2025 Canada’s Best Locations

According to the CBRE 2025 Canada Real Estate Market Outlook, Canada’s longer-term outlook remains solid compared to other G7 nations and favorable for commercial real estate demand despite uncertainty around tariffs and global trade wars.

Buttressing this economic activity is the recently passed economic bill, the One Canadian Economy Act, which aims to remove interprovincial trade barriers and advance projects of national interest. Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Tim Hodgson said of the bill’s recent passing in the House of Commons, “This Act means we are no longer asking ‘Why build?’, but instead ‘How do we get it done?’ […] In the new economy we are building, Canada will be defined by delivery, not delay.”

Evaluated on a cumulative and per-capita basis and examined across regions and municipalities, the project data show us where companies are investing with the most frequency, the most capital and the most job creation. Based on Conway Projects Database qualified corporate end-user facility projects and project-affiliated job creation and capital investment data between June 1, 2024, and May 31, 2025, Site Selection presents this year’s Canadian Competitiveness Awards (for provincial level accomplishment) and Canada’s Best Locations, honoring the top 20 regional or metro economic development organizations and their constituent communities.

Canadian Competitiveness Award

Invest Ontario/Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
Khawar Nasim, CEO
Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
www.investontario.ca

Recent Projects: Stellantis, Encore Canada, Ferrero Canada, Convertus Canada, IKEA, Zeton, Ford Motor Company, Amazon

A handful of projects sum up Ontario’s banner year. Linamar Corporation announced in January 2025 a more than $1 billion* investment to develop and commercialize high-tech powertrain solutions as well as green automotive technologies. This investment consists of six projects and is projected to create more than 2,300 jobs and boost extensive expansion and retooling of Linamar’s multiple facilities in Ontario to meet the original equipment manufacturer demand for automotive and EV parts in North America. In April 2025, an expansion of the Ferrero Group production facility in the city of Brantford was announced and will entail a $445 million investment to support the production of its sweet packaged food products and the creation of 500 jobs. The upgraded facility will include Ferrero’s first launch of a new product outside of Europe and will source key ingredients and packaging materials within Ontario.

In August 2025, Canadian tech company Ranovus indicated it will expand a Ottawa manufacturing facility with a $100 million investment that will help scale and develop optical semiconductors to power next-generation AI and machine learning, according to Invest Ontario. “At Ranovus, we’re proud to be designing and manufacturing advanced artificial intelligence solutions right here in Ontario, which relies on a world-class workforce,” said Hamid Arabzadeh, Ranovus co-founder and CEO.

Trade and Invest BC/British Columbia Ministry of Jobs and Economic Growth
Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth
www.britishcolumbia.ca

Recent Projects: Boeing Canada Operations, CN, Stemcell Technologies Canada, BC Transit, Cancoil Thermal Corporation, General Motors Company

According to a TD Economics’ Provincial Economic Forecast, British Columbia’s economy is expected to display resilience, with the energy sector remaining a tailwind for economic growth, as LNG Canada produced its first liquefied natural gas for export in June 2025. Woodfire LNG and Cedar LNG will also support production in this field in the next two years. There has been optimism recently for a phase 2 of expansion of LNG Canada in northwest B.C., with a new engineering contract being granted to JGC Holdings Corporation and Fluor Corporation, who worked on phase 1 of a project in Kitimat. Also in June of this year, the B.C. government approved the continued construction of a new LNG pipeline, the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission project — a joint venture between the Nisga’a Nation and Texas-based Western LNG.

The Canadian National Railway Company (CN) announced in May 2025 its intention to invest $615 million in B.C. to support strategic infrastructure initiatives in the province, with projects planned over multiple years in Vancouver, Prince Rupert and across western Canada. “We believe that investing in our network is about building for the future,” said Tracy Robinson, president and CEO of CN. CN invested approximately $554 million in British Columbia in 2024 for track maintenance and key infrastructure initiatives.

