Langford’s Station Avenue to become cultural hub

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A plan to revitalize a City of Langford neighbourhood will create a new cultural precinct that will showcase artists, attract new businesses and bring more people into a public space. On Monday, Langford council endorsed the project, in collaboration with the Island Corridor Foundation, to improve Station Avenue. The area between Peatt Road and Veteran’s Memorial Parkway had become a concern for residents.
 
“For many years, Council has focused on expanding recreational opportunities,” Langford Mayor Stew Young said in a news release. “Now we plan to turn our attention to arts and culture, providing new and exciting family-friendly options for residents and visitors alike.”
 
The project will celebrate local First Nations, showcase Langford’s evolving cultural identity, and create opportunities for businesses. Funding for the project is through the Union of British Columbia Municipalities Gas Tax Fund.

Province heads into home-stretch of restrictions

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We are heading into the home stretch as we begin week four of the five-weeks of stricter restrictions that began at midnight on March 29. Those orders state:
·     Indoor low intensity group exercise classes are cancelled.
·     Restaurants, pubs and bars are closed for indoor dining.
·     Outdoor patio seating and take-out or delivery is allowed.
·     Workplaces with a COVID-19 exposure may be ordered to close for a minimum of 10 days.
 
As well, the PHO strongly recommends:
·     Working from home whenever possible.
·     Getting tested immediately if you or anyone in your family feels sick.
 
BC has also officially moved into the fourth and final phase of our official immunization plan. As of May 12, more than half of all eligible British Columbians have had at least one dose of vaccine.
 
Appointments are currently being booked for people born in 1985 or earlier. Make sure you are registered so you can book your appointment as soon as possible. One of the criteria for loosening restrictions this summer is the number of people who are immunized.
 
“Vaccines are the light at the end of the tunnel in this pandemic, and that light is growing brighter by the day,” BC’s Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said today.

Douglas Magazine column: Ready for take off

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The provincial and federal budgets unveiled in April have finally given us a better sense of the financial implications of living with COVID-19. There are a lot of unknowns about how pandemic-economics will resonate in our daily lives, but there are reasons for optimism.
 
B.C.’s immunization campaign is rolling out faster than anticipated, and, on Vancouver Island, we have done a remarkable job of keeping case numbers low and our communities safe. This is good news for our regional economy.
 
To better understand what the federal and provincial budgets mean for businesses, the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce hosted an online event with Matthew Hohnsbehn, Liaison Officer at the Canada Revenue Agency, and Kris Wirk, Partner at Dusanj & Wirk Chartered Professional Accountants. Kris is also the Vice Chair of The Chamber’s Board of Directors.

Celebrate stories of hope with us Saturday night!

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The pandemic has upturned all of our lives, so it’s truly inspirational to celebrate the many businesses that have found a way to thrive during these trying times.
 
“There are silver clouds that give all of us a little hope, which is something we all need right now,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams says. “On Saturday night, the 2021 Greater Victoria Business Awards will be broadcast on CHEK for the second year in a row. Please join us at 6 pm to share the excitement as we announce the winners. I promise you’ll enjoy the show, and come away with a little inspiration to help you get through to better days ahead.”
 
Watch the broadcast live on CHEK and engage with us virtually on social media for this spectacular night of prestige, entertainment and celebration.

Special Awards Dinner for Two
 
Click here for a special awards menu you can order for your at home celebrations courtesy of Chamber member Food for Thought Catering. Place your order by 4 pm on Thursday, May 13.

BC introduces temporary plan for paid sick-leave

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The provincial government announced yesterday that a temporary paid-sick-leave plan is in the works. Under the proposal, employers will be required to pay workers their full wages for up to three sick days off. If the employer does not have paid sick-leave, the province will reimburse employers up to $200 per day per worker.
 
