BUSINESSMaTTERS T H E
G R E A T E R
V I C T O R I A
C H A M B E R
O F
C O M M E R C E /
MAY 2011
The Kn owl to Gro edge From t w. he Who K People now.
LOCAL
PRIORITIES THE NEXT BC GOVERNMENT’S OPPORTUNITIES
GREEN BUSINESS CAN MEAN STRONGER BUSINESS
GETTING TO KNOW: THE TOURISM INDUSTRY
GOVERNORS’ LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Cedric Steele moved to Victoria in 1976 and has been successful in business and community involvement ever since. He brought his real-estate business, Cedric Steele & Associates, with him from Vancouver, and found particular skill and passion in dealing with apartment buildings. Cedric and his wife Dorene have also operated the Prospect Lake Golf Course since 1974.
Cedric Steele, Cedric Steele & Associates
Perhaps what best qualifies Cedric to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award is the complementary array of contributions to the community he has made outside of his business ventures. One of his most interesting accomplishments has been his extensive contribution to the Navy. In 1997, Cedric was appointed Honorary Captain (Navy) at CFB Esquimalt. Cedric has served many organizations throughout the
Outstanding Customer Service
Business of the Year (76+ employees)
250-479-8303 • www.directis.ca Runner Up: Shelley Prpich Autobrokers
250-748-4728 • www.iscu.com Runner Up: The Cridge Centre for the Family
Capital City Boxing Inc.
Swans Suite Hotel & Brewpub
Directis Consulting New Business
250-386-8269 • www.ccityboxing.com Runner Up: RaceRocks 3D
Island Savings
Sustainable Business Practices
250-361-3310 • www.swanshotel.com Runner Up: Victoria Transmission & Auto Care
Innovation
Business Leadership
250-984-1933 • www.petmemorialcenter.ca Runner Up: Pacific Rim College
250-588-8655 • www.trufflesgroup.com Runner Up: Victoria Foundation
Pet Loss Memorial Center
The Truffles Group
Employer of the Year
Young Entrepreneur
250-595-5212 • www.megsonfitzpatrick.com Runner Up: Tourism Victoria
250-483-2119 • www.pacificrimcollege.ca Runner Up: Jeff Zamluk, Swell Source
Megson Fitzpatrick Insurance Services
Todd Howard, Pacific Rim College
Business of the Year (1-10 employees)
Employee of the Year
250-514-2699 • www.enabledfinancial.ca Runner Up: MD Esthetics Medical Laser & Skin Rejuvenation Centre
250-721-3278 • www. maxcourier.com Runner Up: Barry Sadler, Three Point Motors
Enabled Financial Solutions Ltd. Business of the Year (11-25 employees)
Sportball
250-893-1476 • www.sportball.ca Runner up: WildPlay Ltd.
Business of the Year (26-75 employees)
Pizzeria Prima Strada
250-590-8595 • www.pizzeriaprimastrada.com Runner Up: The Root Cellar Village Green Grocers Ltd.
city, including volunteering as the President of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce in 1980. He also served the Glenlyon-Norfolk School, Timmy’s Telethon, the Victoria Police Board, the Salvation Army, and numerous other organizations. Many of these organizations have greatly appreciated his commitment to the community and honored him accordingly.
Justin Green, Maximum Express Courier & Freight Logistics Business Person of the Year
Mike Miller, Abstract Developments 250-883-5579 • www.abstractdevelopments.com Runner Up: Alan Neale, Norgaard Neale Camden Ltd.
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS
BUSINESSMaTTERS Comment from the Chair: Dave Marshall
Municipal Budgeting and Taxation
T
he Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce strives to adjust its priorities to ensure that we are always dealing with those issues that are most important to business in general and to our members in particular. Over the past few years, our members have told us that they wish us to focus our advocacy efforts to an even greater extent on those local issues that most affect their ability to do business. We have responded to that call. This year, your Board, its Policy and Public Affairs Committee, and your Chamber policy staff are focusing our advocacy efforts by learning as much as we can about the state of municipal budgeting and taxation, as well as the cumulative impact of taxation by other districts, school boards, commissions, and similar taxing entities. Although federal and provincial governments have done
much to improve the general climate for investment, growth and employment, the benefits have been greatly offset by downloading and an apparent reluctance by municipalities to consider the cumulative impact of all local tax increases. In addition, there are looming major projects that will not only increase the call for additional debt financing, but will increase the pressures on operating budgets and tax levels. Thus, we are examining not just the tax burden and budget increases approved by our local governments but also the impact of (in many cases) the growing infrastructure deficit. The challenges are complex and we are not yet at a point where we can provide coherent policy recommendations. However, we do know that the year after year after year of combined property tax increases that exceed GDP and population growth are simply not sustainable. The comment that “our government’s portion of the overall increase is not unreasonable but you should really look at those other guys” is just not acceptable. There is, after all, but one taxpayer. We know all too well that it is business – and not government – that creates wealth, creates and maintains employment, and ultimately sustains healthy communities. We continue to call for the regionalization of services where it seems appropriate to do so. We believe
that decisions that have impact completely (or nearly completely) within one municipality should quite rightly be taken by that municipality. However, issues that transcend a number of municipal boundaries must not be referred to organizations or committees that are not accountable to those who pay the bills. Such issues include transportation planning, implementation of transportation plans, emergency planning, policing, and water and waste management. It is the Chamber’s strongly-held position that the community would be better served if these issues were governed by a fully-accountable regional entity and not in a piece-meal approach by municipalities who may well choose not to follow any agreed plan. We continue to advocate for a change in governance on these issues. Our members have also asked us to pay more attention to the broad issue of sustainability. Not just “green” but the many, many aspects that come to bear on creating a sustainable business community. This year we have launched a Sustainable Futures Committee, which has guided the development of an education series to help local companies understand and take advantage of the green business trend. Smart business owners stay on top of the changing business environment and incorporate important changes into their businesses. This edition of Business Matters introduces you to the work of that committee, and it will be followed by a series of unfolding workshops and high-profile speaker engagements through the Chamber.
We do work hard to listen to our members and work on those issues that resonate across our membership. I invite you to share your views and concerns with any member of our Board or staff, and to take advantage of the discussion and education opportunities that are organized for your benefit.
