Chamber Awareness Archives - Victoria Chamber

Message from the CEO on Business Award nominations

November 20, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness/by Jim Zeeben

We 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 good business and great community for all.

Nominations are now open for the 2026 Greater Victoria Business Awards, set for June 11 at the Victoria Conference Centre.

This event is a highlight of the year for our business community, and showcases people and organizations who are truly leading the way.

Award finalists are chosen by an independent panel of judges who represent all sectors and all sizes of businesses. Being a judge is a tough job as there are many individuals and teams in our region worth recognizing.

Even more important, though, is coming together as a community to stand up for business. And the best way to do that right now is to nominate your organization or another you think deserves the extra recognition.

Click the links below to learn more about award categories and to submit your nomination.

Thank you for your participation in The Chamber!

John Wilson, Chamber CEO

Nominate Now!

Learn More!

You can win a $500 gift card from Chambers Plan!

November 20, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness/by Jim Zeeben

As 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 Chambers Plan can continue to deliver meaningful value to you and others across Canada. Your feedback will help ensure that Chambers Plan continues to evolve alongside the needs of small business owners like you.

Thank you for sharing your perspective and for being a valued member of our Chamber community.

The survey takes less than five minutes to complete, and, as a thank-you, you’ll be entered to win a $500 gift card.

👉 Take the survey here

Chamber is the unapologetic voice of business in our region

November 12, 2025/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 Zeeben

The 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 want businesses to know their calls for urgent action are being heard, and we have the ear of decision makers in all levels of government.”

The people who make up Greater Victoria’s business community care deeply about our region. They want a safe and sustainable life for everyone who lives here now, as well as for future generations.

As a member-based organization, The Chamber listens to its members and Board of Directors, who represent organizations of all sizes and industries, including the non-profit sector. They understand the current state of business in the region and have been clear about the direction needed.

“Our board has full confidence in John’s experience as a business leader and community-minded entrepreneur,” Chamber Board Chair Christina Clarke said.

How can we help your business? Please share your advocacy priorities with us at communications@victoriachamber.ca.

Read the Media Release

Fed Budget leaves investment in hands of business: analysis

November 6, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Global Uncertainty, Government Federal, Inflation And Rising Costs/by Jim Zeeben

After 18 months of waiting for a federal budget, Canadian businesses heard yesterday about the government’s big promises.

“Canada has an urgent need to get back to a growing, productive economy,” Canadian Chamber President and CEO Candace Laing said in a media release. “The government has heard business’s call to focus on the economy and has made some tough choices to attract investment. Individual businesses — small, medium and large — will be the ultimate judges of whether this is enough to start making investments in Canada again.”

The Chamber was pleased to see the government make needed reprioritizations and cuts, while investing in new defence spending.

Our armed forces have long been left empty-handed and finally meeting international commitments could go a long way to being seen as a reliable global partner.

“This budget makes critical investments in the equipment and technology our men and women in uniform need to defend Canada at home and abroad,” Executive Vice President and Chief of Public Policy Matthew Holmes said.

Budget 2025 takes a step toward balancing fiscal restraint with targeted investment. But the test ahead is execution and follow through — ensuring that policies translate into real-world competitiveness and growth.

“The world is competing for capital, and capital is mobile,” Laing said. “Canada has the talent, the resources and the potential to lead. Now, we need to prove that we can provide the certainty investors and businesses are looking for here at home.”

2025 Budget Expert Insights

Chamber members named Victoria honorary citizens

October 29, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness/by Jim Zeeben

Four members of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce are on this year’s list of City of Victoria Honorary Citizens. They are:

· Al Hasham; Chamber Governor, Chamber Champion and Founder of Maximum Express

· Del Phillips; Board Director with the Cridge Centre for the Family

· Marceline Moody; Orff Specialist with the Victoria Conservatory of Music

· Robert Milne; lawyer with JB Lawyers and Past President of Pacific Opera.

Award recipients have demonstrated outstanding service or personal achievements for the betterment of the community.

The Honorary Citizen Award was established in 1970 as “an official recognition of persons who had, over time, served the city meritoriously in any walk of life, often in a volunteer capacity and without recognition.” They are presented every four years.

Public nominations were reviewed by a selection committee that made recommendations for Council’s consideration.

A formal awards ceremony is planned for Dec. 2.

Bank lowers interest rate as trade uncertainty lingers

October 29, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Inflation And Rising Costs/by Jim Zeeben

The Bank of Canada reduced its target interest rate today by 0.25%, citing ongoing uncertainty with US trade negotiations.

“While the global economy has been resilient to the historic rise in US tariffs, the impact is becoming more evident,” the bank said in its statement. “Trade relationships are being reconfigured and ongoing trade tensions are dampening investment in many countries.”

