BizNews
October 19, 2022
Your weekly round up of BizNews from throughout Greater Victoria!
Isioma Nwaeke and Shayne Beadall represented the Business Development Bank of Canada at this morning's Member Networking Breakfast — part of the Chamber's Small Business Month sponsored by Grant Thornton LLP. A packed room at Spinnakers Brewpub & Guesthouses saw close to 50 bright-eyed and bushy-tailed Chamber members build connections and enjoy delicious food. Check out the photos here.
"However, these gains were largely offset by the continued rise of prices for food and services. Unfortunately, there was no progress on 'core' inflation, which held steady at 5%," Canadian Chamber of Commerce Chief Economist Stephen Tapp said. "Today’s lack of progress on inflation — together with Bank of Canada surveys released earlier this week that suggested inflation expectations remain elevated — should be concerning enough to the Bank of Canada for them to deliver the 50 basis-point interest rate hike that the market expects (Oct. 26)."
Join your fellow business leaders for an in-person roundtable discussion
Participate in a facilitated roundtable discussion with Grant Thornton LLP and The Chamber to discuss what steps you should take to deal with inflation, and to share your perspectives with fellow business leaders.

Is your business ready to keep going? How should you adapt? What are your options?

This forward-looking conversation will help arm yourself with ideas you need to take strategic and decisive actions in managing the impacts during this time and remaining competitive in the future.
Sponsored by:
Wed., Oct. 26 | 3 - 5 PM
KWENCH - Experience Room
2031 Store St
Please note registration is limited to one representative per organization. This event is geared towards businesses with under 50 employees.
Chamber and DVBA launch Small Business Month
Chamber CEO Bruce Williams gathered at Refire Kitchen with Downtown Victoria Business Association CEO Jeff Bray and Grant Thornton LLP partner Kyman Chan to officially launch Small Business Month in Greater Victoria.

You can check out the Chamber's video of the event, at right.

Throughout October, The Chamber is working with Grant Thornton to provide opportunities and resources for small businesses in our region.
“Small businesses really are the backbone of our communities. They make our lives richer, keep our friends and neighbours working and contribute so much to local sports and community organizations,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said. “So many of our members are small businesses and we will continue to work tirelessly to support them. I’m thankful for the leadership of our Chamber Champions and our Board of Directors for all they have done and continue to do for our membership.”

To learn more about the events and activities The Chamber has planned for Small Business Month, go to victoriachamber.ca. Also, watch for next week's Chamber Chat with Kyman Chan of Grant Thornton.

“Small business month is an important time to reflect on the importance of and to double down on supporting our amazing small businesses,” outgoing City of Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps said. “Our small businesses are a key character-defining feature of our downtown and our city. This month and always I encourage residents to pop in and visit them in person and resist the temptation of the online non-local alternative.”
Refire Kitchen: Member since 2021
Downtown Victoria Business Association: Member since 2007
Grant Thornton LLP: Member since 1973
City of Victoria: Member since 1863
2023 Business Awards nominations are now open!
From start-ups to local legends, the 2023 Greater Victoria Business Awards shine a light on hard-working businesses, business people and community leaders in 14 categories worth celebrating. Finalists are chosen by an independent panel of prominent business leaders who serve as judges. 
Nomination Deadline:
Wednesday, January 18, 2023

Save the date!
Finalists and winners will be celebrated at a gala event to be held Thursday, May 11, 2023.
The Chamber is excited to share that this year's Award nominations will be hosted on Awardify — a Canadian based awards platform that makes it easier for you and your team to nominate deserving local business leaders in your community!
If you have questions about the platform or the awards process, don't hesitate to reach out to Hanna at experiences@victoriachamber.ca.
Service sector key to recovery: Conference Board
Greater Victoria's economy will grow by 2.6% in 2022 and 1.8% in 2023, but inflation won't return to "normal" until 2024, according to the Conference Board of Canada.

The latest Major City Insights report offers forecasts for 13 cities across the country.

The board says our region's service industries will continue to be key drivers of the economy, with recovery continuing in the hospitality, entertainment and accommodation sectors.

Employers can also expect to face ongoing pressure to increase wages as Greater Victoria's Consumer Price Index rises to 7.6% this year before dropping to 4% next year and 2.3% the year after.
Province set to expand small business tax rate
The provincial government is increasing the threshold for the small business tax rate. The rate had been limited to businesses with less than $15 million in taxable capital. That is being increased to $50 million.

The changes will apply to taxation years that began on or after April 7 of this year. The shift aligns BC with the federal government and will particularity benefit businesses that are capital intensive.
Voters affirm local leaders in civic elections
Local governments now know who will be leading them for the next four years. Last Saturday's civic elections in BC brought about sweeping changes in some municipalities, while affirming the direction of incumbents in others.

The Chamber will continue our work with all governments in Greater Victoria to ensure the voice of business continues to be heard.

"Over the next few weeks I'll be extending an invitation to meet with all of the newly elected mayors and councillors," Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said. "As the regional Chamber, we can help municipalities build good relationships with their business communities. We also work with community chambers to amplify individual voices and connect with higher levels of government."

The Chamber looks forward to continuing our tradition of dialogue to help create good economic conditions needed for a healthy business community. New councils must hold their first meeting between Nov. 1 and Nov. 10.
Chamber Chats with CEO Bruce Williams
The Impact of COVID-19 on Retail and Office Spaces
The COVID 19 pandemic created a lift in working from home and shopping online. How has that impacted office and retail space management?
 
