2023 Business Awards Program

Mandy Farmer Chamber Award of Distinction

Ann Squires Ferguson Chamber Member of the Year

Co-op is an adventure for students and employers

If you visit WildPlay Element Parks Victoria on a hot summer day, you’ll be greeted by excited adventure seekers testing their limits on the aerial adventure courses or practicing their axe-throwing skills, all tucked amidst an evergreen forest filled with dappled sunlight.

Last summer, University of Victoria (UVic) commerce student Olivia Nelson was part of the action, capturing video footage for television and digital advertising as a co-op student videographer.

“I got to be behind a camera doing what I love,” says Nelson. “Sometimes that meant recording while riding a zipline high in the trees!”

As a Vancouver Island-based company, WildPlay has been hiring co-op students for the past sixteen years, and works hard to make sure they feel like part of the team.

“It‘s not often that the CEO of a mid-to-large scale company makes a conscious effort to get to know the intern by name and connect with them on a

personal level,” says Nelson. “I work with such an amazing and dedicated marketing team that has made this co-op so enjoyable for me.”

As Nelson’s supervisor, Assistant Marketing Manager Kat Craats—a former co-op student herself—sees firsthand what co-op students bring to the organization, like creativity to capture new footage at the park and editing expertise to deliver polished videos.

“We recognized a need to develop our video advertising tactics but didn’t have the capacity to bring someone on as a permanent member of our marketing team,” says Craats. Olivia helped fill the gap, bringing her past co-op experience as a graphic designer and web programmer to the role.

In the true spirit of WildPlay’s mission, Olivia’s advice to other students is simple—“Go explore! Pursue something you’re curious about, but not sure of,” she advises. “Step out of your comfort zone.”

Chair and CEO Message

The great thing about experience is it brings new perspectives that, if we are open to change, allow us to adapt our approach to the world and continue moving forward. The past few years have certainly had no shortage of challenges. And though the uncertainty of a tight labour-market, lingering health crisis and bumpy economy have caused many sleepless nights, a silver lining is that these concerns have been universal. We have gone through them together and our shared experiences have shaped us and made us more resilient than ever.

As we celebrate our 160th anniversary as a chamber of commerce, it's clear that resilence and adaptation is engrained in our story. When we were founded in 1863, Canada as a nation did not yet exist and British Columbia was not yet a province. Back then, the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce — your chamber — was the preeminent voice of business for what would become Western Canada. Being the first chamber has made us unique among the many advocacy organizations that have come into existence since we began. Our earliest mission imprinted us with a vision that sees the big picture and aims for the horizon while also making sure we care for and cultivate the members who give us our purpose. We serve the many dedicated and ambitious individuals and organizations who make up Greater Victoria’s business community. We are grateful for your trust, and are committed to learning how we can best support you now and for many years to come.

Tonight we celebrate all of our members nominated for a Greater Victoria Business Award. The winners and finalists represent businesses judged to have gone above and beyond. They inspire us. And their stories of success make us eager to take on each day with renewed excitement and energy. I hope you enjoy tonight’s gala and that you continue to stay engaged and help build your chamber. We are in this together and being an active member of the chamber is a wonderful way to enhance your business and your life.

A couple of great examples are this year’s Chamber Member of the Year, Ann Squires Ferguson, and our Award of Distinction honouree Mandy Farmer. You’ll find their stories in this program. Their approach to business helps make life better for everyone in Greater Victoria. They embody The Chamber’s mission of Working Together to Build Good Business and Great Community for All.

As we honour Ann, Mandy and all of tonight’s award recipients, I also want to thank the many people who contribute so much of their time to our organization.

On behalf of the Chair of The Chamber’s Board of Directors, Kris Wirk, we are immensely grateful to all of the volunteers who serve on our Board and our committees.

You made great progress at purposefully increasing the diversity of our organization and membership, and ensuring that all businesses are welcome in our broader business community.

Thank you to all members, and a special shoutout to the sponsors of the 2023 Business Awards: Coast Capital Savings, Royal Roads University, Times Colonist, Air Canada, BCLC, Camosun College, Canadian Tire, Children's Health Foundation of

Island, City of Victoria, Futurpreneur,

Thornton LLP, Peter B. Gustavson School of Business University of Victoria, Innov8 Digital Solutions Inc., TELUS, PARC Retirement Living, CHEK Media Group, The Number, Fairmont Empress, and Encore.

We really wouldn’t have been able to get to where we are without your support.

Good luck finalists! Enjoy the party!

FAIRMONT EMPRESS IS PROUD TO SPONSOR THE GREATER VICTORIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS AWARDS GALA

In 2023, Fairmont Empress will celebrate its 115 Anniversary along with a fresh upgrade to the iconic Fairmont Gold experience. Once completed in June 2023, the upgrade will further elevate the signature Fairmont Gold experience, captivating those looking for the ultimate in luxury.

Vancouver

Grant

BRUCE WILLIAMS, CEO

KRIS WIRK, BOARD CHAIR

Their stories of success make us eager to take on each day with renewed excitement and energy.

Life’s Better Here

Active. Vibrant. Connected.

At PARC Retirement Living, our residents don’t just live, they thrive. With health and wellness programs, chef-prepared meals, transportation and more, residents have the freedom to pursue their interests, keep active and stay socially connected.

