BC Chamber CEO Val Litwin, Bayview Place owner Ken Mariash, Chamber CEO Catherine Holt and Chamber Chair Al Hasham. 
BC Chamber AGM

This past Saturday, The Chamber hosted the Bayview Place Roundhouse West Coast BBQ as the grand finale for the BC Chamber AGM. Thank you to Bayview Place for sponsoring this memorable event. Click here to see the photos.   

Nicole Smith, founder and owner of Flytographer, delivered an insightful and entertaining keynote speech to chamber leaders gathered for the AGM. She told her story of acceleration from start up to international success in four short years.

The Greater Victoria Chamber sponsored a number of policies, supported by the delegates at the AGM, to improve business and the economy in the region and the province. For example, we received support for a new approach for policing and a transportation authority. The transportation authority would be legislated by the Province and would plan, fund and deliver transportation services across our region to better manage traffic.     


Bayview Place: member since 2006 
Flytographer: member since 2015 and 2017 Innovation Business Award winner  
Chamber News
Events
Seminars
YYJ Eats
Summer Social Series
Business Mixers
Prodigy Group Mingles
Event Photos

On to the NHL 
Victoria Royals head coach Dave Lowry is leaving the franchise to become an assistant coach with the National Hockey League's (NHL) Los Angeles Kings.

"We are thankful for the time that Dave was behind the bench for our club," President and General Manager Cameron Hope said. "It was just a matter of time before he moved back to the NHL. Dave set a high standard and was an important part of building our program to where it is today. We thank the entire Lowry family for their commitment to our franchise, and wish Dave success as he takes another step in his career."

The Royals qualified for the playoffs every year under Lowry's leadership, setting the franchise record with 21 playoff victories. He was named the Western Hockey League's Coach of the Year twice and in 2016 he was named head coach of Hockey Canada's World Junior Team.
Climate Change at the Legislature
The coming months will see a big change in the provincial government. The agreement guiding the new relationship between the NDP and BC Green parties, released by John Horgan and Andrew Weaver, outlines an agenda for the incoming government.  Section 2, entitled "Jobs, climate and a sustainable economy that works for everyone" is of particular interest to business and contains the following major agenda items:  
  • Implement an increase in the carbon tax by $5 per tonne per year, deliver rebate cheques that ensure most British Columbians are better off than under the current formula and implement a climate strategy to meet BC's targets
  • Refer BC Hydro's Site C dam to the BC Utilities Commission for review as to its economic viability
  • Stop the expansion of the Kinder Morgan pipeline
  • Establish a pathway to a minimum wage of $15/hour
  • Improve transit and transportation infrastructure
There are also sections called "Making democracy work", "Fixing the Services People Count On" and "Making life more affordable".  See the full agreement here.

"This agreement on a government agenda increases the chance of an NDP minority government remaining in power," said Chamber CEO Catherine Holt, "But it still requires all 44 NDP and Green MLAs to be willing, able and present for for every important vote for four years. That is a daunting prospect."

VicPD's Business Survey Results
Over the last several months, the Victoria Police had  VicPD Volunteers and Reserves hand-deliver Community and Business Survey Project packages to over 1,700 randomly selected residences and businesses across Esquimalt and Victoria.

They will present their findings to the businesses community Tue, Jun 6 at 8 am at the Union Club. Members of VicPD's Police Board and Senior Command Team will be there to have a focused discussion on what to do next.

Click here to register.

Victoria Police Department: member since 2008
SEMINAR:
Canada's Anti-Spam Law Update - What's new?
 
With potential damage awards of up to $1  million per day - as well as personal liability for your employees - it's important to know what is allowed and what isn't in email marketing.

Presented by Jenifer Chilcott and Martin Twigg - Farris, Vaughan, Wills & Murphy LLP.

Wed, June 28 | 10 am-12pm
The Chamber, 852 Fort St.
Successful Creek Remediation
The TenTen Creek Sediment Reduction Project  saw the Victoria Airport Authority work with local partners such as Peninsula Streams, Shore Keepers, Transport Canada, Tseycum First Nation and their own environmental management teams and construction crews on this massive 2016 project. The $540,000 remediation project was designed to keep sediments from clogging the creek and to stop erosion on steep banks that are part of an old federal landfill on the west side of Willingdon Road.

The goal is to create a healthy creek where sea run cutthroat trout numbers can rebound, and possibly where coho salmon - not seen there for more than half a century - will return.

Watch a video on how the project was undertaken here.

 
Victoria Airport Authority: member since 1981 

A New Face
John Espley, past Chair of The Chamber, has been hired by BCHAZMAT Management Ltd (BCHAZMAT) as their new (and first ever) Director of Marketing & Communications. John previously worked for Accent Inns / Hotel Zed for 29 years.

Although a successful business since 1996, BCHAZMAT has been relatively unknown outside of key business or government circles.

"We knew we needed someone strong and connected to help us grow our business. It doesn't hurt that he's also willing to get in and get dirty when it's all-hands-on-deck for a clean-up," Troy Archibald, Operations Manager.

John and Dave Rogers, president of BCHAZMAT, met through The Chamber and then again through several community events they both supported.

 
BCHAZMAT Management Ltd: member since 2009  
Forever the Social Butterfly
The Chamber is very active on all our social media channels. Why not stay in touch?


Keep up with local news and The Chamber's advocacy initiatives.

Join our private LinkedIn group to connect directly with other Chamber members or follow our organization page for Chamber related updates.


RSVP to our latest event or view photos from the last one.
View our Instagram stories for behind the scenes event set-up, find out about our upcoming events and see beautiful photos of the region.

Did you know you could add your social media links to your Chamber directory listing? Log into The Chamber's website to start! Click here to get instructions and log in info.

Is Your Business Over 100 Years Old?
The Chamber is looking for Greater
Victoria businesses that are over 100 years old in anticipation of Canada's sesquicentennial celebrations. Please send us an email letting us know if you, or a business you know, qualify.

The Inner Harbour will come alive as the
Spirit of 150 Victoria, presented by Coast Capital Savings, offers 11 days of 100+ free performances on two stages from June 21 to July 1, 2017 at Victoria's Inner Harbour. The Chamber is proud of our role in planning this sesquicentennial celebration with the Greater Victoria Spirit Committee and Atomique Productions.

 
 Coast Capital Savings: member since 1980
 
Atomique Productions: member since 2013 
Welcome to Our Newest Members! 

Organo


Chamber Name Tags
Need to get one of the snazzy new Chamber Name tags? Email Reception to order yours today.

250-383-7191  

victoriachamber.ca
chamber@victoriachamber.ca
View on Instagram