Advertise in Business Matters Business Matters is a key business resource that is targeted and distributed to over 10,000 business owners and decision makers in our community. 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@gvcc.org
Submission Guidelines Send all magazine submissions to: ehenry@gvcc.org Please respect the length guidelines. Member Letters: 200 words Member News: Standard one page media release Publication Mail Poste-Publications 40005319
Table of Contents
Local Priorities: Page 4
May/June Events: Page 11
New Members: Page 14
Member News: Page 7
Greater Victoria Development Agency: Page 12
Keep Your Eye on the Issues: Page 17
Green Means Business: Page 8
Prodigy Group: Page 13
Get to Know: Page 18
BUSINESSMaTTERS
3
LOCAL
PRIORITIES THE NEXT BC GOVERNMENT’S OPPORTUNITIES
& Stable table Predic for Fu n d i n g ation Destin ting Marke ations z i n a g Or
HST M iti ga tio n fo r th e To ur ism S ec to r
a Victori tional Interna Airport y Runwa ion Extens
inable Susta pal Munici ing Budget of Quality Life althy and He nities Commu
al Region ance Govern and rtation o p s n a Tr
2
011 is shaping up to be a particularly active year in the region, with the recent selection of a new Premier, a federal election, provincial referendum and municipal elections in the fall. As the “Voice of Business” in Greater Victoria, the Chamber advocates strongly on behalf of our members and the region’s business community at large. Each year, through member feedback, stakeholder input and the direction of our board, the Chamber establishes annual priorities for our policy and public affairs activities. These priorities identify items
This $41.2 million dollar project will enable non-stop air service to international destinations such as London and other European markets. A three-way equal partnership between the Airport Authority, Province of British Columbia and the Federal Government would allow this project to begin almost immediately, extending the airport’s main runway from 7,000 feet to 8,400 feet. At present, the VAA has its share of the funds in reserve for the project and the federal government has expressed interest in the project. The VAA board has made it their top
...just a few of the issues the Chamber will be advancing as part of a dialogue with the new Provincial Government that are either significant opportunities for, or obstacles to, a healthy business environment and sustainable economic growth. Given the challenging economic environment of the past few years, now, more than ever, our elected representatives need to hear from businesses large and small. The following are just a few of the issues that the Chamber will be advancing as part of a dialogue with the new Premier and provincial government. Victoria International Airport Runway Expansion Project
Our tourism and technology industries require efficient and robust air service as a critical part of our economic vitality and a fundamental building block for their continued success. In order to promote economic growth and sustainability for our region, the Chamber supports the Victoria Airport Authority’s proposal for a 1,400 foot runway extension.
priority to secure a funding partnership with the province to implement the runway extension, and it estimates that the ability to land jumbo jets will add another $37 million dollars to Greater Victoria’s economy annually. Research to date shows a ready market from key European destinations, including France, London and Germany. With the addition, the authority estimates they will see 36,000 new international passenger trips from London in the first year with an increase to 48,000 within five years, and 75,000 movements from France in the first year, increasing to 100,000 within the first five years. Our region’s continued prosperity, postOlympic opportunities, and the province’s stated goal of doubling tourism revenues depends on transportation connections that can host the world. An extended runway at the Victoria International Airport is an important part of bringing these goals to fruition. HST Mitigation for the Tourism Sector The Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) introduced in July 2010 is sound economic policy for the province as a whole, but
presents significant challenges for specific industries such as tourism and home construction. In partnership with regional stakeholders the Chamber helped persuade the government to address some of the negative impacts to the home construction sector; however, concerns from some parts of the tourism industry still remain.
Gardens and other large-scale tourism locations. It also affects privately owned restaurants, which are central draws for the tourism industry and whose role in the tourism economy cannot be underestimated. For all, the RITC is another hit in an already difficult business environment. As a major economic driver for the region, the Chamber continues to work with its tourism industry partners and the government to find specific measures to ease the impact on the sector.
The removal of the provincial sales tax from business inputs saves a significant amount of money for BC business. Government estimates note that there will be approximately $2 billion of savings to forestry, mining, oil and gas, transportation, construction, and manufacturing sectors. These same sectors benefit from being able to claim back their input tax credits on the provincial portion of the harmonized tax that they pay out in the course of business operations. Given the tax savings to business, the government opted to restrict a small portion of the credits to larger businesses in the province for the first five years of the HST regime. This practice is called the “Recapture of Input Tax Credits” (RITC) and applies to all companies with annual taxable sales in excess of $10 million or more. However, the benefits of HST and the added input credits are not realized in the same way for the highly service oriented sectors of the tourism industry. Companies in the attractions, food and beverage, tour operator sectors (for example) charge HST to their customers on services that were historically only subject to GST. However, the inputs to their business are primarily labour, which provides them with very few input credit opportunities. The combination of these three conditions – charging their customers more tax, not having substantial input tax credits savings, and restrictions on those that are available to them – have resulted in a tax disadvantage to tourism businesses. The types of tourism businesses that are impacted include icons like the Butchart
Sustainable Municipal Budgeting The Chamber is distressed by the size and excessive rate of growth in the municipal tax burden. This burden is shared by both business and residential taxpayers, but has a magnified affect on our local businesses due to the higher property tax multiples they pay. While we appreciate the challenges faced by local government with limited resources, raising those revenues by increasing the cost of business is an unsustainable solution. We believe a more direct approach needs to be initiated by the provincial government in order to deal with the issue on a larger scale.
The government of BC has also identified that there are significant problems with the property tax system, and have repeatedly expressed concern that tax reductions at the provincial level were being negated by tax increases at the municipal level, the result being a failure to make BC business as competitive as it could be. An important consideration and a challenge to be solved is the disparity between the growth in municipal budgets and the growth of our local economy and wages paid. It has not been uncommon to see tax increases of close to 4% while our region’s economy grows by 2.5% and household incomes increase by just over 2%. In order to address this growing divide we must thoroughly examine what services and infrastructure we provide and
BUSINESSMaTTERS
5
how they are delivered. If we do not address these issues now, we will find ourselves increasingly unable to compete and will lack the resources needed to support our quality of life in the future.
The Chamber of Commerce supports a funding formula for tourism marketing that provides a stable, reliable, and performance driven pool of funds allocated specifically to tourism.
The Chamber will continue to strongly advocate for reforms and a level of transparency that supports prudent spending, community involvement and, most importantly, sound decision-making.
Quality of Life and Healthy Communities The Chamber seeks to foster a safe and welcoming environment for business and citizens to maintain an ambience and high quality of life, one which reinforces and supports our many competitive advantages. Issues surrounding community policing, property crime and homelessness have a direct financial impact on our local businesses, deterring customers, damaging employee recruitment and retention, harming tourism and discouraging companies from setting up offices in areas where these issues are most visible.
Stable and Predictable Funding for Destination Marketing Organizations The global tourism environment is rapidly evolving, and in order to remain competitive, British Columbia must have demand generating systems in place to convert our province’s unparalleled comparative advantages as a destination
into competitive advantages. According to BC Stats tourism is now the largest “primary resource industry” in British Columbia, contributing $6.6 billion in real GDP in 2008 with visitor expenditures equaling $13.8 billion for the year. The industry is a major pillar of our local economy and is the backbone of many communities throughout BC. A progressive marketing plan with adequate and stable funding is a basic necessity for the health and growth of the tourism industry. While this is always true, it is especially important in order to leverage the immense international exposure the province received during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Capitalizing on this opportunity will only be realized by converting the new awareness of British Columbia as a destination into new visitations. It is imperative that the funding be predictable so that the industry can execute the marketing necessary for success.
6
BUSINESSMaTTERS
To address these challenges, the Chamber continues to advocate for the regionalization of police services by establishing provincial standards for the delivery of services by police forces in adjacent municipalities, where uniformity would benefit service delivery and public safety. Ultimately, any failure to address these issues will cost us more money down the road. For example, it is estimated that each homeless person in British Columbia costs the public system in excess of $55,000 per year, while adequate housing with supportive services costs roughly $37,000 per year. This represents a potential savings of about $211 million per year. It is through this lense that the Chamber’s nationally endorsed “housing first” strategy seeks to provide affordable and more effective outcomes for the citizens and businesses in our community. Whether it is through safer communities and our efforts surrounding more effective policing services, or through our strong advocacy on homelessness and a national housing first strategy, the Chamber is working hard to ensure that our region remains a vibrant place to live, work and invest.