Saskatchewan Trade & Invest
Warren Kaeding, Minister of Trade and Export Development
investsk.ca

Recent Projects: Genesis Fertilizers Limited Partnership, Grain Millers Canada, Carpere Canada Industrial Park, Petroleum Technology Research Centre Inc

According to CBRE’s 2025 Q2 Snapshot, Saskatchewan’s strong population growth and positive GDP forecasts are attracting significant investment capital from outside the province, with record-breaking capital investment in the mining and minerals sectors strengthening the real estate market. Both Saskatoon and the broader Saskatchewan market are experiencing historically low vacancy rates for retail, industrial and multifamily properties. The province also has the world’s largest reserves of potash and high-grade uranium, positioning it as a dependable partner as global demand for nuclear power rises. Saskatchewan boasts 27 of Canada’s 34 critical minerals and is home to North America’s first minerals-to-metals rare earth processing facility — the Saskatchewan Research Council Rare Earth Processing Facility in Saskatoon.

Private capital investment in the province grew 17.3% last year to $14.7 billion (the highest in Canada) and is projected to reach $16.2 billion in 2025, a 10.1% increase over 2024. Projects coming to Saskatchewan include the BHP Jansen potash mine, set to begin production in 2027, which is the largest investment in the history of the company and in the province with a hefty price tag of $10.6 billion. Foran Mining will also be breaking ground on the world’s first net-zero copper mine in Saskatchewan.

Canada’s Best Locations

ONTARIO

Invest Brampton
Brampton, Ontario
Denis McClure, Director of Economic Development & International Relations
investbrampton.ca

Recent Projects: Encore Canada, Core Data Centres, HelloFresh, Concord Premium Meats, DH Supply Chain Inc.

Brampton yielded an impressive 23 projects this year, with the bulk of $383 million in investment going toward new and expanded distribution warehouses and the manufacturing sector. Encore Canada, the largest provider of event technology and production in the country, also welcomed a new 153,000-sq.-ft. headquarters in Brampton that will be home to more than 200 employees. The site will include front-office operations and warehouse space in one location and underpins the city’s business profile as hub for company expansion, a skilled workforce and innovative projects. Core Data Centres, in partnership with data center company 55H, also announced in March 2025 a phased expansion of its data center location in the city of Brampton.

Advantage Brantford
Brantford, Ontario
Joe Muto, Director of Economic Development, Tourism & Cultural Initiatives
www.advantagebrantford.ca

Recent Projects: GreenMantra Recycling Technologies ($17 million), Hilton Foods Canada ($192 million), Ferrero Canada ($445 million), Procter & Gamble Inc. ($50 million)

Brantford checks several boxes for developers and entities looking to invest and build, boasting competitive costs, access to a diverse and educated workforce, a pro-business single-tier municipality and affordable and available real estate opportunities. The Canadian arm of British food packaging business Hilton Foods will place its first North American food processing and distribution facility in the city of Brantford with an investment of $192 million. The 230,000-sq.-ft. project, which will be operational in 2026, is expected to be part of Hilton Foods Canada’s announcement in 2023 to partner with Walmart Canada to supply those stores with protein food products. Brantford leads in food and beverage manufacturing with at least 20 companies employing approximately 2,300 individuals, supporting Ontario’s role as one of North America’s largest agri-food sectors and top location for food processing.

Burlington Economic Development and Tourism
Burlington, Ontario
Anita Cassidy, Executive Director
investburlington.ca

Recent Projects: Origin and Cause (80 jobs), ABS Machining (180 jobs), Service Plus Aquatics (100 jobs), Sol Recycling (80 jobs)

Part of the Golden Horseshoe urban region of Southern Ontario, Burlington is known for its enterprise in advanced manufacturing, biomedical and life sciences, clean technologies and information and communications technology. One of Canada’s leading aquatic service providers, Service Plus Aquatics, acquired 25,000 sq. ft. of industrial space in March 2025 in Burlington. During the construction of the facility, the company’s 23 office employees worked out of TechPlace, Burlington’s innovation hub. TechPlace will celebrate its eight anniversary in September 2025 and has supported 561 business, 72 new jobs and over $12 million in economic impact. Burlington has also seen several other projects in variety and size, including Ontario’s first truck driver training school owned by Musket Transport and built in fall of 2024. The 170,000-sq.-ft. facility includes simulators, classrooms and a training yard.

