Register for the Economic Summit Today!

The 17th Annual State of The Island Economic Summit will take place on October 25 & 26 at Vancouver Island Conference Centre in Nanaimo, BC.

Register here!

“VIEA’s ‘State of the Island’ Economic Summit has always been a go-to event for Scale Collaborative. The Summit is always well organized and has so many session options to choose from. And mostly, we appreciate the opportunity to connect with people from across Vancouver Island who care about building a local, thriving and resilient economy.” – Kristi Fairholm Mader, Director, Scale Collaborative

Session Spotlight: Indigenous Business and Economic Development: Achievements, Reflections, and Future Directions

In this discussion, we bring together Indigenous business and economic development leaders to shed light on the inspiring successes, collaborative partnerships, and persistent challenges faced by Indigenous communities in the realm of economic growth.

Join us as we amplify the voices and experiences of Indigenous business and economic development leaders celebrating their achievements and learning from their insights. Gain a deeper appreciation for the challenges they confront and explore pathways to sustainable, inclusive business success that honours and celebrates Indigenous heritage and culture.

Moderator

• Ian Simpson, CEO, Petroglyph Development Group

Speakers

• Alison Evans, Co-founder, Gulf Island Seaplanes
• Aaron Hamilton, Operations Manager, Cowichan First Nation
• JP Obbagy, Senior Manager Tourism Development, Homalco First Nation
• Jason Wilson, Manager of Economic Development, We Wai Kai Nation

Thank you to Port Alberni Port Authority for sponsoring this session.

Digital Dashboard Launched at the Summit!

We’re thrilled to unveil a groundbreaking change for this year’s Economic Report, now in its 9th edition. Annually released at the ‘State of the Island’ Economic Summit in October, keynote speaker, Susan Mowbray, Partner in MNP’s Consulting Group, will introduce and provide highlights of the 2023 report in an all-new format: a dynamic and interactive digital dashboard.

The digital dashboard will provide a host of benefits including:

Interactive Interface: Dive into the data with an intuitive interface that allows you to interact with the content, enabling a personalized exploration of year-over-year reports for various sectors, regions, and industries whenever you desire.

Enhanced Insights: We’ve amplified the report’s content with additional editorials and narrative.

Dynamic Content: Unlike traditional reports, our digital dashboard allows for real-time updates throughout the year, ensuring you have access to the latest developments and trends, right at your fingertips.

Join us for this exciting unveiling and embrace a new era of accessible economic data for Vancouver Island.

Island Good Celebration Keynote: Ken Coates – Future Unlimited: Vancouver Island and the Revitalization of Rural and Small-Town Canada

The Vancouver Island Economic Alliance is pleased to announce Dr. Ken Coates, Chair of the Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous Governance program at Yukon University, will be the keynote speaker at the Island Good celebration during the evening of Wednesday October 25th at the Economic Summit.

Enjoy a delicious spread of local Island Good food and drink, hear insights for the future of Vancouver Island and the revitalization of rural and small-town Canada from Dr. Ken Coates and end the evening with music entertainment and a champagne dessert reception.

Ken Coates is one of Canada’s foremost analysts of the challenges and opportunities facing the country. Raised in Whitehorse, his northern background provides original and creative perspectives on contemporary realities. Ken focuses on the impact of science and technology on society, particularly in the world of work. He has deep insights into the issues facing rural towns in Canada and, conversely, the rise of economically dominant city states.