October is Small Business Month, sponsored by TELUS and Tom Harris Cellular. Yesterday morning was the Small Business Month Networking Breakfast - check out the photos here. There are still many great events to attend during Small Business Month including a breakfast with Citizens Services Minister Jinny Sims on October 16. Get your tickets today!
Final Chance to vote - 2019/2020 Chamber Board Elections

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 six board members.

For a list of nominees click here.

Election ballots were emailed to the main contact of your organization most recently on October 1. The Chamber uses a weighted voting system, based on your business's number of employees. Voting will close tomorrow, that's October 4 at noon.

If you are The Chamber's main contact for your organization and you didn't receive your ballot, please contact us right away at 250-383-7191.

Chamber News
Events
Auction Donations
The Business of Cannabis
Small Business Month
Business Leaders Luncheons
Webinars
Business Mixers
Prodigy Group Mingles
Event Photos

LNG announcement celebrated by industry and government
News of an agreement that will trigger the single largest private-sector investment project in Canadian history has brought a renewed sense of economic hope to northern BC
LNG Canada's $40 billion investment is expected to provide $24 billion in revenue for the province over the next four decades. Construction of a terminal in Kitimat will create 10,000 jobs, with 950 permanent jobs once the project is online.
 
The BC Chamber of Commerce has wholeheartedly endorsed the news, noting that 25 countries have announced support for the project.  
 
"The International Energy Agency (IEA) expects world demand for natural gas to increase nearly 49% by 2040, driven by rapidly expanding Asian economies," states a BC Chamber news release, adding that the state-of-the-art facility is expected to produce enough energy to replace 40 coal plants in Asia.  
 
"With 50% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than other facilities, BC's will be the lowest-emitting in the world ... An LNG industry of two large and one smaller facility would grow Canada's economy by an average of $7.4 billion per year over the next 30 years and create 65,000 jobs. The innovative framework also requires LNG facilities to limit carbon emissions and to reduce methane emissions from upstream natural gas production by 45% by 2025."

The announcement was welcomed by the BC Liberal Party, which said it will support the government to make the project a reality and opposed by the BC Green Party due to the increase in provincial greenhouse gas emissions.

More on the topic:
 
Get a piece of the pie. Find out how your business can take advantage of upcoming  opportunities with the Province of BC through its streamlined procurement process and new BC Bid site.
Sponsored by:
Limited seating
   
Tues, Oct 16 | 7:30 am-9 am  
Union Club of BC 
805 Gordon St.
  
Red tape no match for Chamber member's resolve    
The resolve of Chamber member Merge Gupta-Sunderji, of Turning Managers Into Leaders , to become a BC resident has paid off. You might recall Gupta-Sunderji's story we shared with Biznews readers last month. As a resident of Alberta who spends an equal amount of time in BC, Gupta-Sunderji chose a practical solution to our province's speculation tax. By declaring herself an official British Columbian, she could solve the tax challenge. However, she found herself foiled for months because her legal last name created an impasse between ICBC and Ministry of Health policies. The silliness of the situation was shared by the Times Colonist's Les Leyne. The provincial government told Les a solution was in the works and, a week later, Gupta-Sunderji was welcomed as a resident of BC.  
 
Gupta-Sunderi is a management consultant who writes a column for the Globe and Mail. You can read her latest column on why we should ditch the idea of a work-life balance and instead embrace a work-life blend.  
 
Turning Managers Into Leaders: member since 2017
A new VictoriaChamber.ca
 
Works on Mobile. Check. Great pictures. Check. Great content that's easy to find. Check and double check.
     
This summer, The Chamber team dug in and strategized a new look and feel for The Chamber website that reflected the fresh attitude of our organization and met the needs of our members. It was no small project and involved everyone on the team as well as a co-op student to take the site to the next level. Our thanks to our beta testers who provided great feedback on what worked and what needed refinement.
 
The new responsive design means that our already spectacular member directory is mobile friendly. The SEO for the directory continues to make it an invaluable tool in identifying businesses that you can trust to deliver a product or service reliably.
 
The new events calendar better reflects the face and feel of our events, including recent features like our End of Summer Soiree video.
 
We trust you will enjoy the new look of VictoriaChamber.ca as much as we do.
 
If you have any questions or comments, please let us know by emailing communications@victoriachamber.ca.
Members Around Town
 
55+ Games 
Destination Greater Victoria and the Greater Victoria Sport Tourism Commission have announced that Greater Victoria will host the 2021 55-plus BC Games, an annual, multi-sport competition celebrating active seniors. An economic impact study in 2017 found that the 55-plus BC Games provide more than $3.3 million to the host community. The Games attract more than 3,000 athletes, participating in 23 sports, over five days. 
Destination Greater Victoria: member since 1988
New era for Times Colonist
Yesterday was the first day the Times Colonist was printed by Black Press in Ladysmith. The Times Colonist was one of the last major Canadian newspapers to move its printing to an outside provider. After making the switch, other newspapers have reported higher efficiency and lower costs with few service disruptions.
 
Times Colonist: member since 2000 
 
Black Press: member since 1987 
United Way names new Executive Director
Mark Breslauer, former President & CEO of Monk Office, will
Credit Black Press
become Executive Director of United Way Greater Victoria on October 10. Breslauer brings to the role an extensive background in executive leadership, business development, strategic planning and oversight, negotiation, brand development and change management. Breslauer succeeds Patricia Jelinksi, who left the organization in May to become General Manager of BC Place in Vancouver.  
 
