Business Matters July 2014 by Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce

Roots of Export

selling victoria abroad

Mobility means money

BUSINESS MATTERS

July 2014 VICTORIACHAMBER.CA

T R PO

Hidden Impact of Trade BUSINESSMATTERS

Photo courtesy of RTO.

pg. 6

Cover Story

The Hidden Impact of Trade pg. 4

CONTENTS 4

The Hidden Impact of Trade

M-Commerce: Mobility Means Money

Member News

Why is trade important to you, your business and our community? E-commerce and M-commerce represent $638 billion in global revenue annually. Make sure your business is tapping into this opportunity. Keep up with what’s happening in The Chamber community.

12 The Roots of Victoria’s Exports

Did you know that Greater Victoria is an export city? Learn more about export industries and opportunities in our region.

15 Calendar of Events 16 More Jobs and Prosperity for Greater Victoria

The ripple effect of export on the region provides a compelling argument for growth in export development, air route development, international education partnerships, in-bound and out-bound trade, and investment attraction. Find out how you can be of part of this!

19 New Members

Studies show that people prefer to do business with Chamber members. Check out who has recently made the decision to join us.

22 Industry Profile

Get a behind the scenes look at what sailors in the Pacific Naval Fleet call the “corner garage.” Discover the inner workings of ship repair and overhauling right here in the Capital region through our industry tour of Fleet Maintenance Facility CAPE BRETON.

BUSINESS MATTERS July 2014 Business Matters is a bi-monthly publication of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce and a key business resource targeted to 2,000 business leaders in our community. The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce is a progressive, inclusive and dynamic community leader. It is a supportive resource for business people who wish to learn, grow and create a stronger business and a more robust and sustainable community while respecting people, planet and profit. To advertise in Business Matters, contact us at: The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce #100 - 852 Fort St. Victoria, BC V8W 1H8 (250) 383-7191 chamber@victoriachamber.ca

25 Advocacy in Action

Regional governance and municipal finance concerns, provincial support for Victoria policies, Mayoral address, and the Transportation Minister on ferry fares.

Publication Mail Poste-Publications 40005319

The Hidden Impact of Trade Photo courtesy of Prince Rupert Port Authority.

Trade, exports, foreign investments, these are often abstract ideas that many business owners — especially if it is not their primary business — may not think twice about in terms of their ripple effect on their day-to-day lives or even the community that we all live in. So, what is trade? Trade is the buying, selling or exchanging of goods or services. When we talk about international trade we are referring to the exchange of capital, goods, or services across international borders. While society has traded for centuries, today’s world of international trade looks much different. International trade has accelerated with industrialization, globalization, advanced transportation systems, advanced telecommunication and technology, and the rise of multinational corporations. Today, even small companies can capitalize on doing business multi-nationally, which would have been nearly impossible decades ago.

BUSINESSMATTERS

The acceleration of trade globally has increased competitiveness, which leads us to the importance of not only diversifying our export market by entering new markets, but also expanding the array of products and services that can be sold abroad.

Why is trade important to the local economy? Seen or unseen, trade has significant importance to our local economy. Simply stated, it is outside dollars coming into our region. Without export dollars, we would eventually see our economy get smaller as the finite dollars within our community go around and eventually leak out as money is spent on products from other regions and communities. While international trade is usually inferred by “export trade,” we must not forget that trade includes exporting anywhere outside of our region. For the Capital region, whether you sell your products to Alberta or Vancouver your business is contributing to our local economy in much the same way that businesses that export to China do. This type of “trade” although not the traditional international concept of exported goods, is also a factor in growing our local economy.

Interprovincial exports are often overlooked but contribute substantially to the economy and wealth of our province. Although gains in international exports have been touted, exports to other provinces had a per capita increase of 92 per cent over the same time period, going from $4,009 to $7,679 (in 2007 dollars). By contrast international exports saw a per capita increase of 55 per cent over the last three decades, going from $6,885 to $10,661 per capita (in 2007 dollars).

How can trade benefit business? Businesses of all sizes can benefit from exporting, not just large or multinational businesses. According the BC government, 84 per cent of BC exports are from businesses with fewer than 50 employees. In addition, small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) accounted for $29.36 billion in exports for BC in 2010. An example of a small-business exporter located right here in Greater Victoria is iBoard Canada, which produces smart boards and interactive solutions globally for education, business and government. Beyond economic benefits for the community exporting has the potential

to improve efficiencies, increase sales, and generate additional resources needed for further business expansion or innovation. These businesses also exhibit better overall health, providing cost-competitiveness in a local or domestic market while decreasing vulnerability to changes in the domestic market. In today’s day and age trade can also offer the benefit of locating your business anywhere. This is the case for Synetic Inc., a local company that provides data protection and solutions to customers world-wide. “Although most of our clients are not in Victoria, we have our business here because we like the city,” stated Moe Vesal, Synetic Inc. “We like the lifestyle, people, the kindness, the help and support we get from the community and from the other businesses.”

Why do people choose BC? Why do others choose to buy from BC? Of course our exporting sectors play a major role in what importers are looking to purchase. BC has strong export sectors in agrifoods, forestry, mining, natural gas, and technology. However, there is some truth to the saying “location is everything!”

“Although most of our clients are not in Victoria, we have our business here because we like the city. We like the lifestyle, people, the kindness, the help and support we get from the community and from the other businesses.” – Moe Vesal, Synetic Inc. BC’s location plays a significant role in enhancing and growing our export industries. BC has the shortest route to Asia from any other location in North America. This transportation advantage is marketable to buyers as it reduces time and transportation costs of receiving goods.