Invest in Hamilton
Hamilton, Ontario
Norm Schleehahn, Director of Economic Development
investinhamilton.ca

Recent Projects: IKEA, Vantage

In March 2025, IKEA Canada broke ground on a new customer distribution center in the port city of Hamilton, part of a larger $400 million investment to increase its scope in the Canadian market. The building, which will measure approximately 483,285 sq. ft. when completed, will rank as one of the top five largest zero-carbon industrial buildings in the province. “We are incredibly excited to announce this significant investment in one of our key markets across Canada,” said Selwyn Crittendon, CEO and chief sustainability officer at IKEA Canada. “This expansion is a testament to our commitment to becoming more accessible, affordable, and sustainable for our customers. […] We are grateful for the exceptional support of the City of Hamilton and the local community in bringing this vision to life.” With an estimated opening of summer 2027, the Hamilton IKEA distribution center is expected to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs in warehouse, delivery, kitchen installation, design services, B2B and third-party assembly areas. Hamilton also saw a business retention win through Hitachi Energy Canada, with over 100 jobs retained via the acquisition of a site that Hitachi previously leased.

Invest Mississauga
Mississauga, Ontario
Christina Kakaflikas, Director of Economic Development
www.investmississauga.ca

Recent Projects: HD Hyundai Construction Equipment North America ($18 million), Regeneron Canada Company, AstraZeneca, Hoffmann-La Roche ($96 million), Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited ($29 million)

The city of Mississauga ranked highly this year, with over 59 projects, $1.7 billion in investment dollars and 3,599 jobs created. The City’s Economic Development Division officially launched Invest Mississauga, a new brand for its economic development division, during the Collision Conference in Toronto. Mississauga also received a AAA credit rating in September 2024 from Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services for the 21st year in a row — a result of the City’s very strong financial management practices and proven budgeting process. The city is also set to become Ontario’s first municipality to pilot hydrogen fuel cell electric buses within its transit fleet. Energy infrastructure is also on the docket in Mississauga, as a new district energy system in Lakeview Village broke ground in October 2024 with the city and the Region of Peel partnering with Lakeview Commnunity Partners and Enwave Corporation on the undertaking. When the district energy system in Lakeview Village is fully operational, it will be the first of its kind in Ontario and the largest in Canada.

Niagara Economic Development
Niagara, Ontario
George Spezza, Director of Economic Development
niagaracanada.com

Recent Projects: Airbus Helicopters (Niagara Falls, 21 jobs), Schenck Farms & Greenhouses Co. Limited (Niagara-on-the-Lake, 740 jobs), Big Country Raw (Lincoln), Holland Power Services (Fort Erie, 18 jobs), Port Colborne Marine Terminal (Port Colborne, 33 jobs), Hydac Filtertechnik GmbH (Welland)

Fed by St. Catharines, the most populous city in the region with 136,803 residents, Niagara is seeing several projects in Fort Erie, Lincoln, Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Port Colborne, Welland and beyond. In June 2024, Niagara Economic Development launched Niagara Signature Sites, an interactive mapping tool that showcases prime industrial and commercial sites across the region. In Port Colborne, the Asahi Kasei Battery Separator Corporation broke ground on a lithium-ion battery separator manufacturing facility in late 2024. The plant, a joint venture between Asahi Kasei and Honda, will contribute to the EV market in North America and is expected to start producing in 2027 with 300 full-time jobs, according to a company press release. It will be the first large-scale wet-process separator plant in Canada. “This facility signifies a bold step in advancing innovation in battery technology,” said Koshiro Kudo, president and representative director of Asahi Kasei Corporation. “We are establishing a center of excellence here in Port Colborne that will further position Asahi Kasei as a leader in meeting the growing demand for electric vehicle battery separators across North America.”

