BC renews moratorium on retail liquor stores

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The provincial government has renewed the moratorium it’s had on liquor licensee retail stores since the 1990s. The move means no new stores will be approved for another decade. Existing LRS licences may still be transferred with approval of the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch. The province says a moratorium gives certainty to current retailers and is in line with public health advocacy.
 
“While many British Columbians enjoy alcohol and use it in a low-risk way, when it’s more readily accessible, more injuries, incidents of alcohol poisoning, cancers and other diseases inevitably follow,” Tim Stockwell, a scientist with the University of Victoria‘s Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research said in a news release. “Maintaining B.C.’s liquor retailer moratorium is a vital mitigation strategy that furthers public health and safety.”

Signs of optimism for businesses in downtown core

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The days are getting shorter but things are getting brighter for downtown businesses, according to new data released by the City of Victoria last week.
 
There was a marked increase this summer in business licenses issued, film permits and hotel occupancy over last summer. Construction value reached $101.6 million in July, compared to $13.4 million in July 2020 and $51.5 million in July 2020.
 
Jeff Bray, Executive Director of the Downtown Victoria Business Association, said the rise in pedestrians downtown is a good measure of vitality. “When more people were working from home, it really emptied out the streets and hit the downtown businesses hard. I am hopeful that we can get back to our pre-pandemic numbers.”
 
“Tourism is a dynamic sector that contributes to the city and region is so many ways. When the industry was hit hard by the pandemic, the repercussions were felt throughout the community,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said in the news release.

Construction begins on non-market housing project

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One of the keys to helping employers find and keep staff is ensuring there are affordable housing and child care options in the region.
 
Recently announced plans for a new mixed-use development on the corner of Douglas Street and Burnside Road East will help.
 
The project will transform the site of the old Tally-Ho Hotel, which had been turned into temporary supportive housing for 51 people. Those tenants will have the option of moving into 54 supportive housing units being built. The Victoria Cool Aid Society will provide meals, life-skills training and counselling to help tenants overcome challenges that have put them at a higher risk of homelessness.
 
The project will also include 100 rental units for individuals, seniors and families who have moderate or low incomes. As well, Beacon Community Services will operate on-site child care with 36 spaces to help parents who are going back to work or school.
 
Construction is expected to finish in late 2023.

How to Participate in National Truth and Reconciliation Day

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Chamber staff show solidarity for Orange Shirt Day.

Sept. 30 is National Truth and Reconciliation Day — a time to reflect on the history of residential schools and to listen with purpose to the stories of our Indigenous friends and neighbours.
 
Municipalities across Greater Victoria are hosting events to commemorate and celebrate indigenous voices, including:

 
The City of Victoria will be hosting the Xe xe Smun’ eem-Victoria Orange Shirt Day: Every Child Matters Ceremony from noon to 2:30 pm at Centennial Square. The event will include Indigenous performances, a minute of silence, and guest speakers sharing their personal experiences with residential schools and reconciliation.
 
The District of Oak Bay will be hosting events through the group ReconciliACTION Oak Bay – beginning in front of Oak Bay High School at 10 am, the event will honour residential school survivors with members of the Songhees Nation sharing their wisdom.
 
The City of Colwood will be presenting the Na’tsa’maht Gathering in honour of Truth and Reconciliation. The event will take place from 10 am – 4 pm at Royal Beach, and will include traditional songs, drumming, dancing and more.
 
The Corporation of the District of Saanich will be lighting the municipal hall orange on the evenings of September 29-30, and the flag will be lowered to half-mast.
 
The Township of Esquimalt has illuminated the Archie Browning Sports Centre in orange this week, and will continue to do so until September 30.

Along with the region’s municipalities, post-secondary institutions have committed to close their campuses on Sept. 30 and are offering informative and inclusive events:
 
The University of Victoria has been hosting various reconciliation events throughout the week. From film screenings at the First People’s House to livestreamed educational sessions, the university also has orange shirts designed by Carey Newman Hayalthkin’geme available at the bookstore. University President Kevin Hall will be detailing UVic’s calls to action and the role of education for Truth and Reconciliation.
 
