Victoria, the capital city of British Columbia, has a number of natural advantages when it comes to business. The primary one is the quality of life that the residents experience compared to other locations in Canada. The climate in Victoria is very moderate by national standards with mild winters and comfortably warm summers. The perception of British Columbia as the "wet coast' is certainly dispelled by the reality in Victoria. We experience annual precipitation of around 24 inches per annum due to the unusual micro-climate that the ocean, Olympic Mountains and the ranges on the island cause. For example, Vancouver which is less than 60 miles away averages double the amount of rain.

Boom Bust Largely Over

Victoria's dependence on the natural resource cycle has been reduced over the decades through diversification into other sectors. Of course, provincial government employment has always been a steadying force throughout any business cycle but the preponderance of employment is in the retail and hospitality, financial services, construction, health care, education and technology areas. In fact, over 250 technology companies are based within the city limits of Victoria and another similar number within the Greater Victoria area. Companies such as Carmanah Technologies, Mercurial Communications and In Light Entertainment represent some of the cutting edge technology businesses in Victoria. The area's natural advantages attract well qualified individuals and the numerous post-secondary institutions ensure a steady stream of young talent.

Tourism Boosts Business

More than ever, Victoria is a true tourist destination with 3.65 million visitors coming to visit us last year. Furthermore, Victoria has become the pre-eminent Cruise Ship port with regular visits by the world's largest super liners dropping off thousands of tourists into the heart of the city. This sector pumps over $1 billion annually into the local economy.

The attractiveness of the business sector is augmented by the numerous retirees who move to the city annually and contribute to the strong real estate and construction sectors that have had consecutive record years. This strength is reflected in the dozens of large condominiums that have been constructed and the multi-billion dollar Bear Mountain project that is still expanding.

Top all of this off with theatres, top-notch restaurants, nightclubs and the proximity to some of Canada's most amazing natural outdoor adventures and you have a winning combination.