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The weather was a bit of a mixed bag, but the food and drink were nothing short of amazing at YYJ Eats last night! This made for stiff competition for Tastiest YYJ Eats Sample, sponsored by TD Home Insurance. In the end, Varsha won with their delicious menu of vegetable pakoras, Tandoori chicken and pork belly naanwich.
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Spring/Summer Business Matters is Online!
The
Spring/Summer
Business
Matters
is
in the
mail
and
headed
y
ou
r way.
Our latest edition features:
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Wins & Challenges -
Ongoing wins and challenges in relation to The Chamber's 2018 advocacy priority areas.
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2018 Business Awards - Celebrate excellence in our business community as we look at the winners and finalists for the 2018 Chamber Business Awards.
- Met @ The Chamber - Here at The Chamber we know that business grows and runs better when smoothed by the influence of connections. We've included a few recent stories of business people who Met @The Chamber.
These stories and more in the print and online edition!
Thinking about advertising for 2018?
Contact us today!
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Camosun's new building
Camosun College has named its
 latest capital building project The Alex & Jo Campbell Centre for Health and Wellness. The late Alex Campbell, founder of
Thrifty Foods, died from cancer in 2011, though his spirit lives on through his family. Alex's wife Jo Campbell wanted to support health care and ongoing learning because of the care that Alex received while in hospital. The centre will educate the next generation of nurses, community support workers, lab technologists, medical radiography technicians, mental health workers, and other professionals for Victoria's regional health care and social services systems.
On May 30, the foundation announced the capital campaign has already reached over 50 per cent of its goal of $5 million, thanks to the generosity of donors such as Jo Campbell and her family. The campaign, led by volunteer co-Chairs John Wilson and his daughter Samantha Wilson, from
The Wilson's Group of Companies, is expected to gain momentum over the coming months as the campaign spreads through the community.
"Family and community, that is what is at the heart of our business and is why we are involved in Camosun's Together for Health campaign," says John Wilson. "This centre will play a crucial role in providing our families and community with some of the best health care professionals for years to come and we are honoured to be a part of it!"
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Camosun College: member since 1981
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Thrifty Foods: member since 1981
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The Wilson's Group of Companies: member since 2004
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All the single ladies (and gents) put your hands up
Who says statistics need be boring? The City of Victoria's
Open Data Portal includes a bit of flirty fun on a section titled
Singles in Victoria. The map breaks down which neighbourhoods have the highest concentrations of single women compared to single men. On the map, a notation points out: "Grocery stores are popular places to meet people, so they are shown on the map with little hearts, naturally. Did you know your choice of produce could lead to a date?"
Data shows that the largest populations of singles in Victoria are in Fairfield (6,140) and James Bay (6,050). The highest concentration of single women is in North Park, where 71% of women in the area are not part of a couple. For single men, the highest concentration is downtown at 70%.
Yet another example of how data can literally put a face on the facts and figures behind who we are and where we live.
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Board Election Information Session
Interested in running for the Board of Directors of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce? Find out everything you need to know at this information session facilitated by Dan Dagg, Board Chair.
Representing Greater Victoria's business community, The Chamber Board is one of the most influential community boards in the region.
Tue, July 10 | 12 noon to 1 pm
The Chamber, 100-852 Fort St.
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Click here for info on key dates, the nomination process and the voting procedure. Additional questions can be directed here.
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Underground parking at new Crystal Pool a chance to ease downtown crunch?
The Chamber has
told the City
it needs to show the business community a plan for the future of parking in downtown Victoria. We're still waiting, though we are encouraged that parking is part of the discussion for a new Crystal Pool. A few outstanding questions include how did the Mayor
arrive at 100 spots? Will these be enough to replace the existing surface lot and serve residents and users of the new housing and community spaces? Is there a potential to add more parking, or create another park and ride or park and cycle lot for workers commuting into the downtown core?
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Members Around Town
CCPA's new managing director
The
Canadian College of Performing Arts (CCPA) has welcomed Caleb Marshall as the organization's new managing director. The CCPA, celebrating its 20 year anniversary, has graduated well over 1000 students since its inception. Over the years, the college has seen incredible growth from its original one-year certificate program, which doubled almost instantly to add a second year program.
