Tilray announced in the fall of 2021 its plans to close its Nanaimo operation at Duke Point, citing a recent merger and a desire to streamline their facilities. (Google Streetview)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

pot begone

Top Stories of 2021: Tilray closes up shop in Nanaimo

Dec 28, 2021 | 3:45 PM

NANAIMO — A significant employer in the region is set to leave town after a major announcement in September.

Only a few months after they announced their merger with Aphria, Tilray announced they were shutting down their local cultivation facility and offices based in Duke Point.

Citing the need for “operational efficiencies” following the merger, the closure impacted between 160-170 local employees. Mayor Leonard Krog called Tilray’s announcement at the time, a major setback for the region.

“It’s a serious blow. It will have a significant roll-out through our local economy. I’m very upset by this and can only hope some other substantial employer like Tilray will be in a position to take over and use their premises.”

Tilray said they plan to work with the Nanaimo workforce who may be interested in alternate opportunities at its cultivation facility Broken Coast on Vancouver Island.

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They said the closure process should be finalized by spring 2022.

NanaimoNewsNOW reached out to Tilray for an update on their timeline but didn’t receive a reply by press time.

Mayor Krog also was not aware of any updates on their situation.

Tilray originally opened its Nanaimo facility in 2014 and was quickly solidified as a major employer in the region in an emerging industry, employing around 300 people at it’s peak.

Things were going well for the company making numerous high valued business decisions in the following years.

They signed a deal to acquire the Alberta cannabis retailer Four20 in 2019 for $110 million.

At the start of 2021 their shares went even higher after they announced a supply deal with Grow Pharma, a leading medical cannabis distributor in the United Kingdom.

Shortly after, Tilray announced in May they had officialy merged with Aphria Inc., which gave them 17 per cent of the retail cannabis market, making them the largest licenced producer in Canada at the time.

-With files from the Canadian Press.

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