Shifting Trade

BC Goods Exports by Market: 2003 & 2013 2013 - $33.5 B

2003 - $28.3 B

Japan 13% Korea 3% EU 7%

China 4%

er 7

Oth

China 20% Japan 12%

US 66%

a Kore EU

US 46%

5% Other 11%

Source: Industry Canada Trade Data

exporter to many Asian counties. This is important as the significant growth in Asian markets puts us in the forefront as a competitive export country. Over the five-year period between 2006-2011, exports from BC tripled to China and doubled for Korea. With other growing markets in both Korea and India, BC is well positioned to also serve the export needs of those markets. World-wide increases to international trade have increased container traffic. BC has an advantage with two major container-shipping ports

located in Vancouver and Prince Rupert. According to the province of BC, container traffic is set to increase four-fold by 2020. This demonstrates the importance of our transportation infrastructure as well as the need for advanced technology in the areas of transportation and innovation. BC has a strong foundation in this area; however, continued growth and advancement are necessary to not only grow our export industry but to ensure we do not fall behind. Efficient transportation systems are essential for any exporting business and are needed to ensure competitiveness.

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Photo courtesy of iBoard Canada.

Companies — like Victoria-based Neverblue, which is a service export business that specializes in lead generation and client acquisition — other service industries and businesses have growing opportunities to sell their services abroad, further growing their businesses as well as our local economy. BC exports have a positive outlook when it comes to market volatility. The US remains our number one trading partner; however, the BC export market has dramatically diversified since 2006. While the US is still a significant destination for our overall exports, in 2013 exports to the US accounted for 46 per cent of BC exports — a significant shift from 66 per cent in 2003. The shift was mainly accounted for by growth in Chinese and Korean markets.

Outlook With the rebound in both the US and Canadian economies in full swing, the outlook for exports is promising. The shift in Asia has shifted global economic power. BC is well positioned to take advantage of emerging markets — in particular China, India and Korea.

When it comes to exports, services usually do not come to mind, but rather the trade of products. This intangible market has growth potential here in BC. According to the Conference Board of Canada, service industries have grown over the years in our domestic market and have become a major part of our Canadian economy. However, service trade has not kept pace with the local market increases this is an area of great opportunity for our region.

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Much like any business, diversifying our export market share will only make BC economically stronger. By increasing both our tangible and intangible exports into emerging markets, we foster a healthier competitive environment, leaving ourselves less vulnerable to market changes both locally and in other jurisdictions, all while creating a better economic environment.

M-commerce: Mobility Means Money Mobile credit card terminals and mobile-based e-commerce are becoming some of the hottest growing trends among retail outlets. Mobile point of sale helps consumers to check out of store locations more easily — and m-commerce allows them to purchase products at any time of day, from anywhere with an internet connection. As a result, Canadian and American credit card spending is dramatically increasing in the area of mobile device payments. Business Insider recently detailed that online retail spending was up 14 per cent in the US during 2013. The report also noted that mobile’s share of overall e-commerce spending was growing significantly faster than that of PCs. Digiday detailed how quickly mobile commerce was growing based on a forecast provided by Goldman Sachs which noted that global e-commerce sales made on smartphones and tablets would account for $638 billion in revenue annually by the year 2018. The report also noted that Goldman Sachs analysts expect tablets to be the primary center of growth in the m-commerce industry, as opposed to smartphones — so retailers should be sure that their credit card processing pages are multi-channel accessible. Locally, Mobilesyrup.com recently reported the findings of a Canadian comScore report, which detailed how often Canadians were using their smartphones for shopping. The report found that 17 per cent of Canadians had used their phone to make shopping lists via a branded application, that 26 per cent had found a local store location via a mobilebased internet browser, and that 17 per cent had checked product availability on their phone before traveling to that store. E-commerce has had a big effect on many businesses mostly because it offers the convenience of shopping from a consumer’s home at the time of his or her choosing. Smart phone apps bring that convenience and much more. We carry our smart phone on our person almost all the time. We are increasingly adding apps to our phones and increasingly these apps can enable commerce. Now businesses have to plan for the risks and opportunities of m-commerce. A smart phone app will influence buying patterns when done well. Rule

one it must offer an experience that is inherently valuable. Thrifty Foods’ app delivers convenience by giving users a prompt to remember their bags, a quick link to weekly deals, shopping list/menus, and quick access to their rewards card number. Domino’s Pizza app delivers value offering special deals (no more coupon clipping) and payment processing through the app. But it isn’t enough to be useful. The app must be well designed and easy to use. Finally, the app must have “frictionless payments”. Basically that means the consumer enters their payment information upon initial app set-up which enables automatic or onetouch payments going forward. Businesses that publish a mobile app early and effectively can adopt new customers and earn their loyalty, garnering a larger share of the market. As Main St. moves to the mobile screen it is important for businesses to think about how they can get a prime address. Businesses should ask their payment processor how to go about payment enabling a mobile app.

e-commerce field and created m-commerce. Merchants need to consider how to integrate one or both options into their payment stream. Choices abound ranging from immediate payment during service calls done via a dongle or customer-initiated pre-payment via an app. Businesses that aren’t able to properly integrate the use of mobile phones into their payment processing systems will not be able to tap into this lucrative opportunity.

Chamber membership means business. Enjoy exclusive rates and expert advice through our merchant services partner First Data. Connect with their team at firstdatacanada.ca/chambermembers Mobile devices such as smartphones 14.VictoriaChamberAd 14-06-02 10:28 AM Page 1 or 1-888-265-4117. and tablets have changed the

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MEMBER NEWS Become a Board Member

The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce has one of the most influential community boards in Greater Victoria. The Chamber Board of Directors is charged with representing the Greater Victoria business community. Our board members regularly meet with senior business leaders and decision makers at local, provincial, national, and international levels. This year, candidate bios and photos will be included in Business Matters magazine, and candidates will have the opportunity to address members through presentations. Please ensure you are able to attend the candidate meeting on September 18th, the board orientation on November 28th, and the board planning session on November 29th before submitting your nomination. The full election schedule can be found on our website, www.victoriachamber.ca. Volunteer work is both personally rewarding and key to the ongoing well-being of our community. Much like Chamber membership, Board membership truly does make a difference. We invite you to be a part of the success story of The Chamber. Nominations for next year’s Board close on August 7, 2014.

If you are a business person with a desire to contribute to the community in a substantial way, we encourage you to submit your nomination for the Board of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce.

