Rising Economy Conference: Recent Episodes
South Island Prosperity Partnership
The annual Rising Economy Conference, produced by South Island Prosperity Partnership, features leading thinkers and change-makers sharing bold insights about the key issues of our time: economic evolution, energy transition, a climate-resilient economy, housing solutions, healthcare and more.
The urban planning concept of 15-minute cities emerged to promote convenience, sustainability and community. This city design focuses on daily necessities such as work, shopping, education, healthcare and leisure being accessible within 15 minutes through active or public transportation.
However, controversies and conspiracies have emerged around the concept. Separate fact from fiction for 15-minute cities in this podcast.
Find out a few takeaways, including:Hosted by Dallas Gislason and Ben Wagg, South Island Prosperity Partnership (SIPP), our panelists included:
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Carrie Smart | Architect, Cascadia Architects
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Ray Straatsma | Principal Consultant, RStreets Urban Strategies
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Cameron Scott | Manager of Community Planning, District of Saanich
The urban planning concept of 15-minute cities emerged to promote convenience, sustainability and community.
This city design focuses on daily necessities such as work, shopping, education, healthcare and leisure being accessible within 15 minutes through active or public transportation.However, controversies and conspiracies have emerged around the concept. Separate fact from fiction for 15-minute cities in this podcast.
Find out key takeaways, including:
- What is the concept of a 15-minute city?
- How can a 15-minute city address accessibility?
- What effect will it have on the regional economy?
- What is the speculation around the 15-minute conspiracy theories?
Hosted by Dallas Gislason and Ben Wagg, South Island Prosperity Partnership (SIPP), our panelists included:
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Carrie Smart | Architect, Cascadia Architect
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Ray Straatsma | Principal Consultant, RStreets Urban Strategies
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Cameron Scott | Manager of Community Planning, District of Saanich
In our latest episode of the Rising Economy podcast, we explore the $30 Trillion potential of the blue economy with Jason Goldsworthy, Executive Director of the blue economy development organization, the Center for Ocean Applied Sustainable Technologies (COAST).Jason dove deep into the potential of B.C.'s blue economy, explaining how BC is leading the pack in innovative, ocean-related technologies. Emphasizing the role of COAST as a catalyst for building the sustainable blue economy, Jason offered some fascinating insights into our connection to the ocean, such as:
- B.C. has the second largest amount of ocean economy startups in Canada, with 72% year-over-year growth.
- Indigenous communities play a crucial role in shaping the future of the blue economy, with their deep-rooted connection to the ocean and traditional knowledge.
- The blue economy ranges from robots that fix holes in the bottom of ships to reduce drag, to renewable energy creation that removes reliance on carbon-based fuels
Early childhood education is one of the best tools policymakers have at their disposal if they want to make a more equitable yet growing economy, according to a 2017 Conference Board of Canada report which noted, “For every dollar spent on early childhood education programs, the economy gets about $6 worth of economic benefits down the line.”
For Childcare Month in May, the Rising Economy Podcast talks to childcare providers and experts about the socio-economic importance of early childcare education, how $10-a-day childcare has impacted the system and what changes are still vital to ensure accessible, affordable and well-funded daycare in Greater Victoria. Hosted by Kerry Slavens, South Island Prosperity Partnership, our panelists include:
- Meagan Brame | Director | Saxe Point Daycare
- Wendy Lowe | Executive Director | James Bay Child Care Society
- Eric Swanson | Principal | Third Space Planning
Listen: https://linktr.ee/southislandprosperity
We explore the perfect storm that led to today’s housing crisis in Greater Victoria — from supply chain issues to inflation, high land prices, bureaucracy and backpedalling — and we talk to panellists with bold ideas for solving the crisis.Panellists include:
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Diana Gibson, Executive Director, Community Social Planning Council of Greater Victoria
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Julian West, Founder, UrbanThrive
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Kathy Whitcher, Executive Director, Urban Development Institute Capital Region.
This new podcast series is a feature of SIPP’s Rising Economy branch, which hosts our annual, award-winning Rising Economy Conference.
Canada's healthcare system is facing massive pressure. A perfect storm of challenges has resulted in a lack of family doctors, ER closures and critical bottlenecks throughout the entire system. The crisis is not only impacting our health. It's also hampering our ability to attract and keep talent in the region — and that’s causing symptoms in our economy. Our panel explores the healthcare crisis, its impact and how we create real solutions.
Speakers
- Corrie Barclay, (Panelist), PwC Canada, Partner and Lead, BC Public Sector Practice, PwC
- Myles Druckman, (Panelist), International SOS, Vice President, Global Medical Services
- Dr. David M. Harrison, (Panelist), Physician Lead, Victoria Primary Care Network, Family Doctor
- Bruce Williams, (Moderator), Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, CEO
The pandemic heavily impacted all of us, including GenZ-ers just starting out their adult lives and careers. From the mental health strain of lockdowns to school closures and work layoffs, COVID-19 disrupted the prospects of a generation. Our panel explores how we can help this generation deal with the pandemic's economic and social fallout to give them the best chance of thriving.
