Chamber Member of the Year Ann Squires Ferguson, CEO of Western Design+Build,

throws the first pitch at a recent HarbourCats home game that also featured a Chamber mixer.

Pacific FC: Member since 2019

Victoria HarbourCats: Member since 2012

Expert panel convened to solve city's complex issues

A panel of experts has been tasked with developing a Community Safety and Well-Being Plan for the City of Victoria. The goal is to address multiple complex issues such as "declining civility and social cohesion, increasing social disorder, inadequate housing supply and homelessness, poverty, inequality, addictions, mental and physical health challenges, criminal activity and other factors."

The panel will work over the next 15 months to advise Victoria council on immediate interventions as well as long-term solutions.

"I’m in frequent contact with the business community throughout the downtown and beyond and I’m consistently hearing that the impact of the pandemic is far from over," Fort Properties Ltd. CEO/co-owner Suzanne Bradbury said in the city's news release. "I believe that this is the right initiative at the right time and I’m honoured to bring a small business perspective.”

Along with Bradbury, the panel includes:

• Brianna Bear, Speaker and Artist, Songhees Nation
• Del Manak, Chief, Victoria Police Department
• Jonny Morris, CEO, Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division
• Julian Daly, CEO, Our Place Society
• Marianne Alto, Mayor, City of Victoria
• Mike Benusic, Medical Health Officer, Island Health
• Robert Jawl, Managing Director, Jawl Properties Ltd.
• Sandra Severs, President, Victoria Downtown Residents Association and Chair, Victoria Community Association Network.
• Daniel Atkinson, Chief, Victoria Fire Department

Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division: Member since 2022

Island Health: Member since 2020

Songhees Nation: Member since 2017

Jawl Residential Ltd.: Member since 2019

Victoria Police Department: Member since 2008

Our Place Society: Member since 2010

Fort Properties Ltd. Member since 2005

The conventional media world of TV, radio and print has seen significant challenges with the growth of online and on-demand media. In this Chamber Chat, CEO Bruce Williams (a former media manager and host) speaks with CHEK Media Group CEO Rob Germain about how CHEK has overcome those challenges to achieve success.

CHEK News: Member since 1971

Toolkit offers policy solutions for affordable housing

Housing supply is emerging as the root of many challenges facing Greater Victoria and the economy of Canada as a whole. To try and address some of the foundational causes of a lack of housing, the Community Social Planning Council has released a toolkit for local government. Local Government Levers for Housing Affordability addresses how housing affects everything from "staffing shortages to wage pressure to homelessness."

The document gathers policy tools that have been used successfully by large and small municipalities across the country.

Community Social Planning Council: Member since 2019

Do you want to be on a Chamber committee?

The Chamber has a number of active and engaged committees that report to our Board of Directors. Each year, our committees will have a few openings for new members. If you're interested, we are recruiting now for Jan. 1, 2024, for at least a two-year term. Here are our committees:

• Ambassador Committee
• Finance and Audit Committee
• Emerge Committee
• Public Policy and Advocacy Committee
• Inclusion, Diversity & Equity Advancement Committee

The opportunity to apply for any of the above committees will be open from Aug. 25 to Oct. 6. At the end of the application period, the chair of the committee will review your application and you will be contacted by email or phone.

Feds need to ease the burden on business

In Greater Victoria, The Chamber serves as the voice of business by amplifying what we hear from our members. We can then further raise the volume by working with our national network to include the questions and concerns of more than 200,000 businesses across Canada.

A recent example is the 2024 pre-budget recommendations submitted by the Canadian Chamber to the federal government. The submission calls for for investment in trade-enhancing infrastructure, easing the burden of doing business, facilitating the transition to net-zero, enabling an innovative economy, attracting and retaining talent and taking a lead role in life sciences.

To learn more about the work done by The Chamber's Public Policy and Advocacy committee, contact communications@victoriachamber.ca.

