Hollyhock, a retreat center located on Cortes Island, British Columbia, has been a cornerstone of the local economy and a beacon of transformative experiences for over 44 years. With a mission of nurturing inspired leadership through collective, immersive experiences, it’s no surprise that the Economic Nutrition initiative resonated deeply with the Hollyhock team.
Credit: Hollyhock
Situated on a rural, remote island in Canada and inhabited by a small population, Hollyhock shares similar features to Shorefast, offers Chief Product Officer Heather Deeth. "We’re one of the largest employers on Cortes Island, and we have a very large impact," she says. Of course, that impact comes with responsibility. Which is why adopting Economic Nutrition to help analyze the economic contributions of Hollyhock made good sense. The pilot program offered an important opportunity for deeper investigation. “It's just such a beautiful, tangible thing,” shares Deeth of the Economic Nutrition framework borne of Shorefast’s vision. “It's been so great to work with, to show where the money goes,” she explains.” It also adds a lot of credibility, Heeth adds, thanks to Shorefast’s important work around place-based economies and the regenerative movement.
To be sure, with Cortes being so remote, sourcing local is not a new concept to Hollyhock, says Tecuana Cliffton-Wooldridge, Director of Campus Operations. A Hollyhock veteran with 15 years’ experience, Cliffton-Wooldridge affirms the organization's ongoing commitment to local and ethical purchasing practices. It’s a commitment that aligned well with Economic Nutrition principles.
To be sure, with Cortes being so remote, sourcing local is not a new concept to Hollyhock, says Tecuana Cliffton-Wooldridge, Director of Campus Operations. A Hollyhock veteran with 15 years’ experience, Cliffton-Wooldridge affirms the organization's ongoing commitment to local and ethical purchasing practices. It’s a commitment that aligned well with Economic Nutrition principles.
Hollyhock Garden Contemplation | Credit: Hollyhock
What we learn from data
As the team nears the finish line, and hope to submit their certification soon, they’re delighted to have taken part in the inaugural Economic Nutrition program. "I always find that there's an advantage to getting your hands dirty in the data,” Deeth offers, admitting the process took time because she had to start over several times to get it right.
Albeit time-consuming, that deep dive provided important insights, lessons learned and valuable validation. As a long-time employer in the area, it’s important that Hollyhock be in good relationship with their community. What they’ve found while digging around makes them proud. While not all purchases can be local, most of Hollyhock’s money does stay in British Columbia.
"The premise that we always operate by putting as much money that comes into our hands into the community holds true, I’m happy that we have data to prove all of that.”
— Heather Deeth, Chief Product Officer, Hollyhock
Always be communicating
Having the opportunity to share their certification with Hollyhock guests is one Deeth certainly welcomes. Both she and Cliffton-Wooldridge emphasize that being transparent about their economic contributions helps build trust within the community and strengthens their relationships. "Having a methodology that someone else created and that we’re audited against every year to show improvements over time provides credibility," Deeth explains.
But there’s one audience with whom she is even more eager to share their Economic Nutrition story. “I'm most excited for our staff to really understand that we've been through a rigorous process to arrive at these numbers. That communication piece is really helpful.”
At the end of the day, the Economic Nutrition journey has helped the Hollyhock team understand and communicate their economic impact while reinforcing their commitment to the local community. But it goes even deeper than that. Solutions like this – and the visibility it generates – can bring about a new economy, one so needed at the moment. As Deeth aptly puts it, "This is the antidote to all of what is happening in the world right now."
Economic Nutrition Partner Series
We launched a new blog series at Shorefast highlighting the partners of our first Economic Nutrition (EN) cohort. The inaugural program attracted organizations across Canada representing diverse interests, sectors and missions. But they all had one thing in common: a desire to uplift their community economies in more impactful ways. Being a part of the Economic Nutrition initiative was consistent with that mission.
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Published on December 15, 2025 by Shorefast Institute
Hollyhock, a retreat center located on Cortes Island, British Columbia, has been a cornerstone of the local economy and a beacon of transformative experiences for...
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