Kelland Ventures

What Kelland Ventures does

Kelland Ventures is a privately held, family-controlled diversified group headquartered in Nanaimo, British Columbia, operating across four divisions: Properties, Hospitality, Marine, and Investment. Founded in 1982 as Qualicum Foods by Ken Schley, John Briuolo, and Noel Hayward, the company has evolved from grocery retail into a multi-vertical enterprise managing over one million square feet of commercial and residential real estate across Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast. The Properties division (Kelland Properties) encompasses retail plazas, residential apartment complexes such as East Village, and mixed-use developments. The Hospitality division includes the award-winning Qualicum Beach Inn boutique hotel and Qualicum Beach Ocean Suites (eight luxury vacation rental units opened in 2018), plus the restored SS Minnow vessel used for private charters and charity events.

The Marine division (Kelland Watercraft) holds exclusive Canadian distribution rights for Sealegs amphibious boats and operates the Salish Quay marina in Nanaimo, featuring eight boatsheds (75-130 feet), pleasure moorage, waterfront retail, and Glorope photoluminescent marine safety products. The Investment division deploys capital through private lending across Vancouver Island and venture investments in companies including Little Kitchen Academy, Tara Seed Capital Partners, and Care2Talk. Revenue is generated through recurring rental and leasing income, hospitality bookings, marine product sales, marina moorage and boatshed leases, charter fees, and investment returns. The company employs 11-50 staff and operates with a direct sales and relationship-driven go-to-market motion, targeting commercial tenants, hospitality guests, marine enthusiasts, and investment partners across regional Vancouver Island communities.

Name

Kelland Ventures

Legal name

Kelland Ventures

Website

https://kellandventures.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kelland Ventures is a family-controlled diversified group operating across real estate (1M+ sqft portfolio), hospitality (Qualicum Beach Inn, Ocean Suites), marine (Sealegs boats, Salish Quay marina), and investment divisions, serving Vancouver Island and Sunshine Coast communities since 1982.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Real Estate Development and Hospitality Services

NAICS

Real Estate and Rental and Leasing (53), Lessors of Other Real Estate Property (531190), Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles (525)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Real Estate Dealers (For Their Own Account) (6532), Services-Equipment Rental & Leasing, Nec (7359), Investors, Nec (6799)

akta.pro primary industry

Boat & Marine Leasing (FSAKANAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Venture Capital Fundraising Placement (FSAEALAC), Equipment Financing / Leasing (Venture-backed) (FSANAIAE), Marina RV & Waterfront Campgrounds (THAMAJAH)

Keywords

• Commercial real estate leasing
• Residential property management
• Boutique hospitality services
• Marine craft distribution
• Venture investment services

Headquarters

HQ city

Nanaimo

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Real Estate Rental and Leasing: Commercial and residential real estate portfolio generating rental income from retail plazas, commercial spaces, residential units, and land holdings across Vancouver Island and Sunshine Coast.
2. Hospitality Operations: Hotel and vacation rental operations including Qualicum Beach Inn (boutique hotel) and Qualicum Beach Ocean Suites (luxury vacation rentals), generating room rental and hospitality service revenue.
3. Vacation Rental Bookings: Self-contained luxury suites available for individual, large group, and corporate occupancy bookings with nightly and extended stay rates.
4. Marine Product Sales: Sales of Sealegs amphibious boats to Canadian customers, waterfront property owners, and yacht tender buyers.
5. Marina Slips and Boatshed Leasing: Daily and annual pleasure moorage solutions, boatshed rentals ranging from 75 to 130 feet, and retail space leasing at Salish Quay marina.
6. SS Minnow Charter and Events: Private hire and charity event hosting using the restored S.S. Minnow boat from Gilligan's Island, supporting non-profit and charitable causes.
7. Classic Car Collection Services: Fully-restored classic automobiles and rare vehicles available for private hire and sale to discerning buyers, often featured at international car shows.
8. Investment Returns: Private lending across Vancouver Island, venture investments in entrepreneurs and projects, and partnership-based investments creating value for communities.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Kelland Ventures is a diversified operating group with four divisions: Kelland Properties (real estate development, commercial and residential leasing across over 1M sqft of holdings on Vancouver Island and Sunshine Coast), Kelland Hospitality (the award-winning Qualicum Beach Inn boutique hotel and Qualicum Beach Ocean Suites luxury vacation rentals), Kelland Watercraft/Marine (Canadian distribution of Sealegs amphibious boats, the Salish Quay marina, and Glorope photoluminescent marine safety products), and an Investment division providing private lending and venture equity to community-focused ventures.

