Aaron Stone - Working Together

Today marks my 1 year anniversary as CEO of the South Island Prosperity Partnership. What a way to celebrate this milestone with the inspiration and optimism we need to meet the moment.

My speech from this morning to open our launch breakfast is below. Let's flip the script ...and CHOOSE POSSIBILITY!

Links in the comments ⤵️

Good morning, everyone!

What an incredible turnout. Honestly, I’m a little emotional. Seeing this many of our region’s top leaders, entrepreneurs, and thinkers gather to celebrate my one-year anniversary as CEO of SIPP… it’s truly overwhelming.

Hold on, hold on. I’m aware that we’re actually all here for the launch of the Rising Economy 2030 Plan and a new, bold and bright narrative for our region. Thank you all for being here. I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate the occasion. Your presence here today speaks volumes about our shared commitment to our region’s future - working together to build A GREATER VICTORIA.

Before we dive into that future, I want to take a moment to reinforce an important acknowledgment. We gather this morning on the traditional territories of the Lək̓ʷəŋən speaking peoples, the Songhees and Xwsepsum Nations, whose deep-rooted history here grounds all of our conversations about prosperity. This commitment is more than just words. These words and our work requires us to commit heart, mind, and action to the ongoing journey of Reconciliation.

I also want to recognize a remarkable leader who embodies the spirit of this important work. Christina Clarke, the outgoing Executive Director of the Indigenous Prosperity Centre. Christina, thank you. Thank you for your fierce commitment, your boundless care, and your unique brand of leadership that has enriched our region and set the standard for what genuine economic Reconciliation looks like. We are all better for your contributions and we look forward to your continued leadership as we work together for a better shared future.

To begin, let's be candid about the current discourse. Our narratives today, are too often dominated by grim headlines; a litany of societal challenges that includes the affordability crisis driving out our young people and the daily heartbreak of a deepening unhoused crisis. We also hear about stagnating productivity, systemic barriers that stifle entrepreneurship and innovation, and how global and local economic factors impact us through business closures and struggling to deliver the essential services we all need. While there are hard truths within these reports, the relentless negativity is a script we must stop reading and perhaps most importantly, stop repeating, if we are to build a better future.

This is why, earlier this year, we convened the second iteration of the Rising Economy Taskforce. I want to pause here to give a massive shout-out to the incredible work of the Taskforce and the dozens of leaders who contributed to the Final Report. Published just 2 weeks ago, it was a heavy lift for everyone involved including our team, and definitely wasn’t a document of denial. It was clear-eyed about the threats we face, from global uncertainty to local vulnerabilities.
But here is the critical pivot. That report didn't just catalogue risk; it illuminated our extraordinary assets and the numerous opportunities to build on these assets, and many of these assets are utterly unique to this place. Our launch today is a big part of our collective response to that report. We are here today, to flip the script.

And the first piece of proof that we can achieve this is right here in this room. SIPP was built on a simple premise: that our region’s greatest strength is our ability to collaborate across traditional boundaries; First Nations, municipalities, private industry, post secondary, and non-profits to achieve sustainable prosperity.

The very existence of the Rising Economy Taskforce is further proof positive of this collaborative model in action. Leaders, like all of you, set aside jurisdictional and competitive interests to focus on a shared regional goal. To build a better future. To build a GREATER VICTORIA.

Let us begin with a declaration of optimism, a declaration of what is possible.

Because if we truly look at Greater Victoria, what do we see?
We see a quality of life and a natural environment that is an unparalleled magnet for talent. We see a strong, progressive culture that values inclusion and sustainability, making us ideal leaders in the clean, equitable, future-ready economy.

We see our post-secondary institutions driving research and innovation, consistently producing the high-value talent that solves global problems. We see our proximity to government policy makers (a unique capital city advantage) giving us direct influence on policy. And we leverage the strength of our interconnected network of networks, a collaborative backbone of innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders that strengthens and supports this entire region.

These are not just good qualities; they are powerful economic assets. We believe these are the foundation of strengths needed to thrive in the 21st century. We are where the future is going, so let us lead the way!

So, how do we use these assets? That’s where Rising Economy 2030 comes in. It’s our blueprint for action.

It leans into the idea that we can overcome many of our challenges and grasp the vast opportunities ahead, but only by working together in positive, solution-oriented ways.

The plan is not simple, but it is focused. We know we can't solve everything at once, so our commitment is to prioritize achievable actions and concentrate our collaborative efforts where we can achieve the highest value returns for the entire region. By prioritizing what is possible and achievable, we can move the dial on our toughest issues and grasp our biggest opportunities.

Our strategy is built around four interlocking goals—the RISE economy (re)defined: Resilient, Inclusive, Sustainable, and Entrepreneurial.

This means we will:
- Build a Resilient Economy by deliberately diversifying away from any single sector, making us less vulnerable to external shocks.

- Foster an Inclusive Economy by embedding reconciliation, championing local ownership models, and working to ensure all people share in the wealth we create.

- Steer toward a Sustainable Economy by scaling our world-class clean technologies and marine innovations, turning climate challenges into economic opportunities.

- Ignite an Entrepreneurial Economy where we foster a 'Culture of Possibility,' streamlining processes and welcoming the risk-takers who will create the jobs of tomorrow.

By focusing on these priorities, we provide solutions and constructive dialogue for our biggest issues, from tackling affordability to creating the high-value jobs that open up opportunities to keep our youth here.

This blueprint demands the commitment of every sector: public, private, non-profit, and First Nations partners. It requires that we dismantle the silos that treat our region as 13 separate municipalities, and start acting, decisively and proudly, as the unified, world-class metropolitan economy we can be.

This is our moment to convert uncertainty into momentum. It is our time to choose boldness over hesitation, and collaboration over competition.
Let the challenges we face serve not as barriers, but as targets. We have the assets, the talent, the plans and the commitment to what is possible.

This plan is our promise to the next generation. Let's make the culture of possibility our shared economy. Let's flip the script, together, and let's get to work!

Consistently buoyed by this work by our Indigenous Prosperity Centre team. So much gratitude for building these important connections between people and our environment. Our economies can grow in service to our values of sustainability and Reconciliation, for the benefit of all.