Greater Victoria, like the rest of the world, is facing the economic repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s why South Island Prosperity Partnership (SIPP) convened the Rising Economy Taskforce in April to accelerate regional economic recovery and create the resiliency to withstand future economic shocks.
The Rising Economy Taskforce is pleased to launch Reboot: Greater Victoria’s Economic Recovery Plan 2020-2022. This report, developed with input from 12 sector-focused committees and extensive consultation over the last several months, captures the top priority actions that can help our region in the short-term (0-6 months), intermediate-term (6-18 months) and help move our region towards increased resiliency against future shocks (18-24+ months)
Find the committee reports and a full list of taskforce and committee members below
Monitoring Economic Recovery
The taskforce will monitor key indicators each month through an economic recovery dashboard. This dashboard is publicly available and helps us all understand the impact that the pandemic has had on our region’s economy and how our region’s recovery is taking shape.
Sign up to receive the monthly updates by email by visiting the dashboard page!
Updates and Reports
Rising Economy Taskforce – Committee Reports – August 27:
Agriculture, Education, Inclusive Economy, Indigenous Economy, Ocean and Marine, Real Estate and Construction, Retail Services and Restaurants, Tech and Advanced Manufacturing, Tourism Arts Culture Sports and Recreation, Transportation.
Rising Economy Taskforce – Full Committee Reports August 27
Rising Economy Taskforce – Q&A July 7
Rising Economy Taskforce – Q&A June 2
Rising Economy Community Member Check-in: March 2021
Taskforce Structure and Timelines
Members of the taskforce were given detailed Terms of Reference that explore the various scenarios that could require their involvement for the next few months, or as long as 18 months. The taskforce will be informed by public feedback and also through 11 sector based committees to ensure all sectors of the economy are heard from. You can read the recent media coverage here.
The Members of the Taskforce Include:
Chair
Emilie de Rosenroll
CEO, SIPP
Vice Chair
Frank Bourree
Bourree and Associates
Craig Norris
CEO, Victoria International Marina
SIPP Board Chair
Christina Clarke
CEO, Songhees Devco
SIPP Board member
Mandy Farmer
CEO, Accent Inns
John Wilson
CEO, Wilson Group
Bruce Williams
CEO, Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce
Gordon Fyfe
CEO & Chief Investment Officer, BC Investment Management Corporation (BCI)
Carol-Anne Hilton
CEO, Indigenomics Institute
Dr. Murray Fyfe
Medical Officer of Health (South Island), VIHA
Captain (Navy) Sam Sader
Base Commander, CFB Esquimalt
Dave Corey
Executive Officer, VREB
Ruth Mojeed
Founder and CEO | The Inclusion Project
Paul Nursey
CEO, Destination Greater Victoria
Robert Jawl
Managing Director, Jawl Properties
Cliff McNeil-Smith
Mayor of Sidney
Rasool Rayani
Investor, Entrepreneur, Business Owner
Lisa Helps
Mayor of Victoria
Jennifer Vornbrock
Community and Government Relations, UVic
SIPP Board member
Steve Pearce
Board President, Think Local First
Julie Lawlor
Executive Director, Westshore Chamber of Commerce
Gerry Salembier
Assistant Deputy Minister, BC Region at Western Economic Diversification
Erinn Pinkerton
CEO, BC Transit
Jamie Marshall
Vice President, Business Development & Innovation, BC Ferries
Chief Gordon Planes
T’Sou-ke Nation
Colin Plant
CRD Board Chair
Sandra Richardson
CEO, Victoria Foundation
Geoff Dickson
President & CEO, Victoria International Airport
Dan Ruscheinski
Senior Director, Esri Canada
Steve Wellburn
Partner, Private Enterprise and Professionals, MNP
Nikki Macdonald
Consultant, Adjunct Professor, UVic
Mitzi Dean
MLA Esquimalt-Metchosin
Doug Kobayashi
Colwood Councillor
Zac de Vries