Message from the Board of Governors

Business Leaders Luncheon

Economic Progress Report: Bank of Canada, Deputy Governor Paul Beaudry

Join us as we host the Bank of Canada, Deputy Governor Paul Beaudry as he delivers the Economic Progress Report. This presentation will discuss recent developments in the Canadian economy and the implications for monetary policy

SPONSORED BY: VENUE SPONSORS:

JOHN WILSON, CHAIR, BOARD OF GOVERNORS

Let me begin by saying I am personally thrilled and very much honoured to be the Chair of the Board of Governors. It’s a role I look forward to after finishing my three-year term as Chair of the Board of Directors. Three very historic years I might add! I’m grateful for the experience and happy to welcome Kris Wirk into the role as Chamber Chair for 2023.

This year’s Greater Victoria Business Awards pay tribute to some of our region’s most innovative and inspirational leaders. I don’t envy the job of the independent panel of judges who selected the finalists and the winners from among the many deserving nominations. The panel's choices represent exemplary individuals and organizations who are indisputable leaders in their category. From Community Builder to Outstanding Workplace to Business Person of the Year, Greater Victoria has a plethora of amazing people doing amazing things.

I am delighted to see Mandy Farmer receive this year’s Chamber’s Award of Distinction. Mandy is changing the world and her ideas for invigorating the workplace are truly ahead of their time. When The Chamber retooled this award, the idea was to showcase people in the heart of their career making a real difference to today’s business community. Mandy certainly fits the bill.

I’m also impressed by the selection of Ann Squires Ferguson as Chamber Member of the Year. Ann has been a revelation at Chamber events and in her role on our Board and with the Ambassador and IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Advancement) committees.

Call 250-383-7191 for our concierge registration service

Congratulations all, and make sure to get your nominations in early for 2024!

AWARD FINALISTS

EMERGING BUSINESS PERSON

Jeff Crone, Fig’s Mobile Detailing Mackenzie Wavryk, Upcycle Clothing Collective

BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR

Brenda Ollis, Chateau Victoria Hotel & Suites

Dave Stephens, LIDA Homes Inc.

BUSINESS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES AND PAST CHAMBER MEMBER OF THE YEAR WINNERS CHAMBER

CHAMBER MEMBER OF THE YEAR

MEET THE JUDGES

KATHY BAAN Senior Community Investment Manager TELUS

SUSAN BLANCHET CEO and Co-Founder Origen Air

LISE GYORKOS President Page One Publishing

AMIR HEMANI CEO Berwick Retirement Communities

JENNIFER LOO

Marketing and Community Development Fairway Markets

*If a judge had any conflict of interest in a category, they were recused from judging that award.

Mandy Farmer

Ann Squires Ferguson

EVENT SPONSORS:

AWARD SPONSORS:

MEDIA SPONSOR:

VIP RECEPTION SPONSOR:

G w

VENUE SPONSOR:

VIDEO PRODUCER:

Creative and Web Development

Brand and Identity

Communications Strategy

Software Development

Photo and Video

Marketing

Aryze

Aryze is an integrated, home building, development and urban planning team focused on innovation across a full spectrum of housing types. Understanding that fostering community is about more than simply building homes, they advocate for healthy, inclusive and sustainable cities that make room for everyone no matter their age, income or demographic. For that reason, Aryze focuses on infill development in neighbourhoods that have room to grow ranging from transitional housing, purpose-built rentals and multi-family condos and townhomes. As a team, they’re on a mission to gather the best people and use their business to create healthy places for community to call home. Aryze today is just that: a group of skilled, experienced and passionate individuals working to create a new type of company, one built on a foundation of advocacy, innovation and performance.

ARYZE.CA

Lifetime Networks

Lifetime Networks has been working in Greater Victoria for 25 years helping to build a diverse, inclusive and balanced community. They are a charity fostering networks of friendship and support for people with disabilities to enhance community. Their staff, participants and volunteers strive every day to build communities where everyone belongs.

Lifetime Networks believes that working with many community partners and resources to increase awareness and understanding of diversity reduces obstacles for people with disabilities, and others in the Victoria community who experience barriers including poverty, advancing age, newcomers, mental health and substance use, involvement in the justice system, unemployment and being unhoused. Unique to other agencies who specialize in these areas, the work at Lifetime Networks spans all of them. Disability is not exclusive and reaches into all these areas and many more.

BUILDER

Thank you, Victoria.

LUKE MARI

We’re proud to be a member of the Greater Victoria community and to support the 2023 Greater Victoria Business Awards.

WENDY-SUE ANDREW

BCause

BCause is on a mission to make supporting local businesses easier and more accessible by creating a directto-consumer, online marketplace that is purpose-built with small and mediumsized producers in mind. BCause wants to usher in a new era of grocery retail that allows Vancouver Islanders the opportunity to support diverse and exceptional products, all while providing next-level customer service.

BCause delivers to individuals seven days a week throughout Greater Victoria (Sooke to Sidney) and carries everything from produce, snacks, meat, dairy and even alcohol, adding new products every week. The hope is to create an online marketplace that showcases all that BC has to offer while ultimately modernizing a stale grocery industry. BCause is positioning itself as a change-maker by being fun, engaging, playful and, ultimately, a source of all things local.

