Highlights of Celebrating 5-years of Island Good at the ‘State of the Island’ Economic Summit

Celebrating five years of Island Good at the Summit was an incredible success, drawing nearly 600 registered delegates. The day started with coffee and Hornby Organic Bars for snacks and later the festivities began with an Island Good social hour featuring Longwood Brewing and 40 Knots Wines, alongside a special Island Good cocktail crafted with Wayward Gin and Yellow Point Cranberries. Charcuterie boards, made by BC Coastal Grilling Planks, were filled with Island products, including treats from Forest for Dinner, Jenny Marie’s Crackers and Paradise Island Cheese. A special thanks to Mensch Kitchen and Catering for curating these delightful appetizer plates.

For the main event, Chef Hal at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre crafted a sensational Island Good dinner featuring exclusively locally grown products. The vegetarian lasagna, incorporating ulivit protein crumble, was delicious. Thanks to Islanders Authentic Mexican Sauce, Tofino Hot Sauce Co, The Cure Hot Sauce Co. and Ixim who all contributed to a hot sauce table for attendees.

Our sweet conclusion came with a dessert reception featuring Island Good Unsworth Charme de l’île and delectable treats from Freyja – the croissant story.

It was fantastic to have some Island Good business owners join the Summit as speakers.

• Mark Anson, CEO/Founder of HFN Timber Tiles LP, shared his insights during the Impact Companies speaker series.
• Alissa Assu, Owner of West Coast Wildflowers and Bear Essential Oils, and Co-owner of RavenSong Soap & Candle, along with Valerie Lamirande, Founder and Creative Director of RavenSong Soap & Candle, shared their partnership story in the session ‘Swipe Right for Success: Building Strategic Business Partnerships.’
• Geza Toth-Harasztos, owner of Freyja – the croissant story, was a panelist at the ‘Small Business, Big Heart: The Resilience of Island Entrepreneurs in the Face of Uncertainty’ session.

This year’s Summit sparked engaging discussions and collaborative actions during dedicated action labs focused on regional food security, community design, and economic development. We are thrilled to carry forward the momentum from these sessions and will keep you informed in the coming months.