Product overview

Kelland Ventures is a diversified group of companies operating across four primary divisions — Kelland Properties (real estate development and property management), Kelland Hospitality (hotels, vacation rentals, and hospitality experiences), Kelland Watercraft/Marine (amphibious boats, marina services, and marine safety equipment), and Investment (private lending and strategic venture investments). The portfolio includes named brands such as East Village Apartments, Qualicum Beach Inn, Qualicum Beach Ocean Suites, SS Minnow, Vancouver Island Classic Car Traders, Sealegs (amphibious boats), Salish Quay (marina), Glorope (marine safety), Little Kitchen Academy, Tara Seed Capital Partners, and Care2Talk. The group manages over 1 million square feet of commercial and residential real estate across Vancouver Island and Sunshine Coast. The architecture is a platform-plus-sub-brands model, where Kelland Ventures serves as the parent entity with distinct operational divisions and named products under each.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Qualicum Beach Inn: A boutique oceanfront hotel in Qualicum Beach offering modern coastal charm, upscale amenities, and unforgettable Vancouver Island getaways.
• Qualicum Beach Ocean Suites
• East Village
• Sealegs
• Salish Quay
• Glorope
• SS Minnow
• Vancouver Island Classic Car Traders

Products and services

• Qualicum Beach Inn Award-winning mid-century modern boutique hotel overlooking the Strait of Georgia in Qualicum Beach, offering contemporary rooms with private patios or balconies, upscale dining featuring BC ingredients, and recognized as the number one rated hotel in Qualicum Beach. Serves travelers, couples, families, and corporate retreat guests.
• Qualicum Beach Ocean Suites Luxury oceanfront vacation rental property in Qualicum Beach featuring eight private, self-contained suites and outdoor lounge space available for individual, large group, and corporate occupancy bookings on nightly and extended stay rates.
• East Village Apartments Residential apartment complex in Qualicum Beach offering modern award-winning living spaces as part of Kelland's property portfolio. Targeted to residential renters seeking quality apartments on Vancouver Island.
• Kelland Properties Commercial Leasing Portfolio Real estate development and leasing services managing retail plazas (e.g., Despard Plaza in Parksville), commercial spaces (e.g., Northridge Village in Nanaimo), and mixed-use developments across Vancouver Island and Sunshine Coast, totaling over 1 million square feet. Targets small and mid-sized commercial tenants.
• Sealegs Amphibious Boats Amphibious marine craft distributed in Canada by Kelland Watercraft, designed to transition seamlessly between water and land to simplify boat launching and retrieval without docks. Sold to waterfront property owners, yacht owners, and Canadian marine enthusiasts.
• Salish Quay Marina State-of-the-art marina facility in Nanaimo, BC offering eight boatsheds ranging from 75 to 130 feet, daily and annual pleasure moorage, a 75-foot dinghy dock, retail space, dining, and a seawall with Snuneymuxw artwork. Targets yacht owners and boat owners seeking premium moorage.
• Glorope Photoluminescent Marine Safety Products Glow-in-the-dark photoluminescent marine safety equipment designed to enhance visibility and reduce hazards in low-light or emergency conditions on vessels and docks. Designed to meet or exceed Transport Canada, USCG, and IMO marine safety standards.
• SS Minnow Private Charter Restored historic wooden-hulled paddle wheeler (the only remaining S.S. Minnow from the TV series Gilligan's Island still in service) used for private hire and charity events, supporting non-profit and charitable causes throughout Vancouver Island.
• Vancouver Island Classic Car Traders Curated collection of fully-restored classic cars, antiques, and rare vehicles available for sale to discerning buyers or for private hire, often featured at international car shows and vintage car clubs.
• Private Lending Services Private lending services offered across Vancouver Island, providing financing solutions for real estate and business ventures to investors and partners.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1+ million square feet of real estate portfolio