Regional Governance and Transportation With the growth of our urban areas in the province, their regional efficiencies and their international competitiveness are important issues to the continued evolution of the province. As municipalities continue to grow and as their citizens’ work and leisure lives flow across boundaries, it becomes important to re-examine effective governance models for our community. The Chamber has been active on a number of fronts putting forth accountability, affordability and effectiveness as key principles for the governance of our region. The most recent example is our concern over the proposed property tax increases outlined by BC Transit and the Victoria Regional Transit Commission for the coming years. As published, the increases reflect a more than doubling of the property tax portion from just over $60 million in 2009/10 to over $124 million in 2013/14, increases that will hit our local businesses particularly hard.
While the Chamber supports the goals of public transportation and the principles of sustainability, we are very concerned that such increases are financially unsustainable. These concerns are compounded by the fact that the proposed increases do not yet reflect the addition of the proposed rapid transit service for the Greater Victoria region. Working with our stakeholders, the Chamber continues to call for the formation of a regional transportation authority, one that encompasses all transportation modes and provides for increased accountability and local decisionmaking. Conclusion In an average year the Chamber spends hundreds of hours researching solutions and advocating on priorities that are important to our members. We meet weekly with elected officials and their administrations at all levels of government, raising our concerns and engaging stakeholders to find constructive solutions to the challenges and opportunities in our community. This year is shaping up to be anything but average and so will be our efforts in shaping the debate.
The power of Richardson GMP.
The power of Richardson GMP.
RANKED #1 FOR SERVING SUCCESSFUL FAMILIES AND ENTREPRENEURS* RANKED #1 FOR SERVING SUCCESSFUL FAMILIES AND ENTREPRENEURS*
CUSTOMIZED WEALTH MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS INVESTMENT • TAX • ESTATE • INSURANCE • PHILANTHROPIC • BUSINESS SUCCESSION
WWW.RICHARDSONGMP.COM
James (Jay) Fray, B.Comm., M.B.A. Vice President and Portfolio Manager
3795 Carey Road, Suite 600, Victoria, BC V8Z 6T8 250.419.4260 • 1.877.477.2250 • www.jayfray.com SIDNEY
•
VICTORIA
•
VANCOUVER
•
CALGARY
•
RED DEER
•
EDMONTON
•
SASKATOON
*Based on the 2010 Investment Executive Brokerage Report Card. WINNIPEG • GMP GUELPH • MISSISSAUGA • TORONTO • OTTAWA • MONTRÉAL • CHARLOTTETOWN Richardson Limited, Member Canadian Investor Protection Fund. Richardson is a trademark of James Richardson & Sons, Limited. GMP is a registered trade-mark of GMP Securities L.P. Both used under license by Richardson GMP Limited. *Based on the 2010 Investment Executive Brokerage Report Card Richardson GMP Limited, Member Canadian Investor Protection Fund. Richardson is a trade-mark of James Richardson & Sons, Limited. GMP is a registered trade-mark of GMP Securities L.P. Both used under license by Richardson GMP Limited.
MEMBER NEWS Staff Changes at the Chamber Sasha Angus has added Policy to his portfolio, and will now be the Manager Policy and Public Affairs for the Chamber. In addition, he will continue in his role as the Economic Development Officer for the Greater Victoria Development Agency. Ellen Henry has joined the Chamber as the Manager of Member Communications. Ellen will be responsible for all Chamber and Economic Development communications. Ellen has a background both as an entrepreneur, and in membership based organizations. Michelle May has joined the Chamber as the Events & Communications Coordinator, providing support to the Events Manager. Michelle comes to the Chamber from the Harbour Towers Hotel and has a background in events management. Engineering Program Wins Business Accolades BC Business Magazine has named the University of Victoria’s engineering entrepreneurship master’s program as one of its “20 Most Innovative Companies” in BC. The magazine describes the program as “impressively inventive” and growing “ideas that have a business plan encoded in their DNA.” Through a unique partnership with Wesley Clover International, an Ottawabased investment company, UVic engineering students are being given the opportunity to graduate with a master’s degree, a diploma in entrepreneurship, and equity in a business they helped form. Newest Canadian Technology Accelerator Launched The Trade Commissioner Service of Canada in San Francisco / Palo Alto has just launched its newest Canadian Technology Accelerator in San Francisco. The new CTA@SF is located inside RocketSpace - a shared workspace for digital media companies that will give select Canadian companies a high tech boost in the growing cluster that exists in San Francisco’s SOMA District in close proximity to hundreds of digital media companies, including Twitter, Zynga, CBS Interactive, CNET, Yelp, Salesforce.
com, TechCrunch, Autodesk, MTV Networks, StubHub, Yammer and many others. CTA@SF is made possible through the generous support of the Province of British Columbia and NRC in conjunction with the Trade Commissioner Service and provides a one-of-a-kind opportunity for up to 8 early-stage Canadian technology companies at a time to spend 12 weeks working out of downtown San Francisco. For more information and to apply, please contact: Michael M Wozniak, Trade Commissioner - Digital Media michael.wozniak@international.gc.ca T: (650)543-8810 The Maritime Museum continues to pursue the CPR Steamship Terminal opportunity The Maritime Museum of BC is committed to pursuing the opportunity represented by the CPR Steamship Terminal renovation. “This site is the place where the Museum will thrive and succeed, and be able to best contribute to the community and the tourism industry” said museum spokesperson Jamie Webb. “We cannot lose sight of this amazing community opportunity. Another chance like this may not come along for another 25 years.” More than 600 people came out for the museum’s public consultation meeting on the project this spring. These are unprecedented numbers for a public meeting in Victoria. The museum’s combination of traditional and high tech exhibits, children’s activities, and research facilities coupled with the award winning RedFish BlueFish café greatly appealed to all who examined the plans. For more information about the Museum visit ewww.mmbc.bc.ca Island Businesses Working Together Vancouver Island Businesses and Leaders assembled for the first annual Linking Island Business held at the Parksville Community Centre. The program for the day included presentations from BC Hydro on the
GREEN TERMS IN A BUSINESS CONTEXT/ PART 1 Want to engage in the green business dialogue? You need to know the language! Our first list of definitions will help you understand the current vocabulary and be the educated business person you strive to be. • Sustainability: meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Sustainability is measured in three interdependent dimensions: the environment, economics and society - often referred to as the triple bottom line. • Sustainable or ‘green’ business: an enterprise that has no negative impact on the global or local environment, community, society or economy. A business that strives to meet the triple bottom line. • Corporate social responsibility: in the private sector, a commitment to corporate social responsibility implies a commitment to some form of triple bottom line reporting and accountability.
• Carbon offset: a financial instrument aimed at a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. One carbon offset represents the reduction of one metric ton of carbon dioxide or its equivalent in other greenhouse gases. Offsets or carbon savings are generated from changes made to avoid or absorb carbon dioxide, or any of the main greenhouse gases. Three main categories for offsets are renewable energy; energy efficiency (such as industrial energy efficiency or switching from oil to natural gas), and emissions storage or sinks, such as afforestation (forestation of land not previously forested). Promoting business vitality and respecting people, planet and profit is the mission of the Greater Victoria Chamber. We are pleased to bring you an educational series through our Sustainable Futures Committee. Visit www.victoriachamber.ca
employment and business opportunities with the John Hart Generating Station replacement, a workshop to help businesses and organizations learn the in and outs of exporting, and a workshop hosted by Fraser Basin Council on engaging effectively with First Nations. “BC Hydro realized some early and positive results from its collaboration with VIEA, the VI Construction Association, and the Campbell River Chamber of Commerce through this inaugural Island-wide business event.” states Steve Watson, BC Hydro. “The John Hart Generating Station Replacement Project is now starting to resonate with people and businesses - from the real estate industry, to suppliers, to construction firms. BC Hydro was pleased to participate.” VIEA will update its members of important milestone information bulletins or opportunities as BC Hydro approaches the initiation of the John Hart procurement process this summer/fall. Copy of BC Hydro Presentation on VIEA Website at www.viea.ca.
