Chamber staff show solidarity for Orange Shirt Day.

Scroll down for a list of events being hosted by municipalities and universities across the region.

Excitement is building after Monday's announcement of the inaugural inductees into The Chamber's Business Hall of Fame, presented by RBC.

The first cohort includes Helen Beirnes (pictured), Clare Copeland, Ron Lou-Poy, Ian Maxwell and Chief Robert Sam.

“This group represents people who were innovators, who broke through barriers and helped our community become the truly extraordinary place it is today,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said.

This is an important notice for members of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce about a vote to be held at our AGM to add a bylaw to our existing governance to establish rules around continuity in leadership in dire situations.

In extraordinary circumstances, such as a natural disaster, pandemic, or an extreme financial situation, the Board of Directors may extend the term of the Chair by an additional year, by a unanimous vote.

The Chamber has a number of active and engaged committees that report to our Board of Directors. A key reason for the success of our board committees is the involvement of our Chamber members as volunteer committee members.

Each year, there are a few openings on our committees for new members. We are recruiting now for members who will be available starting on Jan. 1, 2022 for at least a two-year term. Here are our committees:

The opportunity to apply for any of the above committees will be open until Oct. 15, 2021. At the end of the application period, the chair of the committee will be in contact by email or phone.

A proposal to build a 139-room hotel in Old Town Victoria has been approved by Victoria council. The project will bring much needed accommodation to the city's downtown, while preserving the heritage elements of a building that dates back to 1874.

Chard Development Ltd. is working with UVic Properties to turn the historic Duck’s Building and Duck's Carriage Factory on Broad Street into a Hyatt Centric-branded hotel.

Former Victoria developer and heritage conservationist Michael Williams bequeathed the properties to the University of Victoria in 2000.

The Chamber has supported the proposal with letters and a video presentation to council.

Climate Change has long been a Chamber advocacy priority, with a focus on innovations led by business. A great example of this kind of innovation is a research project led by the University of Victoria's Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions and Ocean Networks Canada (The Chamber's Non-Profit of the Year in 2020).

The project hopes to show that massive quantities of greenhouse gases could be removed from earth's atmosphere and safely stored under the seafloor.

“The unique and awesome thing about this technology is that basalts are everywhere,” the study's lead author Dr. Benjamin Tutolo said in a news release. “If this technology can be proven via a pilot program at sea, the capacity is far more than we could ever need.”

Statistics Canada has released its Survey on Business Conditions for the third quarter of 2021. The Chamber's national network, in collaboration with Deloitte Canada, has identified five key trends for businesses as they continue to recover from the pandemic.

Greater Victoria will be one of the stars appearing in the new series Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive. The show debuts Friday on Netflix and has already received acclaim from Rolling Stone and Time Magazine.

The series was shot around Greater Victoria, including at locations in the City of Colwood, Town of View Royal and District of Saanich.

The Chamber continues to advocate for investment in film and sound studios in Greater Victoria.

It has been 100 years since London Planetrees were planted along Shelbourne Street to honour soldiers from Greater Victoria who never returned from the battlefields of the First World War.

The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce was instrumental in planning the project, with business owners pitching in to dig holes for the trees.

On Saturday, the District of Saanich, City of Victoria and the Shelbourne Memorial Avenue Committee will unveil images of new gateway signs being installed at the north and south end of Shelbourne. A new London Planetree will be added in honour of the anniversary.

The event begins at 1 pm, near 4375 Shelbourne St., and will be streamed on Saanich's Facebook page.

Take a sneak peek at an incredible item available at the 2021 Virtual Chamber Auction from Nov. 7 – 14!

Relax at the top of the world with DoubleTree Victoria! Enjoy a one night stay in a Penthouse Suite and indulge with dinner and drinks for two at the new Stone Ground Pizza Company. Make your stay complete with breakfast for two and parking for one vehicle - kindly donated by DoubleTree by Hilton.

Interested in having your products or services showcased at our auction?

Fill out our 2021 Auction Donation Form, call (250) 383-7191 or email specialevents@victoriachamber.ca

As an event sponsor, Maximum Express, Courier, Freight and Logistics is offering donors complimentary delivery of their auction item to The Chamber Office.

Sept. 30 is National Truth and Reconciliation Day — a time to reflect on the history of residential schools and to listen with purpose to the stories of our Indigenous friends and neighbours.

Municipalities across Greater Victoria are hosting events to commemorate and celebrate indigenous voices, including:

The City of Victoria will be hosting the Xe xe Smun' eem-Victoria Orange Shirt Day: Every Child Matters Ceremony from noon to 2:30 pm at Centennial Square. The event will include Indigenous performances, a minute of silence, and guest speakers sharing their personal experiences with residential schools and reconciliation.

The District of Oak Bay will be hosting events through the group ReconciliACTION Oak Bay – beginning in front of Oak Bay High School at 10 am, the event will honour residential school survivors with members of the Songhees Nation sharing their wisdom.

The City of Colwood will be presenting the Na'tsa'maht Gathering in honour of Truth and Reconciliation. The event will take place from 10 am – 4 pm at Royal Beach, and will include traditional songs, drumming, dancing and more.

The Corporation of the District of Saanich will be lighting the municipal hall orange on the evenings of September 29-30, and the flag will be lowered to half-mast.

The Township of Esquimalt has illuminated the Archie Browning Sports Centre in orange this week, and will continue to do so until September 30.

Along with the region’s municipalities, post-secondary institutions have committed to close their campuses on Sept. 30 and are offering informative and inclusive events:

The University of Victoria has been hosting various reconciliation events throughout the week. From film screenings at the First People’s House to livestreamed educational sessions, the university also has orange shirts designed by Carey Newman Hayalthkin’geme available at the bookstore. University President Kevin Hall will be detailing UVic’s calls to action and the role of education for Truth and Reconciliation.

Royal Roads University invites the community to join in virtual learning and events to honour the strength and resilience of Indigenous Peoples, including the #DrumForTheChildren virtual event at 2:15 with the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc Nation. On and around campus, many will share on social media their commitment to reconciliation wearing the limited-edition Orange Shirt with a powerful logo of the Heron People Circle (elder and old ones) by member Clarence “Butch” Dick of Lək̓ʷəŋən (Songhees) Nation.

Camosun College hosted their Orange Shirt Day event Wednesday at 1 pm. Attendees were invited to create love baskets filled with treats and medicines. The baskets will be delivered to residential school survivors who work closely with the college.

The impact of the pandemic on our mental health has arguably been as great or greater than its economic impact. In this Chamber Chat, Chamber CEO Bruce Williams speaks with three organizations working to bolster how our society is managing mental health.

Featuring Jonny Morris of the Canadian Mental Health Association, Daniela Cubelic of Silk Road Tea, and Mark Breslauer of the United Way of Southern Vancouver Island.

United Way of Southern Vancouver Island: Member since 1976

Members can post Coupons and Discounts free of charge here.