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Little Kitchen AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLittle Kitchen Academy is a Montessori-inspired cooking academy for kids aged 3-18, teaching practical life skills through hands-on culinary experiences. Listed as an investment/partnership on Kelland Ventures website.
• Care2TalkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrivate healthcare service focused on providing healthcare in communities who need it most. Listed as an investment/partnership on Kelland Ventures website.
• SealegscoreTechnology or IntegrationSealegs is the first name in amphibious marine craft, offering versatile boats that move seamlessly between land and sea. Kelland Watercraft proudly offers Sealegs to Canadian customers.
• Salish QuaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSalish Quay is a brand new marina in Nanaimo, BC offering boatsheds, pleasure moorage, retail space, dining, and seawall development as part of the Nanaimo Seawall Gentrification Project.
• Glorope Safety Solutions Inc.coreTechnology or IntegrationGlorope is a Canadian-based company specializing in innovative photoluminescent safety products for marine visibility and hazard reduction. Headquartered in Eel River Crossing, New Brunswick, with operational presence in British Columbia.
• Kelland Properties Inc.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProperty management firm that manages Kelland's real estate assets including commercial and residential properties across Vancouver Island.
• Glorope Safety Solutions Inc. (Brand Logo)minorOthersMarine safety equipment brand displayed in brand logos section on Kelland Ventures contact page.
• Salish Quay (Brand Logo)minorOthersWaterfront marina brand displayed in brand logos section on Kelland Ventures contact page.
• East Village (Brand Logo)minorOthersEast Village residential development brand displayed in brand logos section on Kelland Ventures contact page.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Wickaninnish Inn: Relais & Châteaux boutique resort on Vancouver Island's west coast offering luxury oceanfront hospitality. Comparable on the Vancouver Island boutique-luxury hospitality positioning and direct coastal tourism exposure.

Others

• Glorope Safety Solutions Inc. Photoluminescent marine safety product manufacturer (part of the Kelland portfolio). Adjacent ecosystem peer in the marine safety equipment category, illustrating a niche product line that is also a venture within Kelland's own investment portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• InnVest Hotels: One of Canada's largest hotel ownership groups operating a portfolio of branded and independent hotels across the country. Comparable on the multi-property Canadian hospitality ownership and operations model.
• Morguard Corporation: Canadian diversified real estate company owning and operating commercial, residential, and hotel properties across Canada. Comparable on the multi-property real estate platform and hospitality (Morguard Hotels) angle, though at materially larger institutional scale.
• Brookfield Asset Management: Global alternative asset manager with significant real estate, hospitality, and infrastructure operations. Comparable on diversified real-asset platform investing across property types and geographies, though at vastly greater scale and institutional capital base.

Direct peers

• Sealegs International: New Zealand-based designer and manufacturer of amphibious boats that Kelland Watercraft distributes exclusively in Canada. Comparable on marine product technology and amphibious craft engineering; also a strategic technology partner.
• Oak Bay Marine Group: Victoria-based operator of marinas, fuel docks, boat sales, hospitality, and waterfront real estate on Vancouver Island. Highly comparable diversified waterfront model combining marine services, hospitality, and property operations in the same BC geography.

Emerging players

• Sun Outdoors (formerly Sun Communities): North American operator of RV resorts, manufactured housing, and marina properties. Comparable on the marina/waterfront property leasing model and recreational hospitality adjacency, though primarily US-focused and far larger.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kelland-ventures

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kelland Ventures