We find out as Chamber CEO Bruce Williams speaks with Kristy Lowes, GM at Uptown and Robert Jawl, Managing Director of Jawl Properties.
Special thanks to our series sponsor: Island Savings
Shape Property Management - Uptown: Member since 1983
Jawl Residential Ltd.: Member since 2019
Celebrate Small Business Month this October
Small businesses make up the fabric of Vancouver Island’s economy. Come celebrate the power of small businesses with the Small Business Month events throughout October! Presented by Grant Thornton LLP and media partners 98.5 The Ocean and 103.1 Jack FM
Registration is now open!
2022 Chamber Auction set for Nov. 6-13
Registration is now open for the 2022 Chamber Auction from Nov. 6 – 13!
This November, bid on vacations, exclusive one-on-one discussions with community leaders, home décor and much more.
Find once in a lifetime prizes including a 7-night Caribbean cruise, a chance to speed down the Victoria International Airport Runway in an Airport Rescue Fire Fighting (ARFF) truck, and a private whale watching experience for you and 11 of your friends and family.

Register today to be notified when items become available and to get a sneak peek at Early Bird bidding!
Sponsored by:
Media Partner:
Business Leaders Luncheon:
A Conversation with BC's Auditor General
We live in an era of information overload, with many people getting their news from outlets that tell people what they want to hear rather than how it is.

Who is the independent voice that is mandated to provide information to B.C.'s elected members and to report on government finances and program performance? It's the Auditor General of B.C.

Join us as we speak with Michael Pickup and share your questions, concerns, and business priorities to help inform and shape the future work of the Office of the Auditor General.

At this luncheon you will learn about how this vital office is adapting to our changing world and embracing flexible, hybrid approaches to work, as they contribute to greater government effectiveness and accountability.
Thurs., Nov. 10 | 11:30 AM - 1 PM
Hotel Grand Pacific, 463 Belleville St.
Sponsored by:
Refresh your Directory Listing today
With Small Business Month in full swing, 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.

We made an easy checklist to ensure your listing is getting the views it deserves.
Online Directory Listing Checklist:
·        Your logo, pictures and YouTube video are all up-to-date 
·        All your social media channels are listed 
·        Your listing description reflects your brand 
·        All relevant keywords are added 
It's easy to make changes to your listing — simply login here. To update your logo or photos, scroll to the Upload Media section at the bottom of your Membership Portal. To update your listing description, keywords and social media channels, select the “Edit this profile” tab at the top of the page. 

As always, you can email us the changes you would like to see and we can update your listing on your behalf. 
Claim your free job on The Chamber’s job board
Now is the perfect time to strengthen your professional relationships.

If you’re looking to grow your team this fall, find the perfect match on The Chamber’s job board.

Attract the best workers by posting a 30-, 60-, or 90-day job listing. Tap into the Google Jobs Network and candidates that are eager to work for a Chamber member. As an exclusive member benefit, use the code INTRO2022 at checkout to receive a free 30-day listing.

If you have any questions or need help uploading your job, please email members@victoriachamber.ca
Member News
Scotiabank awarding $30,000 scholarships

Looking to receive a financial boost when heading back to school? The Scotiabank Funds Your Future Contest will be awarding $30,000 scholarships to one domestic student and one international student. Students can register from now until Jan. 31, 2023.
Scotiabank: Member since 1913
Scotiabank: Chamber Champion since 2022
More than 70 speakers set for Rising Economy Week

The South Island Prosperity PartnershipsRising Economy Week runs Nov. 15-17 and features inspiring presentations from more than 70 leaders. The event aims to create a collaborative atmosphere designed for idea exchange and purpose-driven networking. More details here.

South Island Prosperity Partnership: Member since 2017

Interested in a behind the scenes look at where your garbage goes? The Capital Regional District (CRD) is hosting two free public tours on Oct. 21 and Oct. 22 at the Hartland Landfill.

Tips on how to reduce, reuse and recycle will also be highlighted.
CRD: Chamber Champion since 1993
Do you have a success story? We want to hear from you
Origen Air finalist for national award

Origen Air has been selected as a finalist in the Rising Star category for the 2022 Women Business Enterprise Canada Excellence Awards! WBE Canada recognizes the achievement of women-led companies across the nation. Winners for the awards will be announced on Nov. 10. Good luck!

Origen Air Systems Ltd.: Member since 2020
Max Furniture featured in bbno$'s latest music video

Famous Vancouver rapper bbno$ has released his latest music video*, shot and filmed across Greater Victoria. Making a star-studded appearance was Rahim Khudabux, owner of Max Furniture. The video has amassed more than 1.2 million views.
*explicit lyrics
Max Furniture: Member since 2008
Wicked Victoria festival celebrates Harvest Season

The eighth Thrifty Foods Wicked Victoria returns Oct. 30, 11 am to 3 pm along Government Street. Live music, costumes, inflatable fun and vendors are some of the activities that will add to the family festivities downtown. The Greater Victoria Festival Society is putting on the event, sponsored by CHEK, Thrifty Foods, Used.ca, 98.5 Ocean and Jack 103.1.
Greater Victoria Festival Society: Member since 2016
Thrifty Foods: Member since 1981
Rogers Media: Member since 1962
CHEK: Member since 1971
CHEK: Chamber Champion since 2020
Used.ca: Member since 2011
Member to Member Discounts
Members can post Coupons and Discounts free of charge here.
Welcome to our Newest Members!
Need to get one of our snazzy Chamber name tags?
250-383-7191 
victoriachamber.ca