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November Business Matters is Online!
The
November Business Matters is
in the
mail
and
headed
y
ou
r way.
Our latest edition features:
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How Many Municipalities to Change a Lightbulb? Using the Capital Integrated Services and Governance Initiative report, Chamber CEO Catherine Holt comments on our plethora of public safety services (police, fire protection, emergency dispatch and emergency planning).
- Member Snapshots Get to know Teri Hustins (Oscar & Libby's), Nick Poushinsky (Stantec), Scott Phillips (StarFish Medical) and Indu Brar (Fairmont Empress).
These stories and more in the print and online edition!
Thinking about advertising for 2018?
Contact us today!
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Lest We Forget
November 11 is Remembrance Day and at the eleventh hour, we are asked to take two minutes of silence, to remember the fallen and to honour those who serve.
On Sept, 30 a new Afghanistan Memorial was unveiled near Quadra and Courtney streets which honours 163 Canadians who died in Afghanistan during the 2001-2014 mission.
The Chamber will be closed on Mon, Nov 13 in lieu of Remembrance Day.
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Members Around Town Giving Back
A number of Chamber members are participating in the 15th Annual VIATEC Food Bank Challenge
to raise $100,000 in food and cash donations
in support of the Mustard Seed. Since its inception, $2,071,563.94 (food and cash) has been donated from participating Greater Victoria companies. Sign your company up or donate individually, the contest runs until Dec 1st.
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VIATEC: member since 1991
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In the month of November, Vancouver Island Brewery is donating $1.00 from each Piper's Pale Ale six pack, and $25 from every Piper's Pale Ale keg to Wounded Warriors Canada. Piper's Pale Ale is named after Canadian WWI piper James C. Richard who was posthumously awarded a Victoria Cross for inspiring his comrades with his courageous piping.
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Vancouver Island Brewery: member since 1993
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Think Local First, sponsored by Peninsula Co-op, is hosting Think Local Week from Nov. 13-19 to encourage people to spend their money with local businesses during the holiday season which helps neighborhood businesses remain viable.
Think Local First: member since 2014
Peninsula Co-op: member since 2013
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Bringing Marijuana Out of the Dark
Marijuana is moving out of the basements and guerrilla grow ops into a place of its own. Ottawa has set July 1, 2018 as the deadline for regulations to be in place across Canada. And many provinces and territories are still working to craft legislation to manage the change. BC has just finished a public consultation on legal marijuana and is scheduled to report out the results of that consultation in December.
"The BC government's goals are protecting young people, making health and safety a priority, keeping criminals out of cannabis and keeping our roads safe," said BC Solicitor General and Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth in a statement.
New rules for legalized marijuana need to consider the
impact on workplaces and clarify the rights of both employers and employees. WorkSafeBC regulations prohibit workers with any physical or mental impairments from doing work that could pose harm to themselves or anyone else. The challenge for employers is management of what constitutes impairment and the liabilities to their business around an impaired employee causing harm or damage. Although untested in BC, a recent ruling by Alberta's Court of Appeal allowed Suncor to test workers at its sites in the oilsands.
Meanwhile, Victoria Police Chief Del Manak believes the legalization of cannabis will
increase police costs. There will be a need for increased police training, the creation of education and enforcement strategies around impaired driving, the monitoring of home grow operations and dealing with minors who illegally use and possess the drug. The state of Colorado where marijuana was legalized in 2014 has indicated that legalization has been slowly displacing organized crime's role in the distribution of pot.
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Just announced!
BUSINESS LEADERS LUNCHEON
Bruce Ralston, Minister of Jobs, Trade and Technology
Join us as Minister Ralston outlines the provincial government's plans for small business and initiatives to expand trades, innovation and technology sectors in this province
Tues, Nov 21 |
11:30 am-1 pm
Union Club of BC
805 Gordon St.
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"This year local businesses were nominated for a Torch Award by both their customers and other local businesses," said Rosalind Scott, President & CEO of BBB serving Vancouver Island. "The companies and their employees should be proud of their accomplishments."
Congrats to you both!
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Better Business Bureau of Vancouver Island: member since 1963
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Van Isle Windows: member since 1991
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Comfort Keepers: member since 2016
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Time Change Fast Facts
Daylight Saving Time is now used in over 70 countries worldwide and affects over 1 billion people every year. The beginning and end dates vary from one country to another. Here are some fast facts about DST.
- July 1, 1908, the residents of Port Arthur, Ontario, today's Thunder Bay, turned their clocks forward by 1 hour to start the world's first DST period.
- Germany and Austria, were the first countries to adopt DST. Clocks were turned ahead by 1 hour on April 30, 1916 - 2 years into World War I. The rationale was to minimize the use of artificial lighting to save fuel for the war effort.
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In 1966 the US observed 6 months of DST and six months of Standard Time. It required states to either adopt DST entirely or opt out, avoiding the patchwork of cities and counties that had been so problematic. Canada followed suit soon after.
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In 1986, the US started observing 7 months of DST. Then the US Energy Policy Act of 2005 made DST 8 months. Given Canada's close economic ties to the US, we followed suit.
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The BC Chamber of Commerce has an active policy
advocating for year round DST. Their reasoning is it would reduce workplace accidents, prevent increased sleep deprivation, reduce heart attacks, prevent an increase in traffic accidents and boost tourism.
Watch for the results next week.
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Greater Victoria's Unemployment - Lowest in Canada
Strong job growth in most of Greater Victoria's major workforces saw the region post the lowest unemployment rate among Canada's largest cities in October, according to Statistics Canada.
The federal agency's monthly labour force survey showed Greater Victoria's unemployment rate at 3.8% in October, down from the low of 4.5% weset last month. Last year's unemployment rate in October was 5.0%. Economists vary in their opinions but experts have indicated that a rate between 3 - 5% represents full employment.
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Nominate Now for The Chamber's 2018 Greater Victoria Business Awards
Each week The Chamber will be profiling a different award category, encouraging members to
nominate a deserving Chamber member for our 2018 Business Awards.
The
Innovation Award honours a business:
- That exemplifies successful innovation;
- Demonstrates vision in the development of new technologies, products and/or services;
- Demonstrates the ability to take risks; and
- Exhibits a commitment to the community.
Need some inspiration? Check out the videos of the 2017 Innovation finalists below.
Thanks to
University of Victoria, Peter B. Gustavson School of Business
for sponsoring this award last year.
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Process Your Payroll From Anywhere
Trying to get away for a much needed holiday season
vacation? Take advantage of the Payworks Chamber of Commerce Program to process your payroll online painlessly from anywhere. As a Chamber member, you can save over 20% a year on your payroll processing.
Payworks provides integrated online payroll solutions backed by great customer service so you have the tools and support you need to avoid costly errors and make sure your staff get paid on time, from anywhere.
This is just one of the many benefits offered to Chamber members. Check out our full list of savings opportunities here.
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Welcome to Our Newest Members!
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Chamber Name Tags
 Need to get one of the snazzy new Chamber Name tags?
Email Reception to order yours today.
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