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We respectfully acknowledge that we conduct our Business on the Unceded Territory of the Hupacasath and Tseshaht First Nations.
Chamber working on West Coast Shop Local Plan
Earlier this year the Federal Government announced a Shop Local initiative alongside a $33 Million commitment to the program. The resulted in $5.5 million earmarked for British Columbia. The Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce is spearheading a program with our colleagues in both Tofino and Ucluelet along with other local partners to bring a creative SHOP LOCAL program to our communities. The application process opens next week and we'll be applying not in the 11th hour but the 1st. We're excited about these plans and while we can't for certain say that we'll be successful with our application we do believe that it will garner significant interest from the funding committee.

In the meantime we invite local Videographers to consider responding to our RFP for Video services. Videographers who are interested will be required to respond quickly both to the RFP but also be able to pivot with little advance notice should we be successful with our application. The Video component is entirely dependent on our success with the Grant Application. Find the RFP here
Canucks can fill the house for their home-opener (October 26)
The British Columbia government confirmed last week that capacity limits in place for months at indoor sporting events, concerts, live theatres, movie theatres, dance and symphony events, art events, weddings, funeral receptions, and other gatherings will be lifted starting Oct. 25. The requirement to attend will be confirmation of full vaccination. Learn More Here
How it looked in 2020?
How it may look for 2021
Federal Government program changes
As of this past weekend most of the ongoing support programs offered by the Federal Government are about to end or change drastically. In particular the CEWS (Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy) will cease to exist but it will be replaced by other programs for the hardest hit sectors (Tourism being one of them). The CEWS was a necessary and valuable program when first introduced in the Spring of 2020 and over its life has paid out nearly $100 Billion in supports for Canadian Businesses. Lets hope that the new programs are targeted as suggested so that businesses who are willing and able to increase staffing can find the human resources that they need. Learn more here
Website Redevelopment
The Chamber's new website built locally by ALBERNI DESIGN offers much more for our Members and others who visit us for up to date information on Port Alberni. Best of all is our commitment to our Members to provide them with a significant presence throughout the website. On each page of the site you'll find a banner along the bottom that randomly selects from our 320 + Member database. If you click on the banner you'll be brought direct to the Member's listing on our site where you'll learn even more about them.

For example: I just visited one of our pages and this listing popped up: Della Falls Water Taxi | Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce (albernichamber.ca) Makes me want to find the hiking boots!

On another page this listing found the screen. Javen Simon Roofing | Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce (albernichamber.ca) In this case I'm a bit nervous about checking my roof....

The Chamber does NOT levy any additional fees for this service.
Chamber welcomes incoming CAO for Alberni Clayoquot Regional District
Regional District Hires New Chief Administrative Officer
Port Alberni, BC ‐ The Alberni‐Clayoquot Regional District (ACRD) is pleased to announce the hiring of Mr. Daniel Sailland as Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) commencing November 22, 2021.
Mr. Sailland comes to the Region with over 15 years’ experience.... READ THE PRESS RELEASE HERE
Guess what! It's 2021 as the poster below says! And what does that mean?
So, what does all this mean for 2021?
  • First of all thanks to Robbins and Co. the event is on track for 2021!
  • For 2021 we are changing up plans for the FESTIVAL OF TREES and will host that portion all within the 'Grand Hall' set up as a walk-through event.
  • We expect to have upwards of 15 - 18 fully decorated trees for you to vote on
  • Funds raised are ear-marked for the BC Children's Hospital Foundation
  • Dates of the Event for 2021 include NINE specific days: December 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19.
  • Pre-registration remains in place. Please do so via Heritage Christmas Village
  • Plans for 2021 include Live Music for most if not all nine evenings
  • Professional Photography onsite for most if not all nine evenings
  • Santa Visits are expected unless air traffic from the NP disrupts his availability
  • TREE SPONSORS ARE NEEDED FOR A SUCCESSFUL EVENT. $500 PER TREE WHICH INCLUDES THE SPONSOR DECORATING THE TREE WITH THEIR OWN PRODUCT. TREES TO BE DECORATED BY APPOINTMENT BETWEEN NOVEMBER 27 - NOVEMBER 29.
  • ORGANIZATIONS WISHING TO SPONSOR BUT UNABLE TO DO THE DECORATIONS OR PROVIDE THE MATERIALS CAN STILL SPONSOR BUT AT A HIGHER RATE (we'd have to purchase on your behalf and schedule employees).

Please contact either Bill, Anita or Jen to discuss sponsorship opportunities.

Speaking of the unfamiliar word.... Events
We have not one but THREE events currently on the horizon. And we're thrilled about that!

  • STORYTIME - 02.22.22 - Dog Mountain Brewery is the host of our first Chamber event in TWO years (non Virtual that is). This event will includes STORIES as told by up to FIVE local businesses who have persevered over the then past 24 months. How did they do it? At what cost? Are they rebounding? This will be a welcome event where we can get together in 3D enjoying the company of one another in one of Port Alberni's newer and finer establishments. An award winning one at that.


  • WELCOME BACK TOURISM 04.29.22 - We're excited about this one too. Yes, it's a few months away which hopefully means that we're back on track with Tourism in BC and Port Alberni. This event will start at 3pm on APRIL 29TH on board the MV. Frances Barkley. We have reserved the ship for about 3-4 hours that afternoon. We will be inviting businesses from the Tourism Industry and we'll be asking them to give us informal information about their businesses during the cruise.


  • COMMUNITY EXCELLENCE AWARDS 06.17.22 - Well, it's about time that we bring this event back to the front stage. Some 38 months will have passed between the last event (April 2019) and this one. The event is planned for OUTSIDE - likely at the McLean Mill National Historic Site. Featured awards include: Business of the Year, Citizen of the Year, Gillian Trumper Memorial Youth Award and many more. The 2022 event will serve as a 'catch-up' year because we all know that lots of good happened even during the challenges of 2020 and 2021.
An email we received earlier this week
The following email was sent to us through our Chamber Website. We extend our thanks to the writer for taking the time and initiative to relay his thoughts and also to the businesses referenced. Well done!

Unedited:

Time: Mon, 10/25/2021 - 16:59
Message:
We were returning to our home in View Royal from Tofino late on a Friday afternoon when our vehicle broke down in Port Alberni.
1) Alberni Chrysler - their service department was open on a Saturday (major wow), they were able to schedule me in for repair, they had the parts on hand and were able to repair my van - took it in at 8:30 in the morning and was on the road again by 10:30. Also, I'm pretty sure their waiting room furniture is more comfortable than the stuff I have at home.
2) Best Western Plus Barclay - they had a vacancy on a Friday night - beautiful room for 1/3 (one third) the cost of places in Tofino and Ucluelet. Their very helpful staff also recommended points 3, 4 and 5.
3) Tim Horton's on Johnston Road - only the drive-thru was open but they accommodated me as a walk-thru with their usual efficiency and cheerfulness. (I pretended I was a Jeep, so could be I fooled 'em.)
4) Rogers Creek Park - we walked thru there to go to Tim Hortons - what a beautifully cool little park with its hump-back bridge.
I was a little concerned for a young lady walking in the opposite direction along the railway tracks - it was getting towards sunset - but she told us she'd been walking thru there for years and felt perfectly safe in Port Alberni
5) Harbour Quay - glad we didn't miss this with its statuary, huge dock, excellent restaurants and stores (especially the Sugar Shak - they sell chocolate) and the endless panoply of idyllic views - another major wow.
In the future, my wife and I decided, we would make Port Alberni the destination and not just the waypoint. Brian B. Victoria, BC