The one source for all your staffing needs. Guaranteed! • • • •
Temporary Staffing Permanent and Contract Placements Temp to Perm Options Customized Services
“Our Recruitment methods include a network of contacts that span a variety of industries”.
Contact us for more details Phone: 250-381-3254 1124 Fort Street, Victoria, BC www.pgstaff.com
BUSINESSMaTTERS
7
MAKING “GREEN” BUSINESS MAKE SENSE.
The first in a series of articles by the Chamber’s Sustainable Futures Committee about the business challenges and opportunities of the green economy.
T
he business environment is changing. We live in an era of rapidly dwindling resources, increasing energy prices, and evolving market perceptions. With climate change at the forefront of public perception organizations are facing a dramatic shift in how business is conducted and purchasing decisions are made, which begs the question: “How is your business adapting to the responsibility and opportunity the green movement represents?” For many it’s not an easy question to answer. Understanding the business of sustainability is a whole new field of knowledge, and to make things more difficult the landscape defining what it means to be green is constantly changing. But the organizations that take the time to understand what sustainability represents for their business are capitalizing on the opportunity “being green” represents. And have no doubt, opportunity abounds.
also taking advantage of new markets, such as the Westhills Development in Langford, which has tied in a new geothermal renewable energy company, Sustainability Services Ltd., into the entire neighbourhood, or organizations capitalizing on the BC government’s policy to offer extra points to eco-friendly suppliers when conducting RFP’s. A good reputation Environmental performance is also a significant factor for those working within your organization. HR reports suggest that the cost to replace an employee, including recruiting, interviewing, hiring, training, and lost productivity throughout the process can be 1.5 to 2 times the given position’s annual salary. According to a recent Ipsos Mori survey, 80% of people in developed nations would prefer working for a company that “has a good reputation for
The organizations that take the time to understand what sustainability represents... are capitalizing on the opportunity. And opportunity abounds...
Mutually beneficial With the majority of Fortune 500 companies engaged in sustainable planning, it is clear that leading companies know that adopting green practices is not only good for the environment, but good for the bottom line. Whether it be energy efficiency improvements, low-flow fixtures that conserve water, renewable energy generation or finding new operational efficiencies, the bottom line benefits speak for themselves. PepsiCo, for example, has uncovered more than $60 million in energy savings opportunities and a 16% reduction in per-unit energy use across its beverage plants, as a result of its carbon management strategy and proprietary energy assessment tool1.
Environmental responsibility is also a major component in building a positive image and is a powerful value proposition in today’s market. Bob Willard, a leader in the field of merging business practices with sustainability policy noted that in 2010 20% of individuals in North America made purchases based on their environmental values, up from 10% in 2009. Innovative organizations are
environmental responsibility.” Ask your staff how they feel about going green, and see if there is an opportunity to enhance their job satisfaction and increase productivity. You may find they even have some great ideas that will save you money or improve your operations! Market predictions Sustainability strategies are seen as a way to mitigate the risk associated with rising costs of fossil fuels such as oil and gas whose prices are likely to spike in price in the next few years. In mid-January of this year, investment giant Goldman Sachs said that shortages will reappear in the crude oil market as supply fails to keep up with recovery in demand2. This trend will spike the price of crude oil and will leave those reliant on it exposed to major market risk. As a result, Goldman Sachs has committed to making an estimated 1 billion dollar investment in clean energy stocks this year3. Other market predictions, such as those released in the
January 2011 HSBC Global Research Climate Investment Update, conclude that positive momentum has strengthened in emerging low-carbon markets and remains consistently positive across energy efficiency investment themes4. Sustainability strategies are also instrumental if your company relies on oil and gas through your supply chain. Analysis of the supply chain operations and processes in leading global companies show that more than 50% of large businesses and 25% of their suppliers have seen cost savings as a result of carbon management activities1 Investors are also rapidly jumping on the bandwagon, realizing the very real financial implications of adverse environmental activities. Consider the cost to BP from the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico that resulted in over $500 million being paid out in
projects and organizations like the Carbon Disclosure Project actively surveying companies about their greenhouse gas emissions. On the local level, VanCity Credit Union, a co-op enterprise, offers favourable loans for green business. Being a progressive company can attract new investment opportunities, and set you ahead of your competitors within your industry.
Q: What’s missing from your workplace? A: A co-op student with the skills to speed up your projects. Contact us today to learn how our students can contribute to your workplace. Work terms normally begin in January, May and September.
Co-operative Education and Student Employment www.camosun.ca/cese 250.370.4410
Here in BC we are leaders in Canada when it comes to our environment goals. Having committed to reduce our Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions by 33% by 2020 and 80% by 2050 (based off of 2007 GHG levels), we are already well underway to achieve these goals. Every community in our province now has an Official Community Plan (OCP) to guide its efforts towards becoming more sustainable, and the provincial government has mandated that all of their operations go carbon neutral by 2012.
Co-operative Education Program and Career Services www.uvic.ca/coopandcareer 250.721.7628
Investors are rapidly jumping on the bandwagon, realizing the very real financial implications of adverse environmental activities. damages, and how much money could have been saved by proactively seeking better methods of extraction or prepared strategies in the case of a leak.
Investors understand that with increasing concern around climate change working with responsible organizations greatly decreases risk, and yields stronger longterm investments. Favourable “green” loans The field of Socially Responsible Investing is already on its feet, with climate change
Will this mandate by the public sector affect private business? Yes! Just ask the largest GHG emitting corporations in BC - they are required to go carbon neutral as well. Accesss to rebates Consider the benefit of aligning with coming legislation, acting as a leader in your industry, and helping inform future policy, compared to reacting to changes as they occur. Leaders in business always state the benefit of being proactive when it comes to strategically directing a company’s operations - and the same applies to going green. It is fortunate that in BC businesses have access to rebates for sustainable improvements, provided by organizations like BC Hydro with their PowerSmart program, the Capital Regional District’s (CRD) free water audits, or organizations
Building your business is challenging. We have your solutions. •
Customized Business Account Packages
•
Financing and Lines of Credit
•
Community Accounts
•
Credit Cards
•
Cash Management Services
•
Small Business Online Banking
•
Foreign Exchange Services
•
Investments
•
Point of Sale Services
•
Insurance Services
Contact your local branch or visit iscu.com/business
BUSINESSMaTTERS
9
like CityGreen Solutions that assist businesses in identifying areas for improvement that will achieve an attractive return on investment. The Chamber’s Sustainable Futures Committee As a new part of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, we at the Sustainable Futures committee look forward to providing new insights about what it means to be a green business, the ways it can make bottom line business sense, and providing access to educational opportunities to navigate what being green means for your organization. We will explore the various developments happening in Canada on a national, provincial, and municipal level to identify real resources for you to take advantage of: accelerating your short-term growth while achieving long-term sustainability. 1The Carbon Disclosure Project 2011 Supply Chain Report, produced by management consulting firm A.T. Kearney which looks at climate change actions and performance of 57 of the leading global companies and 1,000 of their suppliers across a broad crosssection of industries. 2 January 18, Bloomberg market outlook. www.bloomberg.com 3 Goldman Sachs, Environmental Markets. http://www2.goldmansachs.com/services/ advising/environmental-markets/index.html 4 HSBC Global Research Climate Investment update, January 12, 2011; www.research.hsbc.com.
