In the latest Chamber Chat, we turn the spotlight on community connections that have helped businesses rally to keep customers coming in and shopping online. Campaigns such as #ChamberLocalVicBC, shopping by appointment and free delivery by local BIAs have helped many small businesses survive 2020.

Watch the vodcast here!

In another move that will improve the efficient delivery of protective services in Greater Victoria, the Saanich and Victoria police departments announced they have combined K9 units. The Integrated Canine Service will operate out of VicPD's Esquimalt headquarters and brings together two units that have served their communities for many years. The new unit will use @ics_k9 on Instagram and Twitter.

Joining forces makes sense as the communities are interdependent on each other. Last week, the Victoria fire department announced mutual aid agreements with neighbouring municipalities.

The Chamber is hosting three high-profile provincial ministers in the coming weeks. This is your opportunity to ask questions - and get answers.

Thank you to TD Bank Group for sponsoring the following events:

The reality is stark for tourism and transportation businesses, and without immediate help many vital services and experiences will disappear before the pandemic ends. On Monday, Wilson's Transportation announced it cannot afford to resume bus service to Tofino on Feb. 12, as previously planned.

Wilson has asked the province for help ensuring its essential service could continue.

“There is a similar subsidy model in place to ensure public safety along the Highway of Tears in Northern BC,” said John Wilson, President and CEO of Wilson's Group of Companies in a news release. “We know how important our services are to island First Nations and other communities and we also know the devastating effects the loss of a service like ours can have.”

The Times Colonist reports that Transportation Minister Rob Fleming acknowledged, in a statement, that some inter-city bus providers, like other businesses, are struggling. “I recognize how dire the situation is, and am fully committed to working with this sector in the recovery from pandemic-induced financial challenges.”

According to the latest industry statistics from Chemistry Consulting, the number of buses using BC Ferries was down almost 90% in 2020 from 2019. The situation is also dire for accommodation providers who saw revenue per available room drop by almost $85 per night in 2020 compared to the year before.

On Wednesday afternoon, the province announced the Launch Online Grant program to help small businesses market products on the internet.

“This program will provide business owners with the ability to expand their online presence and create a customized e-commerce site that will give them the boost they need to keep moving forward,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation, in a news release.

Businesses must have fewer than 150 employees and generated more than $30,000 in sales in 2019 or 2020. The program is administered by Alacrity Canada.

“We launched an online shop within 48 hours after the lockdown,” David Nicholls, general manager of Vancouver Island Brewing said in the news release. “While we were happy to get it off the ground, we soon realized that the online store could not meet all of our needs and the uniqueness of shipping beer. "

Grants of up to $7,500 are available for online-related expenses, including pictures, creating an online inventory system, advertising costs, subscription costs of an e-commerce platform and training staff to manage the website.

The opioid crisis has been exacerbated by the pandemic, with overdose deaths creating a worsening crisis in our community. A federal/provincial pilot project announced yesterday will help by providing alternatives to the dangerous street drugs at the root of suffering. In Victoria, $4 million has been allotted for a medically validated supply for people with addictions.

"This medication option will provide a life-saving alternative to the contaminated drug supply that is driving our drug poisoning crisis," Dr. Richard Stanwick, Chief Medical Health Officer for Island Health said in a news release. "The recent increase in overdose deaths in communities within Island Health shows a clear need for better access to a safer drug supply."

There have been plenty of changes during the pandemic as businesses were forced to find new ways of serving their customers. In the City of Victoria, a temporary program allowed for new uses of public spaces to help businesses. Now the city wants to know what's working, and what should be continued into the spring and summer.

A survey is live asking for feedback on Build Back Victoria, which allowed for new commercial activities such as temporary patios, business in parks and street closures.

Our Chamber Champions are: Big Wheel Burger, CHEK, CIBC, Kinetic Construction Ltd., Knappett Projects Inc., MNP, RBC, Seaspan, TELUS Business and the University of Victoria.

Learn more about how these organizations are championing the work of The Chamber.

With Chamber Week quickly approaching, make sure you're putting your best self forward by updating your online directory listing! Through strong SEO practices, thousands of users are viewing The Chamber’s member directory every month. So, we made an easy checklist to ensure your listing is getting the views it deserves.

It's easy to make changes to your listing - simply login here. To update your logo, photo or video, select the Media Update button listed at the top of the page. To update your listing description, keywords and social media channels, select the Profile Edit button. 

As always, you can email us the changes you would like to see and we can update your listing on your behalf. 

Chamber Week will be Feb. 15 – 19. Find out how we’re celebrating here. 

An updated wage subsidy program is available for employers to help cover costs of hiring or training staff. The WorkBC Employer Wage Subsidy covers a percentage of employees wages for up to 24 weeks.

WorkBC has opened the program up recently to make it accessible to more people looking for work. The hope is that it can help people get the training needed to take on roles that employers are having a difficult time filling. The Chamber continues to advocate for programs that help employers find and keep workers, and we know that this is an underlying concern for our region's economy.

To find out more about the program, an info session is planned for Feb. 10, starting at noon.

WorkBC is also hosting an info session on cultural awareness on Feb. 8, from 9 to 11 am. Inclusion is another advocacy priority for The Chamber, allowing employers to successfully widen their talent pool and contribute to the community.

As businesses start rebuilding their team, recruiting the right talent can be a make or break move. If you're looking to court a particular candidate, Agilus has some advice on what candidates want in 2021.

And if you need to hire but the cash flow says otherwise, the federal government has a myriad of programs to help you rehire or expand your workforce.

And of course, post your position on The Chamber’s Job Board connecting great employers needing help with employees in need of work.

Learn more about how to post on the job board here. ​If you have any questions about posting, please email [email protected]

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