Respectfully conducting our Business within the Unceded Territory of the Hupacasath and Tseshaht First Nations

Join us for a chat with ISLAND RAIL

Wednesday, March 29th 2pm - 5pm - Five Acre Co. Social Hall

This is a must attend event! A presentation from Island Rail discussing the merits of investing in TRANSPORTATION for Vancouver Island. Rail offers many benefits to the traveling public AND for the movement of goods. Visit Island Rail here:

James Alex Stuart

Owner of Planet Halo Security Inc., overseeing the global growth of its Patented Auto Fire Suppression Technologies, including a Joint Venture Partnership in Accra, Ghana, World Bank Group, and interest in working with Indigenous Communities across Canada.

Alex is currently the Corporate Secretary on the Board of YCD, a Foreign Trade Zone Committee member of VIEA, and serves on several non-profit organizations. As a former Mayor of Ladysmith, former COO - Snuneymuxw First Nation under Chief Jerry Brown, the opportunity in realizing the full benefits of rail for the next millennium will become Vancouver Island largest economic infrastructure project.

Juan Navarro, Director and Principal Researcher of CMX Partnerships.

An accomplished business leader with over two decades of experience in business, economics, corporate finance and international trade. Navarro's research projects, including high-profile studies for international organizations like the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) have been presented in various countries, making him a globally recognized expert in trade and investments issues.

Navarro has been extensively involved in industry associations and organizations promoting economic development and discussing policy matters. He serves as a member of the Advisory Board of the Free Trade Zone committee with the Vancouver Island Economic Alliance, of the Canadian International Council and the Forum for International Trade Training (FITT). He has contributed to the World Bank Institute assessing high-impact entrepreneurial projects. He is the founder of the Mexico-Canada Forum held in British Columbia and organizer of different trade missions and business forums to promote Canada and Mexico business ties.

Dave Hayden

A career Railroader with 35 years experience in Sr. Management positions with Canadian Pacific Railway.

As a Superintendent in Transportation, my responsibilities included the day-to-day Safe Train Operations, Mechanical and Engineering Departments over assigned territories across the System.

The Director of All Main overhaul locations on the system for Car, Locomotives and Engineering Equipment. This responsibility provided extensive experience in the management and responsibilities overseeing budgets in excess of one hundred million dollars.

Royal BC Museum Engagement

The Royal BC Museum plans to undertake a multi-year, province-wide engagement plan to listen to the people of British Columbia and gather feedback with respect to the future of the museum.

Phase 1 will begin with in-person and virtual information and dialogue sessions which will inform the public of the surveys and longer-term engagement plans. Feedback from these important conversations will be analyzed and relied on for the development of the museum’s formal Phase 2 Engagement Strategy.

Phase 2 involves deeper engagement work throughout the province, progressing through the stages of consulting with, involving and collaborating with the public. This approach, evolving through different stages of public engagement, is intended to help the museum and its diverse audiences envision the future of the museum together.

We are asking everyone across BC to participate in public engagement on the future of the museum, and throughout both phases of the engagement process.

Join us as we embark on this important journey that will help shape the modernization of the museum.

Learn more about ways to engage at rbcm.ca/engage

https://royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/community-engagement

this is a paid advertisement

Spring and Summer Leisure guide

Click below

McLean Mill 10k

Coming soon! The Chamber of Commerce along with partner organization - Ridge View Health & Performance are excited to present the McLean Mill 10k on Sunday, April 2/23 @ 11:00am - McLean Mill National Historic Site.

We thank the good people at the Vancouver Island Race Association for their hard work in helping us rebrand and recreate this exceptional run.
We thank the many Series sponsors - too many to list here.
We thank Tim Horton's, Sun Six Creative, Fresh Coast Market and others for your support and contributions.
Craft beer provided by DOG MOUNTAIN BREWERY
Funds raised at this event support KidSport Port Alberni
Find the course route here:
T-Shirts are available - all proceeds to KidSport Port Alberni.
Find the order form here:

We have SURPASSED 600 registrants for this years' run.

Most ever, by far.

Click below to register.

Run. Running men and women_ vector set of isolated silhouettes

Labour challenges?

Survey

Multi-Sector Initiative

COMBATING THE WORKFORCE SHORTAGE

Are you an Alberni Valley business having trouble attracting and retaining staff?

Are you concerned about your ability to maintain or grow your workforce in the future?

Canada and much of the globe is experiencing the start of a decades long labour-force squeeze, with a surplus of jobs and a deficit of people to fill them.

What if the workforce we need is already here in Port Alberni?

We can't rely on immigration alone to make up for declining numbers, so we've been exploring alternatives.

Complete the survey by Friday, March 31, 2023, to help us understand your labour force challenges and to give us your feedback on new ideas.

Survey Authors

This survey was created by Community Futures, the Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce, Canadian Mental Health Association, and INEO Employment Services.

AVCOC supports this message from the BC Chamber of Commerce.

Budget 2023 focuses on affordability, but not on business

Key Issue/s

FINANCE & TAXATION

Today in Victoria, the Government of British Columbia released its 2023 budget that prioritizes spending for important social and community initiatives but comes at the expense of addressing increasing costs facing BC’s businesses and the province’s competitiveness.

Read more here: Of special concern to us is the reluctance of Government to recognize the challenges of our businesses with taxation policy such as the EHT.

Changes coming....

Please take a moment to read this important PRESS RELEASE regarding the CEO position at the Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce.

CLICK HERE FOR PRESS RELEASE:

AND From Bill Collette - outgoing CEO

I wish to thank the hundreds of people I've met during my time in Port Alberni while holding this incredible position. The ten years have gone by quickly but not without many great achievements. Our team that I've been fortunate to be part of has excelled in so many ways, I'm proud of all of them, past and present. I wish to thank EVERYONE and especially our Board President's many of whom I now refer to as friends. People like Debbie Haggard, Sarah Jones, Brad Minton, Jan Lavertu and more recently Terry Deakin. THANK YOU FOR HAVING MY BACK. To the business community at large. My thanks for all you do. You've earned my respect and along the way I've been proud to watch many of you collect well-deserved awards at our almost annual events. Our Chamber is strong, it is admired, and it is a valuable asset to Port Alberni.

I extend my personal well wishes to Jolleen Dick. She will do very well in this position. CONGRATS JOLLEEN! (INSERT SMILEY FACE HERE).