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At the sold-out luncheon with the BC Minister of Finance, the packed business mixer at the Coastal Community Credit Union and all the events in between, over 400 members helped us celebrate Chamber Week Feb 15 to 19. Thank you!
Check out the photos here. |
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Farmers Recognized for Lifetime of Achievement
Murray and Lynda  Farmer will receive The Chamber's Governors' Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual Greater Victoria Business Awards on Thursday, April 21.
Murray and Lynda have worked tirelessly to raise funds for post-secondary learning, each having held key board positions during pivotal times in the history of the University of Victoria and Camosun College. They were also co-chairs of a community-based campaign that funded the establishment of the Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre.
Since 2002, The Chamber has celebrated the successes of the Greater Victoria business community.
See the finalists in the 13 categories here.
Tickets to the awards ceremony are selling quickly, purchase yours now!
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Opportunities and connections
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 Sewage: Shift to Taxpayer Over Process
Esquimalt's McLoughlin Point and Macaulay Point, and Victoria's Clover Point are once again in the mix as possible sewage treatment plant sites.
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Undersea Sewage
The below was sent to Liquid Waste Management Committee on Monday:
The Chamber is very concerned about the economic cost of the Rock Bay solution. We had the opportunity to speak in some detail with the Committee Chair last week. The concern with the Rock Bay site is related to the piping routes that will involve the installation of a two-metre diameter forced main that will limit access to downtown during construction. This main will require significant trenching and the adjustment of existing services on that route. The economic cost to the community of essentially digging a moat around downtown for the construction period (one to two years in our estimation) could be devastating.
Ideally, sewage facilities located as close as possible to existing outfalls would reduce both the construction and economic impacts of that construction. It is unfortunate that solutions maximizing the use of existing infrastructure (outfalls) are not feasible. As such, The Chamber encourages the Committee to examine the feasibility of an undersea routing for the forced main and to consider the economic impacts over and above construction when evaluating the sewage treatment options.
Bruce Carter, CEO
Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce
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BUSINESS LEADERS LUNCHEON:  Fraud, vandalism, shoplifting, and other illegal activity can have a real impact on businesses and their bottom line. Join BC Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Morris to learn and discuss the Province's strategy to improve community safety in British Columbia. Tues, April 12 | 11:30 am-1 pm
Coast Victoria Harbourside Hotel & Marina, 146 Kingston St.
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Healthy Housing Inventory
A healthy housing inventory - ownership and rental - to fit the needs of our community requires a long-term vision involving all levels of government.
"Concentrating housing efforts on the homeless comes at a risk," said Chamber CEO Bruce Carter. "Without a strategy that looks at inventory levels across the spectrum, housing will remain an issue for everyone."
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Quality Foods Opening Eagle View Villiage's anchor store, Quality Foods, will open Thurs, Feb 25 at 10 am The 45,000-square-foot store is adjacent to Victoria General Hospital and in close proximity to a fast-growing area of the region, offering many advantages. It has a split-level shopping experience that includes a large deli and bistro area.
Quality Foods: member since 2015
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BUSINESS LEADERS LUNCHEON: Hear Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps reflect on her first year in  office and find out what's ahead for the City of Victoria over the next three years and how this will impact your business. Tues, May 10 | 11:30 am-1:30 pm
Hotel Grand Pacific, 463 Belleville St.
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Bus Lane Extension in the Works
Funding is in place and construction is set to begin this fall on a bus priority lane on Douglas Street from Tolmie Avenue to Saanich Road.
"The ministry is following through on the commitment we made as part of BC on the Move to extend the Douglas Street bus lane," said Todd Stone, BC Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. "Today we are committing $6.45 million to this project that will reduce travel time for northbound bus users on the busiest transit corridor in the Victoria region." There are currently 95,000 trips made per day between the Westshore and Victoria. This is expected to increase to 160,000 by 2038 as the Westshore will be home to a large percentage of the region's population growth over this same timeframe.
"Considerable improvements to existing infrastructure and travel options are needed to efficiently move people and goods in and out - as well as within - Greater Victoria, thereby stimulating economic growth and improving our quality of life," said Chamber CEO Bruce Carter. "This project is the result of years of advocacy and hard work by numerous key organizations such as BC Transit and The Chamber. Thank you and well done to all"
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Manufacturing - Island Style
Vancouver Island's specialty manufacturing industry is making and selling highly evolved products to customers around the globe.
"Most manufacturing in BC is now comprised of niche players who are top competitors in the world in their category," said Marcus Ewert-Johns, Vice President for BC at Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters Association of BC, and Chair of the BC Alliance for Manufacturing, a group of 14 industry associations. "The Island has over 1,800 manufacturers which makes it the third largest cluster in the province. With skilled labour shortage concerns relating to high cost of living, many manufacturers are considering relocating. Strategically, this could benefit the Island and grow the existing cluster in much the same way as are Chilliwack, Bellingham and even communities in Alberta ABR gaining advantage."
This Douglas Magazine article outlines how Vancouver Island competes in the specialty manufacturing market, and mentions some great companies that represent the sector, including Scott Plastics, Schneider Electric, and AXYS Technologies.
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Scott Plastics: member since 1964
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| Schneider Electric: member since 2003 |
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| AXYS Technologies: member since 2015 | |
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SPRING MARKETPLACE MIXER:Book your Spring and Fall booths together and save $50!  Exhibitors showcase your businesses to over 300 people, including Chamber members and the public. Book your booth early to avoid disappointment!   Maximize your exposure. Full colour Times Colonist advertising is available for $100. Creative services provided by the Times Colonist for no additional cost. Limited supply. Wed, Mar 16 | 4-7 pm
Victoria Marriott Inner Harbour, 728 Humboldt St.
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Congrats to Commissionaires!
Commissionaires Victoria the Islands and Yukon, Vancouver Island's largest and most experienced security company, started its three-year hospital security contract last week with Island Health. The Commissionaires will provide static and mobile security, alarm response and patient watch services to 21 Island Health facilities across the South, North and Central Island territories. The Island Health contract will create meaningful full and part-time employment for over 60 commissionaires annually for each of the three years in the contract term, which also has provision for up to four one-year extensions by the agreement of both parties. |
Commissionaires Victoria the Islands and Yukon: Member since 1995
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Welcome to Our Newest Members!
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Why Keep it a Secret?
We love sharing our members' good news ... almost as much as our members love reading it! We routinely share the good works of our members - store openings, key staff changes, recognition. All part and parcel of being supporting the success of our members' businesses!
We'll publish member news our bi-monthly Business Matters, our weekly BizNews, even share via social media.
One of the easiest ways to share your good news is via email - add membership@victoriachamber.ca to your media release distribution list or just send us a quick email.
Take your member benefits to the max - help us help you promote your business - for free! |
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