Saanich Councillor
Ken Armour
Esquimalt Councillor
Sherri Bell
President, Camosun College
Jamie Cassels
President and Vice Chancellor, UVic
Dan Gunn
CEO, VIATEC
Jeremy Meckler
Regional Manager, Community Business, Vancity
Tina Fang
Chair of the Canadian Migration Institute
SIPP Board member
Taskforce subcommittee members include:
Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation
Frank Bourree (Co-Chair)
CEO | Bourree and Associates
Dallas Gislason (Co-Chair)
Director of Economic Development | South Island Prosperity Partnership
Paul Nursey
CEO | Destination Greater Victoria
Mandy Farmer
CEO | Accent Inns
Deirdre Campbell
Managing Director | Beattie Tartan Integrated
Robert Bettauer
CEO | PISE (Pacific Institute of Sport Excellence)
Franz Lehrbass
Executive Director | Royal & McPherson Theatres Society
Kathryn Lauren
CEO | Victoria Symphony
Lisa Nordstrom
General Manager | Sidney Pier Hotel
Ian Robertson
CEO | Greater Victoria Harbour Authority
Nick Blasko
Founder | Atomique Productions
Jon Tupper
Director | Art Gallery of Greater Victoria
Kegan McFadden
Executive Director | Victoria Arts Council
Kathleen Gilbert
Executive Director | Vancouver Island South Film & Media Commission
Oceans and Marine
Craig Norris (Co-Chair)
CEO | Victoria International Marina
Dallas Gislason (Co-Chair)
Director of Economic Development | South Island Prosperity Partnership
Alex Rueben
Executive Director | ABCMI
Sonterra Ross
Manager of Business Development & Operations | Seaspan
Sage Berryman
CEO | Ralmax
Captain (Navy) Sam Sader
Base Commander | CFB Esquimalt
Mike Whalley
CEO | Babcock Canada
Kate Moran
President | Ocean Networks Canada
Brook Castelsky
CEO | Oak Bay Marine Group
Ian Robertson
CEO | Greater Victoria Harbour Authority
Inclusive Economy
Ruth Mojeed (Co-Chair)
Founder and CEO | The Inclusion Project
Jacques Van Campen (Co-Chair)
Director of Innovation | South Island Prosperity Partnership
Elysia Glover
Executive Director | Community Microlending
Carol Ann Hilton
CEO | Indigenomics Institute
Maureen Sawa
CEO | Greater Victoria Library Association
Mark Breslauer
CEO | United Way of Greater Victoria
Tina Fang
Chair | Canadian Migration Institute
Darlene Galant
President | Victoria Labour Council
Diana Gibson
CEO | Community Social Planning Council
Jean McCrae
Executive Director | Inter-Cultural Association
Kristi Fairholm-Mader
Co-Founding Director | Scale Collaborative
Ron Rice (Advisor)
Executive Director | Victoria Native Friendship Centre
Silvia Mangue (Advisor)
Founder & Manager | Kulea Culture Society o/a Colourful Business
Real Estate and Construction
Suzanne Bradbury (Co-Chair)
Managing Director | Fort Street Properties
Emilie de Rosenroll (Co-Chair)
CEO | South Island Prosperity Partnership
Kathy Whitcher (Co-Chair)
Executive Director | UDI
John Knappett
President | Knappett Construction
Reed Kipp
CEO | Devon Properties
Rory Kulmala
CEO | Vancouver Island Construction Association
Ed Geric
President & CEO | Mike Geric Construction
My Phung
Principal / Appraiser | Phung Horwood
Dave Corey
Executive Officer | Victoria Real Estate Board
Kaye Melliship
Executive Director | Greater Victoria Housing Society
Tyler Dolan
Managing Director | Colliers
Robert Jawl
Managing Director | Jawl Properties
Travel and Transportation
John Wilson (Co-Chair)
CEO | Wilson Group
Dallas Gislason (Co-Chair)
Director of Economic Development | South Island Prosperity Partnership
Troy Macdonald
Director of Sales | Helijet
Geoff Dickson
CEO | Victoria International Airport
Randy Wright
CEO | Harbour Air
Larry Stevenson
CEO | Island Corridor Foundation
Captain Jamie Marshall
Vice President of Business Development & Innovation | BC Ferries
Greg Hill
Manager, Corporate Strategy & Performance | BC Transit
Patrick Nangle
CEO | Modo
Technology and Advanced Manufacturing
Dan Gunn (Co-Chair)
CEO | VIATEC
Jacques Van Campen (Co-Chair)
