Collaboration Today, Prosperity Tomorrow

We are grateful to be doing our work on the territories of the Coast Salish peoples.

These are the lək̓ʷəŋən People (Esquimalt and Songhees Nations); WSÁNEĆ Nations - including SȾÁUTW (Tsawout), W JOȽEȽP - (Tsartlip), WSIḴEM (Tseycum), BOḰEĆEN (Pauquachin), MÁLEXEȽ (Malahat); as well as Scia’new (Beecher Bay) and T’Sou-ke Nations.

Our Members are Economy Builders

SIPP members come from every sector and corner of Greater Victoria and the South Island to champion smart economic growth. Our members are business, government and community leaders committed to building vibrant, resilient prosperity by turning ideas into impact through strategic action. They know we are stronger when we work together.

"If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together."

Membership Composition and Mission

• 70+ Members
• 95% Retention Rate

Our Mission To build a more innovative, diversified, inclusive and sustainable South Island economy.

We are Connected as a Regional Economy

Our Constitutional Purpose (Mar 2, 2016)

• Promoting regional, sustainable economic development in the South Island including:
  • Diversifying and strengthening the regional economy
  • Promoting better employment opportunities and increased quality of life for residents of the region
  • Providing support for entrepreneurs and business to increase their ability to prosper and create jobs
  • Maximizing federal and provincial funding for regional economic development
  • Collaborating with initiatives and activities of regional trade associations and municipal economic development officers
  • Raising the profile of the South Island as a location of choice for new business endeavours
  • Creating local economic resilience by prioritizing climate mitigation and adaptation opportunities
• Engaging Indigenous Peoples and First Nations in self-directed economic development initiatives

Why?

So the kids can come home for Sunday dinner.

Our Impact

Maximizing Provincial and Federal Investments

Reboot: Greater Victoria’s Economic Recovery Plan 2020-2022

An economic recovery plan prepared by the Rising Economy Taskforce in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Rising Economy: 3rd Annual

• 2300+ Attendees
• 120 Speakers
• 78 Sessions
• 3.5 million Impressions
• 2,600+ Virtual Session Views
• 60,000 CHEK LIVE Spotlight Views

Local Leadership Day

• Hosted 90+ attendees at Local Leadership Day, including mayors and councillors, to explore critical issues affecting the region.
• Convened 10 Municipal Partner Committee meetings to keep an open dialogue with local elected officials.

Indigenous Prosperity Centre (IPC)

What is the Indigenous Prosperity Centre?

• Promotes self-directed economic development of First Nations and Indigenous Peoples
• Builds bridges between Indigenous and non-Indigenous partners to create prosperity

IPC Special Projects

• Cowichan/Salish Sweaters Intellectual Property Study in progress
• Indigenous Procurement Accelerator (TBD)
• South Island Indigenous Business Directory
• Procurement Readiness
• Understanding Indigenous economic priorities, identifying opportunities and resource gaps, developing partnerships

COAST (Centre for Ocean Applied Sustainable Technologies)

VISION: COAST is Pacific Canada’s hub for the sustainable blue economy.

MISSION: Driving inclusive prosperity in British Columbia’s sustainable blue economy through entrepreneurship, innovation and expansive partnerships.

Ocean Economy

• 70%: Majority of B.C.’s population lives in coastal zone = 300+ communities
• +80: Coastal First Nations
• $21.5B: Ocean economy is vital to BC = 8% of GDP
• 75%: B.C.’s ocean tech businesses located on Vancouver Island
• 3T: The projected value of global ocean opportunity by 2030, outpacing the growth of the broader economy by close to 20%

Building on Our Strengths

• 75% of B.C.’s ocean & marine tech firms are on Vancouver Island
• Canada’s Pacific Navy (CFB Esquimalt)
• HQ for BC Ferries, world’s largest vehicle ferry fleet
• Canada’s Coast Guard
• Victoria Shipyards & Esquimalt Graving Dock (largest drydock on the West Coast of the Americas)
• Victoria Harbour & Point Hope Shipyard
• Top-Tier Post-Secondaries (UVic ranked in top 1% globally)
• Rich R&D environment, incl. Ocean Networks Canada
• Robust technology sector (#1 by revenue)
• Prominent recreational marine, yachting, sailing region

Highlights

• Funding announcements coming!
• Executive Director starting soon
• 120+ associate members
• Ocean Start Up Project: OSP has awarded 5 new entrepreneurs in the ocean space in B.C.
• COAST Venture Accelerator Program

Awards and Recognition

• Victoria Community Leadership Award for Belonging & Engagement 2022
• IEDC Gold Award for Excellence in Economic Development 2019
• IEDC Gold Award in Innovation 2021 for Reboot: Greater Victoria’s Economic Recovery Plan
• Governance Awards, Smart City World Congress
• SMART 2I Community Award, Intelligent Community Forum
• IEDC Gold Award 2021 in Special Events for Rising Economy Conference
• IEDC Silver Award in Education 2021 Partners for Microstart (with UVic and RRU)

Thank You from the SIPP Team!

• Emilie de Rosenroll: CEO
• Dallas Gislason: Director of Economic Development
• Kerry Slavens: Director of PR & Engagement
• Christina Clarke: Executive Director of IPC
• Jason Goldsworthy: COAST Executive Director
• Kieran Buggy: Director of Operations
• Ben Wagg: Digital Marketing Specialist
• Mena Bhavsar: Events Manager
• Ashutosh Sharma: Ocean Ecosystem Navigator