Gabriola Chamber asking Regional District for $20,000

Nicole Knowles

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder

The Gabriola Chamber of Commerce has requested an additional $20,000 in funding from the Regional District of Nanaimo for both 2025 and 2026.

Chamber President Graham Bradley with Executive Director Erin Udal presented to the RDN Board recently to make the request.

This year marks the 40th year that the Chamber of Commerce has supported tourism on Gabriola, as well as Economic Development, as well the 10 year anniversary of having a service agreement with the RDN.

The present core services included in the update that the Chamber of Commerce provides to our community are: community economic development, tourism outreach, and managing the Gabriola Visitor Centre.

Udal and Bradley say dramatic increases in costs over the past 5 years -including marketing, printing, digital software and staffing – have outstripped their funding capacity and this funding request will allow these services to remain operational.

Should the funding request be denied the impact will be closing the Visitor Centre by an additional 4 months of the year, elimination of their marketing position, severing the consortium partnership with Tourism Nanaimo, as well as leaving no funds for small businesses programming. Bradley and Udal told the RDN board they believe that in the coming two years Gabriola Island faces many economic challenges and opportunities that the Chamber is uniquely positioned to support. Key insights from this past year’s research show investment needs that the Chamber is already actively pursuing with grants.

This includes implementing targeted business education for owners and their employees, tourism navigation infrastructure, and digital upgrades to tourism and Chamber websites that will make business and service directory way-finding more easy and efficient.

A significant upgrade to both Gabriola ferry terminals is anticipated for Gabriola in 2026, which will require advocacy and resiliency support for small businesses, as well as tourism communication.

Vanessa Craig, Electoral Area B Director (and RDN Board Chair) thanked Udal and Bradley for their presentation and said “I’m considering the request and there will be follow up conversations before making any budget decisions.”