Historic night as Chamber welcomes 2024 inductees into Business Hall of Fame

October 30, 2024/in BizNews This Week, Chamber News/by Jim Zeeben

The Chamber Business Hall of Fame celebration at the Fairmont Empress was attended by close to 250 people who joyfully applauded stories of this year’s inductees and their life’s work.

Historic night as Chamber welcomes 2024 inductees into Business Hall of Fame

It was a night for the history books. With about 250 people in attendance in the Crystal Ballroom at the Fairmont Empress, the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce welcomed five new additions into the Business Hall of Fame, presented by RBC.

The Times Colonist, CHEK Media, Michael Williams, the Yuen family-Fairway Market and Alan Lowe were selected for their role in shaping our community’s quality of life and developing our region’s economy.

“It was great to have such a positive celebration of our Greater Victoria business community,” Chamber Chair Kris Wirk said. “This year’s inductees join an impressive group already in the Business Hall of Fame and serve as inspiration for everyone working together to build good business and great community for all.”

This year’s inductees have been instrumental in forming our sense of culture and understanding of place.

“It truly had the feel of a historic night and everyone who was there will be able to look back for years to come and say they were there to experience it,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said. “The Business Hall of Fame is an idea that many people believed in, especially our presenting sponsor RBC. With the 2024 inductees, we have a growing list of business leaders who have been fundamental to the growth and development of Greater Victoria.”

Read the Full Media Release

Saturday election will provide clarity about political future

October 16, 2024/in BizNews This Week, Chamber News, Government Provincial/by Jim Zeeben

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.

Province to begin helping those who can’t help themselves

September 18, 2024/in BizNews This Week, Chamber News, Government Provincial, Safe Communities/by Jim Zeeben

Safe communities are fundamental to all of us. We need to feel safe if we’re going to reach our potential at work and at home. However, the ongoing opioid crisis continues to impact every neighbourhood and has become especially visible in pockets of larger cities. We’re seeing more people struggling with addiction and mental health who are unable to secure immediate access to treatment options.

This week’s news that the provincial government is stepping up to provide care for people unable to care for themselves is overdue.

“Yes, people need to have agency over their lives but people also need to be kept safe from predators and people should not have to live in dangerous environments,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said. “We believe there are times when the healthcare system needs to intervene in a person’s life so that person has a chance to recover before it’s too late.”

The province’s shift to enabling involuntary care will start on the Lower Mainland and use correctional facilities to provide care under the Mental Health Act. The aim is to help people with addiction challenges, brain injuries and mental-health issues stabilize and rebuild their lives. Facilities on the Island and across BC are being planned.

“The toxic-drug crisis of today is not what it was 10 or even five years ago,” BC’s Minister of Mental Health and Addictions said in a media release. “We are now facing a rising number of people who are living with the lasting effects of multiple overdoses and complex mental-health challenges, tied to social factors like poverty and trauma.”

The province also called on the federal government to step up border enforcement around screening shipping containers arriving in Canada to curb the smuggling of chemical precursors used to make illicit fentanyl.

Take action on reconciliation with Small Business Pledge

August 16, 2024/in BizNews This Week, Chamber News/by Jim Zeeben

Businesses strongly support the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, but, for some, closing up shop isn’t the best way to take action.

To help honour the intent of Sept. 30, the Victoria Native Friendship Centre is encouraging organizations to take the Small Business Pledge.

The initiative is a way to actively participate in the reconciliation process by either making a donation or contributing a portion of sales to support VNFC’s work.

“In 2021, we were the first Chamber in Canada to acknowledge the impact that businesspeople had on Indigenous culture and the economy that existed before their arrival,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said. “As an organization founded in 1863, The Chamber is part of the history of our community. We need to share responsibility for the suppression of Indigenous peoples, and we need to take action now to support reconciliation.”

Given that 80% of Indigenous Canadians reside in urban areas, Friendship Centres like VNFC play a pivotal role in the well-being of the urban Indigenous population in our region.

To take the Small Business Pledge, all you need to do is complete the pledge form.

Take the Pledge

Seminar at Chamber aims to help ‘get out the vote’

August 16, 2024/in BizNews This Week, Chamber Awareness, Chamber News, Government Provincial/by Jim Zeeben

The Chamber is teaming up with the Democratic Engagement Exchange and Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria to offer a free elections readiness workshop on Aug. 29.
This training session will help people support a healthy democracy by providing best practices for non-partisan voter engagement. The workshop is being held in The Chamber’s seminar room and run independently by the Democratic Engagement Exchange, funded in part by Elections BC.

