BCBusiness

l ike many resource towns, Vancouver Island's northernmost city has seen tough times: layos in the coal indus- try, the closure of the pulp mill in 2010 and declines in wild stocks that haven't done any favours for commercial •sher- men in the "salmon capital of B.C." But Campbell River has found opportunity in the aordability squeeze roiling Vancouver and Victoria, catch- ing the eye of retirees wanting to cash out and young families ready to quit the big city. A lengthwise layout along the shore of the scenic Discov- ery Passage means it's hard to •nd a neighbourhood without a striking channel view—and despite its industrial roots, the city has preserved its extensive waterfront for public access. That, a new $274-million hospital and the surrounding ocean, woods and alpine trails have been selling points for the 65-and-over set, who now make up about a quarter of households. Meanwhile, Campbell River has been making investments to diversify its economy and attract young entrepreneurs. The CR Advantage, launched last year, is a •rst-on-the-Island municipal broadband network that provides businesses with cheap, enterprise- level connectivity; facade- improvement grants aim to boost the streetscape of the downtown core; new cowork- ing spaces are combining with aordable real estate to lure over telecommuters; and the establishment of a Creative Industries Council, along with new tech and •lm courses at local North Island College, are oering support for accelerat- ing digital, media, design and arts ventures. A large deep- water marine terminal and a recently upgraded airport also help ease logistics. The resource sectors that were the town's former pillars are seeing some rebound, too: forestry still employs about 6 percent of the labour force, and the recent reopening of Nyrstar Canada's Myra Falls zinc and copper mine has created new job opportunities. The Wei Wai Kum First Nation has also long been active in the local economy, running two shopping centres, •shery and forestry operations, and B.C.'s largest full-service marina north of Vancouver. And although the wild side of the seafood industry has become more the domain of sports •sh- ers, aquaculture still thrives, with three international out•ts headquartered in the city. Nanaimo and its malls and ferries are about an hour and 20 minutes on the highway, but compared to a commute downtown from Vancouver's deep suburbs, the water views and relaxed lifestyle of Camp- bell River oer fair competi- tion. The city's willingness to support emerging enterprises earned it this year's Open for Business award from Small Business BC in the Large Community category—a sign that its eorts to re-create itself are paying o. —M.E. F O R M O R E C I T I E S , S E E BcBUsInEss.cA/BccITYgUIdE S TA R T I N G M AY 1 0 ISTOCK MAy 2018 BCBusiness 49 Campbell river the conveniently located oceanfront city is reaping the rewards of its efforts to attract new residents and businesses PeoPle populAtion: 38,465 HouseHolD Age (<45, 45-64, >64): 31%, 43%, 26% univeRsity gRADs: 13.5% AveRAge HouseHolD inCoMe: $89,423 AveRAge HouseHolD inCoMe unDeR 45: $86,451 HouSing AveRAge DetACHeD HoMe pRiCe: $407,174 AveRAge ConDoMiniuM pRiCe: $225,025 AveRAge MontHly Rent foR A two-beDRooM: $850 Work Key inDustRies: Retail; health care and social services; agriculture; forestry; construction; hospitality and tourism; food services RegionAl uneMployMent: 5.8% (february) BuSineSS totAl vAlue of builDing peRMits issueD in 2017: $79,437,684 CHAnge fRoM 2016: 4.1% Cost of A business liCenCe: typically $150 business pRopeRty tAx RAte: $12.43 per $1,000 of assessed value AveRAge offiCe leAse RAte peR sQ. ft./yeAR: $7-$32 AveRAge RetAil leAse RAte: $7-$32 Quality of life MAjoR ReCReAtionAl AMe- nities: proximity to Mount washington and Mount Cain ski areas; fishing and hunting; sportsplex; splash park; com- munity centre; strathcona gardens skating rink and pool; beaver lodge forest lands; boating and paddling; water- front and seafront walkway ResiDents wHo wAlK oR biKe to woRK: 3%

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