The urban planning concept of 15-minute cities emerged to promote convenience, sustainability and community. This city design focuses on daily necessities such as work, shopping, education, healthcare and leisure being accessible within 15 minutes through active or public transportation.

However, controversies and conspiracies have emerged around the concept. Separate fact from fiction for 15-minute cities in this podcast. Find out a few takeaways, including:

• How can 15-minute cities address accessibility?

• How will it impact the region's economy?

• What are common conspiracy theories around 15-minute cities?

Hosted by Dallas Gislason and Ben Wagg (SIPP), our panelists included:

• Carrie Smart | Architect, Cascadia Architects

• Ray Straatsma | Principal Consultant, RStreets Urban Strategies

• Cameron Scott | Manager of Community Planning, District of Saanich

Early childhood education is one of the best tools policymakers have at their disposal if they want to make a more equitable yet growing economy, according to a 2017 Conference Board of Canada report which noted, “For every dollar spent on early childhood education programs, the economy gets about $6 worth of economic benefits down the line.”

For Childcare Month in May, the Rising Economy Podcast talks to childcare providers and experts about the socio-economic importance of early childcare education, how $10-a-day childcare has impacted the system and what changes are still vital to ensure accessible, affordable and well-funded daycare in Greater Victoria. Hosted by Kerry Slavens, South Island Prosperity Partnership, our panelists include:

• Meagan Brame | Director | Saxe Point Daycare

• Wendy Lowe | Executive Director | James Bay Child Care Society

• Eric Swanson | Principal | Third Space Planning

Listen: https://linktr.ee/southislandprosperity

We explore the perfect storm that led to today’s housing crisis in Greater Victoria — from supply chain issues to inflation, high land prices, bureaucracy and backpedalling — and we talk to panellists with bold ideas for solving the crisis.Panellists include:

- Diana Gibson, Executive Director, Community Social Planning Council of Greater Victoria

- Julian West, Founder, UrbanThrive

- Kathy Whitcher, Executive Director, Urban Development Institute Capital Region.

This new podcast series is a feature of SIPP’s Rising Economy branch, which hosts our annual, award-winning Rising Economy Conference.

Canada's healthcare system is facing massive pressure. A perfect storm of challenges has resulted in a lack of family doctors, ER closures and critical bottlenecks throughout the entire system. The crisis is not only impacting our health. It's also hampering our ability to attract and keep talent in the region — and that’s causing symptoms in our economy. Our panel explores the healthcare crisis, its impact and how we create real solutions.

Speakers

• Corrie Barclay, (Panelist), PwC Canada, Partner and Lead, BC Public Sector Practice, PwC

• Myles Druckman, (Panelist), International SOS, Vice President, Global Medical Services

• Dr. David M. Harrison, (Panelist), Physician Lead, Victoria Primary Care Network, Family Doctor

• Bruce Williams, (Moderator), Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, CEO

The pandemic heavily impacted all of us, including GenZ-ers just starting out their adult lives and careers. From the mental health strain of lockdowns to school closures and work layoffs, COVID-19 disrupted the prospects of a generation. Our panel explores how we can help this generation deal with the pandemic's economic and social fallout to give them the best chance of thriving.

Speakers

• Robert Barnard, (Panelist), YouthfulCities, Co-Founder

• Dallas Gislason, (Moderator), South Island Prosperity Partnership, Director of Economic Development

• Ashwini Selvakumaran, (Panelist), Re-Generation, Co-Director, Policy & Advocacy Team

• Isabella Kennedy, (Panelist), The Martlet, Editor-in-Chief

The cost of living continues to rise on southern Vancouver Island, leaving many people to wonder how can we afford to live here? The cost of home ownership has risen exponentially. Food prices continue to climb. The cost of childcare has many parents making difficult decisions. These are just a few examples. Join our Vital Conversation, presented by Coast Capital, about how we can make life more affordable in Greater Victoria.

This session is brought to you by Coast Capital Savings

Speakers

• Kelly Greenwell, (Panelist), Quadra Village Community Centre, Executive Director

• Diana Gibson, (Panelist), Community Social Planning Council of Greater Victoria, Executive Director

• Sylvia Ceacero, (Panelist), Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness, Executive Director

• Kara Udell, (Panelist), Capital Region Food Share Network, Executive Director

• Jimmy Thomson, (Moderator), Capital Daily, Editor-in-Chief

Canada is a nation flanked by 3 oceans and nearly 250,000 km. of coastline, more than any country in the world. Its potential in the ocean economy — or blue economy — is enormous. As efforts intensify to establish and grow Canada's Pacific hub for the sustainable blue economy in Greater Victoria, we talk to a panel of local and cross-Canada experts to explore our future as a blue economy nation, from coast to coast to coast.

Speakers

• Kendra MacDonald, (Panelist), Canada’s Ocean Supercluster, CEO

• Scott Beatty, (Panelist), MarineLabs, CEO

• Jessica Stigant, (Panelist), Ocean Networks Canada, Associate Director of Government Relations and Partnerships

• Emilie de Rosenroll, (Panelist), South Island Prosperity Partnership & COAST, Founding CEO

• Don Grant, (Moderator), Ocean Startup Project, Executive Director

From time immemorial, Indigenous peoples have been creating and developing original designs, songs, artworks and products, such as the Cowichan/Salish sweater, within the context of their cultures, societies, economies and traditions. Unfortunately, too often these works have been appropriated for monetary gain by non-Indigenous people and corporations, with no acknowledgement or compensation for the creators of these works. Using the fascinating story of the famous Cowichan/Salish sweater as an example, our panel discusses the challenges and solutions for recognizing and protecting Indigenous intellectual property.

Speakers

• Ron Rice, (Panelist), Victoria Native Friendship Centre, Executive Director

• Dr. Susanne Thiessen, (Panelist), University of Victoria, Assistant Professor in Indigenous Community Development in the School of Public Administration

• Lou-ann Neel, (Panelist), Kwagiulth and Mamalilikulla tribes of the Kwakwaka’wakw people, Kwagiulth Artist & Arts Advocate

• Joni Olsen, (Panelist), W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council, Salish Fusion Knitwear

• Christina Clarke, (Moderator), Indigenous Prosperity Centre, Executive Director