75 years ago tomorrow, D-Day turned a terrible tide
|
|
'What the hell have you done with the tomorrows we gave you?' -
Read more
|
| 'This wasn't John Wayne in The Longest Day or Tom Hanks in Saving Private Ryan. Earl Clark was a salt-of-the-earth guy from Vancouver Island, not an actor, and what is Hollywood - or history - to the rest of us was real life to him.' - Read more |
 |
|
Affordability about more than minimum wage
The minimum wage in BC increased by $1.20 per hour on June 1, as part of the provincial government's four-year plan to incrementally increase the minimum wage to $15.20 per hour by 2021.
"A phased in approach is better than a sudden large leap, but increasing the minimum wage does little to address the issues that are keeping our economy from reaching its full potential," says Chamber CEO Catherine Holt, who met with the
BC Fair Wage Commission on Friday.
We currently have the lowest unemployment rate in Canada at less than 3%.
Employers in Greater Victoria are struggling to attract and retain workers who are deterred by our region's high cost of living. Most employers are paying more than minimum wage now to try and fill their labour needs.
The Chamber
believes government's focus would be better spent addressing the
shortage of workforce housing and accessible child care, and on transportation strategies that improve daily commutes across the region. This would also make life
more affordable for employers, who face the same challenges as their employees.
And, of course, removing obstacles to wage growth, specifically the
Employer Health Tax, would be a better way to stimulate raises.
|
SUMMER SOCIAL SERIES:
Take it up a notch and join us for a limo ride the
re courtesy of L.A. Limousines.
Wed, July 3 |
6-9 pm
Bilston Creek Farm
4185 Metchosin Rd.
The Summer Social Series transports you to a new location where you will enjoy a memorable evening of connecting over great food and local wine, beer and cocktails.
Purchase tickets to the series here.
|
Members Around Town
World Whiskey Awards
At the World Whiskies Awards, Victoria Caledonian Distillery took home Best Canadian New Make for its Clearach Single Malt Spirit.
The World Whiskies Awards select the very best internationally then award and promote the world's best whiskies to consumers and trade across the globe.
|
Victoria Caledonian Distillery: member since 2013
|
Future Chamber members and business leaders?
Participants in a new University of Victoria entrepreneurship program for young people aged 12 to 18 called Kidovate will be showcasing and selling products they have created.
The Kidovate program was created by UVic's Gustavson School of Business. Its first market will be from 10 am to 3 pm at The Bay Centre's centre court this Saturday.
 |
University of Victoria: member since 1976
|
| |
Bay Centre: member since 1990 |
A 90th birthday celebration
This year
Robinson's Outdoor Store is celebrating 90 Years in business
with an anniversary party where one lucky attendee will win a $14,000 trip to Nimmo Bay. The party, held on the evening of June 19 will be a fun, camping-themed event that customers will win their way into. While the town around them has changed and the offerings inside the store have adapted to meet the needs of consumers, the values that have driven this family business for more than ninety years have remained the same.
 |
Robinson's Outdoor Store: member since 2005
|
Victoria HarbourCats flying high
This past weekend the
Victoria HarbourCats debuted its newest attraction at Wilson's Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park: a
120-metre zipline spanning almost an entire city block.
The zipline will run alongside Cook Street beyond the right-field fence, toward Pembroke Street.
The team believes the attraction is the first game-time-operating zipline of its kind in a baseball park.
|
Victoria HarbourCats: member since 2012
|
What's happening at Malahat Nation?
Malahat Nation's video "Welcome to Malahat Nation" highlights their Multipurpose Facility, Bighouse, Malahat Beach, Bamberton, the Malahat Business Park, Trans Canada Trail, and the Malahat Mountain Summit.
This fall construction will begin on the 650 m Malahat Skywalk which is anticipated to create 100 construction jobs and a world-class tourism attraction.
|
Malahat Nation: member since 2019
|
|
SUMMER SOCIAL SERIES:
Yeehaw! Join us for a fun evening of gourmet food, cold drinks, great music and good times.
Featuring gourmet appetizers, bbq sliders, mac n' cheese and pie chef stations catered by
Food For Thought Catering. Quench your thirst with local BC wine, craft beer and non-alcoholic cocktails. Kick up your boots with some line dancing.
