Scott Andrews, Principal at Earnscliffe, came over on a ferry in the summer of 2017 for a media relations job at the B.C. Legislature. He never looked back. Nine years later, he’s one of SIPP’s newest board members, and in his profile, he talks about why he thinks Greater Victoria has been too modest about its own economic potential and what a perfect day here looks like with two kids on the back of an e-bike.
Q1. What first brought you to Greater Victoria — and what keeps you here?
In the summer of 2017, the late John Horgan and Andrew Weaver, leader of the BC Green Party, announced a Confidence and Supply Agreement that led to a change in government. Shortly thereafter, I was offered a position in Media Relations at the B.C. Legislature, and the rest is history. I jumped on a ferry and never looked back.
Q2. Describe your perfect day living in Greater Victoria.
My perfect day in Greater Victoria begins with loading my two kids onto the back of my e-bike, heading down to Esquimalt Gorge Park, and going swimming. On this perfect day, the kids maintain their composure and we head off to Fantastico Coffee at the intersection of the Galloping Goose Trail and Harbour Road. After returning home and getting the kids down for a nap, my wife and I get a babysitter and make our way to Bray’s, overlooking the Johnson Street Bridge and the inner harbour.
Q3. How long have you been involved in South Island Prosperity Partnership?
I am a brand-new recruit! I joined the board during the Annual General Meeting on June 18, 2026, and I’m excited to get to work.
Q4. What motivated/inspired you to join the SIPP board?
I’ve spent much of my career working at the intersection of government, business and public policy, and I’ve seen firsthand how important it is for communities to have a clear vision for their economic future. Greater Victoria is an incredible place to live, but we also have an opportunity to be much more ambitious about the region’s economic potential. I was excited to join SIPP because it brings together business, government, and community leaders around that shared vision and gives the region a stronger voice.
Q5. When you think about the future of Greater Victoria, what excites you most?
What excites me most is the opportunity to build on the things that already make Greater Victoria such a great place to live while becoming a more innovative, productive and economically resilient region. We have tremendous strengths in areas like technology, ocean and marine industries, tourism education, and the broader knowledge economy. I think there is a real opportunity to connect those strengths and position Greater Victoria for the next generation.
Q6. What do you wish more people understood about Greater Victoria’s economy?
Our economy is regional, not isolationist. The communities across Southern Vancouver Island are deeply interconnected, and what happens in one municipality often affects the others. We need to think of Greater Victoria as one economic region and work together to attract investment, support businesses, build housing and create good jobs.
Q7. Why is it important for organizations like South Island Prosperity Partnership (SIPP) to exist?
Economic development doesn’t stop at municipal boundaries. Organizations like SIPP help bring people and communities together around a shared economic vision and give the region a stronger collective voice. No single municipality, business, or organization can do this work alone, and SIPP creates a forum to collaborate on the opportunities and challenges we share.
Q8. What book, podcast, or idea has influenced your thinking on leadership or community building?
Robert Putnam’s Bowling Alone has influenced how I think about community building. The book explores the decline of civic engagement and social connections in American communities, and the importance of the relationships and institutions that bring people together. It’s a reminder that strong communities don’t happen by accident. They require people to show up, get involved, and work together.
