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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 & Penelakut islands. 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!

Together, we leverage our strengths and deliver meaningful results for all of British Columbia’s rural island communities—as a RIEP member, you can:

  • Get discounted registration for the RIEP Forum, our 'unconference conference' consisting of inspiring presentations where we develop ideas for shared and addressing ways to overcome challenges, and engage in valuable networking and celebration of the creative fabric of our rural island communities.
  • Participate in Connection Cafés, lively topical inter-island meet-ups where you can connect with fellow rural islanders to share ideas, provide mutual support, and strengthen connections.
  • 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 businesses.
Join RIEP

News

‘Unconference Conference’ for BC’s Rural Islands Includes Pledge for Action on Economic, Environmental & Social Challenges

March 9, 2023

Registration is now open for the 2023 RIEP Forum, taking place April 25-27 on Gabriola Island. Organizers of the 2023 Forum, a conference focused on … [Read More...] about ‘Unconference Conference’ for BC’s Rural Islands Includes Pledge for Action on Economic, Environmental & Social Challenges

#exploreBCruralislands Launches October 20

October 12, 2022

The Rural Islands Economic Partnership (RIEP) is excited to announce the multi-media launch of its Fall and Early Winter season #exploreBCruralislands … [Read More...] about #exploreBCruralislands Launches October 20

RIEP Board Director, Julie Sperber, Appointed President and CEO of Vancouver Island Economic Alliance

September 28, 2022

The Rural Islands Economic Partnership (RIEP) is proud to announce exciting news – RIEP’s Board Director Julie Sperber has been appointed President … [Read More...] about RIEP Board Director, Julie Sperber, Appointed President and CEO of Vancouver Island Economic Alliance

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.

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Membership

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

Learn More

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

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”

Upcoming Events - Mark Your Calendars!

25 April 2023

RIEP Forum 2023

The 2023 RIEP Forum is an “unconference” conference for island settlers, Indigenous communities and allies - an opportunity to connect in a relaxed setting, reflect on common challenges and new ideas, and act! Join us on Gabriola Island, this April 25-27th.

Find out more »

In Case You Missed It

18 November 2022

RIEP Forum 2022

BC's rural islanders and allies engaged and deepened connections at the virtual RIEP Forum, held Nov 18-19 2022.

Find out more »
Zoom,
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,

> See March - May 2020 Covid Response Roundtables

Let's Get Social! @RuralIslandsPartnership

The action we have in mind for next month's Forum The action we have in mind for next month's Forum includes keynote & showcase presentations, and interactive panels, action labs, and roundtable discussions on topics like:

🍩Lessons from #Nanaimo Island Values & #DoughnutEconomics
🧡#IndigenousBusiness, #Reconciliation & #Community
🌊#SeaFarming: A Model for the #BlueEconomy
⛰️#Regenerative Leisure Travel: #Tourism as a Social Good
➕...much more!

3 Days of Connect+Reflect+ACT!, - featuring guest speakers representing island businesses and NGOs, Indigenous communities, artists and artisans, and local/regional/provincial gov't.

We're going to put the pieces together - so join us! Register before April 7 to get Early Bird rates: 

RIEPForum.ca
“Putting the pieces together for healthy Island “Putting the pieces together for healthy Island communities” - it’s what RIEP does, and it’s what the 2023 Forum is all about!

Today, registration opened for the 2023 RIEP Forum, happening April 25-27 on Gabriola Island.

👉 www.RIEPForum.ca 👈

The Forum is an opportunity for island settlers, Indigenous communities, and allies to come together to create the future we want for all of BC’s rural islands.

The steps we take at the 2023 Forum—from connection to reflection to action—will inform the economic health, resilience and regeneration of our rural islands 

See link in bio for today's announcement.

#britishcolumbia #islandlife #resilience #regeneration #connect #reflect #act #nonprofit #events #riepforum #risingtidebusiness #explorebcruralislands
Rising Tide Business Solutions gives a warm welcom Rising Tide Business Solutions gives a warm welcome to one of our new clients and RIEP members:  @saltspring_island_cheese

Visit www.SaltSpringCheese.ca to read their story (it's delicious), sign up to the monthly Cheese Club, and check out their cheeses - chèvre, ripened goat cheese, feta, and more. 

Looking to develop your marketing plans? I bet we can help! 

Visit:
www.RisingTideBusiness.ca
The North Island Contemporary Dance Series is back The North Island Contemporary Dance Series is back!!!

March 5 - Campbell River
March 9-10 - Sointula
March 11 - Alert Bay

Presented by @bcmovementarts, this highly entertaining mixed program features @ourocollective, comprised of Canadian and international dance artists whose dynamic works will consider how changes in our urban landscape affect personal memory and cultural amnesia, and how an erased past affects future generations.

https://www.bcmovementarts.com/projects/ouro-collective

Bringing urban and rural together, BCMAS is one of the few professional dance organizations based in, and serving, rural and remote communities in Canada. BCMAS hosts local, national and international dance performances, residencies and associated free outreach activities in tandem with the dance artists presented, to enhance community and artist engagement in culturally under-served and economically depressed regions of British Columbia.

Check out www.bcmovementarts.com and don't miss OURO Collective this March!
This spring, RIEP's 'unconference-conference' retu This spring, RIEP's 'unconference-conference' returns in-person! 

The 2023 Forum is April 25-27 at **The Haven on Gabriola Island** (save the date!) 

Join fellow islanders, local businesses, creatives, community activist organizations, and allies for plenary keynotes, panel presentations, economic sector roundtables, case studies & success stories, action labs, and Connection Cafe networking.

RIEP Forum 2023
Connect ➡️ Reflect ➡️ ACT!

• More Program Announcements To Come •

Watch our social media, or visit RIEPForum.ca to sign-up for e-news!

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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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