The BC Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, Peter Fassbender, was the Chamber's guest speaker at the Business Leaders' Luncheon Nov. 17, speaking about governance within the Capital Region District. Minister Fassbender has invited Greater Victoria mayors for a facilitated dialogue in early December to discuss how to better integrate services and governance. He also stated the Province will not force municipalities to do something they do not want to do, and that this discussion was to consider how to move forward as a region and how the Province of BC could support these efforts.

"It looks like the regions will be left on its own with the Province facilitating discussions," said Chamber CEO Bruce Carter. "Can we find the local leadership to address this issue?"

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A proposal to provide homeless with storage may cost the City of Victoria $85,000 annually. Mayor Lisa Helps said she supports the proposal, but expressed frustration that the city is being forced to fill gaps left open by other levels of government. "It's not the municipal government's responsibility to have outreach workers that are out there helping people," she said. "This is the proper work of social service agencies who should be funded by the province and federal government."

Vancouver Island Brewery won a Gold medal for its Sabotage ISA, and Silver for its Piper's at the World Beer Championship in Illinois last Sept. The newest awards adds to its already impressive list of regional, national and international accomplishments.

An Ontario craft brewery says it will be ceasing operations in Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan by the end of the year due to the Alberta government's decision to increase the tax rate for craft brewers outside of the New West Partnership. It says the tax increase has created unacceptable conditions for all craft brewers that operate outside of the New West Partnership. Barriers to inter-provincial trade is seen as one of Canada's top 10 barriers to competitiveness.

Where does the New York Times recommend you go shopping? Apparently Trounce Alley was given the nod by savvy New Yorkers as the place to be. 

The tiny "Euro-chic" pedestrian passage connects two busy downtown thoroughfares, and is "a diverse micro hub where Old World businesses coexist alongside hip new shops and restaurants without disrupting the charm of the gaslight-lined pathway."

The $85 million McKenzie Interchange Project is finally on the drawing board and ready to move to the shovel stage. The new interchange on the Trans-Canada Highway at the intersection of Admirals Road and McKenzie Avenue in Saanich is being designed with an eye to solving the number one bottleneck on Vancouver Island.

The project goals are to help improve traffic flow in the Capital Regional District, while reducing collisions and improving pedestrian and cyclist safety.

Have questions or feedback on the concepts? Visit here to share!

At its new 1809 Douglas St location, Bridges for Women now has double the space it had before, allowing employees to run three full-time classes at the same time and accommodate at least 50 more trauma counselling sessions per month. Last year, Bridges helped more than 200 women complete full-time programming and had another 135 intake assessments with referrals to other services. An additional 358 women walked in for support. Some were experiencing a crisis. Bridges for Women offers women a six-month employment program that prepares them for the workforce, trauma counselling and mentoring, among other programs.

Chamber members! Have any corporate good news you want to share? Simply e-mail your 100 to 150 word submission to chamber@victoriachamber.ca!

Take advantage of this member benefit - share your good news with Greater Victoria's business community! 

The new Societies Act governs how societies, i.e., not-for-profit corporations, are created and run in BC. Recent changes from both a federal and provincial level include new rules around changing unalterable provisions, director remuneration and liability as well as changing rules around real estate and private share gifts. Implementation is anticipated for November 2016 - overview of the changes here . 

Hillside Shopping Centre has won a Gold from the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) at the 2015 Canadian Shopping Centre Awards competition, which recognizes Canada's most innovative shopping centres. Hillside Centre won the award the marketing category for their OceanWall initiative.

Join the presidents of the University of Victoria,  Royal Roads University and Camosun College to discover how our post-secondary institutions contribute to our local economy and put Victoria on the map as international leaders.

Harbour Towers Hotel & Suites, 345 Quebec St.

Victoria technology companies will now be fishing in a much bigger pond for technical talent thanks to a deal the Victoria Innovation, Advanced Technology and Entrepreneurship Council (VIATEC) signed with Western Canada's largest job marketplace. VIATEC has entered into a partnership with BCJobs.ca and BCtechjobs.ca to have its popular job board included among the listings on the 15-year-old Vancouver-based employment board.

Sometimes referred to as Greater Victoria's 14th municipality, CFB Esquimalt has its own fire department, police, post office, schools, library, museum, medical clinic, church, military housing and even its own newspaper, the Lookout. But unlike the typical municipality, it also has warships, submarines, boats as well as a variety of other assets to support the Canadian Armed Forces' mission and operations. So many vessels in fact that if each of its 19 ships - plus its three submarines - were laid stem to stern starting at the Save-on-Memorial Centre, they would extend almost into Beacon Hill Park! More about the CFB Esquimalt and its contributions here.
CFB Esquimalt: member since 1979

As the largest and most influential business association in Greater Victoria, we are the voice of our members and the Greater Victoria business community. Our views are sought after and respected by government, business leaders and the media.

When Chamber members let us know of an issue affecting their business, we listen. We bring Greater Victoria business issues to the forefront, and - armed with facts and a credible voice - we work to shape and make positive change.

If you are a member and have a concern about something that is affecting your business, contact Peggy Kulmala at policy@victoriachamber.ca and 250-360-3476.

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Special offers abound on The Chamber's website, both for members - and their staff - as well as for the general public. If you are a member and have a special offer, simply log-in to the Members Only section to share. A sample of this week's deals: 
 
 

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