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Canadian College of Performing Arts: member since 2010
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More affordable housing in the region
The nuns of the Sisters of St. Ann celebrated their 160th anniversary in B.C. with a $450,000 donation to the Cool Aid Society to help build 61 units of affordable housing in Victoria. Cool Aid hopes to redevelop the site, demolishing the old Cedar Grove motel, a two-storey, two-building operation with 21 units, and replacing it with a 61-unit building.
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Cool Aid Society: member since 2006
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VicWest Street Fest
VicWest Street Fest is happening this Sunday, June 10 from 10 am-3 pm. The fourth annual event will include live music, Point Hope Maritime tours, activities for children and families, food trucks, street hockey, live theatre, chalk art and a local business fair.
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Point Hope Maritime: member since 2011
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Baseball star Kelly Gruber in town
Kelly Gruber, a star from the heydays of the Blue Jays, and a member of the 1992 World Series Team, will be at Wilson's Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park for
Victoria HarbourCats
games Saturday and Sunday.
Fans coming for the games can meet him, get an autograph and take photos.
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Victoria HarbourCats: member since 2012 |
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Province asks small businesses about obstacles and opportunities
Want to tell the B.C. government what you think about taxes, and other challenges facing your business?
A new
online survey has been posted that gives small business owners a chance to be part of a process that will identify concerns and possible solutions facing businesses across B.C. The
Small Business Task Force is seeking feedback from B.C. businesses for a report that will recommend how the province can strengthen this important economic sector.
The
online questionnaire, as well as meetings in select communities around B.C., will be used to draft a summary paper in the first phase of the process. After another review, a final report will go to government. The
only meeting on the Island is in Nanaimo on June 8.
Join The Chamber in making sure your voice is heard on the Employer Health Tax and its affect on your business.
The task force was created by the Province and is under the direction of the Ministry of Jobs, Trade and Technology.
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SIPP wins $250,000, stays in running for Canada's Smart Cities Challenge
Greater Victoria has made the cut for the next round of a $10 million competition for federal infrastructure funding.
As
one of the 20 finalists out of 126 cities that entered, SIPP receives $250,000 in federal funds to flesh out its proposal in a bid for the $10 million grand prize.
"Even two years ago, before achieving this level of regional collaboration, this concept wouldn't have been possible. The possibilities now are endless," SIPP CEO Emilie de Rosenroll says in a
news release. "By working together and aligning our vision for a smarter and more prosperous future, we all benefit from new ways of using smart technology and data to improve our lives and wellbeing."
South Island Prosperity Project: member since 2017
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BUSINESS LEADERS' LUNCHEON:
From the controversial Site C dam to residential electricity rates increasing by 3% or to a report on "Myths blocking road to electric vehicle adoption" BC Hydro has many different initiatives affecting a wide variety of people and businesses. Find out more from Chris O'Riley, President BC Hydro, the province's largest Crown Corporation with over 5,500 employees and over $5 billion in annual revenue.
Sponsored by:
Wed, June 13 | 11:30
am-1 pm
The Union Club of British Columbia
805 Gordon St.
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What does Victoria having a successful cruise season mean for your business?
There's a new reason for
 retail and hospitality businesses to say TGIF this summer. Every Friday,
from June 2 to Sept. 28, Victoria will be visited by the
Norwegian Bliss. The
ship's website states the Bliss is 333.5 metres long and can carry up to 4,004 passengers and 1,716 crew.
The 2018 cruise season is expected to bring
more than 600,000 visitors to Victoria this year, with 245 ships stopping in at Ogden Point. Next year's forecast will be even higher with 270 ship calls.
How does this affect your business? The Chamber is working on an article about how the cruise industry impacts different businesses.
Let us know if you have any stories to share!
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Canadian investment data is 'encouraging'
Bank of Canada Governor Stephen S. Poloz said in a recent
Globe and Mail
article he's encouraged by strong business investment numbers despite all the uncertainty surrounding NAFTA talks
However, Poloz is concerned about how record levels
 of household debt will impact Bank of Canada policy. On the one hand, the central bank is wary of raising interest rates too quickly on the assumption that the debt levels have made the economy more sensitive to interest rate increases. On the other hand, the Bank of Canada is aware that historically low interest rates only fuel borrowing and exacerbate financial system risks.
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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 us to order yours today.
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