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Breaking news for Greater Victoria businesses
Published weekly, BizNews offers information to help Greater Victoria’s business community make sense of our shifting economic and political landscape. The Chamber’s flagship newsletter is distributed to more than 5,000 subscribers who are highly engaged and active in our region’s business community. Scroll down to read the latest.
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Message from the CEO on Business Award nominations
/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness/by Jim ZeebenWe know times are challenging for many businesses. We also know that successful entrepreneurs and business leaders inspire us to carry on. So as we head into 2026, let’s work together to celebrate all of our stories of success. They help us through difficult times and empower us to do the work needed to build […]
Chamber welcomes renewed focus on industry
/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Finding And Keeping Workers, Government Provincial, New And Established Businesses/by Jim ZeebenThe Chamber applauds the recent launch of Look West, a provincial strategy to invest in the economy through major projects and a focus on industry. The aim is to build off recent announcements by the federal government to prioritize projects that will grow Canada’s economy and increase future revenue. “As important as the specific projects […]
BC promises to double funding for trades training
/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Finding And Keeping Workers/by Jim ZeebenTwice as much money is being allocated to train British Columbians in needed trades, the provincial government announced last week. Over the next three years, trades-training programs in BC will receive $241 million. This money will: increase per-seat funding for apprentice programs address waiting lists for industrial trades advance skilled-trades certification, beginning with crane operators ensure […]
Grants available for community safety projects
/in BizNews This Week, Safe Communities/by Jim ZeebenThe provincial government is accepting applications for the 2025-26 Civil Forfeiture Grant program. This year, organizations can submit applications for projects that help with: crime prevention gender-based violence Indigenous healing and restorative justice. The Civil Forfeiture Office was established in 2006 to redirect the proceeds of crime back into community safety and crime prevention programs. […]
Chamber clarifies statement on municipal budgets
/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Chamber News, Government Local, Inflation And Rising Costs, Streamlined Regional Regulations/by Jim ZeebenThe Chamber issued a statement this week, clarifying our position on the need for local governments to reduce their dependence on increasing taxes every year. A recently published column by Chamber CEO John Wilson issued a challenge to all Greater Victoria municipalities, calling for them to match the City of Vancouver’s effort to achieve a […]
New housing helps homeless escape addiction
/in BizNews This Week, Housing, Safe Communities/by Jim ZeebenPeople in recovery in Victoria who are experiencing homelessness or leaving supportive housing will soon have a safe place to stay. When someone living on the street asks for help, it needs to be there. Having a safe downtown requires adequate support for people looking to recover from addiction. A step in the right direction is the […]
You can win a $500 gift card from Chambers Plan!
/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness/by Jim ZeebenAs part of a national effort to strengthen the value Chambers Plan provides to small businesses, we’re asking for your input through a brief, confidential survey. The goal is to better understand what matters most to small business owners when it comes to benefits, partnerships, and business support — so your Chamber and programs like […]
New rules on sick notes effective immediately
/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Fair Rules, Finding And Keeping Workers, Government Provincial, Safe Communities/by Jim ZeebenThe province’s rules limiting when employers can ask for sick notes are now in effect. Under the employment standards regulations, employers can’t ask for a sick note for a worker’s first two health-related, short-term absences of five consecutive days or fewer in a calendar year. The province said it consulted health-care providers, who pointed to […]
Federal funds earmarked for Royal Athletic Park
/in BizNews This Week, Hospitality And Tourism Rescue And Recovery/by Jim ZeebenLast week’s federal budget included an unexpected $6-million to help upgrade Royal Athletic Park. City of Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto told the Times Colonist the funds will allow for repairs and renovations to happen faster than planned. The city owns the facility, which is now best known as the home of the Victoria HarbourCats who […]
Voice of business vital to municipal budget planning
/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Fair Rules, Global Uncertainty, Government Local/by Jim ZeebenOne of The Chamber’s advocacy priorities is aimed at reducing the burden on businesses by ensuring governments focus on needs over wants. This is playing out now as municipalities begin their budget process. “To be clear, The Chamber isn’t telling mayors and councils what they need to cut. We are saying they need to do […]
Chamber is the unapologetic voice of business in our region
/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Chamber News, Fair Rules, Finding And Keeping Workers, Government Federal, Government Local, Government Provincial, Inflation And Rising Costs, Safe Communities/by Jim ZeebenThe Chamber recently issued a media release outlining our shift in advocacy priorities. “We know our members have been hearing about these changes and we want to spread the word to the wider community, as well any businesses that might be unaware their voice is represented by The Chamber,” Chamber CEO John Wilson said. “We […]
Fall stats show uptick in region’s real estate sector
/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Finding And Keeping Workers, Housing/by Jim ZeebenGreater Victoria’s housing market is showing renewed activity as sales and prices ticked up in October. A total of 617 properties sold in the Victoria Real Estate Board region this October, 11.4% more than in September. “The local real estate market remains reasonably balanced,” VREB Chair Dirk VanderWal said in a media release. “Single family […]