Aug. 29
Time: 1-4 pm
Seminar Room, Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, #100-852 Fort St.

“Community-based organizations and local leaders are the backbone of our democracy,” states the Democratic Engagement Exchange. “By addressing community concerns, providing essential voting information, and fostering a culture of engagement, you can make a real impact.”

Register for the Workshop

Chamber’s call for military housing being heard

August 16, 2024/in BizNews This Week, Chamber News/by Jim Zeeben

The Chamber’s effort to advocate for investment in military housing is proving timely, as the federal government has already begun taking action.

Last week, Canada’s Minister of National Defence announced the construction of a new 480-room accommodation facility for Canadian Armed Forces members at CFB Esquimalt. The investment is a win for The Chamber’s resolution, which called for “2,000 units on or adjacent to military bases per year from 2025 until 2030.”

The Minister also noted that the government is reviewing the entire federal lands portfolio to identify more lands that are not fully utilized and could be unlocked to build more homes for Canadian Armed Forces members and civilians.

This week, the federal government announced more than $6.7 million to support two projects as part of the new Veteran Homelessness Program. This program shows the relevance of The Chamber’s resolution, which also called on the federal government to “develop diverse housing options to accommodate the varied needs of military personnel at different stages of their careers.”

The Chamber policy resolution will go to the membership of the Canadian Chamber in October for formal approval.

Island athletes find success at Summer Olympics in Paris

July 31, 2024/in Chamber News/by Jim Zeeben

There are several Island connections to the 2024 Summer Olympics, happening now in Paris, France.

Among the 337 athletes representing Canada, 11 hail from Vancouver Island, including Rugby Sevens player Caroline Crossley. The team, which trains out of Starlight Stadium in the City of Langford, won Olympic Silver this week.

Crossley was able to enjoy the moment with her family, who were in the stands for the game.

“I hugged them and put my medal around their necks because it’s as much their medal as it is mine,” Crossley told the Times Colonist.

The University of Victoria also has a close connection to the Summer Games with a list of student athletes competing. Over the years, the Vikes have been represented by 211 athletes, coaches or staff at Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Game’s last event is the Women’s Marathon on Aug. 10, with Closing Ceremonies scheduled for the following day.

For a full list of Events and more on Canada’s athletes, go to olympic.ca.

Have your say on buskers in downtown Victoria

July 17, 2024/in Chamber News/by Jim Zeeben

Did 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 Bylaw to improve the busking experience.

If you’ve been downtown this summer, you might have noticed buskers in several new locations. By taking part in an online survey, you can share your opinion on the “specific types of busking locations, sound-amplification at specific sites and strategies to enhance busking downtown, as well as the types of busking and related amenities buskers and the public would like to see, such as covered spaces with comfortable seating, accessible parking and food trucks nearby to create a dynamic downtown experience.”

The survey closes at noon on Aug. 31.

Safe community panel hosting series of open houses

June 5, 2024/in Chamber News/by Jim Zeeben

Last summer, the City of Victoria convened a panel of community leaders to create a plan for making the city safer and healthier.

Starting this summer, the city is hosting a series of open houses and pop-up events for business owners and community members to learn about the state of the project and share their concerns and experiences.

Once complete, the Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan will identify how businesses and community partners can work together to make the community safer and more inclusive.

Business event planned for Belleville Terminal project

May 22, 2024/in Chamber News/by Jim Zeeben

Does your business provide products or services needed for the Belleville Terminal Redevelopment Project?

Infrastructure BC is hosting an in-person business-to-business networking event on June 25 for contractors, suppliers and businesses who might be interested in working with the project’s shortlisted proponent teams. The event also allows prospective proponents to enhance their knowledge, understanding and awareness of local services and build relationships with local contractors, suppliers and businesses.

The Belleville Terminal Redevelopment Project involves the demolition of the existing FRS Clipper Terminal infrastructure and the construction of a new consolidated preclearance terminal building. The new facility will have modern border security standards that abide by the Land, Rail, Marine, and Air Transport Preclearance Agreement between Canada and the US. Construction is scheduled to commence in early 2025 with the new terminal completed and operational by 2028.

For more information, email kathy.cloutier@infrastructurebc.com.

Belleville Terminal Redevelopment Project Business-to-Business Event
Tuesday, June 25, 5:30 pm