Tech Island – The best climate for growing your ideas.
About Nanaimo
Nanaimo is located on the east side of Vancouver Island, off the southwest coast of British Columbia. The city is a 20-minute trip to downtown Vancouver by seaplane or helicopter, and a 90-minute drive to Victoria, the capital of British Columbia. Nanaimo is the second largest urban centre on Vancouver Island providing all the services and amenities of large metropolitan cities.
Nanaimo has a beautiful, protected natural waterfront that includes an active harbour, marina, seaport and airport. Nanaimo boasts nearly 100,000 residents and a highly skilled labour force that is supported by Vancouver Island University. In addition to its idyllic setting, Nanaimo enjoys a cost of living that is a quarter that of Metro Vancouver and considerably less than Victoria. Low costs of doing business, outstanding quality of life, and proximity to Canada’s largest technology hub- Vancouver-have meant that a growing number of businesses are choosing Nanaimo as their home.
Nanaimo has a diversified economic base of over 6,000 businesses operating in the community. The city is home to an estimated 350+ tech sector businesses.
A 2012 Economic Impact of the technology sector revealed this sector generated $204.1 million in revenues and had expenditures of $155.2 million. The Nanaimo Technology sector had a total employment impact of 2,730 jobs. The sector generated $19.7 million in taxes in 2012 ($6.9 million in provincial taxes, $1.4 million in local taxes and $11.3 million in federal taxes). For every $1 million in industry output, the tech sector in Nanaimo generates 14 jobs.
The Technology sector is a significant contributor to Nanaimo’s economy. Given the ubiquity of broadband access in the region, entrepreneurs who wish to start new business in the tech sector have greater opportunities than ever before to locate their businesses where they wish.
Nanaimo has tech businesses in the following subsectors: Cleantech, E-vehicles, waste management technology, agritech, ocean tech, environmental mapping, energy conservation, forest tech, IT services, software design, web design, graphic design, post production, streaming services, virtual reality, video gaming, e-commerce, micro imaging/health, hardware and manufacturing. Below is a sample of technology companies operating in Nanaimo.
VMAC is the leader in compressed air innovation, designing and manufacturing the most innovative mobile air compressors and multi-power systems available...
The industry leading designer and manufacturer of Multi-Mission Modular (IM3™) inspection systems for use in hazardous areas, confined spaces and underwater applications...
Seamor Marine is engaged in research, development and manufacturing of remote operated vehicles (ROVs), which are deployed in a wide array of applications...
Kintama Research Services is the world leader in the design, deployment and operation of large-scale and cost-effective underwater acoustic telemetry arrays...
In 2009, Cedar Road Bioenergy Inc. invested in building a landfill biogas utilization facility that cost effectively produces 1.3 MW of electric power per year...
DR Systems, Inc. is a leader in the development of land management software, providing tools to the forestry and agriculture industry to manage natural resources and improve sustainability of the land..
Launches beautifully crafted software products for top brands and startups. Input logic was founded in 2011 and has enjoyed tremendous growth over the years...
GRT is an environmental operating company focused on the beneficial reuse of excess soils. Its Resource Regeneration Facility at Duke Point, Nanaimo produces clean aggregate and diverts waste from landfills.
Nanaimo is the fifth largest urban centre in British Columbia. Nestled between the mountains and the ocean offering an enviable lifestyle and first-rate infrastructure with all the urban amenities. Nanaimo is a classic West Coast community offering natural beauty at every turn, and vast recreation potential.
Nanaimo boasts over 200 parks, 63 playgrounds, four public beaches, 20 picnic areas, three pools, four indoor ice rinks and three golf courses. Residents can enjoy a leisurely stroll along the waterfront sea wall, or a vigorous hike up Mount Benson. The City of Nanaimo’s Parks and Recreation Department provides a comprehensive year-round program of activities for residents of all ages and interests.
Newcastle Island (Saysutshun) is a charming provincial park just off the shores of downtown Nanaimo. It is a popular summertime picnic and camping area. Buttertubs Marsh, in the heart of the city, is a wonderful place to view waterfowl and learn about our delicate ecosystem. Neck Point Park is a 14.5 hectare oceanfront park known for its views and natural features. The park has a vast trail system of varying lengths and difficulty and offers a number of amenities including picnic areas, viewpoints and lookouts. The Linley Valley Park is a 182.2ha (450.23 acres) undeveloped park recently acquired by the City of Nanaimo. The Linley Valley contains many old growth trees, open meadows and wetlands. Residents enjoy the informal walking trails, the beautiful scenery and the abundance of wildlife.
Outdoor adventures include paddling, hiking, biking, golfing, and bungee jumping. Those ocean waters are the source of many activities, including sailing, fishing, and kayaking. Spend the day paddling around Newcastle Island, or get out on a charter to become the next great angler. Take your adventure to new depths on a snorkelling or scuba diving expedition. Beaches at local ocean parks such as Piper’s Lagoon, Departure Bay, Neck Point, and Swy-A-Lana Lagoon, offer a myriad of opportunities for swimming, windsurfing, and snorkeling, complete with incredible sea life just below the surface.