Thu, Sept 5 |
6:30-8:30 pm
The Roundhouse at Bayview
80 Saghalie Rd.
The Summer Social Series transports you to a new location where you will enjoy a memorable evening of connecting over great food and local wine, beer, cocktails and non-alcoholic choices.
Purchase tickets to the series here.
|
New hotel proposed for Broad Street
The
proposal will extend the life of the historic Duck Building on Broad Street to honour the legacy of Michael Williams, who donated the property to UVic in 2000.
The property was being looked at as student housing in 2017, but that changed after the provincial government and UVic announced a plan to add 620 beds on campus.
| |
Chard Development: member since 2008
|
|
University of Victoria: member since 1976
|
|
|
Canada Day celebrations face police funding shortfall
We'll likely find out Thursday about the future fate of Greater Victoria's biggest party of the year.
Victoria's police department says it will have a
tough time absorbing the cost of policing Canada Day this July. VicPD is working with a
smaller than expected budget after city council rejected the initial police budget as recommended by the Victoria and Esquimalt police board. VicPD was left
saddled with an unexpected $690,000 cost to cover the new BC Employer Health Tax.
The board's finance committee chair, Sean Powell, sent a
letter to Victoria council May 22 asking for additional funding to cover costs of policing Canada Day. In past years, the price tag for ensuring public safety on July 1 has run about $122,000, with $12,000 coming from the City of Victoria, $31,600 from a special duties fund for Victoria and Esquimalt and $78,400 from the police department.
However, this year, a small majority of council rejected the recommended police budget, effectively forcing the department to reduce its operational capacity. A
report from city staff to council outlines the challenges this creates for a number of events held in Victoria.
The
idea of limiting the number of people going downtown to celebrate Canada Day is unrealistic. One solution expected to come up at Thursday's council meeting is for the city to pull from contingency funds. That would help Canada Day this year, but without further funding for policing the future of many events in Victoria
could be at risk.
The Chamber advocates for safe communities as the foundation all of us depend on. A
better governance model for the police is essential to ensure we have adequate police resources.
|
Prodigy Group hosts Mingles every month so emerging and established Chamber members can meet and connect.
Opportunities are still available to host Mingles in 2019. Please email Christine Lewis to secure your business' spot.
|
Harris Green targeted for redevelopment
A key corridor for people driving into downtown from the eastside has been
targeted for a major redevelopment.
Two open houses are planned to give the public a chance to provide input on what they would like to see built on two large parcels bordered by Yates, Cook, View and Quadra streets.
The 4.9 acres of land, part of the Harris Green neighbourhood, is owned by Starlight Investments of Toronto.
The open houses will be June 13, 5 - 8 pm, and June 15, 11 am to 2 pm, at the Chapel of the New Jerusalem at Christ Church Cathedral, 930 Burdett Ave.
|
|
Cycling around
 |
|
|
The 2019 Chamber Spokespeople |
Greater
Victoria
Last week The Chamber Spokespeople participated in the 25th Annual Bike to Work Week. The team consisted of Graphics and Communications Coordinator Kate Masters, Events Assistant Co-op Student Scott Spanier and CEO Catherine Holt.
On the heels of Bike to Work Week, the provincial government
announced it will spend $10 million on cycling infrastructure around BC through its
BikeBC fund, including
five projects in our region.
- Langford will receive $686,988 for a separated, multi-use paved path connecting the Goldstream Meadows and Westhills neighbourhoods to downtown Langford.
- North Saanich will get $726,018 for new shoulder bikeways.
- Saanich will receive $1 million for buffered bike lanes between McKenzie Avenue and Torquay Drive.
- Sooke gets $145,665 for a separated, multi-use path connecting the Sooke Town Centre with Sun River Estates.
- The Capital Regional District receives $1 million for one-kilometre of multi-use trail that will create a continuous 13 kilometre route between Victoria and Langford.
In related news, Victoria mayor Lisa Helps was so inspired by a recent trip to Germany that she has issued what she calls the Heidleberg Challenge.
Helps was in the European city for the International Conference on Climate Action, and was moved by the focus on mobility at the heart of city planning. Streets were designed to be shared by cyclists, pedestrians and vehicles. Helps wants Victoria to overtake Heidleberg as a walkable city focused on zero emissions and opportunities that make cycling a safe and convenient transportation option.
|
|
Welcome to our newest members!
|
Member to Member Deals
Want your company's special offer to appear here? Send us an email!
|
|
|
|
