Thank you to everyone who came out to "Celebrating 12 Years as CEO." The food, the company and the venue were fantastic. Best of luck to Bruce on his future endeavors! See the photos here.
 The Global Workforce
 
Chamber members are citing challenges in hiring qualified workers as a barrier to growth. This is an issue not unique to Greater Victoria - B.C. presently has the highest job vacancy rate in Canada, at 2.8%.
 
We need workers throughout the spectrum, entry-level to seasoned. In urban centres with high cost-of-living like Vancouver and Victoria, it becomes particularly challenging to fill gaps at the mid- to lower-end of the employment spectrum, particularly for skilled, entry-level as well as low-skilled, difficult-to-fill positions.
 
"Immigration poses a great opportunity for Greater Victoria businesses," said Chamber CEO Catherine Holt. "We rely on immigrants with talents and skills to enhance our home-grown workforce. They may have thoughts and ideas on innovation and entrepreneurship, and connections and perspectives that allow us to act local, think global."
 
John McCallum, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, said in a recent interview with Canadian Business Journal that to attract the best and the brightest, we need a more flexible system. Decision-making is simply taking too long. 
Chamber News
Opportunities and connections
Summer Social Series
Business Mixers
Prodigy Mingles

The Benefits of Beer
 
According to this Vancouver Sun article
 
Michael Kuzyk, Category 12 Brewing 
a growing body of research is showing that beer has been unfairly stigmatized as a poor dietary choice. While wine has for decades been praised for its potential health benefits, beer has in fact shared many of the same properties all along. But as with wine, moderation is key.

And craft beer, which is generally unfiltered and uses all-natural ingredients, can stake a greater claim to health benefits - which is good news for BC brewers, considering the recent rapid growth in the number of small, local breweries.

Beer is a good source of fibre, and according to Michael Kuzyk, co-owner and brewmaster at Category 12 Brewing, brewing yeast also yields interesting benefits.

"Yeast are basically like microscopic vitamin pills and unfiltered craft beer, like ours, contains a large amount of yeast," says Michael. "Add to this, the antimicrobial properties of hop alpha acids (responsible for bitterness) and grains that are a primary component of beer and you have an amazing combination of health benefits."

Category 12 Brewing: member since 2016  
   
SUMMER SOCIAL SERIES:
A DeVine Evening of Wine & Spirits

Set on a hilltop at de Vine Vineyards, guests will enjoy a four-course seasonal dinner served long-table style, prepared by Castro Boateng Fine Catering and featuring wine and spirit pairings by de Vine Vineyards. View the menu here.

Worried about the drive? Get there in style with L.A. Limousines Inc.

Thurs, July 7 | 5-8 pm 
de Vine Vineyards, 6181B Old West Saanich Rd.



Sign up for all three Summer Social Series events and save!
Shared Economy and Short-Term Rentals

The City of Victoria could soon be taking a closer look at short-term vacation rentals, with an eye to bringing what some see as a growing "invisible" hotel industry into the open, making them subject to the same taxes and rules as traditional hotels.

City staff say Victoria has about 27,000 rental-housing units and a vacancy rate of 0.6 per cent. If all the estimated short-term vacation rentals found their way back into the rental market, the vacancy rate would increase to between 1.2 and 1.7%.  
 
At last week's BC Chamber of Commerce's conference, 200 Chamber delegates from across B.C. came together to vote on new business/economic policies, which then become part of the advocacy agenda, both provincially and locally. One of the polices that received unanimous support called for taxation of short-term vacation rentals.
 
"Chamber delegates felt that the sharing economy brings exciting new opportunities, but we need to ensure that appropriate taxes are collected on these new business models," said Chamber policy manager Peggy Kulmala, one of the delegates. "In the case of short-term rentals, we also need to ensure an equal playing field for our existing hotels and other tourism businesses as they try to compete with newcomers who, for now, aren't paying tax."
 
 


Congrats!
The Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe Hotel holds the prestigious honor of being Marriott of Canada's first Hotel of the Year recipient for the Delta Brand. Under the clever and energized leadership of Kimberley Hughes, General Manager, the Delta Victoria is known for its consistent delivery in all aspects of business excellence, from best in class guest service indexes, to intuitive and intelligent business leadership and financial results, to best in Canada associate engagement scores.

"I am so proud of our team. They genuinely care about our guests and about each other," says Kimberley. "They make this a fantastic place to stay and to work."

The Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe Hotel joined Marriott International in 2015.


Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort & Spa: member since 1988
Mix and Mingle 
Connect with emerging and established members of Greater Victoria's business community at the monthly Business Mixers and Prodigy Group Mingles.

This week!
Prodigy Group June Mingle
Thurs, June 9 | 5-7 pm   
Diversity Auto Films  
111-2740 Bridge St.

 

June Business Mixer
Wed, June 15 | 5-7 pm    
1014 Caledonia St.
Includes a ticket to the game!


Want to be a Chamber Board Member?
If you are a member of The Chamber with a desire to contribute to the community in a substantial way, we encourage you to consider serving on The Chamber's Board of Directors beginning this January.

Representing Greater Victoria's business community, The Chamber Board is one of the most influential community boards in the region. Board members oversee the many services The Chamber provides to the business community, work with other business leaders and senior decision-makers and influence critical issues facing businesses in Greater Victoria.

For more information on serving on the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce's Board, you can register for the Board Election Information Session on Tue, July 12 from noon to 1 pm at The Chamber (100-852 Fort Street).

Click here for details on how to become a Chamber Board Member, key dates, the nomination process and the voting procedure. Additional questions can be directed to Peggy Kulmala, Manager of Policy and Public Affairs.
Flower Basket Cheer
On Mon, June 6 the City of Victoria rolled out its trademark hanging baskets. Approximately 1,300 baskets were hung on downtown lampposts featuring flowers that were grown at the Beacon Hill Park nursery and then put together by a crew of six gardeners over a six week period.

Introduced to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the City of Victoria's incorporation in 1937, Victoria's hanging flower baskets are now a trademark recognized around the world.

 
 City of Victoria: member since 1962 

Experience an exciting variety of gourmet food samples, local wine, craft beers and specialty cocktails created and presented by some of Victoria's most popular restaurants, breweries and wineries.

Tues, June 21 | 5-7 pm
Market Square, 560 Johnson St.

SOLD OUT! Call 250-383-7191 or email to be placed on the waitlist.


Welcome to Our Newest Members!  
 


Do You Know all the Best Places to Go and Things to Do?

Are you creative and the kind of person that always gives the best gifts? Be part of The Chamber's 34th annual auction committee! Help create a memorable night and a list of goodies that will end up on everyone's "must-have" list. Together we can make this year's event a night to remember!

If you are interested in participating on the committee, please contact Emara Angus at 250- 360-3471 or [email protected] to be a part of this fun committee.
Looking to be a part of The Chamber team? Click here for job opportunities

250-383-7191  

victoriachamber.ca
[email protected]
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