Rural Islands Economic Partnership

Cultivating Resilient Partnerships

Community Info Hub

The RIEP Community Info Hub is dedicated to providing businesses, community organizations, and individuals with trusted information, valuable resources, actionable insights, and meaningful connections to support the resiliency of BC’s rural, remote and coastal communities. This page is regularly updated. We welcome your recommendations to info@ruralislandspartnership.ca.

- UPDATED JUNE 2026 -

Local & Regional Community Economic Resilience

  • BC Farmers' Markets: Province-wide farmers' market association and seasonal local food guide — a practical resource for local purchasing across B.C.
  • Buy BC: Official Government of B.C. program promoting B.C. food and beverage products, including a seasonal local food guide and product search.
  • Island Good: Promotes and identifies made-here Island products, connecting consumers with Vancouver Island and Gulf Islands local makers and producers.
  • Rural Islands Economic Partnership (RIEP): RIEP serves British Columbia’s rural islands and remote coastal and indigenous communities by collaborating, convening and networking to share community economic information, resources, and opportunities.
  • RIEP Rising Tide Business Services: RIEP's shared business services and capacity-building program, directly supporting rural island SMEs and non-profits.
  • Vancouver Island Economic Alliance (VIEA): Island-wide economic development organization supporting sustainable growth on Vancouver Island through collaboration, industry promotion, regional economic resources, and annual Summit programming.

Business Resources & Workforce Support

Economic Reconciliation & Indigenous Business Support

Technology Adaptation

  • AI Verify Foundation / Toolkit: AI governance and risk-management reference — a useful resource for organizations adopting AI tools responsibly.
  • Digital Main Street: Active digital adoption platform with tools, workshops, and vendors to help main street small businesses modernize.
  • Innovate BC: Provincial innovation agency offering technology adoption support, pilot funding, and innovation resources.
  • RIEP Rising Tide Business Services: RIEP's shared business services and capacity-building program, directly supporting rural island SMEs and non-profits.
  • TechSoup Canada: Canadian platform providing non-profits, charities, and libraries with discounted software and hardware.
  • There's An AI For That: Practical directory of AI tools organized by use case — a helpful discovery tool rather than an official advisory source.
  • WorkLink Employment Society: Vancouver Island employment services organization providing workforce supports for job seekers and employers.

Housing Support & Rural/Coastal Housing

Climate Action & Environmental Justice

  • Cortes Climate Café: Exploring Zoning & Climate Resilience: Engages the Cortes Island community in discussions about zoning, climate resilience, and sustainable land use through the Climate Café series.
  • Ecotrust Canada: National organization supporting community-led economic and environmental justice work in rural, Indigenous, and coastal communities.
  • Sustainable Gabriola: A network of individuals and organizations on Gabriola Island, BC, committed to community resilience and stewarding our natural resources for the benefit of generations to come.
  • Transition Salt Spring: Local climate action organization providing island-scale resilience, climate action, and sustainability resources.

Food Security

  • Food Resilience Alliance (SGI CRC): Official SGI Community Resources page for the Food Resilience Alliance — regional food and agriculture collaboration across the Southern Gulf Islands.
  • Gabriola Food Security: Supports community food security through initiatives such as the community garden, food bank, and nutrition programs to ensure access to healthy, local food.
  • Galiano Club: Provides access to fresh, locally grown food through initiatives like the community garden, food distribution programs, and educational workshops
  • Gulf Islands Food Co-op: Non-profit community service co-op supporting food producer and local food resilience across Pender, Mayne, Galiano, and Saturna Islands.
  • Marine Plan Partnership (MaPP): Established collaborative marine planning partnership between Indigenous and provincial governments for coastal and marine stewardship.
  • Regenerative Sea Farming: Promotes sustainable fishing practices and supports local fishers across the Southern Gulf Islands, enhancing food security and marine stewardship.
  • Salt Spring Island Farmland Trust: Official trust site supporting farmland protection and food security through preservation of agricultural land on Salt Spring Island.
  • Southern Gulf Islands CESC – Food & Agriculture: CESC page featuring the SGI Growers Network, food and agriculture reports, and regional food producer priorities.

The Arts

  • ArtCraft is a seasonal gallery and shop located in historicMahon Hall on Salt Spring Island, showcasing the work every Summer and Winter of 100+ artists and crafts people from across the islands
  • BC Arts Council: Official provincial arts funding agency offering searchable grant programs for B.C. artists and organizations.
  • Creative BC: Provincial creative-sector organization supporting music, film, publishing, and interactive media industries with grants and resources.
  • Creative Coast: A collective of artists, cultural organizations, and regional leaders across Vancouver Island and the Coast reimagining the future of the arts sector.
  • The Hearth On Bowen Island: The Hearth Arts on Bowen operates as a non-profit arts organization on Bowen Island, supporting a variety of art forms including visual, performing, literary, theatre and more.
  • Hornby Island Arts: Hornby Arts delivers programs with broad participation including approximately 90 events a year. Our work improves local prosperity and social and environmental solidarity. We celebrate our artists and their inestimable contributions to our community’s values and institutions.
  • Ptarmigan Arts: A community arts organization based on Pender Island, BC that delivers arts programs, workshops and events to the Southern Gulf Islands and Greater Victoria.
  • Salt Spring Arts: SSAC provides opportunity for creative growth by supporting participation in the Arts, through education, programming, advocacy and by linking Salt Spring arts and artists beyond our shores
  • Yellowhouse Art Centre – Inspiring Creativity on Galiano Island: Offers a vibrant space for local artists and the community to engage in art through exhibitions, workshops, and cultural events

Tourism Support

  • Destination BC: Provides Tourism research, destination development and provincial tourism resources
  • Indigenous Tourism BC: Official Indigenous tourism organization for B.C.; includes visitor and corporate/resource sites
  • SGI Tourism Partnership  Supports sustainable tourism management across the Southern Gulf Islands by fostering community partnerships and enhancing the visitor experience

Community Health & Well-Being