Vancouver Island & Coast, British Columbia

Situated on the West Coast of Canada, Vancouver Island sits as gateway to Asia, the U.S. Pacific Northwest Region and offers plenty of investment opportunities. Vancouver Island provides an affordable and high-quality of life for individuals as well as a strategic location for sustainable and green businesses. With three international airports, four deep seaports, plenty of competitively priced land and properties. The Vancouver Island region is a strategic hub for trade, shipping and logistics. 

Key industries that provide opportunities in this region include aerospace, agrifood, forestry, tourism, and the services industry.

Victoria harbor and parliament.
Victoria, BC Parliament Buildings and the Downtown

Regional Advantages

Father holding his two daughters hands.
TOP 10 MOST LIVABLE CITIES IN 2019

A combination of temperate climate, global access, business opportunities, welcoming culture, and access to nature provide a world-class quality of life.

Half-crescent shaped, glass building.
SONGHEES INNOVATION CENTRE

A co-working space for Indigenous entrepreneurs, freelancers, creatives, innovators, and problem-solvers based in the Songhees Wellness Centre.

Solar Panel up close with sunset.
CANADA’S TOP TEN GREENEST CITIES

An environmentally conscious and sustainable economy is a key advantage in recruiting and retaining top talent.

River running into ocean on Vancouver Island.
SALMON CAPITAL OF THE WORLD

Strategically located along the Strait of Georgia’s Inner passage, Campbell River boasts a reputation for one of the top salmon fishing destinations in the world for more than a century.

Key Sectors

Investment Opportunities in Canada: Food & Beverages
Agrifood, Seafood
& Beverage
Investment Opportunities in Canada: Aircraft & Spacecraft Parts
Aerospace
About BC Infographic - Renewable Resources
Clean Energy
Investment Opportunities in Canada: Digital Media
Digital Media & Entertainment
Investment Opportunities in Canada: Wood Products
Forestry
Investment Opportunities in Canada: Communications
ICT
About BC Infographic - Key Market - miscellaneous chemical products
Life Sciences
Investment Opportunities in Canada: Marine
Marine
Investment Opportunities in Canada: Wood Products
Mass Timber
Investment Opportunities in Canada: Renewable Energy
Clean Tech
Investment Opportunities in Canada: Agri Tech
Agri Tech
Investment Opportunities in Canada: Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence

COMMUNITIES

Vancouver Island and Coasts holds the second largest population in the province with over 881,700 residents. Key cities in this region include Victoria and Nanaimo on southern Vancouver Island, Campbell River and Courtenay on northern Vancouver Island, and Powell River on the Sunshine Coast. This region has a combination of urban and rural areas and an economy that reflects this diversity.

Discover more facts and statistics about this region:

Regional Economic Profile

Economic Development Organizations

FIRST NATIONS

Services are the fastest growing sectors in the south. In the mid, north island and mainland coast, commercial fishing and logging continue to play a large role. First Nations communities in these regions are economically active in natural resource sectors, as well as in the tourism and ecotourism industries.

Development corporations— owned collectively by aligned First Nations or by individual First Nations— are the primary vehicles by which First Nations pursue and advocate for sustainable economic development in the region.

Economic Development Associations

Educational Institutions

Royal Roads University is an accredited, publicly funded, applied research university that has focused on lifelong education in the fields of leadership, business, environment, communication, tourism, hospitality, and social justice.

An internationally renowned teaching and research hub, the University of Victoria (UVic) tackles essential issues that matter to our world and our communities, improving lives and making a vital impact across the globe.

With its main campus located in Nanaimo, Vancouver Island University (VIU) offers programs in business and management, computer and information systems, recreation, tourism, hospitality, and service, as well as many other areas of study.

Offers university transfer and applied degree programs, career, and trades training, upgrading and preparatory programs and continuing education.

North Island College is a comprehensive community college, serving more than 9,000 students annually at four campuses, a learning centre, and through online and in-community learning.

Connect With A Regional Expert

Regional experts can help familiarize you with the amenities, infrastructure, and opportunities in each region. They can introduce you to the economic development offices and industry associations that will support the integration of your business into the province.