Go beyond the headlines to learn about BC Ferries

It’s not an overstatement to say Greater Victoria depends on BC Ferries to connect us to the world. We rely on this iconic institution for so many of our material needs, from groceries to industrial supplies, and for our connections to family and friends. However, hardly a day goes by without BC Ferries making headlines for sailing waits, electioneering promises or plans for new vessels.

With mounting pressures on transportation and tourism, it’s vital for businesses in our region to understand the state of our primary route off Island. The Chamber is helping our community stay informed by hosting BC Ferries CEO Nicolas Jimenez on Nov. 26.

Reserve your spot now and submit your questions to hear firsthand about the future of ferries in our region.

Oak Bay survey takes the (happy) pulse of community

Life is good in the District of Oak Bay, according to feedback from residents and business owners in the 2024 survey.

“The annual questionnaire provides the opportunity for staff and Council to hear directly from our residents and taxpayers, taking the pulse our community,” Oak Bay Mayor Kevin Murdoch said.

Oak Bay’s quality of life is “good” according to 95% of respondents, with 77% saying they have a sense of belonging.

Municipal services that were seen as doing well include parks, garbage pickup, fire protection and policing. Those needing work included road and sidewalk maintenance.

Pilot aims to turn vacancy into vibrancy downtown

Innovation led by business is so often the answer to challenges that can seem insurmountable. Another potential example of this is the goal of the Victoria Storefront Pilot project, which aims to add life to the city’s underused commercial real estate. The plan is being developed and is initially focused on bringing arts and cultural offerings to vacant spaces.

The City of Victoria has hired a contractor to gather input from artists, arts organizations, not-for-profits, entrepreneurs, property owners, real estate professionals and developers. The information will be used for a project plan, which will go to the city for review in November.

If you are a business owner with unused space, or an artist or organization looking for space, fill out the contact form by Oct. 25 to learn more.

Saturday election will provide clarity about political future

With BC’s general election set for Saturday, several Island electoral areas remain up in the air according to polling site 338canada.

Advance polls close tonight at 8 pm, and polls for final voting day will be open from 8 am to 8 pm on Oct. 19.

“Please, if you haven’t cast a ballot already, make time to get to the booth on Saturday,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said. “The better business participation, the better business representation in the next government.”

To learn more about candidates in your riding, the Times Colonist and CHEK Media have detailed webpages dedicated to Greater Victoria and Vancouver Island.

Both news organizations have earned the trust of local audiences through fair and comprehensive coverage over the decades. It’s no coincidence the media outlet are among the latest inductees into The Chamber’s Business Hall of Fame, along with Alan Lowe, Michael Williams and the Yuen family/Fairway Market.

Make sure to register now for this event, set for Oct. 29 at the Fairmont Empress. More details below.

Cruise ship industry seeks feedback from businesses

Does your business benefit from the cruise ship economy, or would you like to help serve this important sector? The Chamber is working with our community partners in the tourism industry to help them learn more about the Greater Victoria businesses that provide goods and services to cruise ship lines, passengers and crew.

A survey from the Cruise Lines International Association is seeking broad data that will be used to inform the results of an economic impact study for Canada. Completing the survey helps ensure the results represent the most inclusive information available.

Real estate market balanced for buyers and sellers

With another Bank of Canada interest rate cut expected later this month — and more cuts potentially on their way — stats from the real estate industry show that the market is becoming more balanced.

“The real estate market in Victoria right now is much more stable and more predictable than it has been in recent years,” Victoria Real Estate Board Chair Laurie Lidstone said in a media release. “We have seen a few solid months of near-balance in the market, which means it’s neither a seller’s nor a buyer’s market and positives exist for both sides of a transaction. With downward trending interest rates and stable pricing combined with more inventory on the market, our current conditions are the most comfortable for consumers to navigate that I’ve seen in a few years.”

Sales in September were up from September 2023, with a 21.9% increase in condominiums sold and 19.3% jump in single family home sales.

 

BC leaders exchange barbs on televised debate

https://cdn.jwplayer.com/previews/p74SwrfQ

 

It’s too soon to tell whether Tuesday night’s leadership debate made a significant difference for voters. The televised discussion featured BC NDP leader David Eby, Conservative Party of BC leader John Rustad and BC Green Party leader Sonia Furstenau.

Across Greater Victoria and the province, all candidates are officially registered in their electoral areas with final voting day set for Oct. 19. Advance polls open this week, on Oct. 10, and you can check Elections BC for specific information about voting places near you and dates and times they will be open. Voting by mail is also an option.

The Chamber is non-partisan and hosted events with all three leaders throughout the year:

Chamber data helps educate US about protectionism risks

A new report on the US election paints a stark picture of how campaign rhetoric poses real risks to Canada’s economy.

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s Business Data Lab found that protectionist practises, if enacted, would negatively affect our country as well as most US states along our border.

“When you dig into the data, you immediately see the high degree of integration between the two economies, and how much they rely on each other to make things,” states the report, titled Partners in Prosperity: Exploring the Significance of Canada-U.S. Trade. “That’s why maintaining efficient supply chains ultimately makes both countries more competitive and increases economic security and resilience to global shocks.”

The US election is set for Nov. 5, and one of the political promises being bandied is a 10% tariff on imports from Canada and other countries.

“Several U.S. state economies are surprisingly dependent on Canadian trade,” the report states, noting Canadians generally have an understanding of the importance of trade while many Americans do not realize how critical Canada is as a reliable supply chain partner for US companies and consumers. “Even as far away as Texas, trade with Canada still accounts for 4% of the state economy.”

The data from the report will help the national chamber network advocate with businesses south of the border to inform US lawmakers about the risks of following through on damaging policies for political gain.

“It’s an interesting time politically for sure, with our own BC election on Oct. 19 and the US election next month,” said Greater Victoria Chamber CEO Bruce Williams, who is off to Halifax next week for the annual meeting of the national chamber network.

Condé Naste ranks Victoria as world’s best small city

We did it again! For the second year in a row, Victoria has been crowned Best Small City in the World by Condé Nast Traveler.

Our region captured the imagination of travel readers thanks to the same qualities they loved about us last year.

Our proximity to the big city of Vancouver (no mention of Seattle, which is almost equidistant) as well as our pronounced British heritage and the opportunity to day trip into ancient forests were highlights.

And once again the Fairmont Empress earned mention as “bucket-list worthy.”

Destination Greater Victoria said the ranking shows our region stands among the more interesting places in the world, and will help the tourism sector stay strong into next year.

Chamber-backed tourism corridor earns designation

A federal agency announced last week that the Juan de Fuca Corridor, between BC and Washington, has been named one of four key tourism corridors for future investment.

The Chamber supported the efforts of Destination Canada to select the corridor as part of a long-term tourism strategy.

“Our region has a well-developed and managed tourism industry and the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce has promoted the benefits of the visitor economy for generations,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said in a media release. “The proposed Juan de Fuca Partnership is an exciting initiative for the coastal corridor between Canada and the United States and will benefit regions that have deep cultural and ecological connections. We owe it to future generations to work together in an open and transparent way to build an economy that works for everyone.”

The Tourism Corridor Strategy Program crosses provincial and territorial boundaries to “develop iconic new journeys for travellers to explore.”

The other tourism corridors are:

  • Cycle Ontario and Quebec (Ontario, Quebec)
  • Field to Fork: Saskatchewan Manitoba Agritourism (Saskatchewan, Manitoba)
  • Northern Sky Corridor (Alberta, Northwest Territories)