Station Tower in Whalley will be the home of “the federal economic development agency dedicated to British Columbians,” the federal government has announced.
The Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan) headquarters is expected to open in fall 2024. The agency is focused on “helping grow B.C. businesses, creating quality jobs, connecting industry leaders, and supporting an inclusive economy that benefits all British Columbians.”
Having the headquarters in Surrey is strategic, the federal government said in a news release Friday (Nov. 17), as it will help the agency serve the Lower Mainland and the economies south of the Fraser Valley.
Emergency preparedness minister Harjit S. Sajjan made the announcement at SFU Surrey Friday (Nov. 17).
“Our new PacifiCan headquarters will respond to local priorities, invest in innovative ideas, and support community goals to better serve the needs of our province. By connecting communities, entrepreneurs, and innovators to economic opportunities, PacifiCan is propelling B.C. forward,” Sajjan stated in the news release.
The announcement coincided with the launch of Circle Innovation’s Healthtech SME Program, which PacificCan funds.
READ MORE: Surrey will be headquarters of new Regional Development Agency for B.C.
It was exciting to learn more about Circle Innovation's Healthtech SME Program today at @sfusurrey.
— Office of the Mayor (@SurreyMayor) November 17, 2023
Thank you to Minister @HarjitSajjan, @randeepssarai and the federal government for funding through important work through PacifiCan. pic.twitter.com/EOVIB3mmWv
Randeep Sarai, MP for Surrey Centre, noted as one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation, Surrey is well suited for the headquarters.
“PacifiCan’s investment in programs such as Circle Innovation means real change and will ensure lost-lasting impacts for Health-tech companies based in British Columbia,” Sarai stated in the news release. “The Government of Canada is committed to enhancing these sectors so that our health-care workers and patients will continue to flourish for years to come.”
Since 2021, PacificCan has supported more than 450 projects in the province. On Oct. 12, Sarai announced Surrey will receive a total of $1,034,000 in PacifiCan funding through the Canada Community Revitalization Fund (CCRF).
This past year PacificCan set up service locations in Victoria, Campbell River, Prince Rupert, Fort St. John, Prince George, Cranbrook and Kelowna.
READ MORE: ‘Surrey receives over $1 million to revitalize its public spaces’
- With files from Tom Zytaruk