Investing in BC's Vancouver Island and Coast Region

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Overview

The Vancouver Island/Coast economic region is located on the west coast of B.C. and includes all of Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and some of the coastal regions of the Mainland. This region is known for its temperate climate, unspoiled wilderness and beautiful coastlines.

In this very diverse area, you will find mountains, beaches, ancient rainforests and agricultural farmland. Boating, kayaking, hiking and wildlife viewing are very popular, and the region is home to many artists, festivals and cultural events.

Vancouver Island/Coast includes the city of Victoria, which is the capital of British Columbia and the oldest city in Western Canada. It also includes several medium-sized cities and many smaller ocean-side communities.

The service sector plays a major role in the region's economy. Many people have jobs in health care, public administration, and accommodation and tourism. Other important industries include logging and fishing.

The B.C. government forecasts an annual employment growth rate of 0.8 percent in this region to 2022. It is expected that there will be 147,200 job openings over the 10-year period. The top employment growth industry is Health and Social Services.

Map

Community Size: 122,217.29 km²

The BC Economic Atlas provides an intuitive way to gain a better understanding of B.C.’s vibrant economy and diverse communities by making information available from thousands of data sources through the use of interactive maps. This information can be used for opportunity identification and business case analysis by site selectors and corporate investors.

Statistics Navigator

View facts and figures about BC’s Vancouver Island and Coast region to help inform your investment research. Click the title to expand and display the statistics.

NOTE: Driving distances are measured using the road/ferry network starting with a key point in a community (e.g main office address).

 

Demographics

Leading Employers

Taxation

Payroll Costs

Labour Force

Research & Education

Transportation & Logistics

Utilities

Government

Communities Nearby

 

Business Opportunities

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in this Region
Recent opportunities in the area
Highly profitable long running restaurant is a business for sale in BC.
Business for Sale
Highly profitable long running restaurant

398 Bruce Ave, Nanaimo, BC
A once in a lifetime opportunity to purchase one of the biggest independent names in town. With sales over one million per year and near that for the past 15 years and great cash flow with impressive balance sheets this business is a must see. Successfully operated for over 27 years and now offered ... continue

Fairfield Village is a commercial real estate opportunity in BC.
Sites & Buildings
Fairfield Village

1564 Fairfield Rd, Victoria, BC, V8S 1G1
Fantastic opportunity to lease a commercial retail unit, that rarely comes available for lease, in one of Victoria’s most popular grocery anchored, neighbourhood shopping centre’s called Fairfield Plaza. Fairfield Plaza is anchored by the popular Thrifty Foods grocery store, as well as many more cla... continue

Development Land - Vancouver Island 1000 homes+ is a business for sale in BC.
Business for Sale
Development Land - Vancouver Island 1000 homes+

Puntledge River Rd., Courtenay, BC
Construction/development 1000 + homes on 500 + acres@The Development project known as Riverwood,@ located ideally in the Comox Valley at Courtenay BC,@ short Drive to the Ocean, Mount Washington,@ the airport and easy access to the Inland Island Hwy. proposed for 1000 homes on over 500 acres... continue

Success Stories

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B.C. Cleantech Company Drives Fuel Efficiency in Trucking Industry

Sidney, B.C.-based Empire Hydrogen Energy Systems Inc. is sparking interest and sales in North American trucking fleets. The company’s innovative new fuel enhancement system allows large diesel engines to burn fuel 10-25% more efficiently.   The system consists of a small box of... continue

 
 
TREK Wildland Services brings fire control expertise to Indonesia

British Columbia’s expertise in managing forest fires has led a B.C. company to win a contract to train workers in fire-plagued parts of Indonesia. TREK Wildland Services has trained 400 Indonesians in Sumatra and East Kalimantan to fight out-of-control forest fires using the Incident... continue

 
 
British Columbia Fish Processor Lands Multiple Deals from Seafood Expo

Hub City Fisheries, of Nanaimo, British Columbia, netted big rewards after attending the Seafood Expo North America event in the spring of 2014.  In the months following the show, the Vancouver Island-based value-added fish processor finalized several deals to supply fish destined for the U... continue