Town of Qualicum Beach is a Incorporated Municipality located on Vancouver Island British Columbia CANADA with a Population of 8,687 (2011 Census). The Town of Qualicum Beach is located within a large geographic retail and service trade area that spans from about Nanaimo on the south to Courtenay on the north and inland to Port Alberni. The dominant urban centres within this regional trade area are Nanaimo and Courtenay, which offer a wide selection of major retail and service chains, department stores, big box retailers, warehouse retailers, and restaurants/entertainment. Qualicum Beach, BC remains a mix of agricultural, primary, manufacturing and service industries. The service sector (which includes retail wholesale trade, transportation, finance, insurance and real estate, business services, accommodations and food services and other services) remains the largest employer in the region, accounting for 67% of overall employment, which is slightly higher than the provincial proportion of 61%. The trade sector, which includes both retail and wholesale trade, accounted for 20.5% of overall employment and reflects the growing trend for Qualicum Beach to become the central retail hub of mid Vancouver Island.