2022-2023 Departmental Results Report: Highlights
Read the full Departmental Results Report
PacifiCan is focused on helping grow B.C. businesses, creating quality jobs and supporting an inclusive economy that benefits all peoples in British Columbia.
In August 2021, PacifiCan was established as the Government of Canada's regional development agency dedicated to British Columbia. Fiscal year 2022-23 was PacifiCan’s first full year of operations.
This report presents PacifiCan's results compared to the targets set out in our 2022-23 Departmental Plan.
2022-23 by the numbers
Expanding PacifiCan’s on-the-ground presence
PacifiCan opened 7 new offices in Victoria, Campbell River, Cranbrook, Fort St. John, Kelowna, Prince George, and Prince Rupert.
Investing in B.C. businesses, innovators and communities
- Supported 3,100 small and medium enterprises
- Created more than 7,600 jobs
- Helped businesses achieve $590 million in revenue growth
Supporting inclusive growth in the B.C. economy
PacifiCan approved $117.4 million in funding for 199 projects with businesses majority owned by members of underrepresented groups, including:
- Indigenous peoples
- women
- youth
- 2SLGBTQI+
- persons with disabilities
- newcomers to Canada
- members of official language minority communities
Our results
Businesses are innovative and growing in British Columbia
PacifiCan supports British Columbian businesses as they innovate, scale up and pursue long-term competitiveness and growth.
Alacrity
Alacrity is a one-stop shop for B.C. entrepreneurs. They equip entrepreneurs with the skills, knowledge, network and capital to launch and grow transformational businesses in Canada.
With $1,334,425 in PacifiCan funding, Alacrity supported the B.C. clean tech sector to assess target market opportunities, increase export sales, accelerate foreign direct investment, and create good jobs.
This project helped:
- grow western B.C.’s clean tech sector by $40 million in export sales and $81 million in foreign direct investment
- create, maintain or expand 40 businesses — 12 of which are majority-owned by women
- create over 320 high quality jobs, including over 140 for women and over 160 for youth
Communities are economically diverse in British Columbia
PacifiCan helps communities in British Columbia access economic development opportunities and build resilience. PacifiCan works to increase the participation of underrepresented groups in the economy and ensure economic growth is inclusive.
Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot
This Pilot, a partnership between the Community Futures North Okanagan, Shuswap and Central Kootenay, matches new skilled immigrants with permanent full time job vacancies and helps newcomers settle into their new communities.
With $485,410 in PacifiCan funding, this project helped:
- meet the workforce needs of hundreds of rural and Northern businesses
- create over 410 jobs, including over 170 for women and over 230 for youth
- create, maintain or expand over 280 businesses
- provide business services to over 830 clients
Businesses invest in the development and commercialization of innovative technologies in British Columbia
PacifiCan supports firms at many levels of maturity to commercialize new technologies, scale up operations, and improve productivity.
Saltworks
Saltworks’ advanced technologies help to reuse water, keep our environment safe from pollutants in industrial wastewater, and produce lithium for use in batteries. This benefits businesses, communities, and the environment by providing cleaner, safer water and accelerating the transition to electric vehicles.
With $2.5 million in PacifiCan funding, Saltworks has commercialized multiple new product lines and created 56 high-quality jobs.