SHOPBCAUSE.CA

LAUNCH

YOUR DREAM BUSINESS WITH FUTURPRENEUR

FINANCING + MENTORSHIP + RESOURCES

Are you an aspiring entrepreneur aged 18-39 looking to launch your own business? We can help.

Learn more at futurpreneur.ca

Compass Mobile Massage Therapy

Hailie and Natasha are a motherdaughter duo who own and operate Victoria’s first fully mobile massage therapy business. Both women left their careers and launched Compass during the pandemic. Compass offers mobile paramedical services for individuals who were not previously accessing care because of time and location barriers. Compass serves unmet needs by providing mobile Registered Massage Therapy, Acupuncture, Athletic Therapy, Kinesiology, Reiki, Brain Injury Yoga and Personal Training to everyone, everywhere. Compass practitioners visit residences, workplaces, long-term care facilities, hospice and vacation rentals offering both table and chair options. Compass expanded from a team of two to 13, one discipline to seven, one municipality to eight in under two years with goals of continued growth.

MITCH HAWES

NATASHA MASTERS & HAILIE MASTERS

Market Collective

The Market Collective has been building a beautiful brand full of heart ever since the pandemic paused markets in 2020. What started as a pop-up shop has grown into something truly special.

What sets Market Collective apart is how it was founded by a team of extremely dedicated and passionate individuals: Cory Judge of Shi Studio, Vanessa Gaudet of Lady Dragon Glassworks and Katrina Dwulit, founder of Esquimalt Farmers Market. By nurturing relationships with their community and collaborating with 130+ local vendors, Market Collective facilitates a gathering point for tactile shoppers who appreciate supporting the creatives in their own community and gifting unique and quality items to their family and friends.

Off the Eaten Track Tours

Off The Eaten Track creates authentic tour experiences that highlight the vibrant culinary community in Victoria. Their unique walking tours take guests to locally owned food businesses while entertaining guests with stories, history, and an invaluable local perspective of the city.

The company launched in 2012 in Vancouver and expanded to Victoria a year later. In 2019 the company decided to focus solely on their Victoria tours after signing major contracts with multiple companies including Holland America, Black Ball Ferries and BC Ferries.

After two tumultuous years during the pandemic the company emerged in 2022 to have its busiest year ever, smashing their 2019 numbers. The company is on track to grow even further in 2023 as the appetite for travel has returned.

CORY JUDGE, VANESSA GAUDET & KATRINA DWULIT

BONNIE TODD

L.A. Limousines started as a onelimo company in 1989 and has grown steadily over three decades thanks to the hard work and dedication of Edison Kahakauwila, company owner and his wife, Kyara Kahakauwila. Their fleet now boasts four Audi eTrons, making them the only limo and car service fleet within BC that includes luxury EVs as a standard.

Today the L.A. Limo fleet is busy transporting flight crews for major airlines, business people, medical patients, tourists and locals alike. Coming out of the pandemic, L.A. Limousines was well positioned to pick up on the influx of business, having kept and even added to their fleet of vehicles and, more importantly, kept their chauffeurs employed during the hard times. L.A. Limousines strongly supports community initiatives and local non-profits.

L.A. Limousines & Transportation Services Songhees Events & Catering

Songhees Events & Catering is the pride and joy of Songhees Nation. What started as the Songhees Seafood and Steam Food Truck in 2015 evolved into a full-scale catering operation offering conference venue bookings on the traditional lands of the Lekwungen People at the award winning Songhees Wellness Centre. They offer offsite catering from simple to elegant events all with an Indigenous perspective. With 95% Indigenous employees, Songhees Events & Catering gives employment and training opportunities to the Lekwungen people, the South Island First Nations and beyond. They are proud to be Victoria’s first Indigenous catering company and food truck.

SONGHEESEVENTS.CA

DAVID ROGER

LALIMO.CA

EDISON & KYARA KAHAKAUWILA

OF THE

YEAR

(40+ EMPLOYEES)

Berwick Retirement Communities

This year marks the 34th anniversary of Berwick Retirement Communities!

Since opening in 1989, Berwick has been building and operating awardwinning resort-style senior living communities in British Columbia, growing to eight retirement communities across Vancouver Island.

Berwick has built a reputation for offering a new unparalleled standard of retirement living where older adults thrive. Berwick’s unique local ownership by Gordon and Chris Denford, a Victoriabased family, has allowed the company to operate with a local insight and community mindset.

Berwick believes that to be successful, one must do so while supporting the community they live and operate in. That’s why Berwick supports non-profit organizations like the Heart & Stroke Foundation, BC 55+ Games, United Way, Hospice & more.

BERWICKRETIREMENT.COM

ColdStar Solutions Inc.

ColdStar Solutions Inc., is the trusted leader in grocery wholesale, transport and storage with a commitment to excellence in customer service and employee innovation.

ColdStar prides itself on building trusted partnerships within the industry, fostering and mentoring those looking to get into the industry and treating their staff and customers with respect.

During their 23 years in business, ColdStar has grown from one employee and one truck to a fleet of trucks, 180 staff and five warehouse locations all dedicated to ensuring that the people of Vancouver Island and Gulf Islands are assured high quality food; handled and delivered in the best food safe manner.

Congratulations to all of the Business Awards winners!