The new store is located at 107-977 Langford Parkway, next to Quality Foods and City Centre Park. Locally owned and operated, Cascadia is a neighbourhood store focused on everyday favourites and more including an extensive craft beer wall, cold products, complimentary ice, plus rare and specialty items.

Whale Content Studio launches New Video Whale Content Studio is helping people share their ideas with the world, starting with the release of a short video talking about what content marketing is and why it’s important.

Cascadia Opens 5th Liquor Store Cascadia Liquor Store announced the opening of its fifth Vancouver Island location in Langford on June 23rd. As their second store in the western communities, Cascadia is excited to build on its contribution to the thriving and progressive community of the Westshore.

“There is lots of talk, that “content is king” for your website and social pages but nobody can tell you how it helps you sell your product or service. We start the conversation with what we hope is a fun and funny little video,” said Heather Ferguson, Principal at Whale Content Studio. To see the new video that has Whale Content going to the dogs, please visit www.whalecontentstudio.com.

Spread Some Hometown Spirit. Victoria is a great conference destination. Help us fill our city with delegates who stay in our hotels and shop in our stores. By connecting us to your business, professional association or volunteer networks, you can make a big difference in helping us bring conference business home. Qualify to win an iPad or iPhone when your lead turns into a Citywide conference!

Every delegate spends $450+ per day in our community. Help us to identify future business. Call me and become a Business Ambassador. Brenda Anderson, Director of Sales & Marketing Direct: 250-361-1035

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Passing of Ken Murphy (Chamber President 1973-74) It is with great sadness The Chamber reports the passing of Ken Murphy (President 1973-74). Under Ken’s presidency The Chamber began its first newsletter to the membership called Impact. Ken’s mandate was clear, The Chamber “must act as a forum for business, both large and small.” Ken was also instrumental in working to gain a convention centre for the city citing its importance in increasing tourism and overall contribution to the economy.

Changes at Prestige Oceanfront The Best Western Premier Prestige Oceanfront Resort in Sooke announced the change of ownership of the food and beverage operation at the resort. The two principal owners of the Prestige Hotel group have formed a new company to operate the restaurant and lounge, which will be known as the West Coast Grill. The convention centre, café and sushi bistro will also be included under the umbrella of the new ownership. Valerie Lessard, the food and beverage manager since the opening of the Oceanfront Resort, will be joining the

MEMBER NEWS

new group as a managing partner. The West Coast Grill team is looking forward to opening their doors to many new guests soon; where they can enjoy a new menu and an exceptional experience.

Max Furniture Helps Stokes Customers Max Furniture, which has been open in Victoria for six years at 2745 Bridge St., is pledging to try and help customers who may have lost deposits on furniture at Stokes when it was forced to close its doors at Tillicum Centre recently. Rahim Khudabux and Al Hasham, owners of Max Furniture, are both concerned with the impact a store closing can have on the local furniture industry and want to work with any customers that lost money at Stokes. Shopping local is an important part of our community and they want to encourage consumers that shopping local is safe and beneficial to everyone living in Victoria.

Happy 30th Anniversary The Chamber would like to congratulate several long-time Chamber members on their recent 30th anniversaries.

Al Hasham and Rahim Khudabux of Max Furniture.

Congratulations to the Mary Manning Centre on its anniversary and we would like to acknowledge the important services provided to our community for child abuse prevention and counseling services.

HR Consulting & Recruitment

We have the people who make a difference Chemistry Consulting Group is pleased to announce the appointment of Stephanie Morin, the newest member of our Executive Search Service, specializing in IT Recruitment. Stephanie has over 20yrs experience in resourcing and recruitment. She can assist your organization in streamlining the hiring process and in securing the talent you need to drive your business. Contact Stephanie today to develop your customized recruitment strategy. 250-382-3303 ext. 213 | S.morin@chemistryconsulting.ca

400-1207 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC V8W 2E7 p 250.382.3303 e info@chemistryconsulting.ca chemistryconsulting.ca

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MEMBER NEWS Happy anniversary to both Vancouver Island Brewery (VIB) and Spinnakers Brewpub and Guesthouses who also recently celebrated their 30th anniversaries. Both VIB and Spinnakers have contributed much to the micro brewing industry in Victoria over the years and of course brought the beer tasting experience to a new level.

United Way Supports View Towers Fire Victims The United Way of Greater Victoria provided $13,000 to Red Cross for its emergency response program, including help for those individuals affected by the View Towers fire in May. “The fire in View Towers reminds us that a person’s life can change overnight and how it takes a community of citizens, non-profits, government and business all working together to manage an emergency,” said Patricia Jelinski, CEO at United Way. “As a leader in the social services sector we are committed to being able to address immediate and emerging needs in our community and to be there to provide funding for services for people when they feel they have nowhere to turn.”

Red Cross will use funding from United Way to provide direct aid supports such as rent, hotel, food, and clothing, as well as to train more volunteers to support people in their return to selfsufficiency.

LURE Re-invented! After over five months of extensive renovations, the re-invented LURE Restaurant & Bar in the Delta Ocean Pointe Resort and Spa is open! “We set out to create a magnetic and welcoming space that would draw in the local community and our guests, with the spectacular backdrop of our waterfront location showcasing our incredible local cuisine,” says General Manager Kimberley Hughes. The concept for LURE Restaurant & Bar pays tribute to Victoria’s seafaring settlers with nautical touches. The herringbone design throughout the space is a stylized interpretation of First Nation’s patterns and the coastal location.

Victoria Wine Trail June celebrated the launch of the new Victoria Wine Trail. The Victoria Wine Trail, is a great example of the local winery/cidery community working

The LURE launch party guests enjoying food and drinks on their new patio. together to broaden their reach. The goal of the collaboration is to promote our unique and delightful area to people in the region with an emphasis on seeing where beverages are grown and produced. There are so many unique wineries and cideries, all within minutes from Victoria that are awaiting your discovery. How often do we dream of visiting wineries in far off places only to discover later what treasures awaited us in our own back yards?

