Tomorrow, Sept 14 from 5-7 pm join Prodigy Group for their September Mingle at The Bay Centre. Don't miss out on delicious sips, bites and swag bags for every attendee - sign up here!

Thank you to Volkswagen Victoria for sponsoring the Harvest Dinner at Woodwynn Farms last Thursday. Check out the photos here and read more about the event here.
BC Budget
On Monday the new BC government revealed its first provincial budget. Click here to see the highlights.

The Chamber continues to look for support from the provincial government on Shared Priorities for Provincial Government Action which include:
  • affordable housing;
  • improvements to local mental health and addictions services;
  • $10 a day child care to help working parents and employers;
  • creation of a regional transportation commission to keep our economy moving;
  • completion of the Belleville Terminal and assistance in developing Ogden Point and Home Port Victoria to build our tourism sector and, finally, ensure sewage treatment stays on track.
"We understand that this budget was a temporary measure to ensure the province has authority to operate for the rest of this fiscal year," said Chamber CEO Catherine Holt. " However, we are putting the Province on notice that we expect them to address these important priorities in the full budget in February."   
 
One of the major promises that was not addressed - $10 a day child care - had Andrew Weaver indicating in a later interview that reform was needed to the original plan.  
 

Chamber News
Events
Business Leaders Luncheon: Bill Stewart
Small Business Month
Auction Donations
Business Mixers
Prodigy Group Mingles
Event Photos

Best Irish Pub in North America?
Irish Times Pub has been nominated by Irish Pubs Global for the best Irish Pub in North America.

In a Victoria News article Manager Darragh O'Malley said being nominated is an honour, especially in such a large market. "If you think of the amount of Irish pubs across the States and in Canada, to be nominated is just an insane thing to happen," he said.

The pub has also been nominated for the best craft beer, best food, best chef and best bar person in North America. The awards will take place in Dublin Ireland on Oct. 10. Wishing you the luck of the Irish!


Irish Times Pub: member since 2003

Sweeping Tax Changes
The federal government is at the table now looking to make some sweeping tax changes. Recent interviews indicate that more than "doctors and dentists" are at risk with these changes as the changes fly in the face of the federal commitment to growing an Innovation economy.

Nobody supports tax evasion or loopholes, but these changes target small businesses who employ family members and invest the profits from business and delivers punitive taxation for those passing family businesses on to children.

Consultations end in two weeks, so make sure to email your local MP and Minister Morneau to provide the real story behind running a small business. The Greater Victoria Chamber along with the Canadian Chamber want to make sure that the voice of small business is heard before decisions are finalized. As chamber members across the country raise their voices, we hope to impact this change - as we did with the proposed tax on employee health benefits - well before legislation makes it a done deal.




Rifflandia Turns 10!

Rifflandia turns 10 this weekend! The festival,  produced by Atomique Productions,  will feature the highest percentage of BC bands in its history, with over 75% of the artists calling BC their home. Check out the full line-up here.  
 
In addition to that, over 50 of the artists are female led or feature female musicians, Rifflandia has taken a great stride forward in its goal to close the gender gap that exists with so many of today's festivals.  
 
Since its establishment in 2000, Atomique Productions has expanded its reach throughout British Columbia and beyond, producing an average of 150+ concerts, festivals and events each year. In 2014 Atomique Productions won The Chamber Business of the Year (1-10 Employees) at the Greater Victoria Business awards. Watch the video here
 
Atomique Productions: member since 2013   
BUSINESS LEADERS LUNCHEON
  
Meet the man who invented the screensaver!
 
Over the past 30 years, Bill Stewart has made a lasting mark on every day technology with his invention of the first screensaver and then a wallpaper that was embraced by over 1 billion computer users worldwide.
 
His clients include AOL Time Warner, Atomic Energy of Canada, Bambora and the BC Government.  
 
Hear Bill talk about how you can use visual design to improve your user experience and improve revenue, profit and customer satisfaction.  

Tue, Oct 3 | 11:30 am-1 pm      
Victoria Marriott Inner Harbour
728 Humboldt St.

   


Refugee Resettlement and Newcomer Inclusion

This past spring  the Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria , in collaboration with Google Translate, launched the We Speak Translate project to help with
refugee resettlement and newcomer inclusion in communities. Since its inception,
over 700 community members and stakeholders have received Google Translate training through the We Speak Translate project.  
 
The project involves training community stakeholders, organizations and institutions in the Google Translate app. Upon completion of the 40-minute training, participants receive a We Speak Translate decal, a visible symbol of inclusion and commitment to promoting diversity and communication across language barriers. Familiarity with the Google Translate app establishes a common platform for communication while newcomers develop their English language skills.

  Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria: member since 1996   

Wrapping-up Summer in Style harvest
Last Thursday was the Harvest Dinner at Woodwynn Farms which was the final Summer Social Series event of the year. Thank you to everyone who attended, our suppliers and to Volkswa gen Victoria for sponsoring the event. See the photos here!

Over 90% of the menu by House of Boateng was harvested on Woodwynn Farms. It can't get fresher than that! Silk Road paired each course with delightful tea mocktails. With dessert they served their Berry Victoria tea - Canada's first locally grown tea.

Some much needed rain fell during the event, but The Wise Co had us covered under one of their stunning te nts, which are all designed and manufactured on the island. VIP Mobile Restrooms gave every bathroom goer VIP treatment. At the end of the night Poppies Floral Art donated their flower arrangements to Woodwynn Farms. Thanks to everyone who bought one!
 
During dessert, Richard Leblanc, founder and executive director at Woodwynn Farms spoke about the 75% success rate of his program and his desire to help more people. Woodwynn Farms is a 193 acre organic farm and a therapeutic community for the homeless with addiction issues, offering an opportunity to change peoples' lives with educational and work programs based on responsibility, dignity, independence and the principles of peer-to-peer help. Click here for more info about the farm's programs. 
Woodwynn Farms: member since 2012
Volkswagen Victoria: member since 2012
House of Boateng: member since 2016
Silk Road Tea: member since 2013
The Wise Co: member since 2017
VIP Mobile Restrooms: member since 2017
Poppies Floral Art: member since 2006
2018/19 Chamber Board Elections
- Please Vote!


Each fall The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce holds an election for new board members. Each board member is elected for a two year term with staggered renewal dates - this year we are asking you to elect four board members. See all the nominees here.

Election ballots will be e-mailed to the main contact for your organization on Fri, Sept 15. The Chamber uses a weighted voting system, based on your business' number of employees. Voting will close midday Thurs, Oct 5.

If you are The Chamber's main contact for your business and don't receive your ballot on Sept 15, please contact us at 250-383-7191.
Truth or Consequences
 
Reputation and rumours can kill or strengthen a country or a business. The recent US election shone a light on the danger of fake news and how it can change the tide. In a recent Ipsos poll, data showed that a majority of Canadians (65%) have, at some point, believed a news story that they subsequently discovered was false.

The rise of fake news has matched a decline in the public's trust in media, but also in community organizations, business and government. The Edelman Trust Barometer has seen public confidence in these groups drop to an all-time low. With that knowledge, how can media, business, government and other institutions earn back public faith and help people discern what is real?

At this year's 
State of the Island Economic Summit (Oct 25-26) , Chamber members Pearson College, Douglas Magazine and South Island Prosperity Project will work alongside Daniel Tisch, Canada's leading expert on reputation management and public engagement, to provide businesses with the facts - not the fiction - on how to work in this new and unsettling environment .  
 
Pearson College: member since 2017
Douglas Magazine: member since 2008
South Island Prosperity Project: member since 2017 
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
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