The Province of B.C. uses gambling revenue to provide more than $140 million in Community Gaming Grants to not-for-profit organizations each year.

Last year, more than $10.4 million in grants was distributed across 264 Victoria not-for-profits to help support your community.

With every play, you’re making B.C. even better.

KELLY HAWES

AMIR HEMANI

Brentwood Bay Resort (BBR) is a AAA rated Four Diamond, boutique resort operating in the beautiful Saanich Peninsula. The leadership team at the resort has made organizational health their No. 1 priority, with the fundamental awareness that a healthy organization exhibits high morale, high productivity, minimal politics and low turnover. This requires a cohesive leadership team which realizes that in order to make great decisions and establish commitment to unified goals they must be able to engage in spirited, healthy conflict, and hold each other accountable. BBR believes that when it comes to helping people find fulfillment in their work, there is nothing more important than collaboration, trust and teamwork. It gives people a sense of connection and belonging, which ultimately makes them better parents, siblings, friends and neighbours.

Brentwood Bay Resort Orca Masonry

Orca Masonry is a construction firm that operates differently. With more than 12 years of experience in the industry, owner Cory Brune set out to create a workplace where both the company and its employees could thrive.

The company’s culture is guided by the principles of kindness, strong family bonds, and community — values that are reflected in the company’s name, which is inspired by the First Nations culture and the orca’s association with these principles. Employees are treated with respect and given a voice, and their individual contributions are valued.

One of the unique aspects of Orca Masonry is its focus on defining success more broadly than just profits and losses. With its emphasis on kindness, strong family bonds and community, Orca Masonry is a workplace where employees can thrive, and the company can achieve success on multiple levels.

NATASHA RICHARDSON

CORY BRUNE

Let’s make stronger, healthier communities.

ASEP Medical Holdings Inc.

ASEP’s purpose is to mitigate the global crisis of antibiotic failure by improving patients’ odds of survival and quality of life. ASEP Medical is developing and commercializing: 1) broad-spectrum peptide technologies for the treatment of a broad range of infectious diseases, including bacterial biofilm infections, anti-inflammatories, anti-infective immune-modulators and vaccine adjuvants; and 2) diagnostic kits for the prediction of severe sepsis and organ failure.

One of the most extreme threats where antibiotics often fail is biofilm infections since they represent, according to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, 65% of all infections and are highly resistant to all antibiotics. ASEP plans to continually innovate to address the global crisis of antibiotic failure, improving survivability and quality of life for patients.

ASEPMEDICAL.COM

joni is a local menstrual care brand that’s making organic and sustainable products mainstream in their mission to make period-care accessible to everyone. Free from harmful chemicals, plastics and fragrances, joni’s biodegradable bamboo pads and cotton tampons are available online and in nearly 300 retailers across Canada. Organizations of all sizes have signed up for joni’s wholesale period care and dispenser solutions to support their Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives ahead of the 2024 requirement for federally regulated businesses. Along with countertop and open dispensers, joni’s unique, award-winning, batteryoperated wall dispenser is perfect for larger institutions. joni also set up a 5% giveback program. Since March 2020, joni has donated more than 110,000 products to non-profit organizations across Canada for distribution to those who need them most. That’s 21stcentury period care.

DR. ROBERT HANCOCK

THE WORLD LOOKS DIFFERENT FROM HERE

LINDA BIGGS

OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER SERVICE

Beehive Wool Shop

For more than 100 years, Beehive Wool Shop has been the local store that customers can trust for quality and integrity. It’s this trust that has true to their values of going above

accessories, and most importantly by offering excellent customer service.

customer that comes through their door and knows their projects are they are deeply personal and often represent a connection to their family and pride in themselves. The Beehive fosters the growth of their community by offering intimate instore classes and help sessions.

BEEHIVEWOOLSHOP.COM

Chateau Victoria Hotel & Suites

For nearly 50 years, the Chateau Victoria Hotel & Suites has remained a locally owned and operated fullservice hotel, located in the heart of downtown Victoria. Just steps away from major attractions and services, Chateau Victoria has maintained stakeholder status in Victoria’s Harbour City vibe, offering direct access to its vibrant culinary and arts scenes, shopping districts, festivals, as well as contributing through their reputable Vista 18 restaurant and Clive’s Classic Lounge. Chateau Victoria stays true to their founder, Mr. Clive Piercy`s wish to treat every guest with genuine personal attention. Being authentically local also means supporting and promoting our nearby growers, fishers, farmers and businesses as well as our arts community in our daily service to our visitors. As much comfort and convenience our property has to offer, it’s our great service that our guests write home about.

JULIA HUGGETT

KEVIN NEILSON

SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS PRACTICES

Clean Air Yard Care

Clean Air Yard Care is the first carbon neutral landscaping business in Canada. They are committed to using green energy that eliminates air, water, soil and noise pollution. Created in 2010 in Victoria, Clean Air Yard Care is proud to be pioneers in the green energy revolution in Canada, working year-round using renewable energy. Traditional landscapers use gasolinepowered lawn mowers, trimmers and blowers, contributing to a whopping 5% of Canada’s annual air pollution. This results in millions of litres of gasoline being spilled into our soil and ground water annually, impacting the health of our streams, rivers, oceans and lakes. Clean Air Yard Care uses solar power, which is arguably the cleanest, most reliable form of renewable energy available. They don’t produce harmful emissions, their equipment is quieter, and there are no gasoline or oil spills.

