Happy New Year and thank you to everyone who attended the Chair’s Holiday Reception. The festive event was held at the newly renovated Wicket Hall to celebrate outgoing Chamber Chair John Wilson, who led our board over the past three years. Pictured above: Jenny McLeod with United Way of Southern Vancouver Island, Rahim Khudabux from Max Furniture, new Chamber Chair Kris Wirk with Dusanj + Wirk Chartered Professional Accountants and Coun. Hazel Braithwaite with the District of Oak Bay.

The federal ban on foreign purchases of Canadian homes is now in effect. The intent of the regulation is to free up housing to meet the intense demand that has seen real estate prices skyrocket over the past decade. However, just how effective the rule will be remains to be seen as foreign buyers account for less than 0.5% of real estate sales in BC.

The prohibition isn't permanent. It's set to run for two years and does not apply to non-Canadians who are looking to rent. The Act defines residential property as buildings with fewer than four homes, as well as parts of buildings like a semi-detached house or a condominium unit. The law does not prohibit the purchase of larger buildings with multiple units.

Anyone convicted of violating the Act faces a $10,000 fine, and non-Canadians could face a court order to sell the house.

The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce its 2023 Board of Directors.

Kris Wirk, with Dusanj + Wirk Chartered Professional Accountants, will take on the role of Board Chair, while Christina Clarke from the Indigenous Prosperity Centre becomes the new Vice-Chair. After serving for the past three years as Chair, John Wilson of The Wilson's Group of Companies assumes the role of Past Chair.

“Chamber members and Greater Victoria’s business community will be well served by the stability, expertise and leadership experience that the 2023 board of directors brings to the table,” incoming Chamber Chair Kris Wirk said. “Our previous chair, John Wilson, did a remarkable job of guiding the organization through the pandemic. I’m excited about getting to work and helping The Chamber achieve our vision for 2023.”

The Chamber’s 2023 board consists of established and emerging business and community leaders who will work with Chamber committees and staff. These business leaders volunteer their time to help Chamber members, working together to build good business and great community for all. We invite you to connect with your board and thank them the next time you see them at an event.

“Kris will be a dynamic chair and I am ready to support him in any way he needs,” Past Chamber Chair John Wilson said. “It has been nothing if not a memorable three years dealing with the challenges of the pandemic. We have come through this stronger than ever and we are prepared for any challenge that comes our way.”

Finding and keeping workers has been an ongoing challenge facing every sector and almost all employers in Greater Victoria and across the country. We need a larger workforce to enable organizations to reach their economic potential. One of the key solutions is to welcome more new Canadians to our region. Last year, Canada set a record for immigration as 431,645 people became new permanent residents — the most since 1913. The target for 2023 is 465,000.

Canada's labour force growth is almost 100% dependent on immigration. The Chamber has been working with community partners and our national network to advocate for immigration that prioritizes workers with skills needed by employers. We're also working to ensure Greater Victoria receives its fair share of immigration, which typically gravitates to Canada's larger cities.

How can business help solve complex challenges regarding addiction and toxic drugs in our communities? The opioid crisis has caused immeasurable distress in many people's lives, affecting families, colleagues and others close to us at an unprecedented scale.

Island Health hopes that innovation, which the private sector is renowned for, can make a difference. The health authority is is seeking Expressions of Interest from not-for-profit organizations, local governments, Indigenous Nations and local businesses. A $1 million fund has been set up to provide grants of up to $50,000 for projects and initiatives that:

Details on the grants, including how to apply are available at: New Resilience and Safety Grants - Island Health

This event is for businesses who have already received a nomination or who want to learn more before nominating themselves. During this virtual call we will take a look at the 2023 Business Awards timeline, award categories, nomination information, and how to submit an award entry. 

Why did Marianne Alto want to be Victoria’s next Mayor? What will it be like to work with so many rookie Council members?

In this Chamber Chat, CEO Bruce Williams discusses these questions and more with the City of Victoria’s new Mayor.

Special thanks to our series sponsor: Island Savings

As a member of The Chamber, you and your organization are eligible for an extensive list of discounts and savings. Take advantage of these corporate discounts as part of The Chamber Benefits Program.

Need to improve your home office? Lenovo, Monk Office, and Grand & Toy offer a variety of discounts for hardware, furniture and more.

Ship your packages with ease, and get 50% off domestic and international shipping with UPS. Shipments can be easily tracked through UPS My Choice^® for Business. Learn more about shipping rates and tracking here.

Our Chamber Benefits Program has many valuable offers to utilize, from fuel discounts to certificates of origin. Chamber members can also find and post on the Member to Member Offers page for free, a constantly updated resource to showcase your product/service to fellow Chamber members.

For more information on how to take advantage of these savings, or to post a Member to Member offer, contact [email protected].

Members can post Coupons and Discounts free of charge here.