A DV E RT I S I N G F E AT U R E
time, but it gave me the chance to
Procura gains fresh ideas through UVic Co-op Mutually beneficial Local IT company Procura is growing fast. Since opening its doors in 1989, it has delivered innovative IT services for home and community care organizations in Canada, the US and Australia. When the company recently needed to hire new staff to tackle a growing list of projects, it turned to the University of Victoria’s co-operative education program and discovered the benefits of becoming a co-op employer. “Our products help organizations automate every aspect of home care provision, from scheduling, employee timekeeping and billing, to patient records and care coordination,” says Raul Constantinescu, Senior QA Analyst. “The home care industry is challenged to deliver comprehensive care on an increasingly lean budget and streamlining these processes gives organizations a compelling advantage. Procura has grown significantly in the past few years and we’ve needed to increase our resources accordingly. By hiring co-op students and delegating new low-risk projects to them, we’re able
the latest version of its software and
Co-op student Faye Jones with Procura’s Senior QA Analyst Raul Constantinescu
to bridge there sourcing gap in a mutually beneficial manner.” Procura hired its first student in 2010 and recently hired UVic health information science co-op student Faye Jones to join the quality assurance team, where she’s testing components of the IT software. Energy and ideas “She’s brilliant,” says Constantinescu, Jones’ supervisor. “She has been very well trained by UVic and has demonstrated a great capacity to learn new skills. She has also brought a breath of fresh air to the office with her energy and ideas.” Constantinescu sees great value in welcoming co-op students to the office. “Students challenge us to approach problems from new angles and to re-evaluate our processes. This is important for any company and it has really worked for us.” Jones arrived as Procura was launching
jumped right into the fray. “It was a very busy time, but it gave me the chance to learn so much and to get to work right away. My projects have let me use my academic skills and I’ve really enjoyed collaborating with other staff.” Ideal career path A passionate artist who is also intrigued by science and technology, Jones has found her ideal career path in health information science and is excited by what Procura offers to its clients. “The product is quite cool—it can do things like sync up with MapQuest maps to show a health care employee the quickest route to a patient’s home. It’s really game-changing, and I’m excited to be a part of it.” For details about Procura, visit www. goprocura.ca. For more information about hiring a UVic co-op student, visit www.uvic.ca/hireacoop or www.uvic.ca/coopandcareer.
“As a dominant station in Victoria we have long considered The Q to be one of our primary media suppliers. We know it’s been proven to us year after year that your baby boomer audience is one of the largest segments of our customer base in just about every department of our store.” ~ Mike Black Capital Iron Divisions of the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group
10
BUSINESSMaTTERS
MAY & JUNE EVENTS Thursday, May 19, 2011 Business Mixer 5:00pm – 7:00 pm Hosted by: Parkside Victoria Resort & Spa, 810 Humboldt St. Members & their guests only please
Wednesday, May 11, 2011 Annual General Meeting & Mayoral Address 11:30am – 1:30pm Hosted by: Hotel Grand Pacific, 463 Belleville St. Thursday, May 12, 2011 Prodigy Group May Mingle 5:30pm – 7:30 pm Hosted by: CHEK News, 780 Kings Rd. Members & their guests only please Wednesday, May 18, 2011 Business Education Series Sponsored by: Sector Learning Solutions Writing Operational Manuals: Risks & Rewards 11:45am – 1:15 pm Chamber Office, 100-852 Fort St.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011 Business Education Series Sponsored by: Sector Learning Solutions How to Sell Value Instead of Price 11:45am – 1:15 pm Chamber Office, 100-852 Fort St. Wednesday, June 1, 2011 Business Education Series Sponsored by: Sector Learning Solutions Creating Customer Loyalty 11:45am – 1:15 pm Chamber Office, 100-852 Fort St. Thursday, June 2, 2011 Annual Fun Golf Tournament 3:00 – 9:00pm Hosted by: Prospect Lake Golf Course, 4633 Prospect Lake Rd. Sponsored by: Metro Lexus Toyota & Pepsi Beverages Company
Tuesday, June 7, 2011 CEO Coffee Hour 8:30am – 9:30 am Hosted by: Victoria Foundation, #109-645 Fort St. Members only please Thursday, June 9, 2011 Prodigy Group June Mingle 5:30pm – 7:30 pm Hosted by: Cactus Club Cafe, 1125 Douglas St. Members & their guests only please
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 Business Education Series Sponsored by: Sector Learning Solutions Cultural Intelligence: Hiring International Students in Local Business 11:45am – 1:15 pm Chamber Office, 100-852 Fort St.
Thursday, June 16, 2011 Business Mixer 5:00pm – 7:00 pm Hosted by: Royal BC Museum, 675 Belleville St. Members & their guests only please
STABILITY, GROWTH AND A GOOD RETURN ON INVESTMENT Situated in BC’s provincial capital in a city known for its entrepreneurs and thriving technology, marine, health and tourism sectors, the Victoria Conference Centre is a perfect global business destination. At the VCC we partner with you to ensure that your business objectives and the needs of your delegates are met through the planning and execution of a flawless conference programme or business meeting. The VCC hosts over 230 events a year and delivers over $60 million into the local economy annually. COME FOR THE CONFERENCE. Return to live and invest in Victoria. 720 Douglas Street Victoria, BC Canada | 1.866.572.1151 or 250.361.1000 | www.victoriaconference.com
BUSINESSMaTTERS
11
In an effort to make water conservation easier for businesses, the CRD is proud to partner with the IIABC to offer certification courses to irrigation professionals in our region.
second report showcased Victoria’s place in North America and we are glad to say that the region fared extremely well on that front too.
The GVDA’s Economic Development Officer, Sasha Angus
Best Place to Live – a City of the Future Global recognition of our high quality of life and economic potential increase our competitive advantage. This is great news for businesses looking to attract talent and investment. Moneysense magazine recently released their 2011 “Best Places to Live” report listing Victoria as the #2 place in the country when you are looking for quality of life and quality of opportunity, losing out just slightly to our nation’s capital. The report looked at housing affordability, incomes, job prospects, crime rates, and access to health care. They even looked at weather, where in a country like Canada, our region naturally “shone” with the best climate when measured against anywhere else. The region scored particularly high on access to healthcare providers, with amongst the best doctor/patient ratios as well as the prominence of the local cultural sector, showcasing the region’s commitment and support of the arts. Holding us from the top spot was the cost of housing and crime figures that were slightly worse than the average. Following on this strong finish, a
According to the Financial Times’ FDi Magazine, the Greater Victoria region is a hot bed of opportunity and a highly ranked “North American City of the Future”. Placing in the top 10 for large cities across the continent, Victoria placed #4 in North America for quality of life, reinforcing what Moneysense magazine said just a few weeks before. Building on a recent KPMG report which highlighted our competitive business climate, Greater Victoria won top honors for our region’s foreign direct investment efforts. The 2011/2012 FDi magazine American Cities of the Future report compared over 60 different factors including; economic potential, human resources, high tech industry, business costs, quality of life and community infrastructure. The Greater Victoria region scored highly on a number of factors, including economic infrastructure. Greater Victoria has an amazing story to tell, and international recognition like this shows why we are a natural place to do business. The region not only competes globally, but is a world-class destination for investment and opportunity. If you would like more information on the region and how the GVDA can help your business please visit www.gvda. ca or feel free to contact our Economic Development Officer, Sasha Angus at sangus@gvda.ca or (250) 383-7191 ext. 204.