CLEANAIRYARDCARE.CA

Harbour Air Seaplanes

Founded in 1982 with two small seaplanes, Harbour Air is North America’s largest and first fully carbon neutral airline. The current goal is to become the world’s first fully carbon zero airline. In 2019 Harbour Air successfully developed and flew the world’s first fully electric commercial aircraft. The company’s international seaplane service, which originally began as a service for the forestry industry in B.C., is now a quintessential, trusted, west coast experience. With a showcase fleet of more than 40 aircraft, B.C. born Harbour Air offers up to 300 daily scheduled flights, scenic tours, adventure packages and private flights. Harbour Air’s extensive route network has been servicing the west coast for 40 years, connecting communities for locals, driving economic growth for businesses and showcasing the natural landscape to tourists from around the globe.

HARBOURAIR.COM

MIKE SMITH

Lacey Reay Mechanical Engineering Technology Camosun Alumni

RICHARD LARKIN

NON-PROFIT OF THE YEAR

We’re here for Island kids.

Beacon Community Services

In 1974, a few Saanich Peninsula volunteers came together to start what is now Beacon Community Services. Today, the charity has 600 volunteers and 260 staff quietly, efficiently and respectfully helping people and improving lives on Southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.

And

Jeneece Place (Victoria) and Qwalayu House (Campbell River) keep Island families close when their kids need to travel for health care. Bear Essentials helps pay for their health-related travel and special equipment. These programs are made possible by the generosity of donors like you!

To help Island kids, donate now at islandkidsfirst.com

family since 1926.

Unique for their vast array of programs, Beacon is recognized for the breadth, scope and strength of their community service and volunteer team. Beacon demonstrates success in services for: Children, Youth and Family; Counselling and Mental Health; Employment and Training; Subsidized Housing for Seniors and People with Disabilities; Homelessness Prevention and Shelter Services; Seniors’ Assisted Living and Licensed Dementia Care; and Volunteers.

BEACONCS.CA

Victoria Native Friendship Centre

The Victoria Native Friendship Centre (VNFC) is a non-profit, Indigenousled organization located on Southern Vancouver Island, B.C. For more than 52 years, the VNFC has been mandated to encourage and promote the well-being of urban Indigenous people by strengthening individuals, families and community. The Centre is a welcoming, vital resource for urban Indigenous people, providing a sense of wellness and belonging. A dedicated staff of 125 people provide 55 unique, wrap-around programs and services to the 20,000 (Statistics Canada 2021) Indigenous people in the Capital Regional District (CRD), as well as supporting 2,500 on-reserve citizens in the 10 local Nations. VNFC is not only an innovative, needsbased service provider that meets people where they are at on their wellness continuum, but also acts as a welcoming, community-building place of connection for everyone.

VNFC.CA

RON RICE

Island kid Liv.

Liv’s mom was rushed to Victoria from her home in Tofino to give birth at only 35 weeks.

while baby Liv stayed in the hospital for a month, mom and dad were able to stay next door at Jeneece Place.

TRICIA GUEULETTE

Jeff Crone

FIG’S MOBILE DETAILING

Fig's Mobile Detailing was created by owner Jeff Crone in 2021, in the heart of the pandemic, to serve vehicle owners in the Greater Victoria Area. Fig's purpose is to address the needs of everyday people who want to treat their vehicles with the same care and attention that is afforded to top-end luxury vehicles.

Jeff has been a self-starter since his childhood. He was introduced to the auto detailing business in his twenties, and after graduating with a degree in Business and Marketing, took the opportunity to move to Vancouver Island. In 2022, Jeff celebrated his first full year as a business owner.

The name Fig’s originated from Jeff's childhood nickname "Fig". Today, Fig's serves smart cars to luxury automobiles and commercial fleets on a regular basis.

FIGSMOBILEDETAILING.CA

Mackenzie Wavryk

UPCYCLE CLOTHING COLLECTIVE

Mackenzie is the founder, curator and creative director for Upcycle Clothing Collective. Upcycle Clothing Collective is a consignment and quality goods shop that houses sustainable secondhand fashion for all. It offers the community a sustainable and inclusive option for fashion where individual styles are celebrated. Upcycle also serves as a creative, supportive and environmentally friendly space that values collaboration and community. Upcycle has hosted local artisans, designers, and likeminded business people to help promote their work.

From a young age, Mackenzie had an eye for fashion and style. After selling her clothing online, a brick and mortar opportunity presented itself. With the help of her mom, Mackenzie has built a consignment system that is accessible to all while creating a safe space to shop and celebrate individualism.

PERSON OF THE YEAR

Locally-Owned and Operated

Proud to Serve our Community

At Canadian Tire, we love to help our community grow through our support of Jumpstart and other local charities and community groups. We thank you all for your support during this past year and hope to see you in our stores soon!

ROYAL OAK HILLSIDE VIEW ROYAL

GORDON HEAD AUTO SERVICE

Brenda Ollis CHATEAU VICTORIA HOTEL & SUITES CHATEAUVICTORIA.COM

Brenda has seen many changes in the tourism and hospitality industry and firmly believes that change is not only good, but necessary. She specifically sees that hotels should be making every effort to lessen their environmental impact. It was this vision that saw Brenda lead a Biosphere Tourism Certification program in January 2023. Under Brenda’s leadership, The Chateau is a more sustainable property receiving a “4 Green Key” rating.

