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| A Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) strategy was presented to Council in May 2025. It was a collaborative effort across multiple departments. A plan for business retention and expansion has been completed. Staff are now integrating the plan to align it with the Investment Attraction strategy which will focus on targeting industries that enhance tax diversification and create jobs in Maple Ridge. The focus will also include short-term objectives and strategic planning to attract long-term investments. | |
| The City has adopted an Investment Attraction Strategy and is now implementing it into action. As part of this work, labor market and incentive strategies will be developed to match the skills and tools needed to attract and retain target industries in Maple Ridge. Therefore, the work of this key result will be absorbed into the implementation of the strategy to maximize focus of the work on the most promising sectors that support new business attraction. | |
| An Investment Attraction Strategy has been developed that provides guidance on possible targeted industries on which to focus. This was a collaborative effort across multiple departments, and staff are now working on setting up new key results for Q3 that will drive achievement of investment attraction results in the industries selected. The focus is on industries that enhance tax diversification and create jobs in Maple Ridge. | |
| Work to review business licensing processes was undertaken in 2025. Implementing process improvements is still ongoing. A business licence bylaw re-write is being considered, which will align with any new technology to also lead to improved efficiency for businesses seeking to obtain, renew or update their licenses. | |
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| In 2024 and early 2025 considerable work was done to build a collaboration with key partners to encourage location of a post-secondary institution in Maple Ridge. Establishing a collaboration model is now completed and will continue to be maintained. Future work will focus on connecting the post-secondary engagement and collaboration to investment attraction needs regarding the future labour force. This aspect of the feasibility study for post-secondary intuitions is now completed. It will remain a longer-term focus for the City to prepare for an upturn in growth of the post-secondary sector as current external factors such as immigration policy have made the operating environment more challenging in the medium term for post-secondary institutions expansion and growth in satellite campuses. | |
| After review of a possible Tech-Hub, the City has shifted its focus toward advancing the Innovation Ecosystem more broadly and this may involve initiatives targeting technology-inclined entrepreneurs as well as other projects that will support local innovation and stimulate business attraction and retention. This work will involve assessing existing assets and opportunities in the community. Through this process, we are building a clearer understanding of local capacity and needs. A revised and more clearly defined key result will be proposed. | |
| The City has adopted an Investment Attraction Strategy and is now implementing it into action. As part of this work, labor market and incentive strategies will be developed to match the skills and tools needed to attract and retain target industries in Maple Ridge. Therefore, the work of this key result will be absorbed into the implementation of the investment strategy to maximize focus of the work on the most promising sectors that support new business attraction. The labour market analysis was not completed to date and so will be closed as not-met even though this work will be rescoped as part of the implementation of the Investment Strategy. | |
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| This key result is now completed as a regulatory review of agri-, eco- and adventure tourism was completed in Q1 2026. This has given important insights for the Planning department to further inform development of possible new policy and programs in 2027 and beyond to support this area of industry in Maple Ridge. In 2024, a baseline was established for the Net Promoter Score for agri-, eco-, and adventure tourism sector so that the City can now measure on a regular cycle the growth of the sector. The City's Economic Development department is continuing supports for this sector and the Planning Department will revisit possible new policy and programs after completion of the Agricultural Plan in 2027. | |
| This key result focused on the positive benefits from film productions in Maple Ridge in stimulating local tourism. While there is anecdotal evidence that film productions in Maple Ridge have generated positive tourism benefits, this is difficult to quantify. This key result will be completed as partially met and new key results focused on the core economic benefits of the film sector will be implemented to better reflect the intent of this work. Additional measures for tourism attraction are also being added. | |
| The Event Attraction Strategy for tourism driven events has been prepared and was reviewed by Council for input in Q1, 2025. Staff are now working though the strategy recommendations to determine next steps to foster events that have multiplier benefits for the community through tourism attraction, business development and that align with existing community based and recreational events. Future initiatives will be put in place to enact the strategy and undertake work in earnest to target the attraction of specific high-profile events (e.g., concerts, cultural events and festivals, film festivals, sports and games events) that can generate tourism and community outcomes. | |
| The BeWith Experience Hub currently has over 50 registered businesses, with more than 50% representing new entrants to the platform. This growth reflects increasing sector engagement and the Hub’s expanding role as a centralized resource for tourism‑related enterprises. Work will continue on the development and use of the HUB; the key result was completed in Q1 2026 and will become an ongoing operational resource. | |
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| Strong progress has been made on this Key Result. In Q1 2026, film activity generated $248,500 in direct City revenue, up 107% from Q1 2025, and represents 34% of 2025’s full-year total. Growth is driven by recurring major productions, the 2025 tiered-fee bylaw, and increased rental demand for City-owned assets. Continued outreach is strengthening a film-friendly business ecosystem. Film Fridays ran six months, showcasing Maple Ridge filming across various social media platforms, boosting film-friendly visibility and strengthening leverage to attract productions and partners.
