Get ready to count blooms March 6-13
 
Victoria, B.C. – While other parts of Canada are still in the grips of winter, Greater Victoria is gearing up to promote its milder climate with the 49th annual Greater Victoria Flower Count. This year’s count launched this morning at Abkhazi Garden, with the official count beginning Wednesday, March 6. The event is sponsored and organized by local businesses, Destination Greater Victoria, and the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce.
 
In February or March of each year, Greater Victoria Flower Count organizers announce a “counting challenge” to communities in Greater Victoria to become the year’s “Bloomingest” community. Last year’s Greater Victoria Flower Count saw over 33 billion blooms counted across Greater Victoria, with the Town of Sidney winning first place as 2023’s “Bloomingest” community.
 
An important part of engaging the community during the Greater Victoria Flower Count involves elementary school participation. Grade four and five students are encouraged to count flowers and submit entries. This year, the winning class will be awarded a trip via L.A. Limousines to The Butchart Gardens. Last year’s winner was Ms. Jessica Manness’ class at Hillcrest Elementary, with a count of 1.56 billion blooms.
 
Flower counts can be submitted at www.flowercount.ca. Participants can also follow the count from March 6 to 13 on social media through Facebook, X and Instagram (@FlowerCount). Any floral post using the #FlowerCount hashtag on Instagram earns an entry to win a $500 gift card towards your own electric bike, generously donated by Pedego Victoria.
 
Flower Count organizers have also teamed up with sponsor Used.ca to continue the tradition of the daily Find The Hidden Bloom contest, running from March 6 to 13, 2024. Used.ca will hide a flower on their Victoria pages and share a hint as to where to find it on their social channels. If you find the daily bloom, you gain an entry towards winning a local, sustainable goodie bag valued at $100 or more.
 
Worried all the blossoms will be too hard to count?  Here are some flower counting tips:

• A small tree full of blossoms equals 250,000 blossoms.
• A mid-sized heather bush has 1,000 blossoms.
• Trees fully in bloom count for 750,000 blossoms.

 
The number of blossoms counted will be attributed to your community. Submissions will be accepted from 7:00 a.m. on March 6 to 4:00 p.m. on March 13. The Bloomingest community and the class that counts the most blooms will be announced on March 13 by Ed Bain on CHEK News at 5.
 
Flower counters are encouraged to share photos of blooms discovered while exploring Greater Victoria with #FlowerCount and by tagging @FlowerCount on Facebook, Instagram or X.

 
Quotes:
 
“For almost as long as the tourism board has been around, we’ve been proud to participate in the Greater Victoria Flower Count,” said Paul Nursey, CEO of Destination Greater Victoria. “This event invites locals and visitors to enjoy the outdoors as the weather starts to warm and the days get longer, and it highlights the natural beauty of the region that is part of what makes Greater Victoria a destination of choice.”
 
“Flower Count is a fun tradition that is unique to our region,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said. “It has evolved over the years, but it continues to be an opportunity to share the joy of springtime in Greater Victoria with other Canadians.”
 
 
Sponsorship and Support:
The 49th Annual Greater Victoria Flower Count is proudly sponsored and supported by Destination Greater Victoria, the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, The Abkhazi Garden (TLC – The Land Conservancy of British Columbia), Used.ca, CHEK Media, Pedego Electric Bikes, The Butchart Gardens and L.A. Limousines.
 
About Destination Greater Victoria: Destination Greater Victoria (Greater Victoria Visitors and Convention Bureau) has proudly served as our region’s official, not-for-profit destination marketing and management organization for half a century. As we celebrate our 50th anniversary in 2024, we continue to work hand-in-hand with nearly 1,000 businesses and municipalities in Greater Victoria to promote, enhance, and manage our vibrant destination. We look forward to another 50 years of supporting the visitor economy that brings vitality to our region. For more information, visit the Destination Greater Victoria website.
 
About Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce: Since 1863, The Chamber has served Greater Victoria by working together to build good business and great community for all through advocacy, networking, professional development, and innovative services as changing times require. In 2020, the Chamber Champions initiative added a powerful resource to provide leadership and guidance to our organization. Current Champions are: Acera Insurance, BC Ferries, Berwick Retirement Communities, Big Wheel Burger, Camosun College, CHEK Media Group, CIBC, ColdStar Solutions, H2 Accelerator, Knappett Projects, Mike Geric Construction, MNP, PARC Retirement Living, RBC, Scotiabank, Seaspan Victoria Shipyards, Starlight Developments, TD Commercial Banking, TELUS Business, Times Colonist and the University of Victoria. Find out more at victoriachamber.ca.
 
