Chamber News Archives - Page 2 of 72

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

Vital Signs survey takes the pulse of Greater Victoria

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

If you haven’t yet taken the Vital Signs survey, you have until May 31 to contribute to the Victoria Foundation’s annual community check-up.

This is the 19th year that the survey has asked people for their take on key issues that affect quality of life in our region. Topics include housing, living standards, health and wellness, arts and culture and more.

Taking the survey also gives you a chance to win a $100 gift card to Country Grocer.

The short form of the survey takes about 10 minutes to complete, and the long form takes 20 minutes in total.

Victoria and Saanich team up on rental electrification

May 15, 2024/in Chamber News/by Jim Zeeben

Greater Victoria’s two largest municipalities continue to show they can play nice with each other. The latest example is a joint media release regarding mutual initiatives that incentivize owners of rental buildings to convert to electric power.

“The City of Victoria and the District of Saanich recently announced tax exemption programs that support electrification retrofits in rental buildings, the first initiative of its kind in British Columbia,” the release stated. “In tandem, the municipalities have partnered with Landlord BC and BC Hydro to expand the Rental Apartment Retrofit Accelerator (RARA) Program, initiated in Vancouver in 2023.”

The mayors of Victoria and Saanich said the programs will help reduce fossil fuel consumption in the region, and provide access to summer cooling during future heat waves.
Victoria’s Rental Apartment Retrofit Accelerator Program

Saanich’s Climate Action Tax Exemption Program

Province must learn from mistakes: Save-our-Streets

March 20, 2024/in Chamber News/by caorda

The Save Our Streets coalition released a statement today saying a report by BC’s Auditor General confirms that the province is failing to address the toxic drug crisis as record numbers of people continue to lose their lives.

“BC must learn from this report and the policy failures such as those recently recognized in Oregon and refocus on designing and implementing a comprehensive continuum of care for those suffering from addictions and mental health issues,” said Jess Ketchum, co-founder of SOS, which consists of more than 90 organizations including the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce.

“The Chamber has been vocal about the fundamental importance of Safe Communities, and we continue to advocate for a sharp increase in treatment beds and recovery facilities as well as needed repairs to our legal system to make sure repeat offenders are kept off our streets,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said.

To hear more about work being done to promote Safe Communities, make sure to register now for The Chamber’s AGM on April 16 featuring:

Jonny Morris, CEO of the Canadian Mental Health Association BC,
Carolina Ibarra, CEO of Pacifica Housing Advisory Association, and
Chief Del Manak, Victoria Police Department.

Read the SOS Statement

Love, family and random acts of kindness

February 14, 2024/in Chamber News/by caorda

Pictured above: Jaime Clifton-Ross, left, and Taryn Malcolm, right, from the Victoria Foundation bookend Chamber staffers Hanna Bohm, Julia Banks and Summer Sandhu after dropping off cookies at the Chamber office.

The gesture was part of Random Acts of Kindness Week, Feb. 12-17, which asks people to “do something nice for someone and ask for nothing in return,” other than to perform another act of kindness to someone else.

Today is also Valentine’s Day, so The Chamber sends our love to our members and all of Greater Victoria’s business community. Make sure to celebrate with your valentine and enjoy flowers, chocolates or a dinner out!

This weekend is also Family Day so another great opportunity to support your fellow Chamber members, whether that’s sharing a meal, enjoying our region’s parks and rec centres or simply spending time together with family.

The Chamber office is closed Monday, Feb. 19.

Greater Victoria Business Directory

CEO for Royal BC Museum eyes ongoing change

February 14, 2024/in Chamber News/by caorda

The board of directors of the Royal BC Museum announced today that Tracey Drake has been officially appointed CEO of the Royal BC Museum, effective March 1.

“Based on Tracey’s exceptional progress, we are removing the ‘acting’ from her title,” RBCM Board Chair Leslie Brown said. “It has become clear to the board, as well as those working closely with Tracey, that she continues to be the leader to guide the museum and add stability and vision for what is an exciting time of growth, along with important community and province-wide consultation.”

As CEO, Drake oversees Royal BC Museum operations, BC Archives, and IMAX, as well as province-wide community engagement, repatriation and DRIPA implementation as well as the archives, research and collections building project in Colwood.

Last month, the Royal BC Museum announced a diverse slate of feature exhibitions for 2024, including Stonehenge, Canadian Modern and Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

Watch the recent Chamber Chat with the RBCM’s Tracey Drake

Today’s menu: restaurant industry needs new policies

January 24, 2024/in Chamber News/by caorda

C’s restaurants are facing a crisis. A new warning was issued this week by the BC Restaurant and Food Services Association and Restaurants Canada calling for urgent policy changes in order to avoid last call for the industry.

The document, formatted to resemble a menu, details the challenges facing the restaurant industry and offers policy solutions that pair well together. For example, under Entrees, the report offers:

– – –
Struggling To Make Ends Meatloaf

Cost: 35% of restaurants are losing money
A one-time classic that’s barely holding it together. Slices are becoming thinner and thinner with each passing day.
Policy Pairing: Provide rental assistance and offer rebates for energy, packaging, and municipal taxes
– – –

The report states the province has 15,000 restaurants, employing 185,000 people and contributing $18 billion in annual sales.

Nov. 11 – Remember those who gave everything

November 9, 2023/in Chamber News/by caorda

As we honour members of the armed forces and their sacrifices this Remembrance Day, The Chamber is proud to have a long history of commemorating the soldiers who paid the ultimate price for our freedom.

After the First World War, The Chamber was instrumental in helping create Memorial Avenue along Shelbourne Street.

Shelbourne was chosen as it offered enough space to commemorate every soldier from the city who died in the war. Chamber members helped plan the project and business owners rolled up their sleeves to dig holes for the trees.

During the Second World War, The Chamber’s advocacy focused on supporting the war effort and ensuring local representation on national boards.

On Saturday, the Royal Canadian Legion Trafalgar/Pro Patria Branch #292 will open its doors at about noon, following the return of the Colour Party from official ceremonies. The Police Band, Police Chorus and others will perform to honour the memory of fallen soldiers and members of the Armed Forces who continue to serve.

The official Remembrance Day service for the province of BC includes a parade along Wharf, Government, Belleville and Menzies streets to the Legislature Grounds. A ceremony will take place at the Provincial Cenotaph in front of the Legislature from 10:30 am – 1 pm.

Greater Victoria municipalities are also hosting ceremonies in the region.

The Chamber hopes Nov. 11 is a day of reflection and remembrance for all.

The Chamber will be closed Monday, Nov. 13.