It has been a year of expansion for the South Island Prosperity Partnership, Greater Victoria’s economic development agency — and that’s good news for the entire region, said CEO Emilie de Rosenroll.
De Rosenroll noted that SIPP officially launched the Centre for Ocean Applied Sustainable Technologies and the Indigenous Prosperity Centre this year.
“We also added three executive directors and doubled our staff to steer that expansion and take advantage of new opportunities for the South Island region.”
At its annual general meeting on June 14, SIPP released its Leadership by Listening: Impact Report and welcomed new board member Robert Mittelman, acting dean, faculty of management, Royal Roads University.
Board chair Frank Bourree also thanked outgoing board members Geoff Wilmshurst and Lindalee Brougham for their service.
SIPP’s 2023-2024 board also includes: vice-chair Jennifer Vornbrock, executive director of community and government relations at UVic; Kear Porttris, owner of Porttris Consulting Group; Susanne Thiessen, assistant professor of Indigenous community development at UVic; Peter Cowan, co-founder Innovation Asset Collective and founder and principal consultant at Northworks IP; Sonterra Ross, director of finance and administration at Beacon Community Services; Tony Payne, senior vice-president at British Columbia Investment Management Corporation; Suzanne Bradbury, co-owner Fort Properties Ltd.; Basma Majerbi, associate professor Gustavson School of Business, UVic, and development lead, Vancouver Island Impact Investing Hub (VI3Hub); and Terry Gunning, senior managing partner at DXC Technology.
“South Island Prosperity Partnership is an example of successful collaboration in action,” says Bourree. “SIPP looks at the South Island economy through a regional lens, knowing that what benefits one part of the region benefits us all, raising us all up to create a future of prosperity.”
WestJet adds Comox to Toronto
The Comox Valley Airport announced the return of WestJet’s non-stop summer service to Toronto starting on June 24 and every Saturday through to the fall.
“Non-stop service really benefits visitors travelling between Canada’s largest city and our community, bringing Toronto within mere hours of our airport,” Comox Valley Airport CEO Mike Atkins said in a statement. “We expect this summer to be a very busy one, and I encourage travellers to book early to ensure the best fares and route options.”
Air Canada’s summer schedule has also increased out of Comox, with additional flights to Vancouver and across North America.
“We are fortunate to enjoy increased service from both of our main carriers again this summer,” said Atkins. “More frequency provides better connections, helping travellers on their way swiftly to worldwide destinations.”
Marketing group wins award
Destination Greater Victoria has won an international award for global impact when it comes to initiatives on fostering sustainability.
The award from Destinations International, which will be presented July 18 in Dallas, Texas, was largely based on Destination Greater Victoria’s four-year commitment to the IMPACT Sustainability Travel and Tourism initiative, which stages annual conferences in Victoria.
Destination Greater Victoria co-founded, and helped pay for and organize the events. Partners are Synergy Enterprises, Tartan Bond Integrated Communications and Starrboard Enterprises.