 
MEDIA CONTACTS:

Astrid Chang
Executive Director, Corporate Communications and Community Relations
Destination Greater Victoria
250-893-3995
astrid.chang@tourismvictoria.com
 
Jim Zeeben
Policy and Strategic Communications 
Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce  
250-360-3471
communications@victoriachamber.ca

VICTORIA, BC – Erinn Pinkerton is the recipient of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce’s 2024 Award of Distinction. 

Pinkerton is the first woman to serve as President and CEO of BC Transit, overseeing the delivery of public transit across 130 communities in B.C. The agency has an annual operating budget of more than $420 million, employs a fleet of roughly 1,200 vehicles, and has more than 1,100 employees and 1,700 contracted employees.  

“Erinn is a titan in Greater Victoria’s business community, highly respected in communities across B.C. and across the continent for the innovation she has led,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said. “It’s always difficult for the award judges to choose one person among the many worthy candidates each year, but Erinn’s success speaks for itself.”

Pinkerton is known as a visionary leader who is modernizing public transit through innovation and technology. This includes transitioning BC Transit’s entire fleet to zero emission vehicles by 2040 and introducing electronic fare payments in 30 transit systems across the province by the end of 2024.  

The Chamber’s Award of Distinction honours a businessperson still active in business who, over a number of years, has made a noteworthy contribution to the Greater Victoria community. This award is in recognition of the positive influence the honouree has had on the economy, business, and the overall community, signifying the achievement, resourcefulness, and determination they have shown. An independent panel of prominent business leaders served as judges. 

“I’m honoured to receive this award from the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, and I share this recognition with everyone at BC Transit,” Pinkerton said. “This award is a meaningful affirmation of our shared commitment to providing safe and reliable service to our customers. I accept it with gratitude, knowing that every member of our team has played a crucial role in achieving this success. Having the support of great partners like The Chamber helps strengthen our ability to meet our goals and ongoing commitment to the community. Together, we will continue to drive positive change and excellence in the world of public transit not only in Greater Victoria, but across the province as well.”

The Chamber’s Award of Distinction, sponsored by the Times Colonist, will be officially celebrated at the 2024 Greater Victoria Business Awards, which feature 14 categories recognizing organizations and individuals that have distinguished themselves through excellent customer service, community leadership, innovation and more. 

In December 2023, James Gatsi was announced as Chamber Member of the Year for 2024. 

The Chamber’s 2024 Business Awards Ceremony will be held in May at the Victoria Conference Centre. Nominations are open until Jan. 18. The 2024 Greater Victoria Business Awards are sponsored by Coast Capital Savings, Royal Roads University, Times Colonist, Air Canada, BCLC, Camosun College, Canadian Tire, Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island, City of Victoria, Grant Thornton, Gustavson School of Business, Harbour Air, Innvo8 Digital Solutions Inc.,  PARC Retirement Living, WorldLine and The Number Creative.  
 
About Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce 
Since 1863, The Chamber has served Greater Victoria by working together to build good business and great community for all through advocacy, networking, professional development and innovative services as changing times require. In 2020, the Chamber Champions initiative added a powerful resource to provide leadership and guidance to our organization. Current Champions are: Acera Insurance, Berwick Retirement Communities, Big Wheel Burger, Camosun College, CHEK Media Group, CIBC, ColdStar Solutions, H2 Accelerator, Knappett Projects, Mike Geric Construction, MNP, PARC Retirement Living, RBC, Scotiabank, Seaspan Victoria Shipyards, Starlight Developments, TELUS Business, TD Commercial Banking, Times Colonist and the University of Victoria. Find out more at: victoriachamber.ca. 
  
Media Contact:  
Jim Zeeben, Policy and Strategic Communications 
Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce  
250 360-3471 | communications@victoriachamber.ca 

Calgary, Alberta— The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce has earned a prestigious Inclusive Growth Award from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. The award recognizes outstanding efforts to advance economic reconciliation and foster diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the Canadian business landscape. Greater Victoria Chamber member WeBC was also recognized for their work in this space.
 
