The Chamber has added its voice to calls to quickly address reports of increased youth violence in downtown Victoria. Everyone needs to feel safe in their home, on their way to or from work and in their place of employment.
 
Chamber CEO Bruce Williams told Global News last Friday that the Victoria Police Department has assured him they were going to increase their presence and shut down any bad behaviour. VicPD arrested eight youths over the weekend and are working with regional groups to make it clear that unlawful behaviour won’t be tolerated downtown.

Today is Moose Hide Campaign Day — a grassroots movement of Indigenous and non-Indigenous men and boys who are standing up against violence towards women and children.

Wearing a moose hide pin signifies commitment to respecting, honouring, and protecting women and children. The campaign was founded to encourage men and boys to step up and take action, challenging behaviour that leads to violence and developing a culture of healthy masculinity.

Everyone is invited to take part in this nationwide anti-violence movement. Here are some ways to spread the important message of the campaign:

• Order pins to wear and distribute
• Write a short description of what you will/are doing to support the Moose Hide Campaign
• Share a story that demonstrates how you are using the pins
• Take a photo(s) and let everyone know what you’re up to with the pins. Don’t forget to tag The Moose Hide Campaign:
• Facebook – @moosehidecampaign.ca
• Twitter – @moose_hide
• Instagram – @moose_hide_campaign

Learn more and download additional resources at moosehidecampaign.ca.

For 17 years, the Victoria Foundation has conducted the Vital Signs Citizen Survey to measure social indicators that help us better understand the health of our region. This year’s survey went live on May 5 and is open until July 4.

This year’s focus is “What does community mean to you?” Data collected from the survey reflects how a community is integrating economic, social and environmental elements and helps policy makers understand where improvements are needed.

Record-breaking gas prices are the latest challenge for businesses that need to transport goods across our region. The cost per litre of regular gas hit $2.219 this week. That compares to $1.526 in December. The rapid increase is partly linked to global shortages caused by sanctions on Russian energy supplies after the invasion of Ukraine. However, supply issues existed before the war began and are expected to become more of a concern as demand for gas increases in the summer.

The sudden jump in gas prices has led to spirited debate in BC’s Legislature, and highlighted efforts to switch to alternative fuels.

Affordable and accessible child care is vital to the economy because it creates opportunities for working parents to contribute to the labour force. As such, The Chamber has long called for child care to be considered an investment that attracts families to our region and helps organizations find and keep workers. The provincial government now offers a wage enhancement for Early Childhood Educators and is working with the federal government to reduce the costs that families pay for care.

However, it will take more than funding for new spaces to address the lack of access to child care in Greater Victoria. Our region needs qualified workers for the many positions currently going unfilled.

“Finding an early childhood educator seems like trying to find a unicorn these days,” said Mira Laurence, executive director of the Oaklands Community Association which runs the Oaklands Little Acorn Centre. “There are no people,” Laurence said, in an interview with CHEK News. “The four-dollar top-up doesn’t even seem to be working.”

“We’re having discussions with post-secondary institutions as well as with government about how we can get more Early Child Care workers,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said. “We need to create pathways that lead from school to jobs, or ease immigration for qualified foreign workers. And when we find staff, we need to keep them by making sure they feel valued.”