Last week's 5 Chamber Business Mixer was a huge success! Kudos to the Esquimalt Chamber for a fabulous event. Thanks to event sponsor Coastal Community Credit Union and venue sponsor TLA Developments. View photos from the event here.

Saturday marks the end of border restrictions that have been in place for much of the COVID-19 pandemic. The federal government has confirmed travellers will no longer need to show proof of vaccination or wear masks aboard planes and trains. There will also be no requirement for testing or quarantines.

The ArriveCan app will still be available to submit customs and immigration declarations, but will no longer be mandatory.

"There's a real sense of relief in the tourism industry that their recovery will benefit from making it easier to welcome international travellers," Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said. "The restrictions served a purpose but we're at a different place in the pandemic, and a lot of people have been calling for these changes for awhile. Hopefully we can heal some of the divisions that resulted from the times being so uncertain."

The shift also represents a time to reflect on how government responded during the pandemic. Canadian Chamber of Commerce CEO Perrin Beatty was co-chair of the Lessons Learned report that will help policy makers plan for future situations that require restricting access to our border.

Tickets are nearly gone for The Chamber Business Hall of Fame, presented by RBC! Join us for the very first red-carpet gala celebrating the contributions of 19 Hall of Fame inductees in growing our region.

Chief Robert Sam served as elected Chief of Songhees First Nation from 1996 until his death in 2012 at the age of 76.

Born and raised on Songhees territory, Sam was first elected as a councillor in 1966. He led negotiations with the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia over dispossessed land now occupied by the BC Legislature buildings.

He also played a key role on behalf of Songhees Nation within the Te’mexw Treaty Association — a collaboration among five Nations living on South Vancouver Island.

Sam was a founding member of the First Nations Finance Authority, a board member of the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority and a member of the Association of First Nations Chief Committee on Treaties.

Learn about Sam's impact and legacy at the 2022 Business Hall of Fame gala.

Thank you to everyone who has voted so far for the 2023-24 Chamber Board of Directors. There's still time to make your choice from the list of community leaders who put their names forward to share their insight and experience.

Voting will close at noon Thursday, Oct. 6 so don't delay!

The Chamber is also accepting nominations for openings on our 2023 committees. You can make a difference for your community, build your network and share your leadership attributes with Greater Victoria's business community. Learn more.

The Chamber applauds the decision by the City of Victoria to extend its Business Recovery from Pandemic bylaw into the spring. The bylaw was set to expire at the end of October. The bylaw temporarily allowed businesses to use outdoor spaces for patios and other commercial activities.

"Businesses are always at the forefront of innovations that move our economy forward and build resilience," Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said. "We're happy to see local governments working with businesses to include initiatives that are being asked for by the public."

The deadline extension potentially gives city staff time to look at individual situations to ensure they're safe and accessible, as well as their impact on parking in downtown Victoria.

Last week's news that the provincial government is making child care more affordable is a step in the right direction. The Chamber has long advocated for accessible and affordable child care as a vital investment in our economy.

On Friday, the province announced that parents can expect to save as much as $550 in child care costs every month. The new funding will go directly to licensed child care centres so parents don't have to apply. The savings will take effect in December, and help families with children who are kindergarten-aged or younger.

The savings build on earlier cuts to costs and are funded by the federal governments $3.2 billion agreement with BC.

Examples of how the program will help families and allow more parents to continue their careers include:

The election signs are everywhere and the number of candidates and sources of information can seem overwhelming. As leaders in our communities, chamber members can make a difference by encouraging all voters to mark their ballots by Oct. 15.

By voting, you are participating in the democratic process and learning about the people making decisions with your tax dollars.

"As a non-partisan organization, The Chamber won't tell you who to vote for, but we will continue to ask that you do vote," Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said. "Even if you're not sure who the candidates are, it only takes a few minutes to find out and begin to learn what they stand for. Democracy is not about being perfect. It's about being able to participate — something we are privileged to do as Canadians."

As we approach the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, The Chamber would like to encourage everyone to support Indigenous businesses and artists that make our community whole.

At the upcoming 2022 Chamber Auction, we are proud to feature donations that highlight Indigenous art, culture, education and business, including:

Take a sneak peek at some of the incredible items available at the 2022 Chamber Auction, which runs Nov. 6 – 13.

Interested in having your products or services showcased at our auction?

Email specialevents@victoriachamber.ca or fill out our 2022 Auction Donation Form.

The Songhees Nation hosts the South Island Powwow Friday. The first-of-its-kind event is free and is "an opportunity to recognize Survivors and their families in the spirit of reconciliation. Through song and dance, we will celebrate traditional Indigenous cultures and resiliency."

Municipalities across Greater Victoria are hosting events to commemorate and celebrate indigenous voices. Across all 13 municipalities, flags will be flown at half-mast on Sept. 30, and events for reflection include:

The City of Victoria hosts the Xe xe Smun' eem-Victoria Orange Shirt Day: Every Child Matters Ceremony from 10 am to 12:30 pm at Centennial Square. The event includes Indigenous performances, a minute of silence, and guest speakers sharing their personal experiences with residential schools and reconciliation.

The District of Oak Bay hosts a truth and reconciliation event at the Sno’uyutth Welcome Pole at Oak Bay High School starting at 9:30 am. The pole, designed by Songhees Nation elder Butch Dick, symbolizes the beginning of a new relationship between the Oak Bay community and the Songhees and Esquimalt peoples

The University of Victoria hosts various reconciliation events throughout the week. From informative lectures to workshops, students and faculty are invited to wear their orange shirts on Sept. 29 in the quad to witness the lighting of the Sacred Fire. The fire will burn until 3 pm that day, and visitors can listen to stories from residential school survivors, witness reflections and celebrate this year’s theme: Indigenous resurgence.

Royal Roads University invites the community to join in-person and virtual events to honour the strength and resilience of Indigenous Peoples. This year, Royal Roads will raise the Survivors' Flag to honour residential school Survivors and all the lives and communities impacted by the residential school system in Canada. Each element depicted on the flag was carefully selected by Survivors from across Canada, who were consulted in the flag’s creation.

Camosun College has created an Orange Shirt Day research guide to assist those in learning about the importance of honouring Indigenous voices. Camosun hosts an event at Na’tsa’maht: The Gathering Place, Lansdowne Campus on Sept. 29 at 1:30 pm with guest speakers Eddy Charlie and Kristin Spray attending.

As the travel economy surges across the Capital Region, hotels are doing their best to meet the demand for accommodations and related services.

In this Chamber Chat, CEO Bruce Williams gets a snapshot of the hospitality sector and its recovery with Madone Pelan, GM of the Oak Bay Beach Hotel, and Bill Lewis, GM at the Magnolia Hotel and Chair of the Hotel Association of Greater Victoria.

Special thanks to our series sponsor: Island Savings

Members can post Coupons and Discounts free of charge here.