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Join us for the August Mixer & Mingle Thursday, Aug 15 at the Victoria Native Friendship Centre from 5-7 pm. In the spirit of our host, we invite you to bring a friend to this great networking event.
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GVHA to achieve cruise milestone in 2020
Greater Victoria will achieve an important milestone in July 2020 when Cunard Line's Queen Elizabeth cruise ship leaves from Ogden Point for Alaska. The voyage will mark the first time that passengers will begin and end their cruise in our city.
Greater Victoria is the busiest port-of-call in Canada, with 264 cruise ships expected at Ogden Point this season carrying more than 700,000 passengers. However, all of those ships are only in our city for a short time after arriving from somewhere else before leaving for their main destination.
Starting and ending at Ogden Point is a boon for Greater Victoria tourism, as many passengers would bookend their vacation at hotels in the city and spend money at regional attractions. As well, provisioning can be worth up to $2 million per excursion for local suppliers.
"It's an opportunity for Cunard to test the market, and we have a great opportunity to build up our capacity at the cruise terminal and also within the city to accept these types of home-porting operations," Lindsay Gaunt, director of cruise development for the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority, told the Times Colonist.
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Greater Victoria Harbour Authority: Member since 2003
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Business lays off staff at government's request
Trees Cannabis found itself in somewhat of a frustrating situation last week, when the provincial government shut down all of the company's stores. The Community Safety Unit of the BC Public Safety and Solicitor General's office has stepped up enforcement of unlicensed cannabis dispensaries across the province.
Trees Cannabis says it has been working through the provincial regulation process for 12 months. Cannabis became legal for recreational use in Canada on Oct. 17, 2018. Trees carried on with its operations after that date in order to supply its product to medical clients and retain staff, company owner Alex Robb told the Times Colonist.
There are currently five cannabis retailers in Victoria that are licensed by the province, including the Original FARM locations downtown and on Hillside.
Trees Cannabis: member since 2018
The Original FARM: member since 2018
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SUMMER SOCIAL SERIES:
High-performance employees deserve a couple of hot laps in a high-performance car! Treat your employees or treat yourself.
Spend an unforgettable afternoon at the
Vancouver Island Motorsport Circuit - coined "the most beautiful track in the world" by Autoweek Magazine. Hang out in the Paddock Lounge sampling delicious food and cold beverages, then take a tour of this amazing facility.
Fri, Aug 16 | 2-5
pm
The Summer Social Series transports you to a new location where you will enjoy a memorable event and connect over great food and local wine, beer, cocktails and
non-alcoholic options.
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The Chamber's adrenaline junkies
Two Chamber team members, Operations  Director Cheryl Wirch-Ryckman and Membership Manager Jay McNeil celebrated BC Day by skydiving.
"Skydiving has been on my bucket list for years now and I couldn't have asked for a better day for my first jump," says Cheryl. "I made sure to tell my parents after I touched down safely on the ground. They were very relieved, and so was my husband!"
While it was Cheryl's first time, Jay has been jumping out of planes for years. However, this jump was special.
"It was the most relaxed jump I've done, because Cheryl's energy was so calm, cool and collected," Jay said. "It made for a spectacular 101st skydive!"
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Feds get a 'B' from Canadian Chamber
The federal government earned an overall "B" Grade
for its response to regulatory reform recommendations made by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
The national chamber released a report in May 2018 called Death by 130,000 Cuts, examining how "Canada's complex network of overlapping regulations from all levels of government has created a costly and uncertain environment in which to operate a business."
The report included recommendations for regulating smarter and, yesterday, the Canadian Chamber issued its report card on how well the federal government has responded. Grades range from an "F" for failing to improve consultation with business, to an "A+" for increasing efforts to modernize regulatory frameworks.
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SUMMER SOCIAL SERIES:
Stampede on over to the chef stations to enjoy gourmet appetizers, BBQ sliders, mac n' cheese and pie catered by
Food For Thought Catering. Quench your thirst with local BC wine, craft beer and non-alcoholic cocktails. Then kick up your boots with some line dancing. Yeehaw!
Thu, Sept 5 |
6:30-8:30 pm
The Summer Social Series transports you to a new location where you will enjoy a memorable evening and connect over great food and local wine, beer,
cocktails and non-alcoholic options.