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MEMBER NEWS

The summer is a perfect time to play tourist at home and take in the beauty of vineyards, farms and roadside stands on your path through the Saanich Peninsula. Participating vineyards and cideries include Devine Vineyards, Domaine Rochette Winery, Dragonfly Hill Vineyard, Highland House & The Roost, Muse Winery & Bistro, Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse, Symphony Vineyard, and Tod Creek Craft Cider.

New CEO for Monk Office Monk Office welcomes Mark Breslauer as the new Chief Executive Officer. His experience includes being Senior Vice-president of Marketing & Operations of Princess Auto, a family-run business headquartered in Winnipeg with 36 stores across Canada. As well, Breslauer was the General Manager of Shell Canada’s convenience retail business division. Mark Breslauer commenced his role at Monk Office on June 16th, replacing long-time President and CEO James McKenzie. After 32, years James will remain an owner of the company and will continue as Chair of the Monk Office Advisory Committee.

The Victoria Airport Flight Path, made for walking and biking around the airport lands.

Airport Celebrates Trail In June, the Victoria Airport Authority hosted a community celebration for the Flight Path, a new 9.3 km bike and walking path around the airport lands. New signs have gone up along the trail recently. Those include descriptions of the airport today and historical use of the site, which rings from a military

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air camp and agricultural land to the current terminal building and creek restoration work.

Milestones reached or changes made in your business? Contact Janet Crocker jcrocker@victoriachamber.ca to be featured in the Member News section of our next issue. Sponsored by:

Tuesday, September 9th Cineplex Odeon, 780 Yates St.

FEATURING:

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Doer is Canada’s 23rd Ambassador to the USA and is currently working to ensure regulations enhance trade and competitiveness between both countries.

BE THERE. (250) 383-7191 victoriachamber.ca

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Photo courtesy of RTO.

Lead article 2 Word Count: 650 The Roots of Victoriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Exports

Greater Victoria may not look like your typical exporting town with major manufacturing or industry, but it is a big business here. Greater Victoria has exports in several main sectors; however, our unique industries and local talent provide opportunities to expand. Additional sectors that contribute to our overall export revenue include tourism, advanced technology, education, film, and ship repair.

Tourism

Advanced Technology

When it comes to exports or international trade, we must remember we are talking about outside dollars entering our local economy. With this in mind, one of our largest economic sectors right here in Greater Victoria is also one of our largest export industries; tourism. In Greater Victoria, the economic impact of tourism is estimated at $1.9 billion. Having 3.5 million tourists spending money in our region is significant to growing our local economy and also employs approximately 22,000 people. Tourism dollars represent money entering local businesses that would not have reached the region otherwise.

Our local advanced technology sector has placed Greater Victoria on the high-tech map. This sector includes a myriad of industries, including everything from aviation and pharmaceuticals to marine technologies and advanced plastics. With an estimated economic impact of $3 billion, Greater Victoria boasts a strong international reputation for sector expansion.1 This industry is well poised to expand in other markets with the support of major post-secondary institutions as well as the Victoria Advanced Technology Council. Its continued growth will further benefit our region.

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The opportunities for both tourism and advanced technology rests in the recovery of the US economy. As our largest trading partner and largest customer for both tourism and advanced technology the recovery of this market will provide many new opportunities for local business.

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12 BUSINESSMATTERS

Recently the BC government announced record numbers of international students choosing BC for their studies. This is great news for the Capital region which is home to three post-secondary institutions. International students in BC have increased by 20 per cent, with an additional 28 per cent increase in direct spending by these students. Across BC, international students spend $2.3 billion on tuition, accommodations, living expenses, arts and culture, and recreation. This industry employs approximately 25,000 people, a further positive economic benefit. With the provincial government committed to increasing the number of international students by 50 per cent by 2016, the Capital region is well poised to reap the benefits of strong growth in this sector.

Film

The film industry in the Capital region has greater prospects since the Capital region was included in the Distant Location Tax Credit in February of this year. In 2013, film industry direct spending was approximately $6.9 million to the local economy. In 2014, the Fox series Gracepoint alone has generated approximately $14 million in direct spending from this one production. The economic spinoffs from this industry are great and include spending on car rentals, restaurants, accommodations, and construction. The new tax credit has already had an impact on attracting producers and filming in the Capital region.

Ship Building and Repair The ship building and repair industry is strong and projected to continue its growth. The Victoria Shipyards facility offers specialized services including drydock, vessel repair as well as complete vessel conversion capabilities. Victoria Shipyards is the largest ship repair facility on the west coast of North America and regularly provides repairs and maintenance to inbound cruise ships. The opportunities for this sector lay in increased capacity of local facilities. With increased ship repair capacity the shipyard will be able to complete both more repairs and more complex work. In addition, the expansion in the resource sector in BC will further require ship maintenance and repair services. Increased ship traffic, from containers to LNG, will require needed maintenance and repair. Victoria Shipyards is well positioned to benefit from increases in the resource sector.

Opportunities Greater Victoria is in the enviable position of having strong roots in a variety of export sectors coupled with lots of room to grow. Increases in exports world-wide have increased competition among exporters, by increasing competitiveness through innovation, productivity or new technology we can bolster and expand our current share of exports. Productivity plays a significant role in competitiveness, particularly when the Canadian dollar is high. In addition, the yet untapped potential service exports can provide extensive opportunities for advanced technology and other service providers here in the Capital region. According to the Business Council of BC, Canadian industries stand to gain from current US sustained economic growth. As our largest trading partner, the rebound in the US economy provides opportunities for Canadian exports from tourism to advanced technology. We best be prepared.

Top 10 Destination Countries for BC Exports 2013 Destination Country

Value ($Cdn)

United States

15,524,474,963

Mainland China

6,613,386,011

Japan

4,068,290,903

South Korea

1,816,284,436

Taiwan

600,750,947

India

468,364,649

United Kingdom

336,531,996

Australia

310,179,088

Netherlands

301,503,710

Brazil

283,450,187 Source: BC Stats

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Dust off your Bidding paddles

Our CEO giving the Parker Johnston van deluxe treatment.

