TechIsland

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.ca

Economic Development Office

Amrit Manhas

Economic Development Officer

250-755-4465

Amrit.manhas@nanaimo.ca

Nanaimo Economic Development

Community Overview

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.

To learn more about Nanaimo, please visit the Community Information Tool.

Nanaimo – map of zoning and other key local resources

See a more comprehensive map here.

Local Tech Companies

VMAC

VMAC is the leader in compressed air innovation, designing and manufacturing the most innovative mobile air compressors and multi-power systems available...
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Eddyfi Technologies

The industry leading designer and manufacturer of Multi-Mission Modular (IM3™) inspection systems for use in hazardous areas, confined spaces and underwater applications...
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TRAK KAYAKS

TRAK has been manufacturing portable performance kayaks that transform paddling adventures.
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LDRLY

LDRLY (Pronounced Leaderly) Games is a game development studio that produces original & licensed IP mobile games.
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Seamor Marine

Seamor Marine is engaged in research, development and manufacturing of remote operated vehicles (ROVs), which are deployed in a wide array of applications...
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Kintama Research

Kintama Research Services is the world leader in the design, deployment and operation of large-scale and cost-effective underwater acoustic telemetry arrays...
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iDUS Controls

Develops large-field environmental sensing technology for monitoring and collecting data on conditions of soil and water...
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Coastal Resource Mapping

Coastal Resource Mapping Ltd. (CRM) is a leading BC based GIS mapping and drone services company...
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Cedar Road BioEnergy

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...
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Stellar Marine

Stellar Marine manufactures custom fuel saving, fuel measuring, and vessel monitoring systems for the industrial marine market...
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DR Systems

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..
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Input Logic

Launches beautifully crafted software products for top brands and startups. Input logic was founded in 2011 and has enjoyed tremendous growth over the years...
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Resonance Software Inc

Develops workforce management applications to simplify employee scheduling, attendance and compensation...
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Aurora NanoDevices Inc

Aurora NanoDevices Inc. supplies high quality, calibration systems for atomic force microscopy imaging...
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Carmanah Research Ltd

Carmanah designs and manufactures signaling and energy-optimized LEDsolar lighting solutions for infrastructure.
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Concise Systems Corporation

Concise Systems Corporation provides business customers with reliable computer and office technologies and technical services...
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Coastal Environmental Limited

Coast Environmental offers wastewater services, portable toilet and fence rentals, industrial waste management, soil remediation and composting...
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GRT

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.
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Buying a Business

Get insider knowledge from Invest Nanaimo and the Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce. Business listings are also available through local realtors.

For more information, please contact Amrit Manhas, Economic Development Officer:

Phone: (250) 755-4465

Email: amrit.manhas@nanaimo.ca

Commercial Space

Nanaimo has a number of industrial and commercial spaces available, visit Invest Nanaimo to get the inside scoop and connect with the Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce.

Investing in a Business

Nanaimo is a growing vibrant community with abundant investment opportunities. Visit Venture Connect for more information.

Land Purchase

Nanaimo has room to grow. Listings of commercial and industrial land for rent and purchase are also available through local realtors.

For more information, please contact Amrit Manhas, Economic Development Officer:

Phone: (250) 755-4465

Email: amrit.manhas@nanaimo.ca

Lifestyle

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.

Vancouver Island provides an affordable, youth-friendly, and high-quality of life for tech companies and families to grow: "It is the best climate for growing your ideas."