Mayors from three Vancouver Island communities are joining the Island Coastal Economic Trust’s board of directors.
Comox Mayor Paul Ives, Campbell River Mayor Walter Jakeway and Tofino Mayor Josie Osborne are the newly-elected (May 9) members. All are from the North Island Sunshine Coast Regional Advisory Committee (NISCRAC), a group that includes mayors, regional district chairs and MLAs from the region.
Port McNeill Mayor Gerry Furney was re-elected to ICET’s Board and Qualicum Beach Mayor Teunis Westbroek will continue to serve as Chair of the NISCRAC and ex-officio Board member.
ICET board chair, Mayor Phil Kent of Duncan, congratulated all on their elections.
“As Committee and Board members on the Trust, we represent our communities, but we also have a duty to invest in projects and programs that benefit the entire region. I’d like to thank all of the newly elected Board Members for stepping forward to help guide this unique regional investment organization,” he said.
The Central South Island Regional Advisory Committee (CSIRAC) also held its elections recently.
The new Board terms are effective July 15, 2014 to July 14, 2016.
The Island Coastal Economic Trust is a $50 million endowment established in 2006 by the Government of British Columbia to help diversify the economies of central and northern Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast. Through a community-centred decision-making process, ICET has approved $47 million for over 100 economic infrastructure and economic development readiness projects on the Island and Sunshine Coast since implementing its grant program in 2007. ICET investments have leveraged over $260 million in incremental funding into the region.