An organization that aims to spearhead economic development for Vancouver Island has a Parksville business owner at its helm.
Sandy Herle, the owner of Close to You Fashions and former mayor of Parksville, is the chair of the Vancouver Island Economic Alliance (VIEA) board of directors. The 15-member board also includes Rick Roberts of Parksville (Rick Roberts Consulting), Dave Willie of Qualicum Beach (Black and White Event Rentals), Po Wan of Qualicum Beach (Blackberry Creative) and former MLA Ron Cantelon of Nanaimo (Ron Cantelon Consulting). George Hanson, a former board member of the Oceanside Development and Construction Association, is VIEA’s president.
“I’ve always been involved in economic development and I’ve always felt Vancouver Island is unique,” Herle said in an interview last week. “We (VIEA) try to get people working together. It’s getting better and I credit VIEA a lot for that.”
Herle said she has been self-employed since she was 17 years old. She has owned and operated Close To You Fashions for 24 years in Parksville.
Does that mean Close To You is a sustainable business? What exactly does sustainable mean? Depends on who you are asking.
“My version of sustainable is an ongoing and thriving community,” said Herle.
Meeting with government officials about economic development is one of the roles of VIEA.
“We have our challenges,” said Herle, pointing specifically to transportation issues, including the provincial government’s recently unveiled 10-year plan. “We think it really needs to be more than a 10-year plan,” said Herle. “For businesses that want to invest on Vancouver Island, they need to know what’s ahead of them.”
Herle said having Cantelon on the board, and the ear of current MLA Michelle Stilwell, is helpful for VIEA. The board meets monthly in different locations up and down the Island.
“We go as a diverse group of people who have had many of the issues brought to us,” said Herle. “We’re putting it into a bigger picture.”
Herle said she hopes VIEA’s efforts will allow future generations, like her grandchildren, to stay on Vancouver Island.
“I know it sounds hokie but I want them (her grandchildren) to stay here,” she said. “I want them to be successful here.”