Director of Innovation | South Island Prosperity Partnership
Dan Rucheinski
Senior Director | Esri Canada
Jerome Etwaroo
Associate Director of Coast Capital Innovation Centre | University of Victoria
Sarah Gulbrandsen
President & COO | Ring Partner
Scott Dewis
Chief Visionary Officer | RaceRocks
Alan Winter (Advisor)
Former Innovation Commissioner
Corina Ludwig (Advisor)
President | Function Fox
Agriculture, Food and Beverage
David Nicholls (Co-Chair)
General Manager & Co-Owner | Vancouver Island Brewing
Jacques van Campen (Co-Chair)
Director of Innovation | South Island Prosperity Partnership
Linda Geggie
Executive Director | CRFAIR
Kristin Needham
Owner | Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse
Steve Pearce
Board President | Think Local First
Mike Murphy
Owner | 10 Acre Bistro
Lindsay Dault
Owner | Country Bee Honey Farm
Candice Appleby
Executive Director | Small Scale Food Processors Association
Patricia Reichert
Food Systems Specialist | Closing the Supply Gap
Bill Collins (Advisor)
President | Cascadia Seaweed
Retail, Services and Restaurants
Calen McNeil (Co-Chair)
Owner | Big Wheel Burger & Zambris
Dallas Gislason (Co-Chair)
Director of Economic Development | South Island Prosperity Partnership
Denny Warner
Executive Director | Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce
Chris Edley
Chair | Esquimalt Chamber of Commerce
Jeff Bray
Executive Director | Downtown Victoria Business Association
Steve Pearce
Board President | Think Local First
Megan Shaw
Executive Director | Sidney BIA
Martin Cownden
Board Chair | Oak Bay BIA
Karen Mason
President | Sooke Region Chamber of Commerce, Sooke BIA
Julie Lawlor
Executive Director | Westshore Chamber of Commerce
Bruce Williams
CEO | Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce
Al Hasham
CEO | Maximum Courier
Darlene Holstein
General Manager | The Bay Centre
Indigenous Economy
Christina Clarke (Co-Chair)
CEO | Songhees Nation DevCo
Jacques van Campen (Co-Chair)
Director of Innovation | South Island Prosperity Partnership
Chief Russ Chips
Chief | Sci’anew (Beecher Bay) First Nation
Josh Handysides
CAO | Malahat Nation
Ron Rice
Executive Director | Victoria Native Friendship Centre
Jeff Ward
CEO | Animikii Indigenous Technology
Education and Skills Development
Jennifer Vornbrock (Co-Chair)
Community & Government Relations | University of Victoria
Emilie de Rosenroll (Co-Chair)
CEO | South Island Prosperity Partnership
Geoff Wilmshurst
Vice President of Partnerships | Camosun College
Richard Gale
Director of Innovation at Camosun Innovates | Camosun College
Pedro Márquez
Vice President of Research, International, Marketing & Business Development | Royal Roads University
Zoe Macleod
Director of Professional and Continuing Studies | Royal Roads University
Finance and Capital
Rasool Rayani (Co-Chair)
Investor, Entrepreneur & Business Owner
Mark Lovick
Vice President South Island Region | RBC
Kendall Gross
CEO | Island Savings
Jack Watson
Relationship Manager | TD Bank
Jacky Weber
Manager of Commercial Banking | CIBC
Jeremy Meckler
Regional Manager | Vancity
Nicole Gervais
Regional Manager of Payments & Cash Management | Coast Capital Savings
Gordon Fyfe
CEO | BCI
Paul Lacerte
Managing Partner | Raven Capital Partners
Municipal Partners Committee
Ken Williams (Co-Chair)
Mayor | District of Highlands
Ken Armour (Co-Chair)
Councillor | Township of Esquimalt
Lisa Helps
Mayor | City of Victoria
Cliff McNeil-Smith
Mayor | Town of Sidney
John Ranns
Mayor | District of Metchosin
Maja Tait
Mayor | District of Sooke
Geoff Orr
Mayor | District of North Saanich
David Screech
Mayor | Town of View Royal
Colin Plant
Board Chair | CRD
Zac De Vries
Councillor | District of Saanich
Doug Kobayashi
Councillor | City of Colwood
Niall Paltiel
Councillor | District of Central Saanich
Hazel Braithwaite
Councillor | District of Oak Bay
Mike Hicks
Director | Juan de Fuca Electoral District