The new chairman of the Vancouver Island Economic Alliance is excited about the society’s role in providing a recognizable brand to attract investment to Vancouver Island.
Nanaimo’s Bill Benoit was elected to the alliance’s top spot at its annual general meeting June 30.
“The global investment community is aware of B.C. and aware of Vancouver, but remains relatively unaware of Vancouver Island, much less Nanaimo or Ucluelet or Port Hardy.,” he said. “VIEA is working to change this. By raising awareness of our Island, opportunities can more easily find their way to the communities on Vancouver Island.”
Benoit is also executive director of the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board, and along with chairman-elect Dave Willie and past chairman Rick Roberts – both from Parksville – brings a broad knowledge of the Island economy to the alliance.
“Business and community leaders are more and more aware that successful economic development requires collaboration and lots of thoughtful, strategic and persistent work,” he said. “VIEA is helping to bring Island people together to share ideas and opportunities while providing a recognizable point of contact for the rest of the world.”
On Oct. 18-19, VIEA hosts the fifth annual State of the Island Economic Summit at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre. The summit attracts more than 400 business and community leaders from all over the Island.
For more information about VIEA and about sponsoring and attending the upcoming Summit, please visit www.viea.ca or e-mail summit@viea.ca.