Economic Summit

Last Wednesday and Thursday, our downtown Conference Centre was host to the Vancouver Island Economic Summit, featuring a number of educational sessions and keynote speakers. Highlights included the annual State of the Island economic report given by Susan Mowbray of MNP, and a global/Canadian economic overview and forecast from Stuart Bergman, chief economist at Export Development Canada. Recent impacts of Covid, inflation, supply chain issues, and worker shortages were all referenced of course. Not all the news was good, but overall our region seems better placed than many to deal with the challenges ahead as an economic slowdown is generally predicted. Thanks to VIEA President Julie Sperber and her various organizing committees for making the conference possible.