The Rural Islands Economic Partnership (RIEP) is a grassroots organization born out of the first Rural Islands Economic Forum, held in 2019.
RIEP was officially incorporated as a registered BC Society on January 30, 2020, and early on became a means for cultivating enduring rural island-wide economic partnerships, in collaboration with Indigenous communities, to ensure economic resilience and generate long-term prosperity without depleting natural or social resources.
Previously, there was no formal channel for rural island community voices to unite for information, communications, planning, and advocacy. Today, RIEP is the recognized vehicle for supporting regenerative rural island economies, and for facilitating connections with island settler and Indigenous communities across the Province towards effective economic action.
*Stakeholders Are BC Residents Who Live And Work In The:
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18+ rural islands of BC: including: Bowen, Broughton Archipelago, Cormorant, Cortes, Denman, Gabriola, Galiano, Gambier, Hornby, Lasqueti, Malcolm, Mayne, Pender, Quadra, Salt Spring, Saturna, Texada, Thetis
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Rural and remote coastal communities – from Port Hardy to Tofino, Sayward to Sechelt, and Ladysmith to Sooke
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Indigenous communities with traditional and reserve lands located in these coastal areas
Note: The Rural Islands Values Framework, established in 2022, incorporates the Doughnut Economics Model as a framework for communities to achieve a balance between the needs of people, while also protecting the Earth's life supporting systems.
2025-26 Board of Directors
Francine’s motto: “If not now, when, if not me, who?
Francine Carlin moved to British Columbia in 1999, and with a background in communications, organizational development and change management she established the Business Harmonizer Group, supporting family-owned businesses across Canada and the USA as a certified Family Business Advisor. Soon after moving to Salt Spring Island in 2008, Francine’s interest in business continuity led her to join the Salt Spring Community Economic Sustainability Commission (CESC), where she co-led the ground breaking Rural Business Accelerator program and co-found the Southern Gulf Islands Tourism Partnership.
Throughout her tenure as CESC Chair, Francine championed a strategic approach to building community economic development. Expanding beyond Salt Spring, she led the successful call to include the Southern Gulf Island Region –the rural islands of Galiano, Mayne, Pender, Salt Spring and Saturna– into the scope of the Islands Coastal Economic Trust (ICET). In 2020, along with like-minded islanders, Francine co-founded the Rural Island Economic Partnership Society (RIEP) to further the economic resilience of BC’s rural islands by connecting as a community, sharing ideas, and working together to achieve local socio-economic goals sustainably.
Maria’s motto: “Success is being happy with who you are, and helping to create opportunity and success for others.”
Maria likes to joke about how she peaked early in life by winning a baby beauty contest, but her sustained commitment to creating positive impact throughout her adult life—personally and professionally—suggests otherwise.
Maria holds a joint BA in psychology and business, a diploma in accounting, a certificate in municipal governance, and numerous coaching certifications, including as a professional certified coach with the International Coaching Federation. Maria considers herself fortunate to have had opportunities in her career to strengthen her expertise in administration, project and event coordination, personal and organizational development, culture change and human resources management.
Her passion for people and community began her next career trajectory of coaching people and teams on their personal and professional leadership journeys. Her consultancy ChangeWorks Coaching and Consulting provides people, teams and organizations the skills to create deep, values-aligned, sustained change.
A Gabriola resident since 2016, Maria currently works as the Interim Executive Director for the Gabriola Island Chamber of Commerce, and also sits on the Board as VP. Being involved with RIEP fills a particular interest for Maria — regional representation for BC’s rural islands. “Island collaboration makes anything and everything possible” she has said. Maria's participation in REIP was sparked in part by seeing other RIEP Board members bring their own strengths and contributions to the table to create positive change.
Thandi's motto: “The recipe for good decision making is equal parts imagination, intelligence, and intuition.”
Thandi is a veteran of the Royal Canadian Navy, with more than 10 years of business development, provincial government, and nonprofit work experience. She is also an entrepreneur who started a small business in the Southern Gulf Islands during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thandi is passionate about supporting her community and is actively involved in various volunteer roles, including serving as the President of the Pender Island Chamber of Commerce, and Vice Chair of the Southern Gulf Islands Community Resource Centre.
JP's motto: “There is always a way, you just have to think about it.”
JP has called Sooke home since 2017. He currently works as a consultant with the Sooke Porte Renfew Business Services Coop, the Sooke Region Tourism Association, and also serves on the Steering Committee for the Juan de Fuca Corridor Strategy.
With a career spanning more than 30 years, JP has worn many hats – from civil litigation and entertainment lawyer to regulatory compliance and government consultant, to being a CEO for NPO’s and Crown Corps. JP holds a B.A. in Political Science, a Honours Degree in Sociology from the University of Regina, and a Juris Doctorate in Law from the University of Saskatchewan.
Passionate about supporting young entrepreneurs, JP enjoys helping people navigate the complexities of today’s business world. He’s drawn to RIEP for its presence and cooperation-based strength that’s vital for achieving vibrant economies for the rural islands and rural coastal communities.
Over the years, JP has been honoured with several awards, including the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, Canadian Bar Association Community Service Award, Saskatchewan Centennial Medal, and Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal.
JP believes cooperation creates prosperity for all, and success in life comes down to honour, integrity, and empathy.
Pat’s motto: “Do no harm.”
Pat joined the RIEP Board following his retirement from the Mount Waddington Regional District, where he served as Manager of Economic Development for nearly 10 years.
In a career that spans a decade with the Ministry of Economic Development, as well as experience as an economic and business development consultant, and a developer of motor inns and restaurants in northern BC, Pat understands many of the problems rural communities face, often arising from small scale, lack of resources and cost barriers associated with their remote locations.
Pat believes collaboration makes it possible for separate communities to share problems and develop common solutions for the betterment of all. "Partnerships represent a constituency large to capture the attention of senior political and administrative representatives who can champion solutions." We look forward to working with Pat to cultivate coastal community partnerships!
Our Mission
The Rural Islands Economic Partnership Society leads, inspires, and cultivates sustainable economic resilience and community well-being through collaborative initiatives and partnerships for the benefit of British Columbia's rural islands and the Indigenous Communities who have traditional or reserve lands on these islands.
Vision
A thriving alliance of diverse rural island communities sustained through a united voice; shared values; social, economic and cultural well-being; environmental stewardship; and collaborative strength.
Values
- We practice excellence in leadership and environmental stewardship.
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We walk our talk—accountable, trustworthy and transparent.
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We are inclusive, respectful and collaborative.
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We are tenacious and proactive.
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We are open-minded, innovative & creative.