Invest Oakville
Oakville, Ontario
Rebekah Diec Stormes, Director of Economic Development
invest.oakville.ca

Recent Projects: Siemens ($150 million), Ford Motor Company ($2.3 billion), Zeton ($3 million), Lions Foundation Of Canada Dog Guides ($49 million)

In the second half of 2024, Oakville saw several new industrial business parks, bringing 1.6 million sq. ft. of new space online. Last year Oakville ranked within the top five municipalities reviewed for non-residential property taxes and within the top three for development charges, making it a competitive market for new office investment. One of the new projects belongs to Siemens, which has announced an investment of $150 million to establish a global AI manufacturing technologies R&D center for batteries to be used in EV production. “The decision to choose Canada as home for our Global AI Manufacturing Technologies R&D Center was driven by Canada’s highly qualified talent and strong collaborations with world-leading universities,” said Rainer Brehm, CEO of factory automation of Siemens Digital Industries.

Invest Ottawa
Ottawa – Gatineau, Ontario-Quebec
Sonya Shorey, President & CEO
whyottawa.ca

Recent Projects: Evonik Canada ($9 million), Autoshack, Electrophotonic-Ic ($3 million), Giatec Scientific ($48 million)

CBRE noted that the Ottawa multifamily market continues to be one of the top performers in the country, characterized by low vacancy, strong fundamentals and positive rent growth. Outside of residential and office space, Ottawa will see builds in operations and industrial as well. In November 2024, Amazon started work on a last-mile delivery facility in the city that will allow for truck freight to sort and deliver large volumes of packages. The warehouse, which will create over 100 jobs and span over 50,000 sq. ft., is the forerunner to a 3.1-million-sq.-ft. distribution center the tech company plans to build in Ottawa that could potentially employ up to 2,500 people and should be completed in 2026. Amazon purchased the property last year from Montreal-based developer Broccolini in a $109.1 million transaction.

Toronto Global
Toronto, Ontario
Stephen Lund, CEO
torontoglobal.ca

Recent Projects: Hitachi Rail, Toronto-Dominion Bank, The Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation, DoorDash, Backblaze/Cologix

The business scene in Canada has been somewhat fraught given the ongoing trade war between the U.S. and foreign exporters. Still, that has not stopped companies from making Canada home to their headquarters, facilities or operations. Earlier this year, food delivery services company DoorDash opened a new Toronto headquarters triple the size of its previous office in the city. Founded in San Francisco in 2012, the company first expanded into Canada in 2015. Hitachi Rail is set to invest $100 million at its facility in Toronto, with dollars going toward communication-based control signaling technology. The investment will create 100 new jobs and retain 1,000 highly skilled jobs at Hitachi’s York Mills office, according to an Invest Ontario press release. “The over $100 million investment in the next generation of our world-leading SelTracTM technology is hugely exciting,” said Ziad Rizk, managing director of Urban Rail Signalling, Hitachi Rail. “And we are grateful to the Government of Ontario and Invest Ontario for their support. […] This Ontario-invented technology is a Canadian success story that is creating jobs and boosting economic growth.”

Invest WindsorEssex
Windsor, Ontario
Gordon Orr, CEO
www.investwindsoressex.com

Recent Projects: Ennova Facades, Crest Mold Technology, Cedar Valley Selections, Les Aliments Dainty Foods, Minth Group, NEO Battery Materials

Windsor has emerged as one of Canada’s most dynamic investment regions, boasting large-scale industrial projects, a growing population and robust economy. The Conference Board of Canada projects WindsorEssex will achieve an annual GDP growth of 2.9% between 2025 and 2028, outpacing national averages. Population growth has also reached record levels, with over 28,000 new residents since 2021, supported by anchor investments such as the NextStar battery plant and more than 50 other projects in the past two years. Minth Group, a Canadian-owned global leader in the manufacturing of exterior and structural automotive parts, invested in a $300 million, 379,415-sq.-ft. manufacturing plant in Windsor. Canadian-based NEO Battery Materials announced an investment of $120 million for an 87,000-sq.-ft. manufacturing facility in Windsor that will create 130 full-time jobs. The facility will be the first silicon anode materials manufacturing plant for lithium-ion batteries, contain R&D operations and will be a neighbor to Stellantis, NextStar Energy and Volkswagen. The plant is expected to be fully scaled by 2030. These investments signal Windsor as a global hub for EV supply chains, next-generation manufacturing and R&D.