Janice cashing in on her 2012 auction win!

Janice and her dinner guests admiring our CEO’s job.

The Chamber kicked off its annual auction donation campaign with the help of the Victoria Fire Department and past auction guest Janice Solotki of Parker Johnston Industries Ltd. Janice was the lucky bidder for two live auction items: a firefighter dinner with seven of her closest friends, and getting her car washed by Chamber CEO Bruce Carter!

Janice and the two firefighters who surprised auction guests last year.

Looking to showcase your business and support Greater Victoria’s business community at the same time? Donate an item to the 32nd Annual Dinner Auction Gala. Visit www.victoriachamber.ca or call (250) 383-7191 for details.

The Chamber’s 32nd Annual Dinner Auction Gala

Donate Today! Call (250) 383-7191

Showcase your business to Greater Victoria’s business leaders and support the work of the largest and most influential business advocate in the region.

Tickets On Sale Now!

Saturday, November 22, 2014 The Union Club of British Columbia 6:00 PM - 10:30 PM

14 BUSINESSMATTERS

victoriachamber.ca

CALENDAR of EVENTS

July

August

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

Prodigy Group July Mingle Date: July 10 Time: 5:00 – 7:00 pm Hosted by: Vancouver Island Brewery July Industry Tour Date: July 15 Time: 8:00 – 9:00 am Hosted by: GT Hiring Solutions July Business Mixer Date: July 17 Time: 5:00 – 7:00 pm Hosted by: Victoria HarbourCats @ Royal Athletic Park

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

Campaigning on a Shoestring – What Candidates Need to Know Date: July 18 Doors: 6:30 pm Time: 7 – 9:30 pm Location: Sandman Hotel Victoria Campaigning on a Shoestring Dates: July 19 & 20 Doors: 8:00 am Time: 8:30 am – 5:00 pm (both days) Location: Sandman Hotel Victoria Prodigy Group August Mingle Date: August 14 Time: 5:00 – 7:00 pm Hosted by: Breakwater Café and Bistro

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

August Business Mixer Date: August 21 Time: 5:00 – 7:00 pm Hosted by: Fireside Grill August Member Orientation Beer Tasting Date: August 27 Time: 4:30 – 6:00 pm Hosted by: Vancouver Island Brewery Looking to sponsor a Chamber event? Contact Oriane Fort, Events Manager at: ofort@victoriachamber.ca call (250) 383-7191

Mentorship Program Where emerging business leaders need to be. I encourage anyone Get connected with Victoria’s prominent business and community leaders to advance your profession while developing career enhancing relationships. The opportunity is here to advance your career with the Prodigy Group.

serious about advancing their profession to take advantage of this program. The value for both mentees and mentors is significant at all levels of one’s career development. Ian Batey, Principal IPB Consulting Services

For more information visit us at prodigygroup.ca

BUSINESSMATTERS

Photo courtesy of Jerry Ezekiel/Tourism Victoria.

More Jobs and Prosperity for Greater Victoria New Three-Year Trade and Investment Program In April 2005, Viking Air was a service firm with 180 employees. In May that year, everything changed. May 2005 was when Bombardier sold the rights to the out-of-production de Havilland Canada aircraft (DHC-1 through DHC-7) to Viking Air. Since then, Viking Air has never looked back. They are nearing 100 aircraft sold as a manufacturer with 100 per cent of their customers outside of Canada—they’ve sold planes in 23 countries to be exact! Viking Air now has 475 employees in its Victoria facility, and additional offices outside of the region.

180 employees as a service firm. Now, 475 local employees as an exporter.

This example is a compelling case for not only the importance of exports to our community, but also the sheer potential that export firms have in creating jobs and creating a positive ripple throughout the community that benefits all of us. Consider this: every dollar that comes into the local economy via an exported product or service creates up to three dollars of economic return. Economists call it the multiplier effect. Though difficult to measure with precision, it works like this: an export brings in new wealth that didn’t exist before, which enables the export firm to pay their employees ( jobs!), pay their suppliers ( jobs!), and pay their local taxes (lowering the tax burden on the rest of us!). The multiplier takes effect as this wealth is then circulated. Viking Air pays its employee, the employee buys a new couch, the furniture store pays commission to a salesperson,

that salesperson buys groceries, the grocery store pays the clerk, the clerk pays rent, and so forth. The same goes for suppliers as they pay employees and other expenses. This potential is exciting. However, in spite of numerous export companies operating throughout the region, our regional Gross Domestic Product has been stagnant (-0.2 per cent decline in 2013). Some retailers are struggling with high vacancy rates and expenses that are not going down. In 2013 we were 27th out of 28 metropolitan regions in Canada for job creation. If our goal as a community is to keep young families here, boast a thriving and hip retail sector, and pursue large infrastructure investments, our region needs to do better tapping into our export potential.

Introducing a new three-year Trade and Investment Program In April, the Greater Victoria Development Agency (GVDA) hosted the Honourable Michelle Rempel, Minister of Western Economic Diversification at Whitehall Rowing and Sail, a local manufacturer of highquality boats. At the event, Minister Rempel announced a three-year partnership that paired their investment of $900,000 with input from local stakeholders of $600,000 to launch the $1.5 million Trade and Investment Program focused on Greater Victoria.

Honourable Michelle Rempel announces GDVA Trade and Investment Program funding.

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We announced this news at Whitehall Rowing for a reason: they’re part of a story about Victoria’s economy that we all need to embrace and support: they are risk-takers who are applying their talent and creativity to produce quality

products that serve many customers worldwide. In a sense, Whitehall Rowing is like a small version of Viking Air. Whitehall is one of hundreds of companies throughout the region with the potential to grow exports, create jobs, and positively impact retail and other service firms so they can sustain themselves and prosper.

