Greater Victoria is known as one of the most haunted places in Canada, and this spooky season is the perfect time to experience something new — if you dare!
Visit a local pub or nightclub to show off your great costume skills, or have a Halloween meal at a great restaurant before handing out handfuls of candy to trick-or-treaters.

Check out Destination Greater Victoria’s list of 20 eerie-sistable Halloween activities if you’re dying to see a ghost, and explore famously haunted sites such as Craigdarroch Castle, Hatley Castle at Royal Roads University, the Fairmont Empress, Rogers’ Chocolates, and many more.

If you’re looking to burn off that extra sugar from Halloween treats, check out a local fitness facility, and be sure to recycle your pumpkin at Pumpkin Smash 2022 in the City of Langford on Nov. 5.

Whatever you may be up too this Halloween, The Chamber hopes you have a fun (and frightening) time!

“Businesses, of course, want to feel safe,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams told Global News. “They want to know that they themselves and their employees are safe when they come and go from work.”

Of course, the situation is complex. The toxic drug crisis continues to cause damage throughout society, and, particularly, with people involved in street life who are at risk of homelessness. Addictions, as well as mental health challenges, are often at the root of criminal behaviour that makes the news. Any solutions need to intersect with the healthcare system, which is why organizations such as Island Health are critical to have onboard.

On Tuesday, The Chamber and Island Health hosted a gathering of about 40 people at the University Club at the University of Victoria. The discussion focused on how businesses and non-profit organizations can work with Island Health to develop innovative solutions to complex problems around mental health and addiction. Other topics included work being done to attract and retain more doctors, support workplace mental health and streamline health care delivery.

It was a good opportunity to combine the nimbleness and creativity of the private sector with the resources and gravitas of the public health authority. The spirited discussion resulted in a number of ideas that The Chamber and our members will continue to follow up on in the months ahead.

“It really was remarkable to be among the voices of business communities from across Canada and hear how many of our concerns and challenges are shared,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said of being a delegate at the meeting. “We were able to meet directly with a number of federal ministers and senior staff, who were quite keen to better understand what policies are needed to help businesses build resiliency.”

Williams also introduced a policy resolution at the AGM, highlighting the need for federal support of child care to enable parents to stay in the workforce and continue their careers. The resolution was adopted, along with a number of others supported by The Chamber that further our Advocacy Priorities.

The latest Major City Insights report offers forecasts for 13 cities across the country.

The board says our region’s service industries will continue to be key drivers of the economy, with recovery continuing in the hospitality, entertainment and accommodation sectors.

Employers can also expect to face ongoing pressure to increase wages as Greater Victoria’s Consumer Price Index rises to 7.6% this year before dropping to 4% next year and 2.3% the year after.

Early in the pandemic, the provincial government placed a temporary limit on how much food delivery companies can charge. Last week, the province said it was moving to make the change permanent.

“Transforming the temporary delivery fee cap into a permanent model is a game changer for the recovery of our industry and setting restaurants up to be able to thrive in the future,” said Ian Tostenson, president and CEO, BC Restaurant and Foodservices Association in a news release.

The 15% cap on food and 5% cap on additional fees was set to expire at the end of the year.