Operational funding structure

• Municipal. Formula: $1/capita + 0.07% of taxes. Reindexed in 2020 with updated data. Works out to $1.64/capita on average (has actually gone down over time)
• First Nations. No fees for membership. Collaboration is focused on projects.
• Private-sector & institutions (eg. 3 PSIs). $10,000 per year with options for sponsorships.
• Non-profits. $2500 per year, with options for partnerships or sponsorships.
• Chambers of Commerce. Reciprocal memberships.

Our Model

SIPP is a proven effective model for our region

• Equitable. Apples-to-apples formula - all jurisdictions to have an equal say alongside larger jurisdictions.
• Affordable. Average municipal investment of $1.64/capita, SIPP’s mandate is among the most cost-efficient in Canada (average: $9/capita)
• Cross-sectoral. Public, private and third-sector leaders collaborate and work toward solutions and opportunities.
• Inclusive. Indigenous economic reconciliation as an imperative to regional prosperity.

Outcomes to date

• Efficiency through Leverage. For every municipal $1.00 into operations, leverage $1.63 of fed/prov/private $’s into projects.
• Rising Economy Taskforce. Raised over $8.52M into post-pandemic recovery projects.
• ROI. $38M annual household “payroll” (~700 jobs) = 57-to-1 over investment & 38-to-1 over total operations.
• Indigenous economy. Raised over $1M to support this work. Now engaging over 200 youth & 130 entrepreneurs annually.
• Peer Recognition. Many accolades over the years, but most recent: International Economic Development Organization of the Year (IEDC 2025, Bronze Medal)

---

INDIGENOUS PROSPERITY CENTRE: CURRENT FOCUS

• INDIGENOUS TOURISM: ITBC partnership, engagement and events. Juan de Fuca Corridor Project ongoing. Creative Tourism project with Aunty Collective.
• YOUTH ENGAGEMENT: Regional Youth Conference April 25 & 26 at Songhees Wellness Centre. 200 youth and 50 volunteers, workshop facilitators, elders and leaders from 10 South Island First Nations, Metis Nation and VNFC. 2nd annual conference planned for spring ‘26. Delivered the 2nd Annual Blue Economy Day Camp in August, engaging 20 youth from 8 South Island Nations in marine stewardship and entrepreneurship.
• SONGHEES LABOUR MARKET STUDY: In partnership with Songhees Development Corporation, Royal Roads University and University of Victoria Indigenous Economies Research Cluster. Resource Assessment, Needs Assessment and Market Analysis. Nearing Completion - Template for other Nations.
• SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGY: 1 year term marketing position to grow reach and ensure our story reaches broader audience in the region and beyond.

INDIGENOUS PROSPERITY CENTRE: COMING UP

• PROCUREMENT PROJECT: Developing Municipal Indigenous Procurement Workshop with and for local government. Created Federal Procurement Roadmap and Guidebook, Corporate Structure Decision Tree as tools for Indigenous businesses to access procurement opportunities. Exploring Indigenous Business Match program with PSPC.
• NEW IPC WEBSITE: Gathering content to bring data visualization map to life, and promote Indigenous businesses and success stories, resources and tools for reconciliation and entrepreneurship, and success stories for businesses, governments and communities. (multiple audiences) Website development underway, to launch March 2026.
• INDIGENOUS BUSINESS SUPPORT: South Island Indigenous Business Directory reached over 120 members. Will grow with inclusion in new IPC interactive web platform.
• KELP REFORESTATION PILOT PROJECT: Conducting feasibility assessment for a project with South Island First Nation, NIC, and Ocean Seeder Collective to re-establish kelp forests with a youth learning component.

Building Pacific Canada as a global hub for the blue economy

COAST's Four Pillars

Venture Support

• Pathway to public and private investment
• Global strategic partnerships
• Incubator & accelerator programming, including Canada's blue economy accelerator, Blue Action Canada
• Sector-specific innovation challenges

Training and Workforce Development

• Library of courses specific to the Blue Economy
• Partnering with training providers
• Microcredentials and upskilling
• Career pathways
• Lunch N Learns

Facilities and Equipment

• Coworking, meeting, and event space in BC (Vancouver and Victoria to date)
• Specific testing and demonstration facilities for:
  • Ocean energy and marine decarbonization
  • Marine autonomy
  • Ocean intelligence

Ecosystem Development

• COAST Mixers and Conferences
• COAST Talks Podcasts
• Ecosystem and Project Partnerships
• Engagement and outreach

COAST's Impact

• 551 members including 146 blue economy organizations
• 7,000 square feet of coworking and community space - Ocean Innovation Hub
• 120 companies supported through programs offered by COAST and partners
• Launched Blue Action Canada – Canada’s only dedicated blue economy venture accelerator
• Launched Blue Pathways – workforce development initiative for coskilling, reskilling and upskilling in the Blue Economy
• 3 hubs being developed to drive testing and demonstration at scale:
  • BC Marine Energy & Decarbonization Hub
  • Ocean Intelligence Hub
  • Marine Autonomy Hub
• 17 partnerships developing global networks and enabling innovation

The Moment We’re In

Greater Victoria is brimming with possibility. We have the talent, creativity and quality of life most regions only dream of. But with an over-reliance on public sector stability and young people leaving at rates not seen in decades, it’s time to reset the story of who we are and who we can become.

Key Economic Risks

(from Rising Economy Taskforce)

• Persistent affordability pressures
• Stagnant productivity and overreliance on the public sector
• Essential worker gaps and a widening skills mismatch
• Commercial districts under pressure
• Disjointed efforts in a shared regional economy
• An obstructive entrepreneurial climate
• External uncertainty threatens local stability and investment

Structure of our Regional Economy

Build on our foundation of regional strengths:

• Highly-educated, highly-skilled workforce
• Stable economic base
• Thriving technology & innovation sectors
• Clean economy & ocean leadership
• World-class tourism and visitor economy
• Public sector, education and health “anchors”
• High quality of life and talent magnet potential
• And many more…

www.ourrisingeconomy.com

Rising Economy 2030

Find the plan here: www.ourrisingeconomy.com

The Process

1. Local Leadership Forum (Nov 2024)
2. Launch Rising Economy Taskforce (Mar 2025)
3. Public Survey + Leaders Survey (April 2025)
4. Community and Business Leaders engagement (roundtables, one-on-ones)
5. SIPP internal research + development of draft concepts (May 2025)
6. Rising Economy Open House (May 2025)
7. Taskforce input + Impact Criteria (June/July 2025)
8. SWOT Analysis + Primary Research Analysis (July 2025)
9. Publish Taskforce Recommendations (Sept 2025)
10. Launch Rising Economy 2030 Plan (Today)

Mission

SIPP is a collaborative regional alliance driving the economic future of Greater Victoria — locally grounded, values-aligned, future-facing and action-ready.

We implement priority projects and initiatives that steer the region toward our four strategic RISE goals: a resilient economy, an inclusive economy, a sustainable economy and an entrepreneurial economy.

Vision

Imagine a Greater Victoria that is not only admired for its beauty and livability but also recognized as a leader in inclusive and future-ready economic development.

Our vision is to build a region where innovators and entrepreneurs thrive alongside local shopkeepers, where Indigenous and non-Indigenous people co-create prosperity, where young people and families have access to good jobs that enable them to afford to build their futures here, and where economic uncertainty is met with conviction, capability, collaboration and care.

RISE Economy as a Strategic Outcome

Rising Economy 2030

The Greater Victoria Possibility Charter

The Possibility Charter

A declaration of hope for our region’s future

Thank you.

Questions?