International Seafood Buyers Program

The BC Seafood Festival and Trade Expo is bringing back its established International Buyers Program June 21 – 23, 2024 in the Comox Valley, British Columbia, Canada. The program is designed to support International Seafood Buyers and food service companies that attend the Festival to:

  • Be matched to Seafood Suppliers from BC’s Seafood companies;
  • Engage in educational tours to support learning of BC’s Seafood Industry and the pristine environment in which BC Seafood is grown;
  • Participate with seafood Chefs and seafood industries to taste the best of BC Seafood.

Program Requirements and Important Information:

If accepted as an International Buyer, the BC Seafood Festival and Trade Expo will provide complimentary access to festival events including meals, create a tailored educational tour, and provide B2B match making services with introductions to suppliers during the visit.

Applicants are required to ensure that their entry documents for visiting Canada are up to date. Travel costs to attend the Festival are not included, however the Festival will support organization, meeting arrangements, travel planning and access to the festival and key events. Meals will be provided during time that buyers are attending the festival June 21 – 23. Meetings and or tours will be arranged for Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

  • Passport: Please remember your passport. Your passport should be valid for the entire duration of the visit to Canada plus one day. For more details about entering Canada, please visit Canadian Border Service’s website.
  • Credit Cards & Money: All major credit cards are accepted in British Columbia and ATMs and Currency Exchange Services are widely available.
  • Travel and Other Insurance: It is your sole responsibility to arrange and pay for any insurance that you consider necessary or advisable in connection with your trip, including life, travel, accident, medical, property or other insurance.
  • Gratuities: Tips for meals, spa treatments, guided tours and activities, ground transportation providers and housekeeping staff are customary and appreciated.
  • Weather: Please note that many of the tours will be outdoors and the weather in BC can be unpredictable. Please ensure you have proper footwear, raingear, and layers are recommended.

IMPORTANT – meetings and tours will be organized once the application is received and approved by the BC Festival and Trade Expo. Attending all schedule meetings or Tours is mandatory. Meetings primarily occur at the Festival however in some situations meetings may occur in the City of Vancouver, and in various locations on Vancouver Island.

Location Details:

The BC Seafood Festival occurs annually in June on Vancouver Island in the Comox Valley. This year’s festival is being held at:

Mount Washington Alpine Resort
1 Strathcona Pkwy, British Columbia
V9J 1L0
www.mountwashington.ca

If you are traveling to the Festival by air you will be required to use YVR – Vancouver International Airport. Options for travel from YVR to the BC Seafood Festival and Trade Expo on Vancouver Island include:

  1. Flight to Comox, BC Airport (YQQ) from YVR via major carriers: Air Canada, WestJet or Pacific Coastal Airlines
  2. Float plane service from Vancouver Downtown Float Plane terminal to Comox, BC via Harbour Air
  3. Travel by rental car from YVR via BC Ferries Tsawwassen Terminal arriving at Duke Point or Horseshoe Bay Terminal arriving at Nanaimo Departure Bay Terminal. It is approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes to drive to Mount Washington From Nanaimo.

Thank you for applying to attend the 2024 BC Seafood Festival International Buyers Mission