York Region Economic Strategy/York Link and City of Vaughan Economic
Development Department
York and Vaughan, Ontario
Jonathan Wheatle, Director of Economic Strategy at York Link
Raphael Costa, Director of
Economic Development at City of Vaughan
https://www.yorklink.ca
https://vaughanbusiness.ca

Recent Projects: Apps Cartage Inc, Arla Foods, Flint Packaging Products Ltd, GLS Logistics Systems Canada Ltd, Laborers International Union of North America

The city of Vaughan and York region in Ontario have embraced an impressive business investment portfolio this past year, which has been bolstered by future plans to build even more. Last year, the Government of Canada announced a $76 million investment in York Region to electrify and decarbonize the local bus fleet. The investment comes through the Zero Emission Transit Fund and will supply 180 electric buses and over 100 chargers to York and will also providing funding to upgrade three existing transit facilities with solar power and battery storage. The Canada Infrastructure Bank has also provided $136 million to the York Region as has the Region Municipality of York ($177 million) to upgrade these assets and facilities. Vaughan’s proximity to major transportation assets helps connect it to key regional supply chains, a talented workforce and the heart of Greater Toronto. Vaughan has had two distribution centers from different companies open this year from Rosenau Transport and Walmart Canada. With the support of Brumar Engineering Services, the 403,856-sq.-ft. Rosenau Transport warehouse facility was built at a breakneck speed of four months. Walmart Canada’s new distribution center opened in Vaughan earlier this year as part of the company’s landmark $6.5 billion store and supply chain footprint investment.

QUÉBEC

Montréal International
Montréal, Québec
Stéphane Paquet, President & CEO
www.montrealinternational.com

Recent Projects: Mountain Granite, Bit Digital, Xsolla, TotalEnergies Marketing Canada, CCL Industries

Montréal’s 2030 Economic Plan notes the city will invest $255 million in its economy to spur green initiatives, improve access to and participation in the city’s economy, enhance appeal and unique positioning and revitalize economic and commercial hubs undergoing transformation. According to the Conway Projects Database, Montréal had 27 projects, $392 million in investment dollars and 700 new jobs this year. The region will receive its third data center with an announcement by Bit Digital in early 2025 indicating the company bought the rights to a new data center site in development in Saint-Jérôme, Québec. The 202,000-sq.-ft. facility will support a 5-MW colocation agreement with Cerebras Systems and will be located on 7.7 acres. Sam Tabar, CEO of Bit Digital, said, “Speed to market is a key differentiator in the AI infrastructure space, and this site reflects our ability to mobilize and deliver capacity on accelerated timelines. We’re proud to advance our partnership with Cerebras while expanding our data center footprint in the greater Montréal region, a growing hub for AI innovation.”

Québec International
Québec City, Québec
Carl Viel, President & CEO
www.quebecinternational.ca

Recent Projects: Fnx-Innov ($12 million, manufacturing), Vantage Data Centers ($471 million, new and expanding data centers), Groupe Qualinet ($5 million, headquarters)

The Québec City region has received more than $2.9 billion in capital investments and seen the creation of over 1,600 new jobs in the past few years. Large-scale public projects, including a $910 million tramway, a $103 million energy recovery complex and an airport expansion, are strengthening infrastructure, improving mobility and creating new opportunities for private sector growth. Companies supported by Québec International in 2024 generated $1.34 billion in economic impact, with foreign direct investment accounting for $861.6 million of this total, alongside $193.9 million through international recruitment and nearly $140 million from technology entrepreneurship. Vantage Data Centers, a global provider of hyperscale data center campuses, announced a $500 million investment to expand its fourth and final facility at its Québec City campus. The 925,000-sq.-ft. campus will be powered by energy from Hydro-Québec and will leverage sustainable operating solutions.

