We had a great time meeting all our new members at the Fall Members Breakfast. Thanks to Quality Foods for hosting! See the photos here.
November Business Matters is Online!

The November Business Matters is in the mail and heading y our way.

Our latest edition features:
  • The Power of the Right Governance : The Chair of the Core Area Wastewater Treatment Project Board talks about how she was able to get wastewater treatment moving forward.
  • A Clear Solution: Wastewater treatment in Greater Victoria has been a 50 year project-with the last two months being pivotal. 
  • Member Snapshots: Get to know Darlene Hollstein, Mike Murphy and Brian Henry.
These stories and more in the print and online edition!

Thinking about advertising for 2017? The Chamber has an amazing deal on for Business Matters advertising where you can save up to 25%.
Contact us today! 
Chamber News
Opportunities and connections
Chamber Events
Business Leaders Luncheons

What Would You Tell the Province?

The provincial government recognizes the importance of business and the role that chambers play in ensuring the voice of business is represented and - more importantly - heard.
 
What would you like us to tell the province about your business operations? How is the province doing in meeting your needs? What do you need to succeed today? What do you envision needing for your future success?   
 
The survey is being conducted independently by Abacus on behalf of the BC Chamber and all the chambers across the province. Please take 15 minutes between now and Friday to help inform the debate next week.

Next week, BC chamber executives - including Chamber CEO Catherine Holt - will be meeting with provincial Deputy Ministers to present your thoughts.
Know a Business that has Excelled this Year?
Do you know a business with over 40 employees that demonstrates continual business excellence through positive business growth, demonstrates a commitment to the community, exemplifies superior customer service and embraces an outstanding commitment to quality? If you do, nominate them for the 2017 Business of the Year (40+ Employees) Award!

Need some inspiration? Check out the videos of the 2016 Business of the Year (40+ Employees) finalists below.  

Winner: Pizzeria Prima Strada
Finalist: MD Charlton Company Inc.
Thanks to Times Colonist for sponsoring this award!

Regional Focus First & Foremost!
Langford Mayor Stew Young says he is pursuing a 10-year tax holiday for any provincial or tech office that moves to Langford, with the aim to move more people closer to where they work, reducing commute times and traffic congestion.

"Focusing efforts on attracting new businesses to Langford is a sound idea that will benefit that municipality and the region as a whole," said Chamber CEO Catherine Holt. "The outer rings of major centres can be better incubators of new businesses because there is more room to grow, lower relative costs and reasonably good access to large markets."

"We are already in strong competition with jurisdictions outside of Greater Victoria, so to have our local municipalities competing with each other for businesses doesn't make sense, both in terms of effort and outcome," added Catherine. "The Chamber's position is that we need to focus our resources on regional approaches in all things, from transportation to economic development."  

Welcome Whole Foods!
Whole Foods Market opened their 40,000-sq ft store located in the Uptown Shopping Centre this week - the company's 12th location in Canada. Saanich Mayor Richard Atwell and Chamber Chair Al Hasham joined Whole Foods Market leaders, local suppliers and community partners to welcome shoppers when the doors opened Wednesday at 9 am.

"We've long believed that Victoria would be a wonderful home for a new store because of our shared values," said Angela Lorenzen, president of Whole Foods Market's Pacific Northwest Region. "Like us, this community is a champion for strong, local food systems and believes in environmental stewardship."
Whole Foods Market: member since 2016


Right Regional Governance
Hear BC Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, Peter Fassbender, discuss the findings of the Capital Integrated Services and Governance Initiative report at a Chamber Business Leaders' Luncheon on Dec 1.

The report recommends ways local governments in Greater Victoria can integrate and improve services and governance. This report will include input from local stakeholder organizations - including The Chamber - on their perceptions of issues and opportunities facing business, citizens and local governments in the Capital Regional District. 

Singing from the Same Song Sheet
A regional approach to marketing Greater Victoria to the world is another key component of The Chamber's three-year Trade and Investment Program.  
 
Similar to Education Victoria, this regional collaboration saw The Chamber partner with VIATEC and Tourism Victoria, producing dynamic, high-quality marketing material and trade missions that sent a strong message that Greater Victoria is the place to be.
 
Although the program's various successes are expected to continue well into the future, The Chamber's Trade and Investment Program ends March 31, 2017.   
The Trade and Investment Program, was made possible by  Western Economic Diversification Canada as well as local private and public partners. Read more about
the Trade and Investment program in the newly-released Business Matters.

The Chamber Trade & Investment Program is funded in part by 


Greater Victoria Increasingly Business-friendly!
The  2016 Entrepreneurial Communities Index has Greater Victoria moving into the top 10 overall, up from 16th to 6th.

Greater Victoria also scored within the top ten in two of the study's three categories: 6th in "entrepreneurial presence", a representation of the scale and growth of businessmen ownership, and 8th in "entrepreneurial perspective", which includes indicators such as optimism and growth plans.

For the third, "entrepreneurial policy", which includes indicators associated with local governments' business taxation and regulation, Greater Victoria is middle of the pack, scoring only 24.8 out of a possible 40 points.  

New Music Director
The Victoria Symphony has appointed Christian Kluxen as the new Music Director 2017/18.

"After a thorough search, we're thrilled to have someone of his talent lead the orchestra. His musicality, vitality and charismatic energy are a huge asset to the Symphony and to Victoria," said Brian Butler, President of the Victoria Symphony Board of Directors. "I look forward to watching the orchestra continue to flourish under his leadership. We're in good hands."


Victoria Symphony: member since 1984

Welcome to Our Newest Members! 


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