United Way Greater Victoria: member since 1972   
 
Monk Office: member since 1976  
You could be the next Chairperson
The Government of Canada has launched an open selection process to fill the position of
Chairperson of the Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) Board of Directors. The SDTC is responsible for funding Canadian clean technology projects and coaching companies as they move their groundbreaking technologies to market. The Board of Directors and its committees play a critical role in ensuring that the SDTC fulfills this important mandate. In addition, the Board has the authority to approve the funding of technologies with strong competitive and environmental potential. Interested applicants must apply online by October 12.   
 
Only 10 tickets left!
 
Learn more about the regulation of the sale of cannabis, what this emerging industry means for businesses in Victoria and global opportunities. See the speakers here.

Wed, Oct 10 | 11:30 am-1 pm
Hotel Grand Pacific
463 Belleville St.


Vital Signs survey echoes housing and transportation concerns
The 13th annual Vital Signs Survey was released this week by the Victoria Foundation.  
 
To no surprise, the top concerns for our region continue to be the cost of living and the dearth of available housing for people earning an average income and those in need of non-market housing.
 
The survey asked 1,797 respondents to grade 12 key issues. Housing earned a C- while Standard of Living and Transportation were given a C+. The top mark received by Greater Victoria is a B+ for sports and recreation.
 
Earlier this year, The Chamber identified six advocacy priorities for 2018. The top priority, attracting and retaining workers, identifies the need for more affordable and available housing as well as improvements to regional transportation and childcare as key components of the solution.
 
The Vital Signs survey found that 85% of respondents rate themselves as "happy", with 68% satisfied with the balance between home and work life.
 
Read the full report here.
 

Victoria Foundation: member since 2004
Nominate Now for the 2019 Business Awards
Each week, The Chamber will profile a different award category, encouraging members to nominate a deserving Chamber member.

Business of the Year (1-10 Employees) honours a business that:
  • Demonstrates continual business excellence through positive business growth;
  • Demonstrates a commitment to the community;
  • Exemplifies superior customer service; and
  • Embraces an outstanding commitment to quality.
Know a business that deserves this award? Nominate them today!

Need some inspiration? Check out the videos of the 2018 Business Leadership finalists below. Thanks to City of Victoria for sponsoring this award.

Winner: Engaged HR Inc.
Finalist: Atlas Junk Removal
It's a deal, but is it free trade?
As the dust settles on the "new NAFTA" and we learn more details about the USMCA, there is a sense of optimism that Canada's economy hasn't been damaged. This is welcome news after tensions ran high during prolonged negotiations. The hardline commentary from the US President was more about his constituents than the actual negotiations.
 
"From a consumer perspective, the deal is actually a good one for (Canada)," Saul Klein, dean of the University of Victoria's Peter B. Gustavson School of Business, said on C-FAX last week.
 
The deal has been rebranded to symbolically put "America first," and is notable in that it no longer mentions free trade. However, most observers cite few problems with the pact - other than allowing US dairy producers more access to Canadian markets, and concerns about increased costs of certain drugs due to a longer timeframe before generic equivalents are allowed.
 
As a nation dependant on trading relationships, our negotiation team deserves credit for securing a deal that does little damage to an agreement that has served our economy well. One more thing we can be thankful for this weekend.
 
More on the topic:
Care Awards
Canada's leaders in sustainable West Coast home design and construction were celebrated at Victoria Residential Builders Association's 2018 Construction Achievements and Renovations of Excellence (CARE) Awards this past weekend. Six Chamber members received a combined 14 awards! Congratulations on your hard work.

Scala Developments Ltd.: member since 2017
Best Single Family Detached Custom Home under 2,500 sq. ft.
Best Subdivision

Best Single Family Detached Home $1,000,000 - $1,250,000
Best Outdoor Living Space under 1,000 sq. ft.
Best Contemporary Bathroom under 150 sq. ft.
Best Interior - Residential 3,500 - 4,999 sq. ft.

Best Single Family Detached Home $2,000,000 - $3,000,000

South Shore Cabinetry: member since 2013
Best Condominium Unit
Best Contemporary Kitchen 175 - 275 sq. ft.
Best Contemporary Kitchen 276 - 325 sq. ft.

Mike Geric Construction: member since 2017
Best Condominium / Mixed-Use Development
Award for Indoor Environmental Achievement and Energy Efficiency
Project of the Year - Multi-Family

Lambrick Park Secondary - SD61: member since 2018
Herman Rebneris Student Carpentry Award won by Maluchi Tully

Victoria Residential Builders Association: member since 1989
Giving Thanks

Fall has officially taken over Greater Victoria! Thanksgiving is this weekend and if you're in charge of cooking dinner why not do your grocery shopping with a Chamber member?

Not into cooking? Join your fellow Chambers members in celebrating by enjoying a bite out, a night away from home, or plan an action-packed weekend at these local treasures. This time of year is a perfect time to support one of Greater Victoria's local charities.

In the spirit of giving, Dodd's Furniture and Mattress will be hosting their 20th Annual Thanksgiving Dinner at Our Place Society October 6. They are expecting to serve dinner to 1200 people!

The Chamber will be closed Monday, October 8 for Thanksgiving.


Dodd's Furniture and Mattress: member since 2002
Our Place Society: member since 2010
 
Do you want to be on a Chamber committee?
The Chamber has a number of active and engaged committees that report to our Board of Directors. A key reason for the success of our board committees is the involvement of our Chamber members as volunteer committee members.  
 
Each year, there are a few openings on our committees for new members. We are recruiting now for members who will be available starting on January 1, 2019 for at least a two-year term. Here are our committees:
  • The Ambassador Committee
  • The Finance and Audit Committee
  • The Prodigy Group
  • The Public Policy and Advocacy Committee
The opportunity to apply for any of the above committees will be open from September 14 to October 5, 2018. At the end of the application period, the chair of the committee will review your application. You will be contacted by email or phone.
Member to Member Deals

Want your company's special offer to appear here? Send us an email!