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Members Around Town
Wow! Celeb spotting in Metchosin
Celeb spotters were
abuzz this weekend as tech tycoon Elon Musk and Hollywood hunk Owen Wilson were seen
mingling in Metchosin. The world-famous men kept a relatively low profile while taking in the bucolic
Bilston Creek Farm in Metchosin. Chamber members know firsthand about this beautiful venue, which hosted our
Distillers Dinner at the Farm on July 3.
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Bilston Creek Farm: member since 2019
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We Love Film Too!
Vancouver Island South Film & Media Commission has launched a campaign called We Love Film Too!, designed to promote the region as a friendly location for film, TV, commercials and other shoots. It will also focus on boosting the number of properties in the commission's online location database, and growing the local film crew base by supporting new education opportunities.
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Vancouver Island South Film & Media Commission: member since 1980
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Remediated waterfront land becoming park at Laurel Point
The
City of Victoria will ask the
public for input, design ideas and wish lists this fall for a new waterfront park in James Bay after the federal government announced it will give two acres of waterfront land at Laurel Point to the city. The gift will be combined with an acre of land already owned by the city, allowing it to create a three-acre waterfront park.
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City of Victoria: member since 1997
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Cleaning the ocean one Seabin at a time
Oak Bay Marine Group is
testing a Seabin at its North Saanich Marina. A Seabin is a floating garbage bin designed to collect floating debris, garbage, micro and macro plastics and floating petroleum products. Using an electric pump, the bin acts like a skimmer by drawing in water and intercepting floating debris.
Oak Bay Marine Group believes it's the first to get a Seabin on the West Coast, and is looking into using the device at its other BC marinas.
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Oak Bay Marine Group: member since 1969
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Vancouver Canucks in Victoria
The
Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre will
host the Vancouver Canucks for their 2019 training camp (Sept 13-15) and a pre-season game against the Calgary Flames (Sept 16). All training camp practices will be open to the public for a $5 admission fee, with net proceeds donated to charity. A complete schedule of the training camp, including ice times and player information will be provided once confirmed, closer to the start of camp.
Tickets for the pre-season game officially went on sale today, Aug 7, and sold out in 15 minutes.
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Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre: member since 2002
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A limited number of early bird tickets are now on sale for the 37th Annual Dinner Auction Gala. This black tie evening includes cocktails, chef stations, a silent and live auction and entertainment, including dancing and an interactive photo booth.
Saturday, November 2 | 6-10:30 pm
Fairmont Empress, 721 Government St.
Here's a sneak peek at a few items that will be at the event:
- Shake things up with a cocktail party that comes to you! Have an event when and where you want it with your own personal cocktail services provided by Shake Cocktails Ltd. for up to 150 people including 400 cocktails.
- Enjoy the World's Best Contemporary Style Gin of 2018 with Sheringham Distillery's Seaside Gin and Kazuki Gin.
- Gift basket from Cascadia Liquor that has everything you need to make yourself your favourite drinks.
- Not sure what your favourite drink is? Take a tour with Victoria Distillers and bring home a bottle of gin for later.
Want to see your item showcased at the auction? Contact Scott at [email protected].
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Amazing Race Canada
The Amazing Race Canada season 7  episode 5
brought the six remaining teams to Nanaimo, from Yellowknife. Teams flew into Vancouver and then travelled to Vancouver Island aboard
Harbour Air Seaplanes
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At the Nanaimo WildPlay Element Park, teams were challenged to the "Nanaimo Bar Drop," completing Bungy Jumps and Primal Swings while memorizing the ingredients of Nanaimo's famous dessert.
The series, which has earned the title of Canada's most-watched summer series for the sixth consecutive year in 2018, had an average audience of 1.8 million viewers weekly for Season 6. Catch up on all episodes here.
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WildPlay Element Parks: member since 2006
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Harbour Air Seaplanes: member since 1993
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Want to know what events are happening in the community? Check out The Chamber's
Community Calendar to stay up to date with plays, seminars, grand openings and more.
Aug 14 - Lunch n Learn with Dogwood
Aug 17 - Builders on the Barge
Sept 9 - Easter Seals Drop Zone Victoria
Sept 20 - Harvest on the Harbour: A Night Under the Stars
Sept 22 - UrbaCity Challenge - Victoria's own downtown adventure race!
Sept 26 - The Art of Leave Management
Click here to see more great events. Do you have an event you want to share?
Email us for instructions on how to post one today!
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Welcome to our newest members!
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Member to Member Deals
Want your company's special offer to appear here? Send us an email!
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