“Proper irrigation practices save water. It also does wonders for the environment and your bank account.” - Karen Hounsome, Certification Board of Irrigation Industry Association of BC
As a past president of the IIABC and a certified irrigation professional, I spend a lot of time working with businesses to help them save money. Businesses can save money by saving water - it’s as simple as that. With more than 40% of our region’s water use attributed to outdoor applications, proper irrigation practices are essential to reducing your operating costs. The first step is hiring a certified irrigation professional to assess your business‘ needs - this small investment can have a really big payoff for you, your business and our local environment. For more information on irrigation and water saving tips, visit www.crd.bc.ca/ici www.crd.bc.ca
12
BUSINESSMaTTERS
www.prodigygroup.ca The Power of Mentorship at the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce With the retirement of many baby-boomers, and the looming talent shortage expected in the next few years, Victoria’s emerging leaders are in need of strong mentorship from experienced business and community leaders The Prodigy Group offers a unique Mentorship Program that matches young leaders (prodigies) with experienced mentors (chamber members). This program promotes the professional and personal advancement of Victoria’s future leaders and the exchange of new ideas between generations. “This program is unique to Victoria,” explains 2011 Prodigy Group Chair Janell Karst. The flexible program matches emerging leaders of the Prodigy Group with experienced Victoria Chamber members for personal and professional development opportunities. “Mentorship is not just about an experienced mentor imparting their wisdom and experiences to an up and comer,” says Karst. “In fact, some of the most successful mentoring relationships are those in which there is a knowledge transfer between the experienced and emerging.”
A M A Z I N G
2011
R A C E V
I
C
T
O
Presented by
R
I
A
B
Small Business Banking
On Saturday April 9th, sixty-six participants took to the streets of Victoria to compete in the Prodigy Group’s 3rd annual Amazing Race. From Club 9one9, sixteen teams dressed in green performed a series of thirteen Event Sponsors:
C
competitions which involved solving sudokus, provincial trivia, team building exercises, and dance routines. Many laughs were had as they challenged each other to cross the finish line. Winning teams included the Sportballers: Simon Abud, Vanessa Morley, Lee Richardson, Chantelle Tearoe, and the resilient Sweet Victory Dreams: Chris Dart, Scott Dickenson, Chris Higginbottom, Cameron Roblin. Honourable mention to Team Fireball: Benjy Brooks, Michelle Crow, Rebecca Porter, Shawn Steele, who won the day’s team spirit award. A huge thank you to all of the event, prize and media sponsors!
Networking for Everyone! In Support Of:
May Mentorship Mingle Thursday, May 12, 2011, 5:30 - 7:30 PM CHEK-TV, 780 Kings Road, Victoria, BC
IT's TIme To replaCe sCreen-TIme wITh faCe-TIme! • Get in front of more prospects • Build credibility and trust • Develop relationships that produce steady, reliable sales
Dale Carnegie Training of BC (604) 299-5115 www.bc.dalecarnegie.com
sales advantage: how To sell like a pro July 6th - 8th Victoria Executive Centre
BUSINESSMaTTERS
13
NEW MEMBERS B.C. Guide Dog Services BC Guide Dog Services (and Autism Support Dogs) is actually an organization about people: We see ability, not disability! Registered Charity #89131 1763 RR001 250-413-3095 barbara.haley@bcguidedog.com www.bcguidedog.com
Ergo Check Workplace ergonomic assessments with postural education and retraining. No matter your work-station, we teach you how to sit better, so you can feel better and live better! (250) 384-2316 dr.shaw@telus.net www.ergocheck.ca From Birth To Eternity Personal Histories (250) 415-3520 info@frombirthtoeternity.com www.frombirthtoeternity.com
Capital Cat Clinic (250) 881-1218 info@capitalcatclinic.ca www.capitalcatclinic.ca Chris Munkacsi - Project Management Consultant Public relations & project management & communications. (250) 858-1314 chris.munkacsi@me.com
Community Inclusion Consulting Inc. Providing services for adults with developmental disabilities. (250) 370-9686 ruth.stacey@shaw.ca
Horne Coupar Law firm specialising in Wills, Estates and Trusts. (250) 388-6631 sue@hc-law.com www.hc-law.com
your first event at sea is just a cab ride away. imagine simply hailing a taxi from ogden Point at the end of your next business or family event. as vancouver island’s largest cruise agency, expedia cruiseshipcenters enjoys preferred relationships with major cruise lines, so we’re pleased to offer local disembarkation with huge savings in both time and money.
Erik Ages
250.883.3118 CONFERENCE & EVENT SPECIALIST
Janet Maxwell
consider a spectacular west coast sailing for you or your company’s next special event. we’ll get you there and back again, on time and on budget. for event and group planning, please contact erik ages. for individual travel, contact janet Maxwell and her team of destination specialists.
250.477.4877 DESTINATION SPECIALIST
www.cruiseshipcenters.ca
Lallibusiness.com (250) 888-4735 sukhi@lallicrm.com Little Steps Therapy Services Ltd. (250) 386-1171 info@mylittlesteps.net www.mylittlesteps.net
Cook Culture Kitchen & cooking utensils and cooking classes for newbie cooks & veteran chefs. (250) 590-8161 jed@cookculture.com www.cookculture.com
MF3 Bookkeeping & Services (250) 590-5860 mf3victoriabc@shaw.ca www.mf3bookkeeping.webs.com
Cook Street Professional Center (250) 920-6136 winsprop@telus.net
Monica Powell Event Management Event planning and management from concept development to post event analysis, specializing in charity, fundraisers and business events. monicapowell@shaw.ca www.monicapowellevents.ca
De’lish Fine Foods & Catering (250) 598-5614 delish@delishcateringoakbay.ca www.delishcateringoakbay.ca
... n i you e r ship’s com
Old Spaghetti Factory Reasonably priced good food featuring spaghetti and chicken. (250) 381-8444 victoria@oldspaghettifactory.ca www.oldspaghettifactory.ca
Congratulations to all the 2011 nominees and awards winners! A big thank you to all of our sponsors and the many individuals that helped make this special event possible. The Early Years Awards celebrates the businesses and people in the community that make a difference in the lives of families with children.
early years awards event sponsor: early years awards media sponsors:
Your Support.Their Success.
early years awards sponsors:
early years awards supporters: Gayley Farms A D I V I S I O N O F D A G G I N T E G R AT E D LT D .
Buddies Toys
Your Support. Their Success.
