Tech Island – The best climate for growing your ideas.
About Campbell River
One of the most beautiful and affordable coastal communities on Vancouver Island, Campbell River is centrally located on Vancouver Island’s east coast and is less than one hour by plane to Vancouver and a 90-minute drive to Nanaimo.
The City of Campbell River is the economic hub of the Strathcona Regional District. Our neighbours include Quadra, Cortes and the Discovery Islands, Oyster River, Black Creek Sayward, Gold River, Zaballos, Tahsis, Nootka Sound and Kyuquot Sound. The City is the gateway to several landmarks, including Strathcona Provincial Park, Elk Falls Provincial Park and the Ripple Rock Trail.
Our coastal location offers a variety of marine transport options and access to both commercial and recreational marinas. The BC Ferry terminal provides transport to Quadra and Cortes Islands, while several helicopter and floatplane operators offer harbour-to-harbour trips to several urban and remote communities.
Over the last few years, Campbell River has seen a large increase in employment in future-forward industries and in the number of businesses offering services such as advanced manufacturing and research and development. The City encourages entrepreneurial growth from a variety of sectors including film, audio engineering, web development and digital development.
By taking steps such as building a municipally-owned fibre-optic broadband network, creating opportunities through Techatchery and the NexStream Tech Competition with support from local angel investor groups, and by hosting networking and professional development events, the City’s accessibility to the tech sector is poised to see rapid and exceptional growth.
Campbell River has grown and prospered thanks to the natural abundance of this region. Many resource-based industries, mainly mining, fishing and logging make up Campbell River’s historical and present economy. While these sectors are still strong economic drivers, the growth and development of Campbell River’s industry profile are staggering. Tourism and technology, in particular, have come to play a major role in the local economy, encouraged with investments by the municipal government and the business community. By embracing innovation and developing strong community relationships, the Campbell River economy will continue to diversify and grow.
Campbell River Coworking offers an affordable, modern space in a productive and collaborative environment for professionals to rent office space monthly and hourly.
ASAP Avionics Services Ltd is primarily engaged in manufacturing search, detection, navigation, guidance, aeronautical, and nautical systems and instruments. Important products of this industry are radar systems and equipment; sonar systems and equipment; navigation systems and equipment; countermeasures equipment; aircraft and missile control systems and equipment; flight and navigation sensors, transmitters, and displays; gyroscopes; airframe equipment instruments; and speed, pitch, and roll navigational instruments and systems.
Established in 2014, SuavAir Aerial Imaging uses drone technology to provide aerial imagery for data-driven results that are more accurate, safe, and affordable than traditional industrial processes. They specialize in gravel and mining volumetrics, environmental mapping and monitoring, forestry surveying, and hotspot scanning for BC Wildfire using thermal cameras on the drones.
SPR York, in Campbell River, is the Engineering and Manufacturing center for Superior. With 10 locations across the US and Canada, Superior sells and rents specialty tools and equipment for the Oil and Gas, Mining, Heavy Construction, Shipbuilding, Aerospace, Defense, and Power Generation industries. We offer a line of portable ID/OD flange facers, linear/gantry and rotary mills, end prep bevelers, isolation and weld test plugs, auto bore welders, and line boring machines, and we provide custom engineered equipment and tools for specific applications. SPR also provides custom and standard tool bits, as well as precision grinding.
At G2CNC, they interface with advanced technology to assist our clients to prototype new product ideas and make precision parts. They offer capabilities from small-scale manufacturing, up to thousands of parts with industrial robotic machine tending. They offer a unique prototype and production shop experience where the customer is integral in all stages. They value creativity and collaboration in our advanced manufacturing space. In the coming months G2 will be launching a line of high performance sailing hardware, designed and manufactured in their facility in Campbell River.
For aquaculture organizations worldwide needing solutions built for their unique and challenging requirements, Poseidon Ocean Systems collaboratively and creatively develops environmentally sound reliable solutions that increase yields and reduce the costs of operations.
Variety of professional sound editing services including audio post production for TV, film, web, documentaries and video games, as well as custom sound design, dialogue editing, re-recording mixing and voiceover services. Clients and projects have ranged from International such as Primal Game Studio in Budapest, Hungary to National level companies and projects such as APTN, Netflix, Telus, NBC and CBC, to local organizations such as Descriptive Video Works editing and mixing Audio Description for major TV and streaming networks, Vancouver Coastal Health, BC Hydro, Tremain Media and Tourism Campbell River.
Campbell River has positioned itself as a technologically accessible community through investments such as CRadvantage, Vancouver Island’s only municipal broadband network for affordable, high-speed internet access. Visit CRadvantage for more information.
Investing in a Business
Campbell River is a growing vibrant community with abundant investment opportunities. Visit Venture Connected for more information.
The NexStream Tech Challenges aim to strengthening Campbell River’s economy and technological advancements. Contest awards range from $45K-$75K and the process is designed to be supportive with opportunities for mentorship and skill development. Visit NexStream for more information.
Land Purchase
For more information, please contact Rose Klukas, Economic Development Officer:
Campbell River is the third largest urban centre on Vancouver Island and offers many modern comforts, seaside restaurants, charming hotels, and many retail shopping centres. In Campbell River and area, there are approximately 141 kms of trail a number of beaches and parks, golf courses, camping and RV parks and biking trails. Come and experience a place where work life balance is not only attainable – it’s part of the package.
The City offers many amenities found in large cities, with the character and benefits of a small community:
Fitness studios and sports fields are located throughout the community, as well as hundreds of easily accessible public walking, hiking and biking trails.
A vibrant arts and culture scene supports filmmakers, community theatres, musicians, authors and artists of all kinds.
The large public library services the entire North Island, and a transit network ensures that all of these services are accessible to everybody.
North Island College, Discovery College and 10 other quality post-secondary institutions within 300 kms.
Local School District 72 = two high schools, two middle schools and 13 elementary schools, working with families to provide high-quality education that encourages a lifetime love of learning.
Several marinas provide port access to vessels and services including boat moorage, marine fuel, power, water, washrooms, showers, laundry facilities and parking. Warehousing and equipment repair and berthage for fishing vessels is also available.
Campbell River was proud to open the doors of the new North Island Hospital facility in September 2017. Serving Campbell River and the North Island, state-of-the-art facility offers a diverse array of health services, from intensive care to surgery to maternity and cancer care. Several family practices and clinics exist throughout the community, so finding a family doctor is rarely difficult. The healthy, outdoor lifestyle in Campbell River attracts qualified doctors from around the world, who choose to live in a community where they can achieve true work-life balance.