Brenda has been a respected member of many industry related boards. During the early days of the pandemic, Brenda was an active part of the industry task force, whose goal was to ensure that the industry successfully navigated the pandemic and preserved both the workers and the reputation of Victoria as a safe place to travel.

Dave Stephens has been building fine custom homes for more than two decades. He’s committed to professional development to ensure that his whole team is growing in their careers, resulting in a highly experienced driven team. Dave also mentors other companies in the construction industry as his mission is to elevate the construction industry as a whole. Dave Stephens is the Canadian Home Builder’s Association (CHBAVI) Past President, present board director, past Government Regulations and Province of BC Board Director. As a recognized industry leader, Dave has been featured as a “local businessman to watch”. Something demonstrated on CHEK TV’s Trend segment, speaking and educating the public about the industry. Dave fosters an inclusive and enjoyable work environment for his team. A happy client at a project’s end brings a smile to his face.

LIDAHOMES.CA

HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

In 2022, The Chamber Business Hall of Fame, presented by RBC, celebrated the legacy of innovators, barrier-breakers and community leaders who have played a role in the region’s economic growth and prosperity.

Previous Lifetime Achievement Winners

The following inductees, as previous recipients of The Chamber’s Lifetime Achievement Award (2007-2020) are the bedrock of the Business Hall of Fame.

Meet the Business Hall of Fame

Members of the Year are advocates for member businesses, volunteer and participate on Chamber committees and foster relationships between The Chamber and the community.

Alex Campbell

Cedric Steele Gordon Denford

Terry Farmer

Gordy Dodd Mel Cooper Eric Charman

Bill McCreadie

John Chew Bob Wright

Dr. Naz Rayani Bob Skene Keith Dagg Lynda & Murray Farmer

Chief Robert Sam Ron Lou-Poy

Ian Maxwell Helen Beirnes Clare Copeland

ESPLEY Connection Skills

MARY LOU NEWBOLD Mayfair Optometric Clinic

CHAMBER AWARD OF DISTINCTION

Leading with love makes awesome business sense

Simply put, Mandy Farmer ticks all the boxes. Mention her name in a room full of local business leaders and the remarks are bound to list all of the qualities that define The Chamber’s Award of Distinction. Indeed, when Farmer was announced as the winner of the 2023 award, the typical reaction was nodding of heads and a smattering of “can’t argue with that” or “great choice.”

The Award of Distinction, sponsored by the Times Colonist, highlights a businessperson who has contributed to Greater Victoria through leadership and vision as a positive role model and a sustained commitment to a prosperous community.

Farmer leads a family business that operates five Accent Inns throughout B.C., as well as Hotel Zed accommodations in Victoria, Kelowna and Tofino. A 2020 winner of RBC’s Canadian Women Entrepreneur Award, Farmer has been an Honourable Captain of the Royal Canadian Navy and has served on a number of boards and committees.

Her authentic approach with customers and staff over the course of the pandemic has resonated throughout the community and across industries.

“As a third-generation family business, I’ve learned that giving back to the community is not only good business sense, but also makes for a more rewarding career,” Farmer said, noting she’s grateful to have had family members as role models. “It started with my grandfather, George Farmer and Farmer Construction, but community giving was really modelled to me by my business partners: my father Terry Farmer and my uncle Murray Farmer.” She credits her dad for showing her that business thrives when you bring compassion and kindness to the workplace.

“I took over as CEO in 2007, and the best career experiences have always been the hiring of my team,” Farmer says. “They are phenomenal and make my job so much more fun and rewarding. I so enjoy coming to work to hang out with these cool people!”

The respect is mutual, resulting in happy and energized staff who earn accolades for the company through their creativity and dedication. The awards have been many, including:

• 2021 – Waterstone Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures

• 2021 – Chamber Community Builder Award, Mandy Farmer

• 2021 – VIREB Commercial Building Award, Hotel Zed Tofino

• 2020 – RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Excellence Award

• 2019 – BC Tourism Industry Association, Employees First Award

• 2018 – TIAC Business of the Year

• 2016 – Hotelier of the Year, Mandy Farmer

“Mandy sets the tone for our whole organization and, more than that, she has taught us all a different approach to business,” Accent Inns Vice-President of Marketing and Communications Trina Notman said. “My last six years here have completely rewritten my knowledge of leadership and transformed me as a leader. The world would be a better place if everyone could take a course on Mandy’s Lead with Love approach.”

Mandy Farmer

The lessons Farmer learned from family were put to the test during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when almost every business was plunged into uncertainty. This was especially true for hotels and hospitality providers who relied on visitors for revenue. But at a time when some organizations raced to retreat, others showed courage and stepped up to help. Farmer’s character came through as she seemed to will the world into a better place.

“I thought I was going to lose the family business, I thought we were going down and so I asked myself, how do we want to go down?” she said. “We wanted to go down helping as many people as we could. And so that’s what we did. We constantly ask, ‘who can we help?’ It’s this attitude that allowed us to thrive during COVID, and beyond.”