To help Canada regain a positive position with the US, the Canadian Chamber has sent a trade mission, led by former Quebec Premier Jean Charest, to the US capital.

“Now is the time to stay very cool and to be focused on what it is that we want,” Charest told CTV. “The rest is a distraction, frankly, and we need to continue to be the adult in the room. Stay focused, stay close to each other, share information, and if we do that, we will increase our chances of coming out of this with a pretty good outcome.”

Chamber column: Focus on needs not wants in budgets

October 29, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Government Local, Inflation And Rising Costs/by Jim Zeeben

An excerpt is from The Chamber’s October column in the Business Examiner”

If the largest city in Western Canada can aim for a 0% property tax increase, surely those municipalities with a fraction of Vancouver’s budget can do the same. Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim recently announced that he is directing staff to stop spending money that doesn’t need to be spent — a decisive response to an initial staff recommendation for a 7% increase.

It takes courage to stand up for what’s right, and Sim has been clear that “zero means zero.” This kind of leadership should be inspirational for mayors across the province. On behalf of Greater Victoria’s business community — and everyone concerned about ballooning government spending — The Chamber is calling on all 13 municipalities in our region to follow Vancouver’s lead.

As local governments across BC begin their budget processes this fall, they have an opportunity to demonstrate that they truly support local economic growth. That support starts with restraint.

Read the Full Column

SIPP sees silver lining with new Possibility Charter

October 15, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness/by Jim Zeeben

The South Island Prosperity Partnership launched a new initiative last week that complements work done earlier this fall by the Rising Economy Taskforce.

The Possibility Charter features a pledge “to build Greater Victoria’s future on a foundation of hope, creativity and entrepreneurship, rather than complacency and stagnation.”

“The Possibility Charter is more than words on a page — it’s a call to action for Greater Victoria to embrace creativity, take risks and co-create a future where people and businesses can thrive together,” SIPP CEO Aaron Stone said in the media release. “By pairing the Charter with SIPP’s five-year plan, Rising Economy 2030, we are giving our region both the vision and a plan to succeed.”

The new economic development plan focuses on growing emerging sectors — the blue economy, cleantech and life sciences — as well as finding and keeping essential workers and broadening AI adoption. The plan aims to create conditions that help young people stay in the region and succeed.

“The Chamber supports the work done by SIPP and continues to work with our members and partners as the unapologetic voice of business to address social disorder, increase access to skilled workers and grow our regional economy in ways guided by innovation, inclusion and resilience,” Chamber CEO John Wilson said. “The time to act is now — to build a safer, stronger and more prosperous Greater Victoria for everyone.”

Chamber pitches national delegates on Victoria 2026

October 15, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Chamber News, Hospitality And Tourism Rescue And Recovery/by Jim Zeeben

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce held its AGM last week in Mississauga, Ont. The event will be held in Victoria next year.

The gathering of chamber leaders from across the country is a chance to gain insights, build collaboration and celebrate successes. It’s also an opportunity to set the policy agenda for the upcoming year by voting on key priorities that shape the national chamber’s advocacy work.

“One of the highlights was a panel on tackling social disorder,” Greater Victoria Chamber CEO John Wilson said. “This is a pressing issue for Downtown Victoria, and we heard how other jurisdictions are addressing similar challenges in their communities.”

The keynote speaker in Mississauga was federal Industry Minister Mélanie Joly, who spoke about tariffs and supply chains as well as workforce development and innovation.

The Greater Victoria Chamber and Destination Greater Victoria attended the 2025 AGM, and were able to showcase Greater Victoria and encourage delegates to visit in 2026.

Chamber’s new advocacy focused on urgent action

October 8, 2025/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Chamber News, Fair Rules, Finding And Keeping Workers, Government Federal, Government Local, Government Provincial, Inflation And Rising Costs, New And Established Businesses, Safe Communities, Streamlined Regional Regulations/by Jim Zeeben

You might have noticed some changes to how The Chamber is using our position as the unapologetic Voice of Business.

The series of messages, shown below, will start appearing more on Chamber social channels and in other media. The focus is on action. Businesses have had too many years of uncertainty caused by societal shifts and the growing burden of red tape. Our members and our Board of Directors have been clear that we need to speak up and call for change.

Our first focus is downtown Victoria and other central areas being devastated by a permissive attitude toward disorder and crime. People need to feel safe. That means all levels of government need to do their part — and do it with urgency.

We know what’s needed: consistent police and bylaw presence and enforcement, immediate options for people needing mental health and addiction care and changes to a legal system that currently allows repeat offenders to harm our communities.

Our other current priorities are more responsible spending by governments, and reduction in regulatory roadblocks that make building homes and providing services for families too expensive.