“These are exceptional times and we support measures that allow all businesses to ensure workplaces are safe from COVID-19,” Chamber CEO Bruce WIlliams says. “We look forward to learning more about this plan, including how the province will get funds to employers quickly. We also appreciate the province’s commitment to work with business before crafting the permanent plan, which is scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1 when the temporary plan ends.”
 
WorkSafeBC is in charge of setting up the program, and will begin administering it next month on behalf of the government.
 
The Chamber would like to hear from our members about your thoughts on the temporary plan as well as a more permanent paid-sick-leave plan to be legislated to start in January 2022. Email communication@victoriachamber.ca.

Guide helps BC post-secondaries plan for fall

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As post-secondary schools in BC prepare for students to return to campus in the fall, the provincial government has created guidelines to help the process.

The COVID-19 Return to Campus Primer offers high-level advice to ensure the safe return of students, staff and faculty. BC’s Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, has said that, by the fall, transmission of the virus is expected to be low and serious infections will be uncommon.

“COVID-19 is a virus that is unlikely to be eliminated from the population, but can be managed in the same manner as other common respiratory infections,” states the province’s news release.

Real estate continues to set pace for economy

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A lack of housing supply and an eruption in demand has Greater Victoria’s real estate market continuing to set the pace for the economy. The benchmark price for a single family home in the region’s four core municipalities was $996,500 for April. That’s up 2.9% from March and 12.6% higher from April 2020’s benchmark price of $884,600.

“We’ve seen an imbalance in our market for a quite a few months,” Victoria Real Estate Board President David Langlois said in a news release. “Our market is based on supply and demand and there is a disconnect right now with record low supply and high demand. Unfortunately, our housing supply is not as elastic as market demand is.”

Langlois says markets such as Greater Victoria can “erupt quickly,” and outpace the time it takes to build new homes.

“These realities make it hard to bring our market into balance. Efforts by government to dampen demand by making home ownership more expensive through taxes and borrowing limitations do not bring balance. Municipal governments adding costs and time delays to new developments do not bring balance. A commitment to developing our communities over the long term may.”​

Red Dress Day reminds us change is needed

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Today is Red Dress Day, a national day of awareness for murdered and missing indigenous women, girls, and two-spirited people.

Too many lives are lost to violence. We grieve the loss of these daughters, sisters, mothers, and wives. The Chamber supports those families and we promise to advocate for change to end this national tragedy.

Please consider reading the report from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

Entering Week 3 of BC’s COVID-19 circuit breaker

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The Chamber continues to work on behalf of business to help the provincial government plan for a safe summer with fewer restrictions. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has had nothing but praise for businesses and their efforts to prevent transmission of COVID-19 among customers and staff. It’s not surprising. Those of us in the business community understand the innovative work being done, especially by our restaurateurs and retailers.

Our message to government is that they don’t have to think like a business — but they have to includes businesses in their decision-making. As BC’s immunization plan ramps up and we reach the point when widespread transmission stops, better communication from the government remains vital.

For example, the rollout of complicated guidance around patios caught many restaurants off guard. The Chamber supports efforts of the BC Restaurant and Food Association to call for a better process that allows businesses to be part of the solution.

One idea is for highly effected sectors to have someone assigned to them who can serve as a direct connection between industry and the provincial cabinet. Dr. Henry has been tireless in her work to protect the public, but she should not be expected to manage the engineering specifications of outdoor patios across the province.

More than 40% of eligible adults on Vancouver Island have been vaccinated. We’re getting close to putting the pandemic behind us.

Saanich council votes against pursuing casino

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The District of Saanich won’t be home to our region’s second casino.

After being approached by the BC Lottery Corp., Saanich council decided to take a closer look at the pros and cons of the revenue-generator. Responses from Saanichites appears to have tipped the decision to decline.

“The cons would be around money laundering, the deleterious effects of gambling addiction on a family, etc.,” Saanich Mayor Fred Haynes told the Times Colonist. “The pros would be the economic-development side around entertainment, hotels.”

A casino would have brought in up to $3 million per year for the municipality, but ultimately wasn’t the right fit for the community.​

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