Gabriola Island
Chamber of Commerce

Supporting and Growing Local Businesses since 1984



Join the Chamber
Your Chamber Membership Includes
Business Support
Advertising
Networking
Discounts
Latest Chamber News
Extended: We’re seeking a full-time Executive Director!
The Gabriola Island Chamber of Commerce was established in 1986. Chamber members are a diverse group of entrepreneurs and family-owned enterprises. Members work together for the common good of our island community by providing services, support, and networking opportunities for enterprises to succeed. Currently, the organization has about 120 members and is the primary tourism management & marketing entity for Gabriola, working with Destination BC to provide visitor services, and also holds a Service Agreement with the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) to provide tourism and economic development services to Area B (Gabriola, Mudge, Decourcy).
The organization has three areas of focus:
- Community Economic Development
- Respectful Visitor and Tourism Management
- Chamber Membership & Operations
The Gabriola Chamber is seeking a community minded, collaborative and innovative individual for a full-time contract Executive Director (ED) position to provide leadership and oversight for all three of the focus areas noted above and all aspects of the Chamber’s business and activities in a manner that is consistent with the Chamber’s purpose, vision, and strategic plan.
The ED will supervise and oversee the part-time contract Operations and Chamber Member Services position (and/or other staff and/or contract positions in place).
This is an exciting opportunity to build the next evolution of the Chamber’s positive impact for its members and the broader community.
Position Details:
- Reports to the Chamber Board of Directors
- Responsible for the three areas of oversight, Board support, operations and staff and volunteer engagement
- Full-time, 18 month contract, with opportunity for renewal (June 2023 – December 2024)
- $58,000 to $62,000 per annum (not including GST), based on skills and experience
- Manages the part-time contract Operations and Chamber Member Services position and other staff/contractors as required
- Combination of in-office and remote work as required by business needs
- Some weekend & evening work required
For more information please see the full job description and posting here. Send a cover letter and resume to ed@gabriolachamber.ca.
Deadline to apply has been extended to end of day, Wednesday, May 31, 2023.
Thanks for your interest in working with the Gabriola Island Chamber of Commerce!
Rural Island Economic Forum Recap
The Gabriola Chamber was proud to take part in the Rural Islands Economic Partnership (RIEP) Forum hosted in April at the Haven on Gabriola Island. Several of our Board Members, Chamber Members, contractors, and local community attended along with engaged citizens and representatives from our sister islands.
We took the opportunity to showcase and support our local businesses by contributing prizes and supplying a gift for Dave Bodaly’s Snuneymuxw welcome (Huy ch q’u, Dave). We gave back to Chamber Members, by purchasing items produced by Chamber Members (New Society Publishers, AngelStar Farm, Make Cheese with Paula, Drifter Media (Folklife), WoodfireSpice.ca, Slow Rise Bakery, Point 6 Acre, ReLove Local, Marchlight, Tammy Hudgeon, and Zaworkski Art) from Chamber Member vendors (North Road Sports & Clothing Co, Nova Art & Craft Boutique, Free Spirit Gallery Studio & Shop, Nature Spirit Earth Market, and Island Meat & Deli). We also supported Happy Hippy Soap Co and Yarrow Koontz.
On Social Media, we gave a shoutout to Chamber Members: Maji Events for MCing, Wild Rose Garden Centre for lending local native plants, Holmestead Glassworks for whimsical decor, the Haven for hosting the conference, Gabriola Island Recycling Organization for presenting on circular economy, and Gulf Island Seaplanes for involvement in the Indigenous business panel.
One of our newer Board Members, Brock Poesiat, shared these experiences from the Forum:
“I attended the Rural Housing action lab. Participants were broken into around eight groups and each group came up with a plan for tackling housing issues on the rural islands… I also attended the BC Ferries Commissioner presentation. She informed us that the Gabriola route is subsidized 50%.”
Read more about key take-aways from the 2023 Forum on the Rural Island Economic Partnership’s website here.
Meet Brock Poesiat, New Board Director
Brock Poesiat works remotely as a software developer and began volunteering with the Chamber of Commerce as a Board Director in February, 2023.
2022 Business of the Year: Nature Spirit Earth Market
The Gabriola Island Chamber of Commerce’s...
Meet Catherine Hallam, New Board Director
Board Member
Catherine opened Free Spirit Gallery Shop & Studio in 2021, fulfilling a lifelong dream to create a space where both emerging and established artists could be celebrated. She joined the Chamber of Commerce as a board member in order to represent other local retail businesses on the island. As the Isle of the Arts it is great to be able to encourage visitors and residents to shop local and support local arts.
Congratulations to our Gabriola Chamber Business of the Year
2021 Winners

Business of the Year
Page’s Resort Group

NEW Business of the Year
Gabriola Disposal

U40 Entrepreneur
Aquality Services
Previous Winners

2020 Business of the Year
Woodfire Restaurant

2020 NEW Business of the Year
GIFT: Gulf Island Food Transport

2020 U40 Entrepreneur
Ground Up Cafe and Catering

2020 Business Response
Gabriola Fitness Centre

2019
Arbutus Home Building Centre
Salt & Co.
Gabriola Sounder

2018
Heart and Soil Organics

2017
Colleen’s Home & Fashion Centre

2016
Gabriola Fitness Centre