Our Partners
Get in touch –
Visit us at 201C – 633 Courtney St. Victoria, BC V8W 1B9
We are still experiencing challenges with our phones, visit our Staff Directory to connect with us directly.
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.
Interested in advertising in BizNews?
- All
- BizNews This Week
- Business And Economic Strength
- Chamber Awareness
- Chamber News
- Climate Change Solutions
- COVID
- Fair Rules
- Finding And Keeping Workers
- Food Security
- Global Uncertainty
- Government Federal
- Government Local
- Government Provincial
- Hospitality And Tourism Rescue And Recovery
- Housing
- Immigration And Integration
- Indigenous Business Support And Reconciliation
- Inflation And Rising Costs
- New And Established Businesses
- Safe Communities
- Streamlined Regional Regulations
- Training And Microcredentials
RapidBus times to benefit from highway investment
/in Finding And Keeping Workers, Transportation Options/by Jim ZeebenThe commute between the West Shore and the Victoria core will be a little more convenient, the federal government said this week. A $95 million funding partnership between the feds and provincial government will widen 3.8 kilometres of highway between the McKenzie and Colwood interchanges. The change will create a continuous route for BC Transit‘s […]
Bank of Canada cuts interest rates again, as expected
/in Business And Economic Strength, Inflation And Rising Costs/by Jim ZeebenThe Bank of Canada has further reduced its overnight rate. The cut was widely expected by economists as inflation appears to be under control and heading back to the target 2% rate. The next opportunity to further reduce interest rates is in September. The Bank also released its Business Outlook Survey and its Canadian Survey of Consumer Expectations on July 15. Both reports found that public expectations for […]
Rifflandia always a big boost for business in our region
/in Business And Economic Strength, Hospitality And Tourism Rescue And Recovery/by Jim ZeebenIt’s become an icon of 21st century Greater Victoria, generating $7 million in economic impact and serving as a vanguard of emerging culture in our region. Rifflandia, the music festival that put Vancouver Island on the international concert map, is preparing for its 2024 edition, Sept. 13-15, at the Matullia Lands in Rock Bay. This year, […]
More than words needed to reduce toxic drug use
/in Safe Communities/by Jim ZeebenStopping people from getting addicted to dangerous drugs needs to be the focus of government policies, stated the Save Our Streets (SOS) coalition in a July 19 media release. The statement was a response to news that the BC government has rejected a report suggesting easier access to legally provided drugs will reduce the number of people […]
Province-wide plastics prohibition formally phased in
/in Chamber Awareness, Climate Change Solutions/by Jim ZeebenAn initiative that was adopted early by Greater Victoria businesses is now in effect across the province. As of July 15, plastic shopping bags and single-use products are no longer allowed to be offered to customers anywhere in BC. The province estimates that British Columbians threw out more than 340,000 tonnes of plastic items and packaging in 2019, equal […]
Have your say on buskers in downtown Victoria
/in Government Local, Hospitality And Tourism Rescue And Recovery/by Jim ZeebenDid you know that buskers who make downtown Victoria vibrant are regulated by the City of Victoria? Ensuring street performers are talented and entertaining is a great way to encourage people to go downtown, which benefits businesses in the area. To make sure the plan is working as intended, the city is undergoing a review of its Street Entertainment […]
Camosun College getting on-campus housing at last
/in Finding And Keeping Workers, Housing/by Jim ZeebenFunds announced today will provide on-campus housing for Camosun College students at the Lansdowne campus. “This is something that The Chamber has long advocated for, and we’re happy to see funding finally made available,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said. “Building housing for students will open up affordable homes in the community. This is a smart […]
Canadian Chamber names Candace Laing new CEO
/in Chamber Awareness/by Jim ZeebenCandace Laing will become the new President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce on Sept. 1. Laing has more than two decades of experience as a senior executive with both the private and public sectors. She spent 10 years with Nutrien and its predecessor company, PotashCorp. With Nutrien, her roles included Senior Vice […]
Belleville Terminal construction starts this week
/in Business And Economic Strength, Chamber Awareness, Government Federal, Government Local, Government Provincial, Transportation Options/by Jim ZeebenWork is getting underway on the redevelopment of Belleville Terminal, with Phase 1 Wharf Modifications starting at the Steamship Building’s water lot. A barge with a crane derrick is on site, and work will take place from 7am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, and potentially weekends depending on scheduling. However, no work will occur over […]
New supportive housing units a good investment
/in Finding And Keeping Workers, Housing, Safe Communities/by Jim ZeebenA new five-storey building has opened at 953 Balmoral St. with 56 units of supportive housing operated by the Cool Aid Society. “We are very excited to have partnered with BC Housing to offer 56 brand new units of supportive housing at one of Cool Aid’s original sites,” Cool Aid CEO Elin Bjarnason said in a media release. “The […]
Rebates aim to encourage solar power adoption
/in Climate Change Solutions/by Jim ZeebenBC Hydro has announced new rebates for the installation of rooftop solar and battery-storage systems. The rebates could save homeowners as much as $10,000. The Crown corporation generates energy for 95% of British Columbians. The Chamber supports Climate Action Leadership, such as the work being done to transition the province to sustainable power sources. BC Hydro is […]
Tech sector’s economic impact continues to grow: report
/in Business And Economic Strength, Fair Rules, Finding And Keeping Workers/by Jim ZeebenGreater Victoria’s diversified economy plays an important role in helping our region sustain downturns in the global economy. A great example is the tech industry, which thrived during the pandemic and now creates an economic impact of $7.9 billion. The latest figures were announced last week in a report commissioned by the Victoria Innovation, Advanced Technology and Entrepreneurship […]