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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

That’s a Wrap! Takeaways from the 2023 RIEP Forum

May 23, 2023

Putting the Pieces Together for Healthy Rural Island Communities Over 125 islanders, stakeholders, allies, and representatives from all levels of … [Read More...] about That’s a Wrap! Takeaways from the 2023 RIEP Forum

‘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

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

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

 

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!

There are no upcoming events at this time

In Case You Missed It

08 June 2023

Connection Cafe – 2023 RIEP Forum Resolutions

On April 27, the hosts and participants of the 2023 RIEP Forum came away from the 3-day 'unconference' with a set of statements which were seen to meet the shared […] Find out more »

Zoom,
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 »

> See March - May 2020 Covid Response Roundtables

Let's Get Social! @RuralIslandsPartnership

On behalf of Rural Islands Economic Partnership (R On behalf of Rural Islands Economic Partnership (RIEP), we would like to share that www.IslandCOMEBACK.ca has been officially closed down, and no longer offers Gift Certificates and/or Donations for BC’s rural islands businesses.

Since May of 2020 hundreds of visitors to www.IslandCOMEBACK.ca were able to purchase gift certificates or donate to over 160 participating businesses spanning all of BC’s rural islands and coastal region.

Now, the RIEP Team has moved forward to further address the unique needs of Island and Coastal businesses and non-profits with the establishment of Rising Tide Business Services, dedicated to providing cost effective marketing services and solutions through a rural lens.

We are so grateful for your involvement over these years, and look forward to continue supporting rural economic health and resiliency.

Please reach out with any questions or concerns, we are around to help!

Sincerely, the RIEP Team

#IslandCOMEBACK #BCsRuralIslands #RuralIslandsEconomicPartnership #RIEP #RisingTideBusinessServices #RTB
And that’s a wrap! The 2023 RIEP Forum was a sma And that’s a wrap! The 2023 RIEP Forum was a smash success, and you can learn all about it on our website - link in bio.

AND we're just getting started...moving from words to action!

👉Learn about the 2023 RIEP Forum Resolutions at our first Connection Cafe of the year:

Thursday, June 8
6:00 – 7:30 PM 
Zoom - register for free at https://riep.tickit.ca/events/19810

🤝Connect with the RIEP supporter community

🤔Learn about the Resolutions & process going forward

🧠 Share your ideas on how to bring the Resolutions to life

You don't need to have attended the Forum to participate in its outcomes - join us next Thursday!

Photo: Carla Duffey @limesodaphotography
Wrapping up #RIEPForum2023 with a Q&A with @bcferr Wrapping up #RIEPForum2023 with a Q&A with @bcferries Commissioner, Eva Hage

#BCRuralIslands #bcferries
#RIEPForum 2023 Day 2 continues with a keynote pan #RIEPForum 2023 Day 2 continues with a keynote panel “Working with Indigenous Businesses Through the Lens of Reconciliation”, led by Vancity Indigenous Banking Director Michelle Laviolette. 

Pictured here are panelists introductions, including Ivy Peers who reflects on the full circle nature of her life, as part of her work for the U'Mista Cultural Centre and the 'Namgis First Nation Council in Alert Bay, British Columbia, in particular the reclamation of her people’s culture and language.

Also featured: Kwakwaka’wakw First Nation artist Adam Lewis, Alison Evans of Gulf Island Seaplanes, and Chris Tait of Klahoose Wilderness Resort.
Day 2 of #RIEPForum 2023 begins! Moderator Julie S Day 2 of #RIEPForum 2023 begins! Moderator Julie Sperber of The Vancouver Island Economic Alliance kickstarts our interactive panel “Economic Solutions for Mitigating & Adapting to Climate Change”. 

Thetis Island author Ann Ericksson (“Urgent Message from a Hot Planet: Navigating the Climate Crisis”) grounds the conversation early with an acknowledgement that “the message keeps getting more and more urgent - what so we do?” Quoting UN secretary general António Guterres on climate action: “Everything everywhere all at once.” 

A sobering but also inspiring, mobilizing, and action-oriented beginning to the day at The Haven, Gabriola Island. The conversation — with Bryan Young Transition Salt Spring Society, Michelle Bonner Vancity, author Fay Weller (“Changemakers: Embracing Hope, Taking Action, and Transforming the World”), David Adams THRIVE Bowen, and Councillor Ben Geselbracht City of Nanaimo Local Government — builds from there.

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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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