IDÉ Trois-Rivières (Innovation et Développement économique Trois-Rivières)
Trois-Rivières, Québec
Mario De Tilly, CEO
www.idetr.com/en

Recent Projects: G3 Canada Limited ($12 million), Kruger Inc. ($22 million), Olymel L.P. ($104 million)

Trois-Rivières, located where the rivers Saint-Maurice and Saint Lawrence join, is part of the Québec City-Windsor Corridor and about midway between Montreal and Québec City. Known for its manufacturing sector and well serviced by its port location, the city is a lightning rod for companies looking to expand their product lines. Canadian food company Olymel announced its intent to expand its La Fernandière plant in Trois-Rivières with a $142 million investment that is slated to be operational in 2026. “We’re very proud to announce this major expansion of our Trois-Rivières plant,” said Yanick Gervais, CEO of Olymel. “It’s a big step forward for Olymel. Having this state-of-the-art plant will create new possibilities for expansion and significantly improve our efficiency, which is central to our company’s performance.”

ALBERTA

Calgary Economic Development
Calgary, Alberta
Brad Parry, President & CEO
www.calgaryeconomicdesvelopment.com

Recent Projects: Dollarama ($331 million), True Wild Distilling ($22 million), Kpmg LLP ($18 million), Lufthansa Technik ($120 million)

Calgary is a city that invests in itself. Lufthansa Technik, a German company that provides aircraft maintenance service, broke ground on its Canadian headquarters in Calgary in June 2025. The $120 million project will also include a test cell facility near Calgary’s International Airport and will lend to Calgary’s reputation as a rising global aerospace and aviation hub. “Having Lufthansa Technik’s Canadian hub established in Calgary showcases how our city is stepping up to deliver solutions for the global aerospace sector,” said Brad Parry, president and CEO of Calgary Economic Development and CEO of the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund (OCIF). Supported by a $2.5 million OCIF investment, the facility will test next-generation engines and alternative fuels and will generate 160 highly skilled jobs at the company by 2030. Calgary is no stranger to innovation: In early 2025, the Calgary Region Hydrogen Hub, managed by The Transition Accelerator, came online and will initially deliver power to airports, industrial and municipal fleets, trains, combined heat and power systems and hydrogen corridors.

Edmonton Global
Edmonton, Alberta
Malcolm Bruce, CEO
edmontonglobal.ca

Recent Projects: Crust Craft ($36 million), Entos Pharmaceuticals Inc. ($198 million), Airtex Manufacturing Partnership ($12 million)

Edmonton Global’s 2024 Annual Report highlighted over $2.25 billion in new capital and operational investment and over 1,000 new jobs across 14 municipalities that make up the Edmonton metro area and network of regional stakeholders in one of the fastest growing regions in Canada. “The results in this report aren’t just numbers — they represent meaningful outcomes for communities across the Edmonton Metropolitan Region,” said Enzo J. Barichello, K.C., chair of Edmonton Global’s Board of Directors. “They show what’s possible when we align our vision and our efforts in order to think beyond municipal boundaries for the benefit of the entire region.” Local high-capacity bakery and food production company Crust Craft, known for its artisanal baked goods since 1989, announced its intent to build a bigger plant in Edmonton with an investment of $51 million. According to Edmonton Global, the plant is expected to break ground in fall 2025, yield an economic impact of $70 million and contribute approximately $29 million to the regional GDP. The plant will receive $2 million from the Investment and Growth Fund, an incentive from the Government of Alberta.