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| Two large shows have committed to utilizing properties in Maple Ridge long term, creating large direct, indirect and induced impacts for Maple Ridge, as these shows leverage other Maple Ridge businesses, locations, services, etc. within the area. Although the initial target of two productions has been achieved, future updates will continue to provide information about further progress and successes related to attraction of major productions
Five major productions have been and are stationed out of Maple Ridge on a semi, to long term basis through Q1 of 2026 and beyond.
The City launched the Film Maple Ridge Playbook | Maple Ridge, BC, which explores how thoughtful policy, operational excellence, and community integration turn filming into lasting economic, cultural, and social value. It’s the blueprint for growing film responsibly, at scale to ensure that we remain a film friendly and resilient filming community that can continue to retain and expand upon the productions we are attracting. Because - there is no film without our community. It also works in a multipronged way, by celebrating the productions that Choose Maple Ridge and give the City increasing ability to attract productions to a film friendly jurisdiction (both community and governance).
The City is also developing the Film Maple Ridge partners program. Through an ecosystem approach, the program is designed to: attract increased production activity in Maple Ridge; increase direct, indirect, and induced spend within Maple Ridge by productions, their affiliates, and staff; ensure that productions have as seamless as an experience to source locations, products, services, and goods; create long term sustainable relationships between the business community and the film industry.
Maple Ridge currently remains near the entry level of the economic multiplier effect (i.e., every $1 spent on production = an estimated $1.50 - $3.00 of economic activity generated in the local economy), as industry integration with the local business environment is still in its early stages. The Film Maple Ridge Partnership is designed to move the community up the economic multiplier curve by expanding direct economic activity and unlocking stronger indirect and induced impacts. Our focus is on building the conditions for sustained ripple effects throughout the Maple Ridge economy through support of three key branches of integration, in which were introduced at our first Partnership working group session last fall.
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- Location Partners
- Business to Business Providers
- Business to Consumer Providers
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| Film Fridays is a showcase of behind-the-scenes content from film projects in Maple Ridge, sprinkled with some fun film facts and, Maple Ridge designer slates. 18 reels, 28 photos, and eight fan edits. This campaign finally reached its conclusion in Q4 2025. From indie films to blockbuster hits, educational pieces to your latest TV addiction, the City compiled a true sample of the breadth of filming ventures (and the wild stories that follow) taking place in the community.
Baseline data suggest strong community engagement, awareness and support for the Film Friday campaign and by extension filming in Maple Ridge more generally. Statistics show over one hundred and sixty-two thousand views, across 3 social media platforms, with almost 3,000 engagements for 23 campaign posts. This campaign ran in 2025 and will be used as a baseline comparator for 2026 Film Maple Ridge Social Media content. This key result was therefore completed in Q1 2026 and ongoing monitoring of sentiment analysis will continue as an operational activity.