14
BUSINESSMaTTERS
TD Canada Trust Open Space Arts Society Open Space presents contemporary visual art, new music, media arts & literature. (250) 414-0206 director@openspace.ca www.openspace.ca QuMark Marketing Ltd QuMark provides marketing & technology-based communication & education services in the medical & general business fields. (250) 589-3732 president@qumark.com www.qumark.com RaceRocks 3D (250) 418-0113 www.racerocksdigital.com Root Cellar Village Green Grocer Ltd. (250) 477-9495 daisy@therootcellar.ca www.therootcellar.ca Shelbourne Sandwiches We are a quick service restaurant that serves fresh alternative to traditional fast food. Service and product quality is our priority. We’re Subway! (250) 415-9636 dewettgroup@gmail.com Sociability - Online Marketing Strategies (250) 588-2877 terri@sociability.ca www.sociability.ca Studio 4 Athletics Professional leaders in health & body exercising. (250) 382-3687 studio4athletics@hotmail.com www.studio4athletics.com Town of View Royal Town of View Royal, Municipal government with approx. 9,500 residents. (250) 479-6800 kanema@viewroyal.ca www.viewroyal.ca
True Space Media Digital signage showcasing in the medical industry. (250) 882-3784 michael@truespacemedia.com www.truespacemedia.com Utopia Retail location for T Shirts. (250) 383-5945 propagander@hotmail.com www.utopiasilkscreening.com Welcome 2 Victoria Providing information packages and kits to travellers visiting Victoria merchants for discounts. (250) 532-8991 w2victoria@gmail.com Welcome 2 ictoria Windows West Windows West supplies windows & doors to renovators, new home builders, commercial builders and multi-residential developments. (250) 590-4301 richardk@windowswest.ca www.windowswest.ca
It’s our business to understand and help build your business. We offer businesses a range of innovative, specialized products and services. Our specially trained and dedicated Small Business Advisors are committed to helping you by: • Discussing your banking needs • Offering borrowing and investment solutions • Delivering excellent personal service
Cheryl Duff
Small Business Advisor 2406 Beacon Ave. Sidney (250) 507-2450 cheryl.duff@td.com
Steven Kelly
Small Business Advisor 1080 Douglas St. Victoria (250) 356-4018, ext. 240 steven.kelly@td.com
Paul Publicover
Small Business Advisor 1080 Douglas St. Victoria (250) 356-4018, ext. 238 paul.publicover@td.com
Working Group Professional Inc. 250-386-5747 kris@ideawave.ca www.ideawave.ca Yellow Pages Printing of membership directory for clients. (866) 268-4600 brad.leganger@ypg.com www.ypg.com
Zenith Training International Excellence Training: Sales/Marketing, Customer Service, Masterminding, Personal Development, plus tools like 1-800#s to save your business money. Your one stop business Training and Solutions Center. 1-800-910-9822 info@achievewithzenith.com (800) 547-9041 riciaadair@shaw.ca www.zenithtraining international.com
Trisha Thame
Small Business Advisor 4000 Quadra St. Victoria (250) 589-1372 trisha.thame@td.com
Small Business Advisor 3530 Blanshard St. Victoria (250) 532-3265 joshua.hample@td.com
Call us today for an appointment and find out how we can help your business succeed.
Excellence Training: Sales/Marketing, Customer Service, Masterminding, Personal Development, PLUS tools like 1-800#s to save your business money – Your one stop business Training & Solutions Center. Zenith Training International 1-800-910-9822 info@achievewithzenith.com
Joshua Hample
BUSINESSMaTTERS
15
Keep Your Eye on the Issues in Our Region Johnson Street Bridge Closure of Rail Portion Faced with the need for $120,000 in emergency repairs to the rail and cycling portion of the Johnson Street Bridge, the City of Victoria opted to close the northern side of the bridge. As it will be demolished to make way for new construction in the near future, Council felt the expenditure was not appropriate.
introduction of a rapid transit system between Victoria and the West Shore at public open houses in early May. Esquimalt Policing RFP The municipality of Esquimalt’s recent decision to put their policing needs out to RFP highlights the fractured nature of policing in the region. Currently each municipality chooses how it wants police services to be provided, leading to a patchwork of policing solutions including municipal departments and the RCMP. The Chamber continues to recommend that the Provincial government address the issue of regionalization of police services in the Province of British Columbia by: • establishing provincial standards for the integrated delivery of police
The result of the closure is that pedestrians and cyclists will be diverted onto the main bridge to cross to and from the Inner Harbour. Cyclists are advised to take the lane as they cross, and vehicle drivers are asked not to pass cyclists on the bridge. Temporary signage has been erected, and road painting and curb alterations will make the correct route clear, with longerterm solutions is being sought. Transit Issues The Chamber is monitoring two major changes to regional transportation: rail service and rapid transit. Due to the condition of the railway tracks, The Via Rail Esquimalt & Nanaimo Dayliner service has been discontinued indefinitely. The Island Corridor Foundation, who owns the tracks, is seeking $15 million from the provincial and federal governments to pay for upgrades. Until funding is provided, rail travel will be restricted to limited portions of the track in the Courtenay area. BC Transit will present its recommendations for the
16
services by police forces where municipal boundaries are immediately adjacent. • where necessary, legislating amalgamation of police services in areas where established standards are not being met and where uniformity would benefit service delivery and public safety.
Platter up
Invite our signature party trays to your next office gathering. Focus on business and let The Market take care of the details! Pick up or have delivered one of our deli’s many varieties of party platters – or make a custom request.
themarketstores.com
903 Yates At Quadra 250 381 6000 7 AM-11 PM 125-2401 C Millstream Road 250 391 1110 8 AM-11 PM
Packaging • Magazines • Posters • Business Cards • Presentation Folders • Brochures • Rack Cards • Menus • Pads • Books • Programs • Flyers • Copying • Bindery Stationery PREPARED FOR: MARKET STORES REVISED
PUBLICATION: CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Printing is not2011 just about INSERTION DATE: JANUARY/FEBRUARY SIZE: 3.25 x 2.4” printing the paper... PREPARED BY: BRAVO ADVERTISING 590about 1169 it’s 250 also the
FINISHING! Die cutting, drilling, embossing, foil stamping, folding, laminating, numbering, padding, perfect binding, perforating, saddle binding and scoring.
Now that’s Finishing! 3050 Nanaimo Street, Victoria, BC V8T 4Z1 Tel: 250 386-5542
BUSINESSMaTTERS
Fax: 250 386-7838 sales@hillsideprinting.com www.hillsideprinting.com
Hillside Printing Finishing • Business card size ad
Chamber Policies Seek to Identify Sustainable Funding Solutions The Chamber is actively involved in many discussions concerning municipal finances and the need to find sustainable solutions for needed infrastructure investment in our community. As part of our advocacy efforts at the provincial and federal levels, the Chamber will be calling for the passing of national legislation to provide for more predictable and accountable funding of municipal infrastructure through the federal gas tax program. In addition, the Chamber will be moving forward on a call to the provincial government, in partnership withcommunity stakeholders, to lead the discussion on a comprehensive solution to municipal MGI-008 MPW Ad_Witt:Layout 1
infrastructure finance, including appropriate funding vehicles and enabling legislation. HST Referendum There will soon be a referendum on HST. The Chamber’s stance on HST is that while it is a sound economic policy for the province as a whole, it presents significant challenges for specific industries such as tourism and home construction. In partnership with regional stakeholders the Chamber helped persuade the government to address some of the negative impacts to the home construction sector; however, concerns from some parts of the tourism industry still remain. As a major economic driver for the region, the Chamber continues to work with its tourism industry partners and the government to find specific measures to ease the impact on the sector.
12/13/2010
12:03 PM
Page 1
If you could buy $100,000, or more of your favourite TSX 60 stock(s): • with 100% financing from Macquarie; • keep the dividends and the gain(s); and • experience no capital downside,
would you be interested? Periods of one to five years are available and you only pay the interest, which may be fixed or variable. Find out more about the Macquarie EquityPlus 100% financing program.
