Welcome to Our Southern California Chapter

Founded: 2015

Territory: Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Diego Counties

In-Market Presence: Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego

Leadership: Stephen Armstrong (co-founder), Robert Kelle (co-founder)

Partners: Alliance for Southern California Innovation, City of Long Beach, Communitech Outposts, Consulate General of Canada, Consulate of Canada San Diego, Greater Irvine Chamber, LA Area Chamber of Commerce, Québec Government Office Los Angeles, Riverside County Office of Foreign Trade, San Diego Regional Chamber, U.S. Commercial Service, World Trade Center Los Angeles

Delegations: Outbound to Vancouver and Toronto. Reverse delegation for City of Long Beach in Vancouver.

Background: We launched our first chapter in Southern California in 2015 to promote bilateral investment, trade and entrepreneurship opportunities with Canada. The Consulate General of Canada in Los Angeles encouraged us to create a networking organization focused on investment and trade having seen the work of our co-founders in launching and nurturing a vibrant Canadian expat networking community that continues to grow today. MAPLE Business Council is an active cross-border non-profit organization with regular events in Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego. Our San Diego community is additionally supported by a locally-based Regional Director.

Growing Our Economic Ties

The economic relationship we enjoy is significant. Consider that:

  • Canada is the 2nd largest export market for Southern California.

  • On a per-capita basis, Canada is Southern California’s #1 trading partner.

  • Canada is the fourth largest source of foreign direct investment in LA County, Southern California and in the state of California.

  • California is nominally the 5th largest economy in the world and Southern California the 13th.

  • Southern California’s 1.4 trillion dollar GDP is 82% the size of Canada.

  • Canada supports Southern California with a Consulate General in Los Angeles and a Consulate in San Diego.

  • There are three active social networking organizations connecting Canadians in Southern California.

  • The largest diaspora of Canadians worldwide is in California.

A Tremendous Economic Relationship

If your business is considering expansion into either the Canadian or Southern California markets, we would like to help. While thousands of miles may lie between these regions, there is a vibrant trade to leverage. Consider these facts:

  • Total trade between Canada and California is over $44 billion

  • California exports of goods to Canada exceed $16.8 billion annually

  • California exports over $9.4 billion annually in services

  • Canada is the 2nd largest export market for California

  • California imports $28.7 billion in goods from Canada

  • Nearly 2 million Canadians visit California and spend $1.5 billion

  • 1 million Californians visit Canada and spend over $759 million

  • Over 1.2 million California jobs depend on trade with Canada

  • Over 500 companies across Southern California are Canadian-owned

  • Over 73,400 Californians are employed by Canadian-owned businesses

  • Top goods exports to Canada include computers, agriculture, telephones, aircraft and optical/medical instruments, aircraft, automobiles, paper and printing machinery, beverages and alcohol

  • Top imports from Canada include automobiles, crude petroleum, fuel oil, plastics, animal meats, and wood & semi-wood products