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Rural Islands Economic Partnership

Cultivating Resilient Partnerships

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  • Galiano Island: Penelakut Traditional Territory

  • Quadra Island: Wei Wai Kai and Wei Wai Kum Traditional Territory

  • Saturna Island: Tsawout and Tseycum, WSÁNEĆ Traditional Territory

  • Hornby Island: Pentlach Traditional Territory

  • Denman Island: Pentlach Traditional Territory

  • Mayne Island: W̱SÁNEĆ Traditional Territory

  • Gabriola Island: Snuneymuxw Traditional Territory

  • Salt Spring Island: Tsawout Traditional Territory

  • Pender Island: W̱SÁNEĆ Traditional Territory

  • Bowen Island: Squamish Traditional Territory

  • Cortes Island: Homalco, Tla'amin, and Klahoose Traditional Territory

Resilience Through Partnership

The Rural Islands Economic Partnership (RIEP) promotes economic resilience across the rural islands of British Columbia. Together with partners and supporters, RIEP fosters community engagement, coordination, and collaboration to achieve local economic goals sustainably.

Collaborate Regionally, Achieve Results Locally

RIEP offers a platform for inter-island communication, information sharing and collaborative initiatives to address, through a rural islands lens, the economic and social challenges facing island communities through the pandemic and beyond.

Keep the Islands Vibrant

British Columbia’s rural islands are social and cultural gems. They are home to diverse communities of changemakers, innovators, and creators. RIEP serves rural island communities—including Indigenous communities with traditional and reserve lands—on Bowen, Broughton Archipelago, Cormorant, Cortes, Denman, Gabriola, Galiano, Gambier, Hornby, Lasqueti, Malcolm, Mayne, Pender, Quadra, Salt Spring, Saturna, Texada, and Thetis. Our Partnership includes individuals, businesses, organizations, and governments interested in fostering healthy and vibrant communities across the islands.

Explore our Islands by mousing over an icon!

Join RIEP Today!

As a RIEP member, YOU can:
• Participate in the Connection Café, a lively topical monthly inter-island meet-up to virtually connect with fellow rural islanders to share ideas and laughter, to learn something new, to support each other, and strengthen islander connections.

As a RIEP member, YOU can:
• Attend the annual RIEP Forum for inspiring presentations; for discovering new resources; for addressing ways to overcome challenges, for engaging in valuable networking and for celebrating the creative fabric of our rural island communities.

As a RIEP member, YOU can:
• Take advantage of Rising Tide Business Services, offering affordable digital marketing tools and support for entrepreneurs and small businesses to discover new markets for their business, and to provide further benefits for their existing customers.

Together, we leverage our strengths and deliver meaningful results for all of British Columbia’s rural island communities.

Get Started

Member Profiles

Meet fellow rural islanders who have joined the RIEP movement.

Read More

Rising Tide Business Services

Find out how RIEP is helping rural island economies with Rising Tide Business Services.

Learn More

RIEP Forum

News & Resources

Access meaningful local and regional information. Browse rural island-focused resources and find out about RIEP's upcoming events.

Read More

Supporters Circle

We are deeply grateful for the financial and in-kind contributions all helping to build and sustain BC’s rural island economies, culture, livelihoods and collective voice.

Learn More

Rising Tide Business Services

Find out how RIEP is helping rural island economies with Rising Tide Business Services.

Learn More

RIEP Forum

News & Resources

Access meaningful local and regional information. Browse rural island-focused resources and find out about RIEP's upcoming events.

Read More

Member Profiles

Meet fellow rural islanders who have joined the RIEP movement.

Read More

Membership

Join a vibrant inter-island community! Add your voice to an exciting partnership that serves over 18 rural islands of BC.

Learn More

Island Stories

‘Namgis Business Development Corporation has a new look thanks to Rising Tide Business Services

May 15, 2022

The Rural Island Economic Partnership is pleased to welcome the 'Namgis Business Development Corporation (“NBDC”), as an organizational member and … [Read More...] about ‘Namgis Business Development Corporation has a new look thanks to Rising Tide Business Services

The Quadra Island Cookbook Comeback: Good Food for a Good Cause 

December 9, 2021

During the summer of 2021, more than 75 Quadra Island residents came together to taste test over 350 home-cooked recipes created by over 100 … [Read More...] about The Quadra Island Cookbook Comeback: Good Food for a Good Cause 

Living Through the Pandemic on Malcolm Island: “Sisu”

March 5, 2021

Marjorie Giroux of Malcolm Island fills the role of Community Developer at the Sointula Resource Centre Society and is a Rural Islands Economic … [Read More...] about Living Through the Pandemic on Malcolm Island: “Sisu”

Gabriola Farm to Table

Islanders Creating Together on Gabriola Island

February 25, 2021

Julie Sperber from Gabriola Island is the Executive Director of the Gabriola Island Chamber of Commerce and a Board Member of the Rural Islands … [Read More...] about Islanders Creating Together on Gabriola Island

News

#exploreBCruralislands – RIEP’s Sustainable Tourism Initiative Awarded Destination BC Co-Op Grant

June 9, 2022

Being launched as a Pilot for Fall 2022, #exploreBCruralislands will support shoulder visitation for Cormorant, Cortes, Gabriola, Hornby, Quadra. The … [Read More...] about #exploreBCruralislands – RIEP’s Sustainable Tourism Initiative Awarded Destination BC Co-Op Grant

Check out Connection Café Highlights! Jan – May, 2022

June 9, 2022

British Columbia’s rural islands are social and cultural gems. They are home to diverse communities of changemakers, innovators, and creators. RIEP … [Read More...] about Check out Connection Café Highlights! Jan – May, 2022

RIEP Forum 2022 – SAVE THE DATE!

