The Town of Gibsons is working on a snapshot of the economy of the harbour area which it wants to use as the starting point for an economic development plan.
“It’s about measuring the size of the harbour area economy, looking at how the pieces interact, at the opportunities for growth. But it is also a visioning process asking what do we want the Landing to look like 10 years from now?” said consultant Michael McLaughlin.
The Harbour Area Economic Development Strategy is also meant to build on the goals and objectives outlined in the Harbour Area Plan the Town drafted in 2014.
Gibsons CAO Emanuel Machado said it will tie what happens on the water with what’s happening on land. “The Harbour Area Plan has an economic component, but it’s mostly land-based. This study really gets into the water – almost literally in some cases – to understand those [marine-based] businesses.”
McLaughlin said the first phase involves two surveys: one targeting businesses and one targeting visitors.
The business survey will get underway next week, and McLaughlin said he’s hoping to have participation from every business owner. “A 100 per cent business survey will be used to measure the size of the economy by sector and to gather information on the compatibility and conflicts between development in various sectors, examine the competitiveness of economic sectors and evaluate opportunities for development of each.”
The visitor survey will be done in the spring or summer and the results will be a vital part of the information, especially for Sunshine Coast Tourism.
“Every jurisdiction that’s interested in tourism wants to understand who its visitors are, why they’re coming, how much money they spend,” McLaughlin said. “We’re also going to be asking them if they’d be more likely to visit if there was a George Hotel, if there was a seawall walk, if there’s a public market so we can take advantage of the trends in what visitors are telling us.”
McLaughlin and Machado both said the unique location of the harbour area within the town makes this sort of planning exercise valuable and effective.
“One of the key reasons why this is of value is that the Town controls so many of the assets down there. [They appoint the board of] the Harbour Authority. They own the leases where Gibsons Marina is. They hold recreational leases. They own park property. So they’re actually players in the economy,” McLaughlin said.
Machado said Town officials have a strong belief that the economics of the harbour are a major contributor to the economics of the Sunshine Coast, but they don’t yet have the evidence to confirm that belief. “Our hope is, once we gather all this evidence, to then work with the community in identifying ways to use it to our economic advantage. Phase three is ideally where we build some of these projects.”
The project is being funding through a $25,613 grant from the BC Rural Dividend program, with the Town contributing about $6,000 in cash and in-kind support. Machado said he’s confident about being able to secure further grants to continue the work.
