Watch features and interviews with leaders in business, economic development and community building to find out more about Greater Victoria’s road to economic recovery and resilience after COVID-19 — and creating a prosperous future economy.
Global Health Security — Beyond the Headlines
Dr. Myles Druckman earned rave reviews during Rising Economy Week for his keynote on Preparing for the Unpreparable. Now, Dr. Druckman — one of the world’s foremost experts in global health security and crisis management — returns to our virtual stage to look beyond the headlines at lessons learned during the pandemic and how we prepare for future risks.
Dr. Druckman is SVP and Global Medical Director at International SOS, the world’s leading global health, security and logistics company. He is well-known as an author, media resource and thought leader in International corporate health, pandemic planning and health innovation and technology. Dr. Druckman is co-chairman of theInternational Corporate Health Leadership Council and is an alumnus of World Economic Forum’s Global Leaders of Tomorrow Network.
Ideas + Impact
Where Have All the Employees Gone?
Greater Victoria — and much of Canada — is in a serious labour shortage that impacts everything from healthcare to hospitality. Stats Canada reported over one million vacant jobs in Canada in May, up by over 300,000 since May 2021. Is this shortage the fault of COVID or the result of massive demographic shifts? Or are there other factors at play? This live virtual event, sponsored by Scotiabank, focused on the causes and impact of the labour shortage — and how our region can navigate the labour crunch.
Priced Out of Our Cities
Demographia’s 2021 rankings of housing unaffordability showed Canadians were more priced out of their housing markets than Americans, Brits or even Singaporeans. At this Ideas + Impact, we talked with Mary W. Rowe, CEO, Canadian Urban Institute, and Zita Cobb, CEO, Shorefast Foundation, about the cause and impact of the crisis – and how to create solutions we can actually live with. Enjoy this fascinating, fast-paced discussion with two of Canada’s most innovative thinkers (and doers!) on urbanism and community development.
Re-opening the Canada-U.S. Border – What’s at Stake in 2021 and Beyond?
As an international region, Greater Victoria has long benefitted from a steady flow of tourists, business travellers and goods across the Canada-U.S. border. Then the pandemic put a stop to much of that flow. Now, as vaccines roll out, and the impact of border restrictions on our economies deepens, there are increased calls to re-open the border.
But when and how can we do this — safely and securely? What we can expect in 2021 for our border — and how do we harness science and technology to mitigate the risk of future closures?
Creating a Next-Generation Ocean Hub & Cluster on Southern Vancouver Island
In this fireside chat with Christian Rangen, co-founder of ENGAGE//INNOVATE, we draw on his experience as one of Europe’s top innovation experts to explore plans for a South-Island-based ocean hub and Pacific Canada’s Blue Economy potential.
Telling Greater Victoria’s New Story With Dr. Tim Moonen
In this fireside chat with Dr. Tim Moonen, co-founder of the U.K.-based urban intelligence firm
The Business of Cities looks to successful, vibrant mid-sized cities around the world for lessons on how Greater Victoria can better showcase our innovation and strengthen our global identity, visibility and narrative.
Rising Economy Week 2020
Rising Economy Week Kick-Off: How to Reboot Our Economy
Join Kerry Slavens, Director of Engagement & PR for South Island Prosperity Partnership and Dallas Gislason, Director of Economic Development for SIPP as they kick off Rising Economy Week. They’ll discuss the launch of the region’s Economic Recovery Strategy, the massive collaborative effort behind it and our collective vision for a more resilient, inclusive future.
Connecting Cascadia
Brandon Lee is Canada’s Consul General of Canada in Seattle. He’s the most senior representative to the Government of Canada in the high-tech megaregion. This CHEK News Spotlight hears from both the Consul General and Lisa Helps, Mayor to the City of Victoria, about how the Victoria-Seattle relationship impacts our regional economy.
The She-Cession
The pressures of COVID-19 have hit women disproportionately hard — a third of Canadian women are considering quitting jobs and 1 in 4 U.S. women are reducing hours due to COVID-19 pressures. Our panel discusses why women’s advancement is backsliding, the serious impact of the “she-cession” and how we can create greater economic social equity.
Are Black Swans the New Normal?
In this critical keynote presentation, Dr. Myles Druckman, SVP and Global Medical Director at International SOS — the world’s leading global health, security and logistics company — discusses black swans, global health security and crisis management in an era of increasing uncertainty.