Speakers
- Robert Barnard, (Panelist), YouthfulCities, Co-Founder
- Dallas Gislason, (Moderator), South Island Prosperity Partnership, Director of Economic Development
- Ashwini Selvakumaran, (Panelist), Re-Generation, Co-Director, Policy & Advocacy Team
- Isabella Kennedy, (Panelist), The Martlet, Editor-in-Chief
The cost of living continues to rise on southern Vancouver Island, leaving many people to wonder how can we afford to live here? The cost of home ownership has risen exponentially. Food prices continue to climb. The cost of childcare has many parents making difficult decisions. These are just a few examples. Join our Vital Conversation, presented by Coast Capital, about how we can make life more affordable in Greater Victoria.
This session is brought to you by Coast Capital Savings
Speakers
- Kelly Greenwell, (Panelist), Quadra Village Community Centre, Executive Director
- Diana Gibson, (Panelist), Community Social Planning Council of Greater Victoria, Executive Director
- Sylvia Ceacero, (Panelist), Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness, Executive Director
- Kara Udell, (Panelist), Capital Region Food Share Network, Executive Director
- Jimmy Thomson, (Moderator), Capital Daily, Editor-in-Chief
Canada is a nation flanked by 3 oceans and nearly 250,000 km. of coastline, more than any country in the world. Its potential in the ocean economy — or blue economy — is enormous. As efforts intensify to establish and grow Canada's Pacific hub for the sustainable blue economy in Greater Victoria, we talk to a panel of local and cross-Canada experts to explore our future as a blue economy nation, from coast to coast to coast.
Speakers
- Kendra MacDonald, (Panelist), Canada’s Ocean Supercluster, CEO
- Scott Beatty, (Panelist), MarineLabs, CEO
- Jessica Stigant, (Panelist), Ocean Networks Canada, Associate Director of Government Relations and Partnerships
- Emilie de Rosenroll, (Panelist), South Island Prosperity Partnership & COAST, Founding CEO
- Don Grant, (Moderator), Ocean Startup Project, Executive Director
From time immemorial, Indigenous peoples have been creating and developing original designs, songs, artworks and products, such as the Cowichan/Salish sweater, within the context of their cultures, societies, economies and traditions. Unfortunately, too often these works have been appropriated for monetary gain by non-Indigenous people and corporations, with no acknowledgement or compensation for the creators of these works. Using the fascinating story of the famous Cowichan/Salish sweater as an example, our panel discusses the challenges and solutions for recognizing and protecting Indigenous intellectual property.
Speakers
- Ron Rice, (Panelist), Victoria Native Friendship Centre, Executive Director
- Dr. Susanne Thiessen, (Panelist), University of Victoria, Assistant Professor in Indigenous Community Development in the School of Public Administration
- Lou-ann Neel, (Panelist), Kwagiulth and Mamalilikulla tribes of the Kwakwaka’wakw people, Kwagiulth Artist & Arts Advocate
- Joni Olsen, (Panelist), W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council, Salish Fusion Knitwear
- Christina Clarke, (Moderator), Indigenous Prosperity Centre, Executive Director
There has been massive growth in ESG and impact investing as conscious investors seek ways to create benefits for society and the planet alongside financial returns. Our panel tackles the big questions: How impactful is this form of investing and does it really have the power to humanize capitalism?
Speakers
- Danica Straith (Moderator) Royal Roads University, Director, Community Learning Partnerships
- Basma Majerbi (Panelist) University of Victoria, Associate Professor
- Jill Earthy (Panelist) InBC, CEO
- Kristi Rivait (Panelist) Scale Collaborative, Co-Founder
- Michael Meehan (Panelist) UK Sustainable Investment & Finance Association, Chairman
As the search intensifies for clean alternatives to fossil fuels — from wind power to green hydrogen — our expert panel takes a deep look at what is both possible and practical — and how we speed up innovation to meet critical net-zero goals.
Speakers:
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David A. Bennett (Panelist) - FortisBC Energy Inc., Director, Renewable Gas & Low Carbon Fuels
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Christopher Kennedy (Moderator)- Pacific Institute of Climate Solutions, Associate Director
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Brad Buckham (Panelist), West Coast Wave Initiative, Co-Director
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Christina Hoicka (Panelist), University of Victoria, Canada Research Chair in Urban Planning for Climate Change
In a time of sweeping societal and economic changes, accentuated by the pandemic, we host a thought-provoking discussion with the presidents of Greater Victoria's three post-secondary institutions about how colleges and universities are evolving to address an uncertain future.
Speakers
- Philip Steenkamp (Panelist), Royal Roads University, President & Vice-Chancellor
- Kevin Hall (Panelist), University of Victoria, President and Vice-Chancellor
- Lane Trotter (Panelist), Camosun College, President
- Nathan Nankivell (Moderator), Research Universities' Council of BC, Executive Lead, Digital Research Infrastructure
The pandemic heavily impacted all of us, including GenZ-ers just starting out their adult lives and careers. From the mental health strain of lockdowns to school closures and work layoffs, COVID-19 disrupted the prospects of a generation. Our panel explores how we can help this generation to deal with the economic and social fallout of the pandemic to give them the best chance of thriving.
Speakers
- Robert Barnard (Panelist)YouthfulCities, Co-Founder
- Dallas Gislason (Moderator)South Island Prosperity Partnership, Director of Economic Development
- Ashwini Selvakumaran (Panelist) Re-Generation, Co-Director, Policy & Advocacy Team
- Isabella McKenzie (Panelist)The Martlet, Editor-in-Chief