd-free access to the great outdoors. Perched on a pretty hillside that provides everyone a “million Dollar View” of Neroutsos Inlet, this thriving community is the most southerly access point to Quatsino Sound, the spectacularly beautiful ocean inlet that cuts deep inland and gives kayakers, scuba divers and sports fishermen access to the open Pacific.

Formerly a mill town, this community is reinventing itself as a destination for outdoor recreation and tourism, while still being actively involved in forestry and other resource sectors. There is excellent commercial space available, and amazing opportunity for the redevelopment of the former mill property once remediation is complete.

The community has been working on the priorities identified in their economic development strategy, and has recently started the update of their OCP.

With a new 5G cellular tower now in place, and work underway for fibre optic internet through the connected coast project, the village is preparing itself well for the future.

The oldest community in North Vancouver Island, the Cormorant Island fishing community of Alert Bay was an important trading centre for early residents in the area, and has been the traditional home of the Namgis First Nation for several thousand years.

Coming Soon!

Port Hardy is located on the Kwakiutl people's traditional territory at the end of Highway 19 on the northern tip of Vancouver Island. Here is where the pavement ends, and the adventure begins! The gateway to world-class fishing, Cape Scott Provincial Park, the rugged North Coast Trail and transportation to the North Coast of BC, you can work live and play with endless opportunities. Getting here has never been easier with access to regular ferry service, a regional airport, and a seaplane base. 

The North Island is social, with multiple active service groups, including Rotary, Lions Club and Hardy Bay Seniors Society. You will find a way to stay connected.