Over the next three years, the GVDA will convene projects across five key areas: 1. Export Development – we will assess and then develop the region’s export capacity. Our goal is to find 45 companies that have future growth potential. Not all of them will blossom to global domination, but just maybe we’ll uncover the next Viking Air!

How Can You Help? • Refer export firms to us. Have them call our office (250-360-3478) to ensure they’re included in our initial engagement process. • Talk about the program. Ask leaders within the community if they’ve heard what the GVDA is doing. If they’re not sure, have them call us or let me know and I’ll call them! • Support emerging and existing entrepreneurial firms: their success benefits you, whether or not you see the direct connection.

We look forward to growing these economic ripples into waves of success with your help.

Dallas Gislason Economic Development Officer, Greater Victoria Development Agency

2. Air Route Development –

with the Victoria Airport Authority and Tourism Victoria, we will increase airport capacity to connect to our most valuable market: the United States of America. This increased route capacity will feed our local economy and our need to connect to customers, investors, and visitors alike!

3. International Education Partnerships – we will convene

Camosun College, Royal Roads University, the University of Victoria, and other public and private institutions in a coordinated plan to grow Victoria as a destination for education. This is more than international students, it also includes taking and applying our competencies to partnerships abroad.

4. In-Bound and Out-Bound Trade – we will find millions of

dollars of new opportunities for the local economy by undertaking trade activities abroad. We will also coordinate investors who are interested in Victoria as a place to do business. New investment will support new development.

5. Marketing and Investment Attraction – we will coordinate a

portfolio approach to marketing the region as a place to live, do business, and invest. This includes leveraging the many outward facing marketing activities already in place, and working more strategically to connect Victoria’s opportunity story to the customer. Over the next three-years, these five project components will create meaningful benefits to all citizens in Greater Victoria through local business growth, increased air route capacity, a growing education destination, new investment, business, and talent, and improved GDP growth.

BUSINESSMATTERS

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NEW MEMBERS: April 14th - June 11th Aesthetic Concept Design Services

Whether you are looking for interior design, architecture, consulting or green design services, our design experts have the resources and skills required to help you achieve a successful project. (250) 800-0154 www.aestheticc.ca

BC Funeral Association

The British Columbia Funeral Association is the voice of funeral, cemetery and cremation professionals. (250) 592-3213 www.bcfunerals.com

Bows & Arrows Coffee Roasters

Cook Roberts LLP

eBuyNow eCommerce Ltd.

Cotyledon Consulting Inc.

Ferrel Consulting

At Cook Roberts LLP, we believe that successfully advising our clients takes hard work, effective organization, excellent support staff, professional competence, and integrity. (250) 385-1411 www.cookroberts.bc.ca

Cotyledon has decided to focus on invasive species removal for our first project. We have designed an innovative process that we are developing for the control of kudzu in the United States. (250) 893-5588 www.cotyledonconsulting.com

Excellent seasonal coffees, transparently sourced. We believe our job as a craft coffee roaster is to pass on to you the best coffee we can find, roasted perfectly. We source from and work with people we like, trust and respect at every station. (250) 590-7792 www.bowsandarrowscoffee.com

Design District Studio

Canadian Migration Institute

Dr. Anna Rankin Dental Clinic

We have helped thousands of immigrants achieve their dream of finding new opportunities and building a better life in Canada. We are confident that our knowledge and experience will help you to reach your goal. (250) 800-0939 www.malahat.ca

A resource library for residential and commercial fabric, trim, wallpaper, tile, hardwood, laminate, vinyl, furniture, area carpets, blinds and drapery hardware! Your one stop shop! (250) 590-8598 designdistrictstudioinc.com

Dr. Anna Rankin Dentistry is general and family dentistry for Victoria, BC. The dentist, Dr. Anna Rankinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s primary goal is to create a welcoming environment. Her mission is to establish a rewarding and lasting relationship with all of her patients. (250) 383-3015 drannarankin.com

eBuyNow partners with key consumer electronic brands to provide global direct eCommerce, logistic & inventory management, customer service, analytics and reporting, and marketplaces. (778) 977-0542 ebuynow.com

Consulting services in the field of educational technology, specializing in the development of web-based assessment tools. (250) 858-3345

iBoard Canada Manufacturing Inc. iBoard is recognized worldwide as an innovative leader in the development and sales of interactive solutions to improve the way the world works, learns, entertains and communicates. (888) 426-2730 www.iboard.ca

Mac Zen Consulting

There has never been a better time to push you or your teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Macintosh OS X and iOS skills to the next level. Learn all about your Apple products and become a proficient digital citizen. (250) 999-0036 www.maczen.ca

Caracalla Investment Corporation Caracalla provides custom investment structuring and research for high net worth and institutional investors looking for unique opportunities and less trodden paths. (778) 410-5110 www.caracalla.ca

Coastal Community Credit Union and Insurance Serving island communities for over 60 years, Coastal Community Credit Union has grown to be the largest Credit Union based on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. (250) 386-7737 www.cccu.ca

Community Living Victoria

Community Living Victoria recognizes the rights of everyone to have a full range of life choices, including access to education, affordable and appropriate housing, leisure options, gainful employment and participation in the community. (250) 477-7231 www.communitylivingvictoria.ca

BUSINESSMATTERS

NEW MEMBERS: April 14th - June 11th Mirage Roastery

It’s simple. Hire a student. See results. Contact us today to hire a student.

We produce hand crafted and locally roasted coffee beans sourced from ethical partners. Our coffee is available in our three cafes on Government, Blanshard and Yates St. (250) 995-3112 www.miragecoffee.ca

Pacheco Dunn Inc.

Pacheco Dunn provides a full range of senior-level market research and digital analytics consulting services to businesses throughout Canada and the US. (250) 383-9646 pachecodunn.com

Payline By Ice

We deliver a full array of foreign-exchange products & services online as well as through our regional representatives with the goal of complete customer satisfaction. We’re based in Canada, but we work all over the world, with all major currencies. (250) 412-5615 www.paylinebyice.com

PIKO Marketing Inc.