“Inclusion isn’t just a buzzword,” said Diana Palmerin-Velasco, Senior Director, Future of Work at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. “It’s a cornerstone of a resilient and thriving business landscape. We’re proud to recognize these exceptional organizations and entrepreneurs who are leading the way in creating a Canada where everyone has a chance to succeed.”
 
The award ceremony was held Oct. 14 — the final day of the national chamber network’s annual general meeting in Calgary.
 
“The DEI initiatives we are making mean we are better reflecting the diversity within the economy and business community of Greater Victoria,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said. “The team working in our Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Advancement Committee, as well as our chamber staff, are making this advancement possible. This award belongs to them.“

Williams was also honoured before the AGM as the nation’s top chamber executive by the Chamber of Commerce Executives of Canada. The organization connects 450 professional members in 175 chambers of commerce and boards of trade across the country.
 
The Canadian Chamber’s Inclusive Growth Awards recognize chambers of commerce, boards of trade, and business members who have implemented successful initiatives to advance economic reconciliation, diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in their organizations and business operations. These awards also recognize underrepresented entrepreneurs who have demonstrated excellence in innovation and social impact.
 
“We are a Chamber that works for everyone, so it is important that everyone sees themselves reflected in our membership and our organization,” IDEA Committee Chair Richard Michaels said. “I’m proud of the initiative shown by Bruce and the Chamber team to create spaces that we can use to build diversity and, in turn, grow our organization and help our region’s economy become more sustainable and resilient.”
 
The Chamber was applauded for showing national leadership to take action on Indigenous reconciliation and working to help all people feel welcome in Greater Victoria’s business community.
 
“As part of our 160th anniversary, the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce created a digital archive looking back at our region’s history and the role diverse communities played in building a resilient economy,” Chamber Board Chair Kris Wirk said. “By acknowledging our past mistakes, we can take action on building a better community now and for future generations.”
 
On Canada Day 2021, the Greater Victoria Chamber publicly acknowledged and apologized for its historical role in the social and economic suppression of Indigenous People, becoming the first Chamber in Canada to do so. The Chamber ntroduced an economic reconciliation membership program for Indigenous-owned businesses, leading to a significant increase in Indigenous business membership.
 
Greater Victoria was one of three chambers recognized by the national chamber. Winnipeg and Newmarket were also celebrated.
 
In a separate category for members of chambers, WeBC earned recognition for supporting women entrepreneurs in BC since 1995. WeBC’s Enhancing the Mosaic of Women Entrepreneurs project, funded by the Government of Canada’s Women Entrepreneurship Strategy Ecosystem Fund, expanded access to mentoring, training, and resources for underrepresented segments of the population.This support was particularly critical during the pandemic, as it offered proactive assistance to women-owned businesses impacted by COVID-19.
 
For more information about the Inclusive Growth Awards and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, please visit https://chamber.ca/events/inclusive-growth-awards/
 
About Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce
Since 1863, The Chamber has served Greater Victoria by working together to build good business and
great community for all through advocacy, networking, professional development and innovative services as changing times require. In 2020, the Chamber Champions initiative added a powerful resource to provide leadership and guidance to our organization. Current Champions are: BC Ferries, Berwick Retirement Communities, Big Wheel Burger, Camosun College, CHEK Media Group, CIBC, ColdStar Solutions, H2 Accelerator, Knappett Projects, Acera Insurance (formerly Megson FitzPatrick Inc.), Mike Geric Construction, MNP, PARC Retirement Living, RBC, Scotiabank, Seaspan Victoria Shipyards, Starlight Developments, Times Colonist, TD Commercial Banking, TELUS Business, Times Colonist and the University of Victoria.
 
Media Contact: 
Jim Zeeben, Policy and Strategic Communication 
Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce 
250 360-3471 | communications@victoriachamber.ca
 
About the Canadian Chamber of Commerce — The Future of Business Success
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is Canada’s largest and most activated business network — representing over 400 chambers of commerce and boards of trade and more than 200,000 business of all sizes, from all sectors of the economy and from every part of the country — to create the conditions for our collective success. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is the undisputed champion and catalyst for the future of business success. From working with government on economy-friendly policy to providing services that inform commerce and enable trade, we give each of our members more of what they need to succeed: insight into markets, competitors and trends, influence over the decisions and policies that drive business success and impact on business and economic performance.

Contact
Rewa Mourad, Public Relations Specialist
Canadian Chamber of Commerce
613.238.4000 (2211) | rmourad@chamber.ca