May 20, 2022

"SAVE-THE-DATE" October 19-21st, 2022 Strengthening Connections Across BC's Rural Islands:  Exploring ways to overcome challenges, share … [Read More...] about RIEP Forum 2022 – SAVE THE DATE!

Connection Café: Emergency Preparedness Recap

December 8, 2021

Nov 30 – Connection Café: Emergency Preparedness – Recap From the Frontline: BC’s Rural Islanders Organize For Immediate Solutions To Climate … [Read More...] about Connection Café: Emergency Preparedness Recap

Upcoming Events

19 October 2022

RIEP Forum 2022

Engage and deepen connections with BC's rural islanders and allies via the hybrid RIEP Forum, being held Oct 19-21 2022.

Find out more »
Coming Soon,

In Case You Missed It

31 May 2022

Connection Café – 31 May 2022

Stay Competitive: Biz Tools for Generating Year-Round Revenues. Watch the recording here!

Find out more »
Free
Zoom,
29 March 2022

Connection Café – 29 Mar 2022

March's CONNECTION CAFÉ included Dialogue + Q & A with tourism activity providers & representatives of tourism management organizations exploring how to achieve sustainable tourism. Watch the recording here!

Find out more »
Free
Zoom,
22 February 2022

Connection Café – 22 Feb 2022

February’s CONNECTION CAFÉ featured a facilitated roundtable dialogue + Q & A with rural island farmers, food producers and food resilience champions from Cortes, Gabriola, Galiano, Malcolm, Salt Spring and more!
Watch the recording here!

Find out more »
Free
Zoom,

> See March - May 2020 Covid Response Roundtables

Having an organization that unifies and identifies priorities for the islands is crucial to our community well-being. RIEP will play a huge advocacy, information sharing, and support system role for rural islands to tap into. RIEP understands that island life and islanders approach things differently. Each island has unique qualities, characters and ecologies but our values overlap. RIEP will be invited to the table to represent rural island values, challenges, and desires. The unified voice will have a greater impact.

Julie Sperber, Member of RIEP's Board of Directors &
Executive Director of the Gabriola Chamber of Commerce

Let's Get Social! @RuralIslandsPartnership

Be part of a network of like-minded individuals, o Be part of a network of like-minded individuals, organizations and businesses from across the islands… RIEP fosters island connections that make a difference for you, your business, and your community.

Memberships start at $25/yr and gain you access to this islands-wide movement. Everyone is welcome!

*BONUS* Get free access to the RTB Digital Marketing Hotline when you join RIEP today! 

➡️ Learn more - Join Today at the link in our bio @RuralIslandsPartnership!

#BCsRuralIslands #RIEP #RuralIslandsPartnership #SupportSmallBusiness #BeautifulBC

𝘈𝘤𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘒𝘸𝘢𝘬𝘸𝘢̱𝘬𝘢̱'𝘸𝘢𝘬𝘸 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘰𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘚𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴.
Meet “Rising Tide Business Services” 🌊 Pro Meet “Rising Tide Business Services” 🌊

Providing digital marketing services delivered by a collective of skilled providers from across the islands. With this resource, rural islanders can access ongoing and cost-effective Marketing services designed to meet the unique needs of our local businesses and non-profit organizations.

Book a discovery call via the link in our bio @RuralIslandsPartnership 

➡️ Book a discovery call and learn more at the link in our bio. @RuralIslandsPartnership

#RisingTideBusinessServices #RTB #DigitalMarketingBC #BCsRuralIslands #RuralIslandsEconomicPartnership #RIEP
RIEP’s Sustainable Tourism Initiative has been a RIEP’s Sustainable Tourism Initiative has been awarded a Destination BC Co-Op Grant, with a Pilot set to launch in the Fall highlighting eco-conscious visitation while supporting local businesses on the islands of Cormorant, Cortes, Gabriola, Hornby, Quadra.
 

#exploreBCruralislands will encourage:
 
• Being A Respectful Visitor
• Practicing Conservation
• Eco-Tourism and Edu-Tourism
• Support of local island businesses

Read full article at the “News” link in our bio!

#BCsRuralIslands #RIEP #RuralIslandsPartnership #SupportSmallBusiness #BeautifulBC #CormorantIsland #CortesIsland #GabriolaIsland #HornbyIsland #QuadraIsland

𝘈𝘤𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘒𝘸𝘢𝘬𝘸𝘢̱𝘬𝘢̱'𝘸𝘢𝘬𝘸 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘰𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘚𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴.
With the mission of “Strengthening Connections A With the mission of “Strengthening Connections Across BC’s Rural Islands” - we believe this entirely!
 
#BCsRuralIslands #RIEP #SupportSmallBusiness #BeautifulBC
With respect from the traditional territories of t With respect from the traditional territories of the Kwakwa̱ka̱'wakw and Coast Salish Nations on whose traditional unceded territories we live, work and play - we wish for accountability, reconciliation and healing on this Indigenous Day 2022.

Photo location: #CormorantIsland, #NamgisFirstNation

#BCsRuralIslands #RIEP #RuralIslandsPartnership 

𝘈𝘤𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘒𝘸𝘢𝘬𝘸𝘢̱𝘬𝘢̱'𝘸𝘢𝘬𝘸 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘰𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘚𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴.

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The Rural Islands Economic Partnership Society (RIEP) of British Columbia (BC) is a thriving alliance of diverse Indigenous and non-Indigenous rural island communities sustained through a united voice; shared values; social, economic, and cultural well-being; environmental stewardship; and collaborative strength for the benefit of BC’s rural islands.

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