US/Canada Relations After the Election
The past four years have been a challenging time for the U.S./Canada relationship, with the recent border closures further impacting our strong ties. In this fascinating session, Dr. Christopher Sands explores how the outcome of the U.S. election will impact our cross-border relationship and affect the future of bilateral cooperation, policy priorities and trade.
Health, Saftey and, Innovation for Smart Borders
This timely panel explores how we can expand border cooperation and use improvements in technology, processes, facilities and innovation to drive economic recovery and prosperity and ensure the safe and secure flow of goods and people across the Canada/U.S. border.
Where Have All the Women Gone?
Recent research suggests the pandemic is having a disproportionate impact on Canadian women when it comes to going back to work — and the gender gap is widening. In this CHEK News Spotlight we talk to a researcher and a local working mom and professional about the problems and solutions of the“she-cession.”
The Future of Flight
Airlines and airports have struggled mightily during the COVID-19 pandemic as passengers stayed home and air travel slowed. Hear from policy experts, airline CEOs and electric plane manufacturers on the role decarbonization can play in saving and reviving small airports across the region, maintaining vital links between communities.
The Green Recovery
Cleaner air, healthier water, enhanced carbon management and broadened biodiversity not only reduce the vulnerability of communities to pandemics but have the potential to boost economic activity in new directions. Our panel discusses the widespread potential of a clean, green approach to the future and the areas of our economy we need to start nurturing and investing.
The Zoom Boom
With the rise of virtual platforms like Zoom, many knowledge workers are flocking to new frontiers known as “Zoom Towns,” where they can live more inexpensively and achieve a work/life balance which many never dreamed of achieving. Our panel explores how this workforce migration is changing both the cities they are leaving — and the towns they are choosing on both sides of the US-Canada border.
Bringing Back Tourism
Tourism is a key economic driver for Greater Victoria, averaging $2.3 billion in economic impacts in 2018. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted this vital industry in a major way and highlighted the value of cross-border travel and tourism to both local jurisdictions and the Pacific Northwest region.
Profits With Purpose
Throughout the pandemic, we’ve seen resilient companies fare better than non-resilient companies. With record liquidity, we’ll cover what this means for the investment community and the businesses in the highest demand. As we shift to designing our recovery, we’ll explore how investment can be directed for a more resilient future.
Restarting Tourism
Tourism is a key economic driver for the Pacific Northwest (PNW) region, averaging $71.4 billion per year in visitor spending. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted this vital industry in a major way and highlighted the value of cross-border travel and tourism to both local jurisdictions and the PNW region.
The Blue Economy
As Greater Victoria focuses on creating the Ocean Futures Innovation Hub, our panel explores how the West Coast can accelerate its Blue Economy to compete both nationally and with ocean nations like Norway, whose ocean industries account for about 70% of the country’s export earnings, and our own East Coast.
Greater Victoria Rising
Tim Moonen heads up The Business of Cities, a U.K.-based urban intelligence firm that helps organizations make the most of the changing 21st-century relationships between businesses and cities. Tim has advised city and business leaders in Amsterdam, Auckland, Brisbane, Helsinki, Oslo, Philadelphia and 20 other city-regions globally on long-term strategies, governance, investment and development.
Diving into the Blue Economy
As Greater Victoria focuses on creating the Ocean Futures Innovation Hub, our panel explores how the West Coast can accelerate its Blue Economy to compete both nationally and with ocean nations like Norway, whose ocean industries account for about 70% of the country’s export earnings.
The Future of Higher Education
COVID-19 has been both a disruptor of the status quo and a driver of innovation for colleges and universities. Our panellists explore how higher education is responding to challenges of the 21st century, from rethinking skills development to reimagining online learning.
Ambassador Listening Session
In this virtual, moderated listening session, Ambassador to the United States Kirsten Hillman and US Acting Ambassador to Canada, Chargé d’Affaires Katherine Brucker will listen to a series of 2- to 3-minute presentations from up to 10 sector stakeholders on topics related to border issues, supply chains, trade (including USMCA implementation) and bilateral collaboration during COVID.
Wrapping Up #RisingEconomyWeek2020
As Rising Economy Week comes to an end we would like to thank all of the panelists, keynotes, sponsors and anyone else who came together and made this event possible.
For a copy of Reboot, Greater Victoria’s Recovery Plan please see here.