The South Island Prosperity Partnership (SIPP) will be honoured at the prestigious International Economic Development Council's annual conference in Detroit, Mich. in September 2025, after receiving two awards for their initiatives to strengthen Greater Victoria's economy.
Among the awards SIPP will be taking home is the Gold Award for Special Purpose Website for populations between 200,000 and 500,000 for Victoria Rising, a platform for business and talent attraction.
They're also taking the Bronze Award for Economic Development Organization of the Year for populations between 200,000 and 500,000, which recognizes SIPP’s collaborative model and its ability to align partners around a shared vision of economic development, they're first time winning in this "major global category."
"[SIPP] 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, in a news release. “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.”
Earlier this year, SIPP created the Rising Economy Task Force 2.0 to identify economic vulnerabilities in the city, which resulted in a report being drawn up showing a 47 per cent increase in single-family home prices since 2019, along with a recommended living wage that has risen 30 per cent in just a few years.
Additionally, between 2019 and 2024, public sector job growth outpaced the private sector, with 17,400 new jobs compared to 14,400. Victoria’s average GDP per worker — the value each worker contributes to the economy — is $101,000, compared to the Vancouver Island average of $110,000 and the provincial average of $162,000.
“We share this recognition with our members, including municipal partners, First Nations and leading business, academic and non-profit organizations. Each plays a vital role in telling Greater Victoria’s story and driving our region toward achieving our vast economic potential. This recognition for both our collaborative model and the Victoria Rising platform reinforces what we already know: Greater Victoria is a hub of innovation, creativity and boundless potential – and we’re just getting started," noted Aaron Stone, CEO of SIPP, in the release.
SIPP was formed in 2016 as a regional economic development alliance that comprises nine municipalities, nine First Nations, five chambers of commerce, three post-secondaries and more of the region’s leading businesses and nonprofits.
