The economy of early Vancouver was dominated by large companies such as the CPR, which fuelled economic activity and led to the rapid development of the new city; in fact, the CPR was the main real estate owner and housing developer in the city. While some manufacturing did develop, including the establishment of the British Columbia Sugar Refinery by Benjamin Tingley Rogers in 1890, natural resources became the basis for Vancouver's economy. The resource sector was initially based on logging and later on exports moving through the seaport, where commercial traffic constituted the largest economic sector in Vancouver by the 1930s.
the economy of early vancouver was dominated by large companies such as the cpr which fuelled economic activity and led to the rapid development of the new city; in fact the cpr was the main real estate owner and housing developer in the city while some manufacturing did develop including the establishment of the british columbia sugar refinery by benjamin tingley rogers in 1890 natural resources became the basis for vancouver's economy the resource sector was initially based on logging and later on exports moving through the seaport where commercial traffic constituted the largest economic sector in vancouver by the 1930s