A new kind of regional initiative
Data and AI Vancouver Island (DAVI) is a collaborative ecosystem initiative centred on south Vancouver Island. Its purpose is straightforward: connect the people, companies, researchers, and public agencies already working with data and AI in this region, and channel that collective energy into building a nationally significant data services cluster.
DAVI is co-led by Circle Innovation and Victoria Data Society, with strategic support from CGI Canada. It emerged from four structured consultation events held between November 2025 and February 2026, where more than 60 stakeholders from industry, government, academia, and community organisations came together to map the region's strengths, identify systemic risks, and design a governance model fit for the challenge ahead.
Why this matters now
South Vancouver Island has remarkable assets. The region is home to more than 620 technology companies generating over $6 billion in annual revenue. It has nearly 400 MW of data centre power capacity, deep expertise in ocean tech, defence, clean energy, and digital government, and a growing community of data professionals and AI practitioners.
But these assets are not reaching their full potential. The region faces a persistent brain drain, with 77% of BC out-migrants aged under 40. Affordability pressures are squeezing startups and early-career workers. And 34% of household income still comes from public sector employment, leaving the economy vulnerable to government budget cycles.
Canada's 2026 AI Strategy calls for regional clusters that can anchor the country's AI supply chain. DAVI is south Vancouver Island's answer to that call.
The five pillars
DAVI's work is organised around five strategic priorities, each supported by self-organising action teams:
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Data Services Foundation - Establishing shared data infrastructure and services that make it easier for organisations across the region to access, manage, and leverage data responsibly.
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Sector-Focused Pilots - Running targeted pilot projects in ocean tech, health, and public sector to demonstrate real-world impact and build replicable models.
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Literacy and Adoption - Growing data and AI capabilities across the workforce through training, mentorship, and community-driven knowledge sharing.
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Barrier Reduction - Addressing the policy, procurement, and privacy challenges that slow data innovation, particularly in the public sector.
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Infrastructure and Capital - Attracting investment and building the physical and digital infrastructure needed to sustain a competitive data services cluster.
What comes next
DAVI officially launches in April 2026. Between now and then, action teams are forming around each pillar, governance structures are being finalized under the Constellation Model, and early-stage projects are already taking shape. If you work with data or AI on Vancouver Island, or if you care about the economic future of this region, DAVI is for you.