IN THE KNOW:
SIPP lands international awards for economic leadership
South Island Prosperity Partnership (SIPP) has received a Gold and a Bronze award from the prestigious International Economic Development Council (IEDC) for its initiatives to strengthen Greater Victoria’s economy.
SIPP’s Victoria Rising platform, designed to position Greater Victoria as a centre of innovation and entrepreneurship, earned Gold for its ability to attract new business and talent to the region.
SIPP also won Bronze as Economic Development Organization of the Year—a first for the partnership—which CEO Aaron Stone attributes to the group’s commitment to collaboration across local government, First Nations, industry, and education.
“These awards are a testament to what Greater Victoria can achieve through regional collaboration and a unified vision for prosperity,” Stone said in a media release. The recognition puts a global spotlight on Greater Victoria’s economic innovation and exemplifies the region’s “boundless potential.”
SIPP will be honoured at the IEDC 2025 Annual Conference in Detroit, September 14-17.
“South Island Prosperity Partnership is leading the field of excellence in economic development with its Victoria Rising Project and accomplishments as an economic development organization,” said Nathan Ohle, IEDC President and CEO. “IEDC is honoured to present this award to [SIPP] to celebrate both their leadership and innovation in the field. This award shines a spotlight on [SIPP’s] commitment to its community and showcases the significant impact of economic development.”
Dance Victoria has a new General Manager
Anderson Guerrero Gomez is the new General Manager at Dance Victoria.
Originally from Colombia, Guerrero brings a unique blend of accounting acumen and performing arts passion to the position.
Gomez’s most recent role was at the Forager Foundation, where he served as Finance, Operations, and Arts/Cultural Manager for both the Yale Historic Site in Yale, BC and Point Ellice House in Victoria.
He holds a degree in Accounting from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, is a CPA student in Canada and performs with a Victoria-based Latin dance group.
Executive Director Gillian Jones said “Our Selection Committee was impressed by Anderson’s breadth of experience and accomplishments. Complementing that expertise is a deep passion for dance and unwavering commitments to community-building and collaboration that I know will be strong assets as he takes on this role.”
Gomez begins September 8, 2025.
iWIST announces 2025 Women in STEM Scholarships
Sydney Goodwin, Elizabeth Reid and Shukooh Goodarzi are the latest recipients of scholarships from Island Women in Science and Technology (iWIST).
Goodwin, awarded the iWIST Women in Stem scholarship, is an MSc candidate in Biochemistry and Microbiology at UVic, has channeled her childhood experience with anaphylaxis into pioneering research on immunotherapies, aiming to boost patient survivorship in cancer care. She is an active mentor to other young scientists and intends to pursue medical school, furthering her commitment to patient-centered innovation.
Elizabeth Reid, who receives the Shift Woman of Innovation scholarship, is tackling digital isolation head-on. Reid’s PhD work in Computer Science at UVic explores how virtual reality can bridge gaps between online and in-person connections, while her advocacy for safer gaming communities signals a broader commitment to social good. Her academic advisor placed Reid at the top of the 175 trainees worked with over the years reflecting not only her academic success but her focus on service.
Shukooh Goodarzi, MEng, Civil Engineering (Industrial Ecology), receives the Redbrick Woman of Impact award. She came to Victoria from Iran after completing her undergraduate and graduate studies in engineering while fully supporting the Women, Life, Freedom movement. In awarding the scholarship, iWIST said Goodarzi brings a valuable and underrepresented perspective promoting diversity and encouraging women to consider a career in STEM.
The iWIST scholarship program provides financial assistance but recognizes and celebrates the resilience of women navigating traditionally male-dominated fields. It aims to cultivate allyship, promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, develop leaders and ultimately, grow the number of women in STEM.
Province sets ambitious housing targets for B.C. communities
Langford and Courtenay are the Island communities included on B.C.’s latest five-year target list, which has set a goal to build thousands of new homes across ten fast-growing communities.
Totaling nearly 39,000 units, the plan includes more than 14,000 below-market rentals and targets both ownership and rental diversity to better meet local needs.
Langford (2,993) and Courtenay (1,334) are among those receiving tailored targets reflecting 75% of their projected housing needs. Provincial officials say municipalities like Burnaby and Penticton are already leading with innovative policy adjustments, and this new round of targets will help reinforce best practices across B.C.
The initiative, a key part of the Province’s Homes for People strategy under the Housing Supply Act, leverages historic levels of investment and data-driven guidelines to spur rapid development. Since 2017, over 93,000 homes have been delivered or are underway, and the government expects these new targets to further alleviate pressure from population growth and affordability challenges.
FROM THE PAGES OF DOUGLAS:
We dig deep on the numbers to find out how and why tourism packs such an impressive economic punch in Victoria.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR:
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
September 9:Business Leaders Luncheon
September 16: Five Chambers Business Mixer
OCTOBER
October 2 – 3: 2025 4VI Vancouver Island Stewardship Summit
October 26 – 29: Ocean Floor Explore Conference
October 28 – 30: VIEA ‘State of the Island’ Economic Summit
Douglas Weekly brings local business news, insights and community spotlights to keep Victoria and Vancouver Island In the Know. Got a story tip? Email us.
