Technology and Innovation

The tech sector is growing in B.C. and innovative uses of technology are helping to breathe new life into many industries. This section shares stories and resources to support the growth of technology and innovation in your community.

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Coquitlam Repurposes Technology Roadmap to Focus on Pandemic Resilience

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a technological game changer at the City of Coquitlam, which has used its existing Technology Roadmap to address emerging needs and create solutions that are quickly becoming key to how the City does business.

• Read the story of Coquitlam's Technology Roadmap

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Funding Fuels Growth for Innovation and Technology - Vancouver Island

Island Coastal Economic Trust (ICET) offers funding in support of technology and innovation initiatives to communities within the Vancouver Island and Coast region. With a changing economy and early success from regional tech startups, the Trust saw an opportunity to modify its funding programs to foster greater integration of tech and innovation as a way to diversify and modernize the regional economy. The results are remarkable. 

• Read the story of the Vancouver Island Innovation Corridor

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Innovation Centre Supporting Home Grown Tech – Salmon Arm

Salmon Arm’s Innovation Centre and Makerspace is helping to retain and grow local tech entrepreneurs in a regional setting.  

• Read the story of the Salmon Arm Innovation Centre

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A Winning Municipal Tech Strategy: From Broadband to International Recognition as a Smart Community – Nelson

A unique community engagement strategy has helped the city of Nelson take advantage of broadband connectivity to drive the local economy. The community’s efforts to build a tech-friendly ecosystem helped earn it a spot on the coveted Intelligent Communities Forum Smart21 List in 2017.

• Read the story of Nelson's Smart Community initiative

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Diversifying the Local Economy Starting with a Municipally-Owned Broadband Network – Campbell River

To attract technology and knowledge-based companies, Campbell River launched a municipally owned broadband fibre optic network, CRAdvantage. The response from businesses and the community has been extremely positive and opened up new opportunities for the coastal community.

• Read the story of Campbell River's municipally-owned broadband network

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Building a Tech Strategy with a Committed Local Task Force – Revelstoke

When fibre optic Internet came to Revelstoke in 2015, the city wasted no time figuring out how to take full advantage of it by developing a tech strategy, with input from a tech task force made up of local tech players. The result was a host of different spaces, networks and events that have grown a tech-friendly ecosystem that supports tech workers and entrepreneurs.

• Read the story of Revelstoke's tech strategy

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Metal Tech Alley: How an Industry Town in Rural B.C. Rebuilt its Economy – Trail

For years, Trail has been recognized as an industry town, home of the Teck Metals smelter, which has operated in Trail for over 100 years producing zinc, lead, silver, gold and many other metal and chemical products. Over the years, a cluster of metallurgy and tech companies has developed in Trail and the surrounding area, and it is now a breeding ground for exciting, cutting-edge companies and thinkers.

• Read the story of Metal Teck Alley

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