Chris Witt, CIM, FCSI, Senior Investment Advisor 250 412 3406 | 1 877 978 9300 | chris.witt@macquarie.com Macquarie Global Investments ® Macquarie Global Investments 2010. Financing provider: Macquarie Securities Financing Ltd. (Canada). Macquarie EquityPlus (MEP) is offered by Macquarie Securities Financing Ltd. (MSFL). Before deciding to participate in MEP obtain the current Information Folder and consider its contents. The information folder is available by calling 1 877 484 4665. To participate in MEP, you must complete the application form in the Information Folder or online at www.macquarieglobalinvestments.ca. Financing terms and conditions are set out in the MEP Master Acquisition and Financing Agreement. No entity within the Macquarie Group of Companies is registered as a bank or an authorized foreign bank in Canada under the Bank Act, S.C. 1991, c. 46 and no entity within the Macquarie Group of Companies is regulated in Canada as a financial institution, bank holding company or an insurance holding company. Macquarie Bank Limited ABN 46 008 583 542 (MBL) is a company incorporated in Australia and authorized under the Banking Act 1959 (Australia) to conduct banking business in Australia. MBL is not authorized to conduct business in Canada. No entity within the Macquarie Group of Companies other than MBL is an authorized deposit-taking institution for the purposes of the Banking Act 1959 (Australia), and their obligations do not represent deposits or other liabilities of MBL. MBL does not guarantee or otherwise provide assurance in respect of the obligations of any other Macquarie Group company. Macquarie Private Wealth Inc. is a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund and IIROC.
NOT ALL EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS ARE WHAT THEY’RE CRACKED UP TO BE.
TA K I N G T H E I N I T I AT I V E
CHAMBER BUILDING GETS POWER SMART Taking the initiative to learn about electricity savings, the Greater Victoria Chamber helped identify an important first step for their landlord Yentel Property Management. Significant savings were immediately realized simply by changing inefficient lighting to energy efficient technology throughout their building at 852 Fort Street.
SEE WHY WE’RE Robert Jack Jack Insurance & Financial Services #201, 1137 Yates Street, Victoria, BC P: 250.383.9866 | F: 250.383.6241 rob@jackinsurance.ca
“Rather than look at only our space in the building, we took a leadership role in finding out what could be done to save electricity in the entire building. We were surprised with the substantial energy savings potential and significant financial incentives available from BC Hydro Power Smart to help reduce payback periods. It made a strong business case that also spoke to the triple bottom line and we were pleased to present that to Yentel Property” said Bruce Carter, Chamber CEO. Yentel got on board and replaced: • all T12 fluorescent tubes and magnetic ballasts to T8 tubes with electronic ballasts which are up to 50% more efficient • all incandescent exit signs to LED exit signs which use 90% less energy
FIND OUT WHY OVER 25,000 BUSINESS OWNERS SELECTED THIS PLAN!
QUEEN VICTORIA HOTEL & SUITES ◆ ◆
◆ ◆
655 Douglas Street Victoria BC V8V 2P9 1-800-663-7007 Tel 250-386-1312 Fax 250-381-4312 www.qvhotel.com
◆ ◆ ◆
Located steps from the Inner Harbour and Beacon Hill Park Standard, One and Two Bedroom Suites, Spa Suites, and Penthouse Suites - All with Balconies Samuel’s by the Park Restaurant Complimentary Local Calls, Wireless Internet, and Business Centre Meeting Room (up to 45 people) Complimentary Downtown Shuttle Service Indoor Pool, Jacuzzi, Sauna and Fitness Centre
On June 3 & 4, 2011, Victoria, BC is host to Social Media Camp at the Victoria Conference Centre. Whether you are an avid Facebook user, interested in learning about Twitter, or you’re trying to grow your business by leveraging social media tools – there is something for everyone at this event!
Presented by:
Partners Include:
BC Hydro reports that comparing 2010 consumption to 2009 consumption, enough energy is being saved to power 8 single family houses for an entire year. Even more impressive, this savings is being realized despite an increase in tenants in the building. Property manager David Siegel says “I would recommend the Power Smart program to other businesses as it lowers operating costs and saves money. In an indirect way it makes our buildings more marketable to prospective tenants.” Further to the lighting replacements at 852 Fort Street, Yentel has gone on to take advantage of the energy savings and incentives by retrofitting their building at 733 Johnson Street. “It is not an all-or-nothing proposition. To participate in the Product Incentive Program, the changes can be made in stages to fit the individual business’ budget” said Eric Beevor-Potts, Power Smart Specialist. “The old technology that Yentel has replaced in the Chamber building is common in many businesses, whether big or small. Common retrofits that payback in under a year include switching to Compact Fluorescent Lights, LED exit signs and using occupancy sensors.” In addition to the existing Power Smart rebates, LiveSmart is now currently funding an extra 10% incentive on top of current incentives. To learn more about how your business can save money, energy and do your part for the environment visit: www.bchydro.com/incentive
BUSINESSMaTTERS
17
GET TO KNOW THE TOURISM INDUSTRY Size of the Labour Force The tourism industry directly employs an estimated 23,650 people in Greater Victoria as of 2010, and thousands more are employed through the indirect impacts of tourism on our economy. The tourism industry is defined as transportation, accommodation, food and beverage services, recreation and entertainment, and travel services – all major sectors we see flourishing in Victoria.
Overall, the tourism industry in Victoria has to protect and evolve its product offerings for visitors. We maintain a solid global brand but need to flex it into our target markets with offerings that provide a value-based experiential journey.
Rob Gialloreto, President and CEO, Tourism Victoria
promotions, general management, and destination awareness to name a few. When individuals choose a career path in tourism, the options are limitless and abundant.
Interestingly enough, many of the jobs in tourism are not front-line employees, although these roles do influence the initial visitor experience and, in many cases, are the only people our visitors see. Careers in tourism can take you far beyond the front desk of a hotel or bar of a restaurant. The industry also employs many dedicated and exceptional professionals in marketing, sales, finance,
18
BUSINESSMaTTERS
Economic Impact It is no secret that tourism has had more than its fair share of challenges through the economic downturn, and with other broader issues, such as border crossing regulations with the United States. The projections for 2010 are that the year will close out at $957 million, down slightly from $966 million in 2009. Final numbers will be confirmed a bit later in the spring. Tourism Victoria is projecting a 1% increase in 2011, bringing the destination back on par with 2009 levels.
Potential for Growth Tourism Victoria as an organization will be focusing on a number of trends we’re seeing develop for 2011. More families are travelling together, looking for fun and affordable destinations and our boomer market is realizing its potential in adventure travel. Tourism Victoria will also continue to use Social Media as a marketing tool and will be making a concerted event in sport and event attraction.We will continue to build destination awareness in our short haul markets: Alberta, the Lower Mainland and Vancouver, Seattle, and San Francisco while maintaining international travel professional relationships with our sales teams.
Rob Gialloreto For more information on the tourism industry in Victoria, go to www.tourismvictoria.com
Your Community.
Your
WE BUILD STRONG KIDS, STRONG FAMILIES AND STRONG COMMUNITIES YMCA-YWCA Greater Victoria • 851 Broughton Street, Victoria • Ph: 250-386-7511 • www.victoriay.com
Three Ways We Provide Value to Our Members.
TC Swarm Jam Ad
Networking. Meeting business people at business events.
Helping Build Your Business. Educational opportunities.
Advocacy. Your voice at all levels of government.
To find out how the Chamber can help your business, call 250-383-7191 or visit us at www.victoria chamber.ca
Your Chamber. We’re stronger together.