BRITISH COLUMBIA

Invest Vancouver
Vancouver, British Columbia
Jacquie Griffiths, President
investvancouver.ca

Recent Projects: Stemcell Technologies Canada ($222 million), HTEC Hydrogen Technology & Energy Corporation ($347 million), Boeing Canada Operations ($35 million,)

The Vancouver Sun noted in a March 2025 article that “the key to implementing a longer-term plan to secure investment and capitalize on British Columbia’s resource advantage, according to economists and policy experts, is realizing where British Columbia’s competitive advantages lie — in the natural resource sectors that have long been the bedrock of the provincial economy, as well as in Metro Vancouver’s future-focused, knowledge-based sectors such as technology, life sciences and green energy — and reducing barriers to growth.” One life science company looking to build in the western Canadian city is Vancouver-based Stemcell Technologies, which will invest $222 million in new biomanufacturing facilities for producing the inputs for stem cell therapies and research. “This funding by the federal government addresses a gap in the raw materials required for large-scale manufacturing of vaccines, therapies and diagnostics, creating significant spillover effects across British Columbia and Canada,” said Stemcell founder and CEO Allen Eaves. The project is expected to generate 460 new jobs and 900 student positions.

MANITOBA

Economic Development Winnipeg
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Ryan Kuffner, President & CEO
www.economicdevelopmentwinnipeg.com

Recent Projects: Cereals Canada ($100 million), Sapphire Springs ($145 million), Magellan Aerospace Corporation ($12 million), New Flyer Industries Canada ($28 million), Smartrend Manufacturing Group ($22 million)

Manitoba’s capital and largest city, Winnipeg, makes the list this year with an impressive quiver of projects that add to its long history of a diversified economy. A transportation hub, this “Gateway to the West” is also opening another gate — one that breakfast lovers will love. In April 2025, Cereal Canada announced that it received $13 million from the Manitoba government toward the development of its Global Agriculture Technology Exchange (Gate). A $102 million project with the goal of making Canada a leader in cereal grain innovation and global food security, Gate’s new facility will be constructed in downtown Winnipeg’s Exchange District, with space for specialty milling, a pilot bakery, pasta extrusion and training and office spaces. Another card in the agri-food deck for Winnipeg is the company Sapphire Springs, the largest sustainable Artic char supplier in Canada, which is planning to build an Arctic char farm north of Winnipeg. Plans include a recirculating aquaculture system capable of producing 5,000 metric tons of the fish annually. The facility, expected to open in 2026, will have a price tag of $145 million and will expand the current global supply of Arctic char by 50%.

NOVA SCOTIA

Halifax Partnership
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Wendy Luther, President & CEO
halifaxpartnership.com

Recent Projects: 3DBioFibR Inc. ($3 million), Screen Nova Scotia Motion Picture Industry Association ($7 million), Mass Timber Company ($215 million)

According to an AltusGroup report on Canadian CRE investment trends, Halifax emerged alongside Vancouver and Toronto in Q2 of 2025 as one of the top three markets for attracting investor interest across all asset classes, indicating perceived stability and long-term growth potential. The Halifax metro is poised for a strong economic surge in investment opportunity and the Halifax Partnership noted in their 2025 Index that following market conditions that allowed the Bank of Canada to start lowering interest rates last year, residents and business of the city experienced greater purchasing power.

SASKATCHEWAN

Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Erin Lawson, CEO
https://sreda.com

Recent Projects: NRGene Canada Inc, Drake Meat Processors Inc, Hinge Designs Inc.

Saskatoon has been buzzing with economic growth and projects all year, particularly in the manufacturing and agri-food industries. In SREDA’s Q3 Economic Update, the Saskatoon economy strengthened with an estimated GDP growth of 3.1%, surpassing the national average. The momentum can be attributed to growth in the primary industries (particularly agriculture, mining and quarrying), solid housing demand and affordability and strong population increases with employment gains in key sectors, more full-time jobs and high participation rates.

A new meat processing facility by Saskatchewan meat company Drake Meats Processors has already broken ground, with expectations to open in September 2026. A family-owned company going back four generations that specializes in Canadian pork and beef, the 53,000-sq.-ft. plant is expected to create 200 jobs when fully operational and triple its current annual production capacity.