Community Economic Development Plan

Bowen Island Municipality is finishing up the Community Economic Development Plan. The idea is to ensure an island economy that is diverse, sustainable, innovative, and serves the needs of residents, businesses, and visitors.

Funded by the provincial Rural Dividend Fund, the plan discusses a range of short and long-term issues, needs, and opportunities to enhance existing and new businesses and associated employment. The plan is complementary to the objectives of the Bowen Official Community Plan.

We'd like to thank the Bowen Island residents, businesses, and community members who participated in planning for our economic future.

Consultation activities and plan creation were coordinated by Hill+Knowlton Strategies, who worked with local community engagement expert Vince Verlaan, Principal of OD4Impact, and community economic development expert David Van Seters, Founder and President of Sustainability Ventures.

Frequently asked questions

What is community economic development?

Community economic development is “a community-driven process where communities identify and initiate their own solutions to economic, social, and environmental issues to build healthy, economically viable communities. It contains principles and goals based on a grassroots approach to development, where communities choose deliberate actions to influence the local economy and improve the quality of life for its residents.” (Source)

What is the purpose of creating a community economic development plan?

The purpose of the community economic development plan for Bowen Island is to provide strategies by which local organizations can ensure that their community is economically sustainable, resilient, and innovative in keeping with the Bowen Island Municipality Official Community Plan. The plan will also address ways to manage and adapt to COVID-19 from a community economic development perspective. The plan is designed to serve the needs of island residents, businesses, and visitors, ensuring that no one gets left behind.

Does this mean more businesses or tourism on the Island?

The goals of the community economic development plan are to create employment opportunities for all who want it; strengthen the local economy while improving social and environmental conditions; enhance quality of life, and build a healthy vibrant society.

For some residents, this might mean attracting more tourists or more off-island businesses. For others, it might mean fewer tourists spending more money, and a focus on growing and supporting existing local businesses.

It will be important for residents, businesses, and other community members to participate in the consultation process to create a community economic development plan for Bowen Island that is beneficial to the whole community.

 When did this project take place?

Initial planning for the creation of a Community Economic Development Plan for Our Sustainable Future began in 2019, with a Phase 1 report being completed in March 2020. Work was suspended for most of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and resumed in February 2021 with a series of community consultations. A completed plan will be presented to municipal council for their final consideration In November 2021.

How did people participate in this project?

There were three major community input activities.

In the first activity, a questionnaire covering 14 sub-topics garnered over 185 responses, providing feedback and opinions about current economic opportunities on Bowen Island, as well as our economic future.

For the second activity, invited stakeholders and as many community members as possible had the opportunity to discuss five specific topics in Focus Groups designed by Hill & Knowlton Strategies. The topics, including cross-cutting themes for these workshops were:

1. Health & Wellness
2. Food System
3. Knowledge Sector
4. Strategic Tourism
5. Commercial & Industrial

In these workshops, we focused on areas of great potential, but we also discussed the cross-cutting priorities and other topics and ideas you've provided.

The third activity was a Digital Town Hall on Wednesday, June 23, that provided everyone a chance to comment on emerging directions for a new Community Economic Development Plan.

How were the topics for the focus groups and town hall determined?

In March of 2020, Council received a Phase 1  Findings Report for this project based on research including existing BIM plans, surveys and studies, along with census data, comparator community research, and other references. Based on this report, in January 2021 our H&K consultants created an online survey featuring 13 themes. 185 Bowen Islanders completed the survey (link to survey summary). From the input gathered, five topic areas to focus on were identified, along with five cross-cutting priorities. Each topic was briefly summarized in a backgrounder provided to participants prior to the 90-minute online Focus Group. After analyzing the comments from the Focus Groups, our consultants determined that the next engagement event, the Digital Town Hall, would focus on three areas that particularly needed further exploration: Responsible Tourism, Light Industry, and open-ended feedback-gathering from participants on their priorities. Substantial time for questions and comments from residents on their priorities will also be a part of this Town Hall. Find more project information on the CEDC page. 

A lot has changed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. How do we think about the future when we’re trying to get by day-to-day.

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted all of us on Bowen Island. As we start to rebuild, it will be important to think carefully about how we can create a more resilient Bowen Island with opportunities for economic development that benefit the entire community.

How will the new CED Plan address problems created by COVID-19?

Community Economic Development is a way to plan and act over a long period of time to empower a community to take charge of its own future. While it is not a quick fix to solve an immediate crisis, COVID-19 has created new challenges and opportunities to build a resilient Bowen Island economy that benefits all residents.

Who coordinated this project?

Hill+Knowlton Strategies was selected through a competitive process to run Phases 2 and 3 of the project titled “A Bowen Island Community Economic Development Plan: Community Engagement and Formal Plan Development”. Hill+Knowlton worked with local experts from OD4Impact.com and Sustainability Ventures.

How was this project funded?

This project was funded by a grant provided by the provincial Rural Dividend Fund.

What happens to the information I provided?

The consulting team for the project collected and summarized participant input shared online, by paper, or in-person as the project progressed. Comments were anonymized.

I would like to speak to someone directly. Who should I contact?

Please contact Stef Shortt, Community Economic Development Liaison at sshortt@bimbc.ca or 604-947-4255