Royal Roads University invites the community to join in virtual learning and events to honour the strength and resilience of Indigenous Peoples, including the #DrumForTheChildren virtual event at 2:15 with the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Nation. On and around campus, many will share on social media their commitment to reconciliation wearing the limited-edition Orange Shirt with a powerful logo of the Heron People Circle (elder and old ones) by member Clarence “Butch” Dick of Lək̓ʷəŋən (Songhees) Nation.
 
Camosun College hosted their Orange Shirt Day event Wednesday at 1 pm. Attendees were invited to create love baskets filled with treats and medicines. The baskets will be delivered to residential school survivors who work closely with the college.

​How can you contribute to Truth and Reconciliation?

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How will you recognize the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation? For the first time, Canadians will officially join together tomorrow to honour Indigenous children who experienced traumatic abuse under the residential school system.
 
For the business community, a starting point could be the specific call to action by Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
 
Meaningful consultation, respectful relationships and ensuring consent of Indigenous peoples are among the ways businesses can help the reconciliation process. Other ways include ensuring access to jobs and training needed to benefit from economic development, as well as making sure all of us better understand the history of residential schools and ongoing challenges facing Indigenous people.
 
This summer, The Chamber took steps to address this call to action by creating an Indigenous Business Task Force. If you are interested in contributing to this initiative, or know someone who would be good addition, please contact us at communications@victoriachamber.ca.

Posters remind public that patience is appreciated

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BC Businesses that are required to ask for proof of vaccination can download new posters designed to help spread the message about the importance of being kind.
 
The posters were created in collaboration with the BC Restaurant and Foodservices Association, the City of Victoria, Destination Greater Victoria, Downtown Victoria Business Association, and the Hotel Association of Greater Victoria.

Online tool simplifies special-event liquor permitting

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A new online portal will streamline the approval process for special event liquor permitting, the province announced Sept. 21.
 
Application requirements are unchanged, but must now be made through the new portal. Processing is expected to be quicker, or even immediate.
 
“Applicants who have approved but unpaid special event permits as of Sept. 21, 2021, must pay for and download their permits through the LDB’s online system before it is decommissioned Oct. 4, 2021,” states the news release. “Applicants with applications still under review as of Sept. 21 will receive notification of the outcome of their application from the LDB system soon after. They, too, must pay for and download their permits within the LDB system before Oct. 4, 2021.”

Governments must step up advocacy for cruise ships

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The federal government has work to do after Alaskan politicians proposed changing an Act that has been a keystone in the development of Greater Victoria’s cruise ship industry.
 
The Chamber continues working with the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority and other community partners to make sure all levels of government are prioritizing this issue.
 
The federal and provincial governments responded to our earlier calls to action, ending the prohibition on cruise ships in Canada on Nov. 1 instead of waiting until next year. The industry contributes $130 million annually to our region’s economy and provides more than 800 jobs.

​How are you marking Truth and Reconciliation Day?

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How does your business plan to mark Canada’s first National Truth and Reconciliation Day on Sept. 30?
 
Canada’s civil service will take the day off with pay. As well, the province and numerous institutions such as the University of Victoria, Camosun College and the Greater Victoria School District are also giving staff the day off.
 
“The Chamber has also made the decision to close our office on Sept. 30. We felt it was the right thing to do for our organization and reflects the decision we made, earlier in the summer, to create a new task force to help Indigenous entrepreneurs and First Nation businesses fully participate in Greater Victoria’s business community,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said, noting that the day is not a statutory holiday according to BC’s Employment Standards Act. “Every organization will make their own decisions based on their business and sector.”
 
The Chamber will be using our Instagram, Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter channels to reflect on the importance of this day as well as ongoing efforts to support the reconciliation process. Please follow and share, and let us know if you’re planning anything to mark the day by emailing members@victoriachamber.ca.
 
For more resources to help your organization, click here.

Clipper returns in landmark moment for recovery

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It was an emotional moment last Friday when the Victoria Clipper sailed into the Inner Harbour for the first time since the pandemic began. Families waited anxiously for the boat to dock so they could reunite with relatives.
 
For business leaders, there was also a sense of relief as a vital link for our visitor economy was finally restored.
 
The federal government re-opened the marine border after vocal advocacy efforts by The Chamber, Clipper Navigation and our community partners, including Destination Greater Victoria and the City of Victoria. And a special thanks to CFB Esquimalt, Harbour Ferries and the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority for helping make the welcome back event so special!

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