Chamber Update
June 29, 2020
Last chance to register for next week's Virtual Events

Learn tools to re-engage staff and implement new protocols that can ensure staff feel safe to return to work. Ask questions specific to your business.

As tourism businesses prepare to welcome people from across Canada, hear from three local leaders about their challenges and successes.

Interested in running for a seat on the Board of Directors of The Chamber? Find out everything you need to know at an information session facilitated by our Chamber executive committee.


Mix and mingle virtually with emerging and established members of Greater Victoria's business community.
Latest news and initiatives
Victoria outlines process for utilizing public spaces
Businesses in Victoria are starting to expand their operation into outdoor public areas through the City of Victoria's Build Back Victoria program.

To participate, businesses must first apply for a permit from the city to allow them to use the sidewalk, street, parking lot or plazas. After receiving that permit, business that serve liquor must then apply to the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch for permission to serve alcohol in the expanded space.

The city is running the program until Oct. 31, as part of its effort to help business get back up and running.
City of Victoria: Member since 1962
Saanich enables parking-lot patios for businesses
The District of Saanich is hoping to help businesses meet physical distancing requirements by temporarily relaxing minimum off-street parking requirements.

Rather than creating a permitting process, Saanich has decided to not enforce rules preventing expansion into private parking lots. The approach will continue until Nov. 1. Businesses that need extra seating are asked to correspond with the municipality for official approval.

Saanich also moved to protect establishments that serve alcohol by voting down a motion to allow drinking in select parks. The initial idea behind the motion was to make it easier for people to purchase food and beverages from businesses to enjoy in outdoor areas. However, with BC public health officials encouraging people to safely enjoy dining inside restaurants and pubs, Saanich council decided there were too many unintended challenges with legal drinking in parks.
District of Saanich: Member since 2019
Last chance to register
Virtual Seminar: Bringing Employees Back To Work
As businesses look to re-open storefronts and offices, employers are faced with a number of challenges as they try to get back to business.
Learn tools to re-engage staff and implement strategies that ensure a smooth transition to a new normal. After the presentation, there will be an opportunity for participants to share concerns and ask questions.

Engaged HR is a Chamber award-winning, Victoria-based human resources consulting firm.
Presenter: Denise Lloyd, Founder and Chief Engagement Officer,  Engaged HR
Business Restart Series: Tourism (Online Event)
Join our CEO Bruce Williams and a panel of tourism leaders as they talk about how the pandemic continues to affect our tourism industry, what's needed now as well as a look ahead to the path to recovery.
Restart your tourism experience as three local leaders share their challenges and successes:
Indu Brar
Randy Wright
Nominations open for 2021-22 Chamber Board
Interested in running for the Board of Directors of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce? Find out everything you need to know at this information session facilitated by our Chamber Executive.

The Chamber works together to build good business and great community. It is our vision to be the most diverse and influential business association in the region.

For more information on the board and the nomination process, go to VictoriaChamber.ca .
Just announced
Air travel is a critical component of our economy. Hear why we can now safely resume flying.

Join Chamber CEO Bruce Williams and a panel of leaders in air transport and tourism — including Serge Corbeil, Director, Government Relations, Local and Provincial at Air Canada ; Paul Nursey, CEO, Destination Greater Victoria ; and Geoff Dickson, CEO, Victoria Airport Authority. The panel will talk about how we can find a responsible and safe way to open aviation travel and why tourism is critical to the survival of so many businesses in our local economy.
Getting you back to business
Open for Business — Chamber directory style
To help locals looking to support businesses in ourregion, we want to make it easier to find businesses that are open and ready to provide products or services.

You'll see on our Chamber online business directory that we've added an Open icon for businesses. Details on how the business has adapted and/or new hours will appear in Products and Services at the bottom of the listing. We've also enhanced the SEO keywords on these listings to get you noticed.

Do you have updated business hours or services? ​ Contact us for your Open Icon and enhanced directory listing.
Chamber Job Board exclusive benefit for members
The job board has returned to being an exclusive benefit of Chamber membership.

The Chamber is proud to have featured more than 500 jobs on our job board , including 250 since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis. We opened up this member benefit to help our community meet the demand for essential service jobs. We are now seeing a return to job postings that reflect the restart of our economy.
 
If you have any difficulty posting, please email [email protected] . We will get back to you within one business day. We know how important hiring the right person can be.
 
All jobs posted to our job board have been vetted by a member of The Chamber team.
Take the next step to re-connect with The Chamber
The Chamber has a myriad of resources to help you and your business. You can connect with our staff or schedule a virtual coffee with one of our Ambassadors to talk about your business and next steps on our road to recovery.

We're #InItTogetherYYJ even if we can't be together. We look forward to talking with you soon about how we can help.
250-383-7191 
victoriachamber.ca