Editing Vancouver Island (section)

==Economy==
===Technology===
[[File:Long_beach_-_Tofino_-_Vancouver_Island_-_11.jpg|thumb|Long Beach, Tofino]]
Within the island's largest city, [[Victoria, British Columbia|Victoria]], there is a significant IT and technology industry. According to the Victoria Advanced Technology Council website, over 800 technology companies operate in the Victoria area, with combined annual revenues of $1.95&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.viatec.ca/about |title=What is VIATeC? – VIATeC |publisher=Viatec.ca |access-date=2010-09-13 |archive-date=2010-09-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100909065734/http://www.viatec.ca/about |url-status=live }}</ref>

High-speed internet is delivered to the island by [[Shaw Communications]], [[Telus Communications|Telus]], and various local providers with their own networks. Wireless Internet connections can be found all over the island, many free for public use.

While the island does generate much of its own power at several hydroelectric stations, increased demand required the construction of several [[power lines connecting Vancouver Island with Canadian Mainland|high-voltage power cables, both HVDC and AC, connecting to the Canadian Mainland]].

===Logging===
[[File:Tofino_-_Panorama_02.jpg|thumb|Fireworks on August 15th at the Tofino pier]]
Outside of Victoria, Vancouver Island's economy is largely dominated by the [[Wood industry|forestry industry]]. Many of the [[logging]] operations are for export, although, historically, were for sawn lumber and pulp and paper operations. Recently, rotations are much shorter than the historical 80 years. Logging operations involving [[old-growth forest]]s such as those found in [[Clayoquot Sound]] are controversial and, due to the [[Clayoquot protests]], gained international attention through the efforts of [[Activism|activists]] and [[Environmentalism|environmental organizations]]. Another source of controversy all over the island are logging operations occurring in community watersheds.<ref>{{Cite web |last=May 31 |first=Ben Parfitt |last2=Read |first2=2019 15 Min |date=2019-05-31 |title=Muddied waters: how clearcut logging is driving a water crisis in B.C.’s interior |url=https://thenarwhal.ca/muddied-waters-how-clearcut-logging-is-driving-a-water-crisis-in-b-c-s-interior/ |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=The Narwhal |language=en}}</ref>

===Fishing===
[[Fishing]] plays a large role in the lives of many islanders. [[Commercial fishing]] vessels operate out of the island's ports and harbours, and coastal [[fish farming|fish farms]] produce many tons of [[Atlantic salmon]] yearly.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.marineharvestcanada.com/products_intro.php |title=Fresh Fish in BC |website=Marineharvestcanada.com |access-date=8 January 2017 |archive-date=9 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109094747/http://www.marineharvestcanada.com/products_intro.php |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/vancouver-island-salmon-farm-accused-of-putting-diseased-fish-in-ocean-pens-1.174114 |title=Vancouver Island salmon farm accused of putting diseased fish in ocean pens |newspaper=Times Colonist |access-date=2013-06-27 |archive-date=2014-07-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140712084746/http://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/vancouver-island-salmon-farm-accused-of-putting-diseased-fish-in-ocean-pens-1.174114 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mainstreamcanada.ca/products/index.php |publisher=Mainstream Canada Aquaculture |title=BC farmed Atlantic salmon sales |website=Mainstreamcanada.ca |access-date=2013-06-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130707070624/http://www.mainstreamcanada.ca/products/index.php |archive-date=2013-07-07 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Tourism===
[[File:Campsite at Mystic Beach, Vancouver Island, Canada.jpg|thumb|Campsite at Mystic Beach]]

In recent years the government of British Columbia has engaged in an [[advertising]] program to draw more tourists to beach resorts in places such as [[Tofino]] and [[Ucluelet]]. Sport fishing, [[whale watching]], hiking, [[scuba diving]], surfing, and skiing are just a few things for which tourists visit Vancouver Island. Visitors also come to see Victoria's 19th-century architecture, and the many villages which line the coast such as [[Cowichan Bay]], [[Chemainus]], and [[Qualicum Beach]].

===Food products===
Consumer food products companies also exist in the various cities and towns on Vancouver Island. Bakeries, dairies, food processing plants, breweries, wineries, of varying size and scope, are found all along the island. Some of these organizations have international customer reach. 

Agriculture is confined primarily to the fertile soils found in low-lying areas on the southern and eastern portions of the island. Those areas have the best climate for agricultural production. 

The total amount of land farmed on Vancouver Island in 2016 was over {{Convert|50,000|ha|acre}} and the region employed over 7,500 people in the agricultural sector (both farm operators and employees) in 2016.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.canada.ca/en/agriculture-agri-food/news/2020/07/facts-about-farming-on-vancouver-island.html | title=Facts about farming on Vancouver Island | date=13 July 2020 }}</ref>