Among the ways Farmer was able to help was a collaboration with the United Way to create two unique charitable funds based on community needs. One program provided rooms for front-line health care workers during the first wave of the pandemic. The second program provided an emergency fund to help local families in need of housing.

Farmer also stayed connected to The Chamber, saying she’s been involved since the beginning of her career and has experienced firsthand the value of working together to build good business and great community for all.

“I believe employers have a responsibility to take care of our people and the communities within which we work,” she said. “Our purpose at Accent Inns and Hotel Zed is to Lead with Love to Radically Enrich Lives. This means that we focus on making sure our team is happy and healthy, and that love extends to our communities. Thank you for this incredible honour. I share it with my team.”

Mandy Farmer’s sense of fun is reflected in Hotel Zed’s vibrant colour scheme.

Via Mandy Farmer’s Instagram profile

Mandy Farmer and Al Hasham featured in Met@TheChamber.

CHAMBER MEMBER OF THE YEAR

Ann Squires Ferguson

WESTERN DESIGN+BUILD

Standing tall for everyone makes all of us stronger

Growing up with three outgoing older-brothers, Ann Squires Ferguson said she sometimes felt challenged being seen and heard.

“I can recall my father telling me ‘Shoulders back, chin up. Take up space,” Squires Ferguson said. “Those words still resonate in my mind, and I share them with my staff and my kids. By taking up space, we in turn make space for those around us to step up, be seen, and have an opportunity to participate and contribute.”

Being an advocate for herself and others is important to Squires Ferguson, CEO of Western Design + Build and The Chamber’s 2023 Member of the Year. The award, sponsored by Air Canada, recognizes an individual who has served as a volunteer at The Chamber, has taken an active role with the board or committees, fosters relationships with the community and advocates on behalf of business.

Squires Ferguson was elected to The Chamber’s Board of Directors in 2021, and serves on The Chamber’s Ambassador committee as well as The Chamber’s Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Advancement (IDEA) committee.

“I am so grateful for this platform, so that I can open the door to those coming up, and I truly believe that welcoming them into The Chamber is one of the most effective ways I can do that,” Squires Ferguson said. “I am passionate about inclusion, equity and diversity, in both personal and professional life. As a culture, we are only as stable as our least stable member, and together we can create a net that can catch each of us in our hour of need.”

A mom to twin 13-year-olds who are part of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, Squires Ferguson’s parents were Americans who fled the United States to avoid her father being drafted into a war they didn’t want to take part in. They were taken in by the villagers of Telegraph Creek and lived far off the grid in a log cabin on the banks of the river. It was a life of hunting, fishing and gardening with no electricity or running water. Squires Ferguson was homeschooled until Grade 11, which she says was the first time she understood how unique her childhood had been. That perspective left her with “a lifetime of gratitude” to the Indigenous community who helped her parents build a new life.

“I believe that we all owe it to one another to show up in a real way and give what is in us for the betterment of all. I serve on The Chamber board, the Ambassador committee and the IDEA committee because I know that my energy, enthusiasm and insight may open doors for others who come after me,” she said.

“Through my business, I have been able to mentor many young women into roles in the construction industry and watch them advance, take on more responsibilities, expand their own selfconfidence and then, hopefully, share their knowledge in turn with the next generation — that is the true legacy I hope to leave.”

Squires Ferguson's role as an executive in the construction industry comes after studying electro-mechanical engineering at Memorial University’s Fisheries and Marine Institute in Newfoundland, and serving as a Naval Weapons Technician in the Royal Canadian Navy. After being posted to CFB Esquimalt in 1994, Greater Victoria became home and she took a job designing high-end karaoke machines for the Asian market.

The work piqued her interest in design and manufacturing and led to her earning another degree that helped her pursue her new passion as a professional interior designer.

“Commercial interior design and construction is complex, with intense technicality, vast stakeholder groups and the opportunity to create beauty coupled with satisfying functionality,” she said. “When I started in this industry, I believed that it was because of the spaces themselves; now I realize that my true passion is actually in building the relationships — then we build the projects together.”

Squires Ferguson credits the mentorship of iconic local designer JC Scott with introducing her to Greater Victoria’s construction community.

“His technicality and precision resonated with my engineering and military background and I often still hear his voice in my head when we are undertaking particularly demanding projects,” she said.

In 2013 she joined Western Interior Design Group and became a partner before taking sole ownership in 2021. Some of the key projects she’s worked on over the last decade include several large hotel renovations, including Hotel Grand Pacific, Chateau Victoria and Huntingdon Manor, as well as the Victoria International Marina and the provincial government’s Lakepoint Sharespace.

The experience has been invaluable in her roles at The Chamber.

“Ann is inspirational,” Chamber Chair Kris Wirk says. “Her steadfast approach, even while managing a life-threatening diagnosis and treatment, makes everyone around her more resilient. She embodies the compassion and effectiveness that The Chamber strives to achieve as an organization.”

The feeling is mutual, Squires Ferguson said, listing off members who welcomed her when she joined in 2013. They have shared her journey as a business owner and passionate advocate for good business and great community for all.

“While The Chamber connections have certainly brought us a great deal of business, it is those friendships that have truly added value to my life in a myriad of other ways, including supporting me and my family during a recent bout of ovarian cancer,” she said. “Our economy is powered by the business community and the business community is powered by the relationships of the individuals that comprise it. When we come together at mixers, business leaders’ lunches and galas, we are strengthening and advancing those relationships, and, through them, the very fabric of our economy.”

