Election Panels a chance to hear from local candidates

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Election Panels a chance to hear from local candidates

The Chamber is proud to bring you a series of Election Panels featuring candidates running for the three major parties in five of Greater Victoria’s electoral districts.
 
On Tuesday, Chamber CEO Bruce Williams moderated a panel for Victoria-Beacon Hill.
 
Earlier today, we featured Oak Bay-Gordon Head. Tomorrow, we host candidates in Saanich South. On Friday, it’s Esquimalt-Metchosin and, next Tuesday, we have candidates from Victoria-Swan Lake.
 
“We’re asking questions that reflect regional concerns, such as child care and transportation, as well as topics that are more specific to each electoral district,” says Williams, who spoke to CFAX yesterday about The Chamber’s efforts to host the 2020 Election Panels.

Colwood projects put municipality in spotlight

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The City of Colwood is enjoying time in the spotlight as the West Shore municipality undergoes an impressive uptick in popularity. So much more than a source of commuters, Colwood is becoming a hub for new jobs being created in the region.
 
Recently announced projects include a new home for the Royal BC Museum‘s archives, collections and research as well as a $26 million complex for Seaspan Victoria Shipyards. There’s also a massive mixed-use development in the works from Omicron.
 
“Colwood is at a really pivotal time right now where we’re shifting from a bedroom community to something very dynamic and I think dynamic is good,” Colwood Mayor Rob Martin told the Times Colonist.

City of Colwood: Member since 2020

Omicron Canada Inc: Member since 2015

Seaspan Victoria Shipyards: Member since 2002

Royal BC Museum: Member since 1994

Regional unemployment rate improves slightly

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Statistics Canada’s latest unemployment numbers offer more evidence about the impact of the pandemic on jobs in Greater Victoria. Our region is improving from the summer, with the jobless rate at 9.1% for September compared to 10.3% in August and a low of 11.1% in July.
 
However, we are currently the 22nd ranked Census Metropolitan Area in Canada. Before COVID-19, Greater Victoria consistently had the lowest or second lowest unemployment rate in the country.
 
Our ranking is largely attributable to a 39% drop in the number of people working in accommodations and food services — the sector hit the hardest by measures to control the pandemic.

Giving Thanks

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Whether you’re looking to cook your own Thanksgiving meal, or prefer someone else do the work, Thanksgiving is a great reason to enjoy good food and spend time with people you love.

Take time this season to check out some of the exciting activities and venues in Greater Victoria this weekend. If you’re in the mood for a staycation, check out one of the great hotels Greater Victoria has to offer.

The fall is a perfect season to support one of Greater Victoria’s local charities. Thanksgiving Dinner at Our Place Society will look a bit different this year, as they are extending hours and implementing a cafeteria style arrangement to ensure those in need are able to receive food while maintaining social distancing. Gordy Dodd from Dodd’s Furniture & Mattress is hosting his annual Thanksgiving meal from 4:30 to 6:30 pm on Friday, Oct. 9.

Whether you’re connected with your loved ones in person or virtually this year, The Chamber would like to wish you a happy Thanksgiving!

The Chamber will be closed Monday, Oct. 12.

Regulatory standard vital to single-use plastic ban

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The Chamber supports efforts to protect the environment from harmful single-use plastics, and we call on governments to work with businesses to support innovations that address these concerns.
 
Today’s announcement from federal Environment and Climate Change Minister Jonathan Wilkinson to eliminate waste plastic by 2030 is welcome news. The plan is to target single-use plastics, specifically plastic checkout bags, straws, stir sticks, six-pack rings, cutlery and hard-to-recycle food containers.
 
Having a national strategy will help ensure the rules are standardized so that businesses understand their requirements. The public has, for many years, supported businesses that provided alternatives to plastic waste. Going forward, governments need to ensure they are following the lead of the public and businesses in order to get the best response to this new initiative.

BC Ferries CEO bullish on Victoria to Colwood service

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We are starting to get some perspective on the pandemic and what we’ve been through and where we’re going. However, back in the spring, the world was a much more uncertain place and BC Ferries CEO Mark Collins says he’s proud of how his team rose to the challenge.
 
Collins, who was the guest of The Chamber’s Business Restart Series yesterday, says his team at BC Ferries stepped into the unknown in order to meet its mandate and keep alive vital supply chains and transportation services to remote BC communities.
 
Collins also offered hope to commuters enticed by the idea of a ferry between Colwood and Victoria.
 
“We really think there’s a business case here,” Collins says, detailing the cost and timelines that show the service is viable.
 
To obtain a copy of the full presentation email us at eventsmanager@victoriachamber.ca

Victoria council to consider extending patio season

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The Chamber has written a letter to Victoria Council urging an extension of the Build Back Victoria plan until next spring.
 
“The City’s leadership and investment in innovations led by business are making a difference,” states the letter, which is included in a staff report outlining experiences with the program so far. “Many of our restaurants, cafes and pubs were able to sustain their operations because of the opportunity they were given to expand their spaces.”
 
Council will consider extending the program tomorrow, as well as a suggestion to allow for vehicle access to businesses on the section of Government Street closed to traffic.

Fairmont Empress closing over winter for upgrade

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One of our region’s most famous landmarks is taking the winter off to freshen up and modernize its heating system. The storied 112-year-old Fairmont Empress Hotel announced this week that it will be closed from January to April. The $3 million upgrade will make the building more energy efficient — always worth the effort. The work is timed for what is traditionally the slowest season for tourism in the region.

Real estate market stays strong in Greater Victoria

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Real estate sales in Greater Victoria continue to set records as pent-up demand from the spring has made conditions hot in the fall. The Victoria Real Estate Board’s latest statistical package shows 989 properties sold in September, roughly accounting for the loss of expected sales in the spring.
 
“I don’t think that anyone who was trying to predict market outcomes in our area over the course of the pandemic expected that the pent up demand from dampened sales in April and May would result in this level of market activity. There’s no doubt that buyers are extremely motivated and this increased demand, coupled with limited inventory, fueled the September market.” VREB President Sandi-Jo Ayers said in a statement.

Victoria listed among top Small Cities in the World

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Even after 157 years, The Chamber still marvels at this exceptional gem of a region we’re lucky to call home. So, we’re not surprised Victoria has once again been named one of the Best Small Cities in the World by Conde Nast Traveller.
 
Visitors can’t get enough of our region, and we can’t either. The tourism sector might be down right now due to the pandemic, but we know it will be back. And we can’t wait to welcome the world.
 
Make sure to get out this long-weekend and see our city and our remarkable Island with the fresh eyes of a world traveller. There is a reason outsiders say we stand alongside world cities such as Florence, Edinburgh and Monte Carlo.

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Email: chamber@victoriachamber.ca

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