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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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Risk-screening tool helps police respond to crises
/in BizNews This Week, Global Uncertainty, Safe CommunitiesBusinesses in Greater Victoria care deeply about our community and the Chamber has a long history of calling for investing in mental health supports. This week, the province announced that Greater Victoria police departments will now have access to a tool that supports officers responding to people experiencing a mental health crisis. HealthIM is a […]
City staff hear from business about noise bylaw concerns
/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Chamber News, Government Local, Hospitality And Tourism Rescue And Recovery, Transportation OptionsChamber members were able to offer business-focused solutions to City of Victoria staff today during a roundtable discussion in the Chamber boardroom. The City of Victoria is looking to modernize its 23-year-old noise bylaw. The bylaw affects everything from delivery truck traffic to industrial activity to music festivals. As such, it’s vital that business operators […]
New shelter spaces help move people off the streets
/in BizNews This Week, Government Local, Government Provincial, Safe CommunitiesMoving vulnerable people off of cold downtown streets is urgently needed as part of efforts to improve safety for all. This week’s news that 34 new shelter spaces will open in a former Victoria public-works building is a step in the right direction. The Bridge Street Pathways Shelter, at 2920 Bridge St., is a 6,000-square-foot […]
Restaurant association seeks World Cup partners
/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Hospitality And Tourism Rescue And RecoveryThe BC Restaurant and Foodservices Association has officially secured the foodservice contract, “Taste the Beautiful Game – BC Style,” which will run during the upcoming FIFA World Cup. “The province-wide program aims to help restaurants host watch parties, drive traffic, celebrate BC-grown food and drink, and share in the economic benefits of this once-in-a-generation moment,” […]
Safer city conference a good reminder more work needed
/in BizNews This Week, Government Local, Government Provincial, Safe CommunitiesThe City of Victoria hosted a full-day conference on Wednesday to reiterate its exceptionally thorough and nuanced Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan originally released in June 2025. The Spark and Shift conference included speeches from Mayor Marianne Alto, VicPD Police Chief Fiona Wilson and others. Break-out discussions centred around prevention, intervention and response were planned […]
Workforce challenges reflected in low unemployment
/in BizNews This Week, Finding And Keeping Workers, Government Federal, Government ProvincialEvery year, The Chamber conducts a survey of our membership to help us stay on top of issues affecting your business. One of the challenges that has been near the top of list for more than a decade is finding and keeping workers. The latest numbers from Statistics Canada show that, at 4.3%, Greater Victoria […]
Cultural District plan would transform downtown
/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Chamber Awareness, Government Local, New And Established Businesses, Safe CommunitiesA proposal that reimagines a section of downtown Victoria has been approved to move to the next step. Victoria council voted unanimously to approve the plans that Reliance Properties have for a new Capital Culture District. The development would transform the area between 530 Chatham St. and the 1800 to 2000 block of Store St. […]
BC Health Minister addresses addiction crisis
/in BizNews This Week, Safe CommunitiesBC’s Minister of Health Josie Osborne announced today that the province was ending its failed experiment with decriminalizing hard drugs. The province is also expanding its hotline for people seeking help with addictions, promising to speed up the time it takes to provide treatment. “This is welcome news for businesses that have been frustrated watching […]
VicPD beat patrols raise police presence downtown
/in BizNews This Week, Safe CommunitiesThe Victoria Police Department is reintroducing a dedicated beat team that will increase the presence of police officers in downtown Victoria. The Chamber and downtown businesses have been calling for the return of a downtown police beat for months. “We’re grateful to the VicPD for listening to our concerns and taking action,” Chamber CEO John […]
Let’s talk about city’s noise bylaw over lunch
/in BizNews This Week, Fair Rules, Government Local, Safe CommunitiesThe sounds of a city are rarely silent. Noise represents vibrancy and activity — groups of people spilling out of thriving restaurants and pubs, the hum of traffic and shrill of sirens or the din of construction. In the City of Victoria, we also have the overhead roar of seaplanes and the sounds of ships […]
WorkSafeBC’s average base premium rate unchanged
/in BizNews This Week, Business And Economic Strength, Fair Rules, Finding And Keeping Workers, Inflation And Rising CostsWorkSafeBC announced this week that its average base premium will remain the same as the agency uses a $570-million surplus to subsidize costs this year. The average base rate is $1.55 per $100 of assessable payroll. That’s 15% less than the average cost rate of $1.83, with the difference funded by surplus. In 2026, 39% […]
Grocery code aims to level playing field for retailers
/in BizNews This Week, Food SecurityThe new Canada Grocery Code formally took effect on Jan. 1, with the aim of promoting “fair, ethical and transparent commercial dealings” across national supply chains. The code is voluntary and is designed to level the playing field between suppliers and retailers. It is governed by a board of directors and administered by the Office […]