Participating in The Chamber has been instrumental in developing her professional confidence and networking skills, Ann Squires Ferguson said.

Photo courtesy of the Victoria Royals

10 things you should know about Chambers Plan Employee Benefits

NO MINIMUM FIRM SIZE | Chambers plan was designed specifically to protect small businesses, from home-based businesses to growing companies (up to 50 employees).

NOT-FOR-PROFIT | Chambers Plan operates under the direction of the not-for-profit Chambers of Commerce Insurance Corporation of Canada.

1

7

2 3

3 4 5

NO MINIMUM FIRM SIZE | Your company is eligible to apply even if it’s a one-person operation. Chambers Plan was designed specifically to protect small businesses, from home-based businesses to growing companies (up to 50 employees). Best of all, Chambers Plan can grow and evolve with the needs of your company.

NO INDUSTRY RESTRICTIONS | All for-profit businesses that are members of a participating Chamber of Commerce or Board of Trade are eligible.

REAL BENEFITS FOR YOUR BUSINESS | Every plan includes valuable supports for your company and your employees. Business Assistance Service provides owners professional accounting, counselling, legal and human resource experts who understand the challenges business face. Plan participants have free access to top medical specialists from around the world, with Teladoc Medical Experts services. And my-benefits health®, our online wellness platform, is filled with resources and tools like health risk assessments to help your employees stay healthy and productive.

NO INDUSTRY RESTRICTIONS | We believe your areas of expertise shouldn’t determine your coverage. All for-profit businesses that are members of a participating Chamber of Commerce or Board of Trade are eligible. Based on the specific needs of your business and employees, we have a plan that’s right for you.

GUARANTEED APPROVAL | There are no health questions or medical exams separating you from a benefits program.

GUARANTEED RENEWABLE | Chambers Plan guarantees your firm can renew coverage as long as you pay your premium and maintain your Chamber membership.

ALL THE ESSENTIALS | Chambers Plan offers dental benefits, extended health care benefits, critical illness insurance and long- and short-term disability insurance. There are even options for business owners at retirement. And my-benefits®, our online administration tool, lets you manage your plan simply and quickly. Best of all, Chambers Plan can be adjusted as your business expands, financial situation changes, or number of employees increases or decreases.

GUARANTEED APPROVAL | There are no health questions or medical exams separating you from a benefits program. Even if you are a company of one or two people, you’re eligible for the Plan. Organizations with three or more employees can choose extensive dental coverage, and those of ten or more can add orthodontics. Chambers Plan can provide the coverage you need at a cost you can afford.

RATE STABILITY | When your claims are bundled together with thousands of similar firms, premiums stay manageable and predictable.

RDF GROUP LTD INSURANCE AND BENEFITS SPECIALISTS

4 5 6

9 10 8

6 7 8 9 10

GUARANTEED RENEWABLE | Chambers Plan guarantees your firm can renew coverage as long as you pay your premium and maintain your Chamber membership. It’s just another reason why Chambers Plan is different.

REAL BENEFITS FOR YOUR BUSINESS | Business Assistance Service provides owners and professional accounting, counselling, legal and human resource experts who understand the challenges business face.

SIMPLE & FAST | Most health and dental claims are processed within 48 hours. Health options include onthe-spot processing of prescription drug claims using the Assure Card®. Chambers Plan is also a member of the TELUS eProvider network, which allows thousands of practitioners like chiropractors and vision care providers to submit claims on your behalf. Our my-benefits® online utilities and app allow Plan members to submit claims electronically with funds deposited directly to their bank account.

RATE STABILITY | When your claims are bundled together with thousands of similar firms, premiums stay manageable and predictable. Unlike most carriers, Chambers Plan utilizes a partial pooling concept on health and dental benefits. Small fluctuations in a firm’s claims do not automatically factor into the rates, giving firms greater rate stability over the long term.

ALL THE ESSENTIALS | Chambers Plan offers dental benefits, extended health care benefits, critical illness insurance and long- and short-term disability insurance.

SIMPLE & FAST | Most health and dental claims are processed within 48 hours. Health options include onthe-spot processing of prescription drug claims using the Assure Card®.

OUTSTANDING SERVICE | The Plan’s Service Centre works in concert with your exclusive, local Chambers Plan advisor to give you answers to all your questions. Your advisor understands your individual needs and will help you design a plan that reflects your business. Our local advisors and our national Service Centre will always listen first, take the time to explain, and be flexible.

OUTSTANDING SERVICE | The Plan’s Service Centre works in concert with your exclusive, local Chambers Plan advisor to give you answers to all your questions.

Real benefits for your business.

Real Benefits for Your Business. Contact Ryan Davies at RDF Group to find out more: 250-383-9866 | www.rdfgroup.ca

ChamberPlan.ca

NOT-FOR-PROFIT | Chambers Plan operates under the direction of the not-for-profit Chambers of Commerce Insurance Corporation of Canada, volunteer directors who are also Chamber members. Keeping your interests front and centre, ALL surpluses are reinvested in the Plan to help control premiums. That’s why 850 Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade across Canada actively endorse Chambers Plan.

Scan to Learn More