September Emerge Connector @ Pacific FC

Join Emerge to make authentic connections and have a great time all in one inclusive, casual and fun event!

Come for the connections and stay for the game. Cheer on Pacific FC as they battle against the Halifax Wanderers in one of their last games of the season. Come decked out in your PFC or other favourite sports team gear and enjoy casual networking in the Pitchside VIP Lounge before the game from 5 - 7 PM.

This evening will include an opportunity to connect with fellow business professionals, complimentary snacks & game tickets and a cash bar.

Wisdom for Family Enterprises

The Chamber hosts award-winning author, family business advisor and TEDx speaker, David C. Bentall for a networking dinner followed by an engaging presentation.

David will explore key character traits critical for all Family Enterprise Successors. Generously sharing from his personal journey, he will offer insights for all developing leaders, providing a roadmap for cultivating emotional intelligence and for improving family relationships.

Hire a Co-op Student to Benefit Your Team

Interested in hiring a Camosun or UVic co-op student, but not sure where to start? Come learn about timing, funding programs, mentorship and the benefits of hiring a student in 2024.

Engaging a student is a cost-effective way to tackle ebbs and flows in the workplace - no matter the economic temperature. Students are available from a wide variety of programs from technology and sciences to business and communication and everything in between!

Hire a Co-op Student to Benefit Your Team

Thursday, Sept. 28 | 12- 1 PM

Zoom - link provided upon registration

First electric fire engine on Island coming to Victoria

The City of Victoria has added an electric fire truck to its growing fleet of electric vehicles. The Rosenbauer Revolutionary Technology pumper fire engine, currently being assembled, is expected to arrive by the end of the year. Funding from the provincial government allowed the city to purchase the electric fire engine for about the same cost as a typical fire engine.

Vancouver and Brampton are the only other fire departments in Canada that have ordered RT electric fire engines, which are in use in Los Angeles, Berlin, Amsterdam and Dubai.

City of Victoria: Member since 1863

Parade planned tonight for National Peacekeepers’ Day

Today is National Peacekeepers' Day and a parade planned for the Township of Esquimalt tonight will include a CC-130H Hercules flyby between 7 and 8 pm. CFB Esquimalt sent out a notification to remind drivers that there will be short road closures between 6:30 and 8:30 pm for a parade along Esquimalt Road from Admirals Road to Memorial Park.

CFB Esquimalt: Member since 1979

Township of Esquimalt: Member since 2020

Skills grant available to help workers advance careers

Greater Victoria needs skilled workers who can take on the roles our employers need to fill for our region to meet its economic potential. To help people get the skills needed to further their careers, Camosun College is reminding learners that they might be eligible for a StrongerBC future skills grant. The funding provides $3,500 to put towards short-term skills training at post-secondary institutions, such as Camosun, the University of Victoria and Royal Roads University. To be eligible for the grant, you must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or Protected Person entitled to study in Canada; be a BC resident currently living in BC and have graduated from Grade 12 or equivalent by the start of the course or be 19 or older. Eligible courses are listed on the websites of Camosun, UVic and RRU.

Royal Roads University: Member since 1996

University of Victoria: Member since 1976

Camosun College: Member since 1981

Planting trees part of Hotel Grand Pacific's climate commitment

A Hotel Grand Pacific initiative is helping replenish BC forests by committing to plant two trees for every booked night that a guest declines a stayover room clean. Guests can participate by advising the hotel when booking. Under its Green Initiative program, the Grand Pacific Hotel is the first in the region to receive Four Green Keys, an acclaimed sustainable certification. The hotel is proving that innovation led by business is key to addressing climate change. This summer’s wildfires have been devastating, and actions that help and support the environment are increasingly crucial to mitigate CO2 emissions.

Hotel Grand Pacific: Member since 1966

Victoria Bullion Exchange - 50% off Segregated Vault Storage for bullion

Members can post Coupons and Discounts free of charge here.

Christie

Monarch