When a flight from Seattle touches down next Tuesday at Victoria International Airport, it will mark another milestone in our economic recovery. The plane will be the first with international passengers since the start of the pandemic in 2020.

For the latest requirements for travellers, make sure to check for current updates from the federal government.

Supporting your neighbours starts with thinking locally.

“In an effort to help people choose to shop at Greater Victoria retailers this holiday season, The Chamber is putting our money where our mouth is and paying the cost of shipping,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams says. “We all benefit from a strong regional economy and it’s up to each of us to do our part to help with the ongoing recovery.”

Effective immediately, the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce is encouraging holiday shoppers to choose local. The Chamber will cover the cost of shipping for items purchased from Chamber businesses and delivered by proud Chamber Courier partners.

The last two years have been challenging for retailers, but the forecast is for Canadians to spend more this holiday season. The Retail Council of Canada recently released a survey that shows people are feeling more confident with their finances this year.

Buying online from local retailers is also a good way to support our economic recovery and conserve a little gas by letting someone else do the delivery.

For more information on The Chamber’s Shop #ChamberLocalVicBC campaign, visit our website at victoriachamber.ca and make sure to follow us on social media.

If your business is interested in taking part in this initiative, please email members@victoriachamber.ca right away.

Media Coverage: Shop #ChamberLocalVicBC

• CHEK: Retailer offers tips to make sure your holiday gifts aren’t affected by supply chain disruptions
• Times Colonist: Greater Victoria chamber is paying for free local delivery for purchases from its members
• Island Social Trends: Victoria Chamber paying courier fees to support local retailers
• Business Examiner: V

​When roads are repaired and you’re ready for a perfect weekend away, there’s a local site for you to enjoy. Earlier this month, Malahat Nation CAO, Josh Handysides was on site at the Malahat Skywalk as local dignitaries gathered to officially launch the Spirit Loop. The project was launched in conjunction with Destination BC to build tourism between Malahat, Langford, Sooke and Port Renfrew.
 
With the tagline, Let nature take the wheel, the site provides 1 – 3 day itineraries of places to go and recharge your spirit along the Pacific Marine Circle Route.

​200 millimetres doesn’t sound like much in the grand scheme of things, but it was a quick lesson in what climate extremes are doing to our province as it rained and then rained some more across BC. As of midday today, Premier Horgan has declared a Provincial State of Emergency.
 
The power outages, damage to homes and businesses, mudslides, road and bridge washouts, and even isolation due to evacuations, are the most visible problems. Insurance companies are already touting this as the largest natural catastrophic disaster for the insurance industry in 2021.
 
What is yet to be fully assessed is another delay in our already hard hit supply chain and the costs around delayed goods. The Port of Vancouver is assessing that the turnaround on imported goods may be nearly doubled from 2 days or less to as much as 5 days. Rob Reilly, Canadian National Railway Co.’s chief operating officer, said the heavy rain has made the tracks impassable at “a number of locations in southern B.C.” CN has been working above and beyond, using helicopters to deliver supplies as needed. Truck transportation is similarly impacted, even as alternating traffic patterns are restored. The request has been made that non-essential travel be suspended at this time. Here on the lower island, several gas stations are out of fuel.
 
Closures on major island transportation corridors — such as the Malahat and Sooke Road — have also resulted in workforce and supply chain disruptions. As always, in the midst of crisis, we have seen extraordinary efforts from the people of BC. Our first responders and emergency crews — and soon our military — have been working day and night to get our province back on its feet and on our roads. BC Ferries has added extra sailings to get goods to the island and to help reconnect our communities.
 
The provincial and federal government have committed to get transportation links up and running in order to keep people and goods in our province moving.

This Christmas, The Chamber will be working to encourage local shopping by picking up the tab on deliveries in Greater Victoria made at retail outlets that are Chamber members.
 
Recent survey results from the Retail Council of Canada are showing that consumers are planning to spend about $100 more this year than last (~$792) during the holiday season. The resurgence in consumer confidence is encouraging but to benefit our local merchants that needs to be focused on local businesses rather than online empires.
 
If your business is interested in taking part in this initiative, please email members@victoriachamber.ca right away. The program begins this week.