Discovery Islands Chamber of Commerce Prepares to Launch New Business Capacity-Building Initiative
Quadra Island, BC — The Discovery Islands Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the We Wai Kai Nation, is pleased to announce Business Upskilling, Innovation, Leadership & Development (BUILD), a new initiative designed to strengthen and support businesses across the Discovery Islands.
Supported through the Province of British Columbia’s Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program (REDIP), the initiative will deliver free, practical training and professional development opportunities focused on leadership, workforce development, business resilience, innovation, and organizational capacity.
This work builds on priorities identified through Quadra Island’s Economic Diversification Plan, Sustainable Tourism Plan (currently in development), and community engagement initiatives.
A key first step is a Business Training Needs Assessment Survey. The survey will gather input from business owners, managers, supervisors, and employees to better understand:
- Workforce and leadership development needs
- Organizational and operational challenges
- Recruitment, retention, workplace culture, and wellbeing priorities
- Preferred learning formats and barriers to participation
- Skills, resources, and supports needed to strengthen long-term resilience and sustainability
Survey findings will help ensure future training opportunities are locally relevant, practical, evidence-based, and aligned with the evolving needs of Discovery Islands businesses.
The results will guide the development of business learning and leadership opportunities beginning in March 2027.
“We want to hear from businesses before we build the program,” said Carol Ann Terreberry, President of the Discovery Islands Chamber of Commerce. “Our goal is to develop practical, relevant learning opportunities that address the real challenges businesses, and their teams are experiencing and provide skills they can use.”
Training opportunities will be designed for business owners, managers, supervisors, and employees and delivered through accessible learning formats that reflect the needs identified through the survey.
The initiative will also help identify and address workforce and business challenges, including recruitment, retention, succession planning, seasonal pressures, and long-term resilience.
By investing in people, leadership, and business capacity, the initiative aims to support stronger businesses, a more skilled workforce, and a more resilient Discovery Islands economy.
Discovery Islands businesses and all their staff are strongly encouraged to participate in the survey and help shape the future of business learning and leadership across the Islands.
Media Contact
Carol Ann Terreberry
Discovery Islands Chamber of Commerce
admin@dicc.ca