PIKO Marketing is an interactive agency that has years of experience in traditional and digital marketing. (778) 677-0050 pikomarketing.com

Poets Cove Resort & Spa

On beautiful Pender Island, just 40 minutes by ferry from Swartz Bay. Full service spa, ocean view rooms and cottages, dining, heated pools, open year round! (888) 512-7638 www.poetscove.com

Powerhouse Strategic Inc.

Working with small business owners to manage strategic financial matters and any accounting and finance issues, including company cash flow or financial reporting. (250) 507-5115

Prime Engineering

Prime Engineering is an electrical engineering firm specializing in power system design, testing and commissioning. We supply high voltage electrical equipment including switchgear and transformers. (250) 590-8912 www.primeeng.ca

PWC

PWC Canada helps organizations and individuals create the value they’re looking for. With more than 5,700 partners and staff in offices across the country, we are committed to delivering quality in assurance, tax, consulting and deals services. (250) 298-5260 www.pwc.com

The Resort at Port Ludlow

The Resort at Port Ludlow is Washington’s premier waterfront resort community. (877) 805-0868 www.portludlowresort.com

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NEW MEMBERS: April 14th - June 11th Riser Realty Services Ltd.

Summerhill Global Marketing

Sapphire Day Spa

Thosk Consulting Ltd.

We are a full service real estate brokerage firm specializing in commercial real estate – including residential (rental), retail, office and industrial - providing services in trade, management, transactional analysis, documentation and accounting. (250) 999-9876 At Sapphire Day Spa our mission is to live in harmony with our environment without sacrificing comfort, luxury or style. (250) 385-6676 sapphiredayspa.com

Self Worth Coaching & Counseling

My mission is for every person in this world to feel fully empowered, rooted in their own authentic, beautiful inner power, and to shine. To feel free, happy, creative, inspired and most of all, worthy of all of it. (250) 885-0622 yourselfworthcoach.com

At Summerhill Global Marketing we specialize in communicating your corporate identity through the effective use of promotional products. (778) 389-7335 www.summerhillgroup.com

Thosk Consulting Ltd. provides site management services for land reclamation. (250) 812-0558

VEC Think...Space

Victoria Executive Center provides fresh, comfortable, hi-tech spaces. From business meetings to receptions, we welcome up to 50 people in our Meares St. Room. If small and quiet is what you need, try our iDEAs Room or check out the Think TAnk. (250) 383-6338 www.vecmeetingspaces.ca

West Bay BI Inc.

WBBI features senior-level IT professionals with experience in various industries and proven track record of applying appropriate, practical methodologies and technologies that meet business needs while minimizing risks. (250) 857-3957 westbay-bi.com

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Shark Club Bar & Grill

Shark Club is Victoria’s premium sports bar and features an expansive food and drink menu with great daily features and a casual dining atmosphere. (250) 386-5888 www.sharkclubs.com

Silverside Farm & Winery

Cowichan Valley located Silverside Farm produces blueberries as well as berry wines and fortified (port-style) dessert wines. In addition to fresh berries and produce, we also offer jams, jellies, and syrup made right here on the farm. (250) 743-9149 silversidefarm.com

Spice Jammer

Spice Jammer Restaurant embodies exceptional East Indian/East African cuisine combined with outstanding personalized service. (250) 480-1055 spicejammer.com

SPUD - Sustainable Produce Urban Delivery

Farmers grow, we deliver. Local & organic produce and groceries direct to your doorstep. A huge selection of organic & locally produced grocery & produce items with 100% satisfaction guaranteed. No contracts. Free local delivery. (250) 383-7969 www.spud.ca

Success Ability Consulting

“Bringing Inclusion to the forefront” Stef Barber is a strong advocate for accessibility. She currently sits on the Parks, Trails and Rec Advisory Committee for the District of Saanich. Stef owns Success Ability, an accessibility consulting business. (250) 812-7098 www.successability.org

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BUSINESSMATTERS

Industry profile:

FMF Cape Breton FMF Cape Breton opened its doors to the Greater Victoria Development Agency and The Chamber in March, giving members a chance to learn about their facilities and the technology that they use to service and repair a multitude of naval warships.

CEDAR HILL

# of Employees: 935 civilians + 115 military = 1050 Industry Sector: Ship Repair Area of Town: Esquimalt Primary Product/Service: Repair of ships and new capability insertion. Annual Revenue: Annual budget from the federal government is $80 million How would you describe Fleet Maintenance Facility (FMF) CAPE BRETON in 30 words or less? FMF CAPE BRETON is an in-house government shipyard that maintains and supports warships of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) in Esquimalt.

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22 BUSINESSMATTERS

What is the best part about doing business in Greater Victoria? Over the last 150 years the Navy has developed a good relationship with the people of Greater Victoria. This is seen in the support shown by the community to military members and their families. It also is evident in FMF CAPE BRETONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dealings with the business community where there is a climate of cooperation and mutual respect. FMF CAPE BRETON is proud to have participated with industry, government organizations, educational institutions and others in a variety of projects that are contributing to the longevity and prosperity of the ship building and repair industry on Vancouver Island. What is the best thing CAPE BRETON is doing for Greater Victoria? FMF CAPE BRETON is a major employer, which benefits the community through direct purchases of goods and services and redistribution of employee wages. Longer term, FMF is fostering the next generation of skilled employees through apprentice, university co-op and student training programs. Some will stay at FMF, some will move on like many leaders in the local community who got their start at National Defence. FMF CAPE BRETON has a big heart. Collectively we are a major donor to the Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign; individually, hundreds of us donate time and energy to a variety of causes. What is it like working at CAPE BRETON? Challenging and fun. The fun part is the endless variety of interesting problems encountered each day in maintaining and improving the hundreds of systems in warships and submarines; and working as part of a team of highly skilled tradespersons, engineers and other specialists. Challenging because there is constant pressure to get ships to sea on time ready to do the job.

