Your weekly round up of BizNews from throughout Greater Victoria

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Bill Lewis, chair of the Hotel Association of Greater Victoria, was today's guest on our Fireside Chat series with Chamber CEO Catherine Holt.

The Chamber continues to call on government to help tourism, expected to be the hardest hit sector of the economy.

Lewis said the federal wage subsidy has helped the hotel industry as it "re-learns its business." However, there are concerns about what will happen if the subsidy is not extended beyond September.

Hotels face a number of increased costs, including the need to showcase to guests that measures have been taken to ensure accommodations are properly sterilized. This extra effort means hotels will want to encourage longer stays, perhaps charging a premium for short-term visits.

Marketing our region will also be key so that we will have a source of visitors once it is safe to travel, whether regionally, nationally or internationally.

One hope is that more British Columbians will choose to vacation close to home, staying in hotels and patronizing shops as they would on holiday elsewhere.

"it would be wonderful for all of us to enjoy our backyards and our businesses," Lewis says.

Canadian chamber and tourism industry ask for help

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is joining with tourism industry associations to call on the federal government to make five changes in support of the sector.

To help tourism businesses survive without the summer revenue they depend on, the federal government is being asked to:

Paid sick leave can't be added burden for employers

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and BC Premier John Horgan have said publicly that they support the introduction of paid sick days to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 as businesses re-open.

The Chamber is adamant that, if such a measure is introduced, it cannot be funded by employers who are already struggling with higher costs. We all want to ensure our workplaces are healthy, but it is vital that we don't make things worse by forcing unsustainable practices on employers. Paid sick days might be a good idea, but how it would be delivered needs to be well thought out before being introduced.

Hotline enables businesses to navigate federal relief

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce has created a hotline offering access to 125 qualified business-advisors who can provide guidance on federal relief-programs and organizations available to support your specific business.

The Business Resilience Service is available at 1-866-989-1080 seven days per week.

City-branded toolkit helps business safely re-open

The City of Victoria has created a toolkit to help businesses re-open during Phase 2 of the provincial government's Restart Plan. The toolkit includes signage, a safety checklist and designs that help customers understand where to stand to ensure physical distancing. The kit was produced collaboratively by the city, Community Micro Lending, Downtown Victoria Business Association and Think Local First.

Downtown Victoria Business Association: Member since 2007

Community Micro Lending: Member since 2020

Think Local First: Member since 2014

VIATEC handbook helps staff get 'back to the office'

VIATEC has created an informative “Back to the Office” Re-entry handbook to help employers make sure their office spaces are safe for employees and customers.

The guide includes a master checklist complete with a list of high-touch items that need to be sterilized often, as well as ideas for maintaining physically distancing in small offices.

VIATEC (Victoria Innovation, Advanced Technology and Entrepreneurship Council): member since 1991

Saanich grants reprieve to roadside stands

Roadside stands in the District of Saanich have been given a reprieve after council voted on Monday to stop enforcing a bylaw prohibiting the "sale of homegrown and value-added fruits, vegetables, flowers and homemade crafts" from urban homes.

The issue came to a head after Foxgloves Flowers opened a roadside stand to sell off a shipment of perishable product received before the pandemic hit. The innovative approach turned out to be a hit with customers, and an example of a successful pivot needed for business to survive our ongoing crisis. The Chamber applauds Saanich and Foxgloves Flowers for their efforts!

Foxgloves Flowers: Member since 2006

District of Saanich: Member since 2019

Federal relief available for non-profits, charities

Non-profits and charities, which contribute to the valuable civil society sector of the economy, have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.

To help, the federal government created the $350 million Emergency Community Support Fund, available through the Canadian Red Cross, the United Way and Community Foundations of Canada.

Funding criteria is for organizations that are not receiving other relief, and is based on support for vulnerable populations.

United Way: Member since 1972

Is your business open? We want to hear from you!

For 157 years the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce has worked with businesses through good times and bad. Like an insurance policy that you’re glad to have when things go wrong, we’ve been active through this crisis to support our members.

Join our members in supporting local businesses to restart our economy as we prepare to move into Phase 3 of BC's Restart Plan.

The following industries are putting their plans in place for increased activity in the coming months:

Although not every local business has opened its doors, buying gift certificates is a perfect way to support your favourite organization. Whether it’s a certificate to help someone buy textbooks, or for a stay at a beautiful hotel, you can still support business from the comfort of your own home.

The  Chamber Member Service Updates page is continually revised to reflect our member’s updated hours. You can visit the page  here. Click on a category below to find innovative ways our members continue to serve Greater Victoria.

What’s Ahead for BC Transit

Tues., June 2 |1-1:30pm

Facebook Live

Submit your questions for Erinn by noon on Monday, June 1 to [email protected]

With concerts and gatherings of more than 50 people restricted for the foreseeable future — the arts and entertainment industry has had its livelihood disappear overnight.



Join Chamber CEO Catherine Holt and Kathryn Laurin, CEO of the Victoria Symphony , as they talk about how organizations and businesses in the arts and entertainment industry will recover in the face of the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

What’s Ahead for the Arts Sector

Wed., June 3 |11-11:30am

Facebook Live

Submit your questions for Kathryn by noon on Tues., June 2 to [email protected]

UVic projects get funding for COVID-19 solutions

Innovations being developed at the University of Victoria will help prevent the spread of COVID-19. UVic has received funding from the Digital Technology Supercluster COVID-19 program in Vancouver.

The consortium is investing $60 million in a number of projects, including those at UVic, to improve the health and safety of Canadians and build expertise to help in future emergencies.

“I am proud that UVic researchers are finding solutions that can potentially help our province and country emerge from the current situation with new knowledge that benefits society,” Lisa Kalynchuk, UVic’s vice-president of research, said in a news release.

University of Victoria: Member since 1976

Connecting employers with employees today

The Chamber is proud to have featured more than 200 jobs on our Job Board since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis. We continue to offer this service free of charge to employers using the code SUPPORTYYJ.

The Chamber is receiving recognition for this program internationally and we are working with various organizations to encourage other chambers and associations to help local essential service providers and employees get connected.

If you have any difficulty posting, please email [email protected]. We will get back to you ASAP on the next business day.

All jobs posted to our job board have been vetted by a member of The Chamber team.

Thanks to our friends at H2 Accelerator, we have a new ad campaign you'll see online. It encourages out-of-work locals to pitch in at businesses that need help.

Current Job Listings:

Finance Department Supervisor – WorkLink Employment Society

Bookkeeper – Freedom Accounting Inc

Field Assistant – Swan Lake & Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary

Production Manager – Origin Gluten-Free Bakery

Various Positions – Neil Squire Society

Roofers – M&M Roofing

Digital Communications and Outreach Assistant – Georgia Strait Alliance

Cooks and Food Service Workers – Island Health

Is your business implementing new strategies or innovative ways of connecting with consumers?

Contact [email protected]