Key Sectors

The Prince George construction industry is a key contributor to the development of new projects that are either planned or underway in northern British Columbia (BC). A major part of these projects involves delivering and building modern and innovative infrastructure, creating a large amount of work for the sector. In 2016, construction generated $364 million in GDP for Prince George and GDP in this sector increased by 29.5 per cent from 2011 to 2016.

Business Opportunities in Construction

• Wood design and innovation
• Workforce, education, and training
• Manufacturing
• Transportation and logistics
• Equipment rental, storage, and maintenance

Download the Construction Sector profile (PDF)

Prince George is the centre of a vibrant, sustainable, globally competitive forestry industry that provides enormous benefits to the local and regional economy. The local forestry sector consists of a complete supply chain network made up of a number of separate, but inter-connected links:

• Planning, harvesting, and forest management.
• Road building
• Wood product manufacturing
• Wood engineered products
  
• Transportation and warehousing
• Bio-refining
• Forest product marketing
• Pulp and paper manufacturing
  

Prince George has three pulp mills, one paper mill, seven lumber mills, one chip mill, one pole and post mill, and two pellet mills. The pulp mills in Prince George are some of the largest and most technologically advanced in Canada.

Business Opportunities in Forestry

• Trucking, logging, silviculture, warehousing and harvesting
• Manufacturing of wood engineered products
• Engineering and professional services
• Environmental impact assessment
• Workforce training and development
• Equipment rental, storage and maintenance
  
• Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) manufacturing
• Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) manufacturing
• Parallel Strand Lumber (PSL) manufacturing

Download the Forestry Sector profile (PDF)

Prince George has diversified considerably over recent decades and developed an economy that supplies services to a broad range of activities. Supporting the City’s primary and secondary sector growth, employment in professional, scientific and technical services has expanded considerably over the past five years to meet the local and regional needs. Examples include:

• Architectural, engineering, and specialised design services
• Legal advice and representation
• IT and computer services
• Veterinary services
• Accounting, bookkeeping, and payroll services
• Research and consulting services
• Advertising and photographic services
• Translation and interpretation services

Business Opportunities in Services

• Architectural services
  
• Engineering and consulting services
  
• Accounting, bookkeeping and payroll services
  
• Workforce, education and training
  
• Computer systems design
  
• Legal advice and representation
  
• Data Centres

Download the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services Sector profile (PDF)

Prince George plays a crucial role as a supply and service hub for local and regional mines. Approximately 20% of northern BC’s employment in the mining sector is located in Prince George, with a similar percentage for the number of businesses focused primarily on mining or support activities for mining operations. Local and regional mining activities rely on the capabilities of Prince George companies to provide services like:

• Exploration
  
• Drilling
  
• Equipment rental
  
• Financial services
  
• Environmental assessment and preservation
  
• Industrial fabricating and manufacturing
  

Business Opportunities in Mining

• Construction and mine development
  
• Engineering and professional
  
• Environmental impact assessment
  
• Workforce, education and training
  
• Transportation and logistics
  
• Equipment rental, storage and maintenance

Download the Mining Sector profile (PDF)

Infrastructure being built by the advanced and renewable energy cluster in Prince George is positioning the City as a leader in British Columbia's bioenergy sector. Prince George's energy sector encompasses a broad range of activities:

Business Opportunities in Energy

• Transmission line maintenance and security
• Engineering and professional
  
• Environmental impact assessment
• Research and development
• Bioenergy
• Transportation and logistics
• Training and development of workforce

Download the Energy and Bioenergy Sector profile (PDF)

Prince George is strategically located to provide an exchange to global destinations due to its superior transportation connectivity via road, air, rail and marine infrastructure. The thriving local economy places the city in the unique position of supporting new growth in resource-based projects and exploration, while providing goods and services to a broad range of sectors. This geographic advantage has positioned Prince George to service existing and future industries, including:

• Forestry and pulp & paper
  
• Energy and bioenergy
  
• Construction
  
• Couriers and postal service
• Mining and exploration
• Retail and wholesale inventory and trade
• Tourism and recreation
• Emergency response

Business Opportunities in Transportation and Warehousing

• Transportation depots
• Truck terminals
• Warehousing and storage
• Retail and supply support
  
• Freight forwarding

Download the Transport and Warehousing Sector profile (PDF)

Manufacturing is one of the largest economic sectors in Prince George, British Columbia (BC) and part of a fully-developed supply chain for natural resource projects. The main manufacturing activities in the city are traditionally related to the forest industry; wood products and paper manufacturing. The manufacturing sector complements the growing mining, energy, and bioenergy industries in Prince George and has demand for the production of:

• Metal products
  
• Industrial chemicals
  
• Pulp and Paper
  
• Pellets and biomass material
  
• Custom fabrication products
• Plastic goods
• Machinery and equipment repair or refurbishment
• 3D design and prototyping for Computer Numerical Control manufacturing
  

Business Opportunities in Manufacturing

• Proximity to long-term and major projects in the region
• Growing opportunity within a stable manufacturing sector base
• Access to high-quality materials and skilled workforce
• A stable business and political environment complemented by low business costs and a high-quality supply chain
• Emerging markets in China, India and Brazil due to a rapid expansion in the middle class
• Rising energy costs compelling manufacturing operations to move closer to key markets

Download the Manufacturing Sector profile (PDF)

• The University Hospital of Northern BC
• Trades certificates and technical training
  
• Arts and Sciences post-secondary education programs
• BC Ambulance Service (BCAS)
• St. John Ambulance service and training
• The BC Cancer Agency Centre for the North
• The Prince George Native Friendship Centre
• Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation
• Kordyban Lodge
• Prince George Regional Highway Rescue

Business Opportunities in Healthcare, Social Assistance, and Education

• Care homes for seniors
  
• Dental clinics
  
• Physiotherapy service
  
• Chiropractor services
  
• Advanced medical services
  
• Mental health counselling
  
• Specialized physicians
  
• Walk-in clinics

Prince George is the only community in northern British Columbia with big-city amenities and benefits that is also within minutes of beautiful, pristine forests. Hosting the 2015 Canada Winter Games - which was the largest multi-sport event ever held in northern British Columbia - created an emerging profile for the City as an ideal location to host major sporting events. Prince George also has capacity for large-scale meetings and conventions. The City offers urban and outdoor experiences to suit every interest:

• Four ski hills
• Cross-country and biathlon facility
• Dozens of hiking and biking trails
• Seven golf courses
  
• Northern Sports Centre
• Fine and casual dining
• One indoor mall and six outdoor shopping facilities
• Speciality stores
• Coldsnap Music Festival
• Theatre Northwest and Judy Russell Productions
• El Shaddai Ranch for horseback riding

Business Opportunities in Tourism, Culture, and Information

• Tour operators
• Aboriginal tourism
• Entrepreneurialism
• Planning and management services
  
• Event delivery
• Catering and hospitality
  
• Marketing and media

Download the Tourism, Culture, and Information Sector profile (PDF)