What are 3 things few people know about CAPE BRETON? FMF CAPE BRETON supports the RCN but also does limited work for the Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force. For example, we quickly designed and manufactured bolt-on armour plating for vehicles used in Afghanistan. The armour was delivered as kits to be installed in theatre. It was successful in reducing casualties to Canadian troops. FMF CAPE BRETON is located in Her Majesty’s Canadian Dockyard at the end of Esquimalt Road. The Dockyard first opened in 1842. Some of FMF’s buildings were built more than 100 years ago from bricks used as ballast in sailing ships. The Government of Canada recently approved the last phase of a major recapitalization of FMF’s infrastructure. When this project finishes in 2018, all of FMF will be working in new or modernized buildings that meet today’s seismic, health and safety standards. FMF CAPE BRETON has arguably the most diverse, highly skilled workforce in Greater Victoria, able to support everything from steam valves to network systems. FMF employees can be involved in any stage of an equipment’s “life cycle” from design, through installation and testing, planned and corrective maintenance, upgrading and eventual disposal. FMF has several employees considered leaders in their fields. What is CAPE BRETON proudest of? Our people’s willingness to do whatever it takes. FMF’s motto is “We serve the Fleet” and they take it to heart. FMF employees are flexible, innovative and persistent in finding solutions to ships’ technical problems. They will work any amount of overtime, re-schedule holidays, fly half way around the world, or even go to sea to support a ship or submarine.

Are there any other fun facts about CAPE BRETON we should know about? In 1887, under the terms of British Columbia’s entry into Confederation, a graving dock (drydock) was opened at the Pacific Naval Station to facilitate repairs to naval and civilian ships. This graving dock remains in use by FMF CAPE BRETON. HMCS VICTORIA and HMCS WINNIPEG were docked in this historic facility last year. It takes over four hours to pump the water out of the drydock in order to get access to all areas of the ship exposed and ready for painting and repair.

FMF CAPE BRETON continues the name of Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship CAPE BRETON, an RCN depot ship that was stationed in Esquimalt. Our east coast counterpart, FMF CAPE SCOTT, continues the name of the depot ship, HMCS CAPE SCOTT which was stationed in Halifax. Presumably locating the ships and FMFs on the opposite coast to their namesake capes was a naval joke.

Visit The Chamber website for more details or to register for the July 15th industry tour at GT Hiring Solutions. www.victoriachamber.ca/events

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Advocacy in actioN The Chamber is the voice of business in Greater Victoria. In regular meetings with MPs, MLAs, and local mayors and council, The Chamber is a strong advocate for business initiatives and policies in the community.

her ministry and we look forward to working with the ministry on municipal government affairs. Hon. Coralee Oakes

In May, The Chamber met with Honourable Coralee Oakes, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development. Discussions included a wide variety of topics within the minister’s sizable portfolio.

The Chamber also discussed the importance of regionalizing services such as regionally integrating policing, fire services, and transportation. The Chamber accepted Minister Oakes’ invitation to participate in ongoing municipal finance conversations with

The Chamber received provincial support for its two policies—Ensuring Affordable Product Stewardship Programs and Review of Regional Governance Model in Urban Areas. The first policy addresses the need for regulatory oversight for product stewardship (recycling) organizations in BC such as Multi Material BC. Keeping costs and activities reviewed and audited by an external organization.

Meeting with the Minister

We discussed regional governance and the need for the Local Government Act to be harmonized with the Community Charter. Municipal finance was also discussed with a specific focus on municipal spending and cost controls as well as better connecting municipal government to economic condition.

Read The Chamber’s polices in full at victoriachamber.ca.

The second policy was written in response to our current ineffectual regional governance models, this calling for an independent review of regional governance models in BC. In order to identify best practices from other jurisdictions and to determine if implemented which models, if implemented, would be cost effective and efficient in BC.

Provincial Support for Victoria Policies The Chamber met with chambers across the province to discuss important policy issues at the BC Chamber AGM in May. Over 200 delegates debated and voted on the adoption of provincial Chamber policy.

Metro Vancouver’s Bylaw 280, which aims to prevent regional waste diversion, was actively discussed during the AGM. This policy is significant to Greater Victoria as the Capital Regional District (CRD) is also recommending that the Minister of Environment support local government authority over waste control. The

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Advocacy in action BC Chamber policy speaks to the proposed bylaw creating unavoidable inefficiencies and cost overruns with more regulation, in turn creating more uncertainty for business. If implemented in the CRD, a similar bylaw could see local governments able to dictate where local businesses can take garbage, kitchen scraps, and other recyclables and could force them to deliver materials to regional facilities instead of the most cost-effective Kyara Kahakauwila, BC Chamber Board Director

and efficient waste removal method, inside or outside of the region. These changes could have a significant effect on businesses and The Chamber will be active on this file, keeping members up-to-date on any developments.

concerns from the membership on capital reserves, council decision making processes, regional economic development, downtown vacancies, conference centre delegate days, and CRD sewage treatment.

The Chamber was also successful in the election of Kyara Kahakauwila of L.A. Limousines Inc. to the BC Chamber board of directors.

Minister Stone on Ferry Fares

Kyara has extensive experience with community boards and governance and at the age of 21 became the youngest woman in Canada to be elected to public office, when she was elected to the District of Metchosin’s City Council in 1999. Kyara will ensure that issues concerning both Greater Victoria and Vancouver Island are voiced at the BC Chamber Board.

Mayoral Address The Chamber hosted our local Annual General Meeting in May, with City of Victoria Mayor Dean Fortin as the keynote speaker. Mayor Fortin delivered a State of the City Address and focused on the positive changes in the city over the last five-year period. The Mayor also addressed

The Chamber had the pleasure of hosting Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Todd Stone for a Business Leaders Luncheon in May. Attendees were treated to an informative presentation and a lively Q&A session. The Minister acknowledged that we have reached the tipping point on ferry fares, echoing the sentiment of many island residents. In addition, the minister spoke about the new 10-year transportation strategy as well as the province’s continued commitment to safety and upgrading of the Malahat.

For more information on our policy initiatives and wins, check out our website victoriachamber.ca/news_policies

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