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| This key result was completed in Q1 2026 as all eligible businesses in the downtown BIA area received information about the program. Promotion of the Patio Program to businesses will continue as an operational item. Information has been distributed via newsletters from the City and partner organizations, networking events, ongoing outreach, and in-person promotional events to connect businesses with information, products, services, and supports for patio activations in Maple Ridge. This initiative enables the City to support vibrant downtown and increase economic opportunities for business and amenities for residents seeking entertainment and community connection. | |
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| The Igniter event, held in February 2026 at the ACT, generated strong leads from post-secondary institutions, regional municipalities, and regional startups for collaboration and participation in the upcoming program. Stakeholder interviews and follow-up discussions are underway and will continue through April 30, 2026, with additional insights being captured through partner input and attendee survey feedback to inform the final analysis and recommendations. | |
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City delivered the first community innovation event with strong turnout (126 attendees), building momentum and a pipeline of potential partners across academia, municipalities, and business. Follow-up engagement is underway, a monthly community meetup has been initiated, and next events are being scoped to inform an action plan.
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Initial discussions are underway to formalize strategic partnerships with post-secondary institutions, neighbouring municipalities, and other enabling organizations. Two partners have already collaborated with the City to advance the Igniter event, which helped raise awareness of innovation activity in Maple Ridge and build momentum for this work. The strong interest and positive response generated through the event have created a solid foundation for advancing partnership discussions and potential MOUs.
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| Foundational work is positioning Maple Ridge to pursue more targeted and effective media exposure for its innovation ecosystem initiatives. By refining the story angle, audience call to action, and Catalyst-related activities that can anchor outreach, the City is building a stronger basis for earned media that supports awareness, investment attraction, and economic diversification goals. | |
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| An initial sort of business data has been undertaken. With the stabilization of business licence data following the licence renewal period, business information will be updated and re-sorted to confirm and correct the categorization. | |
| Initial scoping of the process, key roles/contacts, and information flow is underway. Development and deployment will happen in concert with the implementation of an Economic Development customer relationship management tool. This work will support improved responsiveness and proactive management of relationships with businesses in the community to foster more economic activity and ensure businesses access the available supports. | |
| Initial scoping of a monthly business retention and expansion dashboard and associated processes is underway. This will help the City to maximize opportunities to track and manage engagement with the local business community to find opportunities to increase business activity in Maple Ridge and support businesses to operate here and expand over time. | |
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| This is a new key result supporting business retention and expansion in Maple Ridge. The work is anticipated to commence in Q2 2026. | |
| Economic Development is working in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce on the development and implementation of a business walk/visitation program. Delivery will be coordinated with the Chamber to ensure visitations can also meet the needs of the City-Chamber service agreement. This key result is part of the Economic Development department's expanded and proactive approach to support local businesses, stay abreast of their concerns and issues, and identify growth opportunities. | |
| Economic Development is working in collaborating and coordinating with the Chamber of Commerce on the development and execution of these focus groups to ensure they also meet the needs of the City-Chamber service agreement. | |
| This key result focuses on the link between strategic development of innovation focused businesses and ongoing business retention and expansion efforts of the Economic Development team. To date, five joint innovation-focused business engagements have taken place to support these business and identify opportunities to support their growth. | |
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| This work aims to support the agricultural sector in Maple Ridge and the related agri-tourism, eco-tourism and adventure tourism sectors with resources and policy supports. This key result is led by the Economic Development Department and will involve three initiatives to support agricultural businesses to be attracted, retained and expanded in Maple Ridge. This key result is part of the City's Climate Action Plan approved by Council in July 2025. The work is commencing in Q2 2026 and is targeting completion by December 2026. | |
| The Planning department will lead a refresh and revision of the Agricultural Plan to better align this with planned Official Community Plan updates and include a stronger economic development lens. This will enable future policy and program development work under the revised plan that meets multiple objectives of the City to maintain and preserve agriculture and natural assets in the context of the specific conditions for agr-business in Maple Ridge and to enable future industry development for agri-, eco- and adventure-tourism that leverages our natural assets. | |