Canadians joined to fight the L.A. wildfires and protect their neighbors

In January 2025, wildfires tearing through parts of Los Angeles County affected Canadians deeply. What followed was an often-repeated story: a powerful display of North American solidarity. On the ground, dozens of firefighters and technical crews from across Canada quickly mobilized and joined their Californian peers on the frontlines to battle the blaze.

Four Canadian waterbomber aircraft from Quebec combed the skies in California, bringing hard-earned expertise in battling fast moving forest fires. Firefighters from both countries formed a single team, working shoulder to shoulder to protect homes, communities, and lives.

Canada had hundreds more crew and several times more equipment at standby to be sent at a moment’s notice if California and our American counterparts needed more help. Time after time, Canadians join forces with Americans to fight wildfires, respond to floods and hurricanes, and do whatever they can to help their American neighbors. It’s what neighbors do.

Acorn Biolabs cements California as life science leader

Canadian biotechnology companies are investing in California to support innovation and build the state’s economy. Acorn Biolabs is a Canadian biotech company whose core focus is regenerative medicine, beginning with the non-invasive collection and long-term cryopreservation of live cells taken from hair follicles. Acorn saw the potential in Southern California and established an R&D facility in Torance in 2019. The facility saw such success that Acorn invested in an expansion in 2024. Acorn Biolabs’ expansion into these additional locations is driving jobs and growth in the Bay Area and beyond.

Intuitive AI helps San Francisco achieve its zero-waste goals

Canadian companies are working in California to advance cutting-edge innovation and create well-paying jobs. Canadian start-up Intuitive AI is partnering with the City of San Francisco to bring their Oscar Sort Recycling Assistants to locations across the city. Powered by AI, Oscar Sort is anything but grouchy. The units provide an engaging and educational way to improve waste sorting and ensure proper disposal in San Francisco’s three-bin system. If materials are dropped in the wrong bin, Oscar lets users know how to correct the mistake—ensuring waste is more accurately sorted. This educates users on how to sort waste correctly in the future, boosting climate literacy and supporting San Francisco’s zero-waste goals.

In April 2025, San Francisco’s first Oscar Sort was unveiled at the iconic Ferry Building. Since then, Oscar Sort has been deployed at other San Francisco locations, including the Exploratorium and the California Academy of Sciences. You can also find Oscar Sort across California at locations such as Cal State Sacramento, Cal State Bakersfield and Cal State Dominguez Hills, and in high-traffic office buildings, airports, and stadiums across the United States. It’s one example of how Canadian innovation is helping California build a cleaner, smarter economy.

California exports $17.0 billion in goods to Canada annually
California exports to Canada by industry

• Agriculture: 26%
• Chemicals: 7%
• Equipment & machinery: 39%
• Minerals & metals: 5%
• Transportation: 13%
• Other: 10%

Top California goods exports to Canada

• Fruits & nuts: $1.7 billion
• Computers: $1.1 billion
• Optical, medical & precision instruments: $1.0 billion
• Telephones & AV recording equipment: $1.0 billion
• Automobiles: $858 million
• Vegetables: $808 million
• Prepared vegetables: $427 million
• Aircraft & parts: $394 million
• Plastics & plastic articles: $316 million
• Toys, games, sporting & recreation equipment: $315 million

California exports $15.8 billion in services to Canada annually
Top California services exports to Canada

• Business services: $4.6 billion
• Charges for the use of intellectual property: $4.5 billion
• Travel (including for education): $3.3 billion
• Telecommunications, computer & IT services: $1.8 billion
• Financial services: $1.2 billion

California imports $15.4 billion in goods from Canada annually
California imports from Canada by industry

• Agriculture: 30%
• Chemicals: 5%
• Energy: 21%
• Equipment & machinery: 16%
• Forest products: 6%
• Minerals & metals: 6%
• Plastics & rubbers: 5%
• Transportation: 4%
• Other: 7%

Top California goods imports from Canada

• Crude petroleum: $2.4 billion
• Animal or vegetable fats, oils & waxes: $1.0 billion
• Animal meats: $794 million
• Pasta, breads & cereal preparations: $614 million
• Plastics & plastic articles: $555 million
• Optical, medical & precision instruments: $550 million
• Animal feed & food industry residues: $476 million
• Fuel oil: $422 million
• Wood & semi-finished wood products: $413 million
• Furniture & bedding: $366 million