Greater Victoria’s 14th Municipality
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November 2015 VICTORIACHAMBER.CA
Building Greater Victoria
BUSINESSMATTERS | November 2015
CONTENTS
Photo provided by CFB Esquimalt
BUSINESS MATTERS November 2015
4
Building Greater Victoria
7
Member News
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.
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Greater Victoria’s 14th Municipality
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GVDA: West Coast Ingenuity, Borderless
21
Guest Column: A View from the Top
25
Introducing our New Members!
28
Profile: Stantec
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Advocacy in Action
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
The region is under the backhoe with billions for new construction and infrastructure projects in Greater Victoria. New appointments, openings, partnerships and awards. Keep up to date with what is happening in our community. A new look at CFB Esquimalt.
Chamber Events: Something for Everyone!
Nothing can duplicate the moment when you meet face-to-face the connections you need to do business. Two busy days in San Francisco/Bay area to showcase the investment opportunities in Greater Victoria. BC Hydro president and CEO gives us a peek at what is happening to provide us power when we need it. Welcome to those who’ve decided to join the people who get things done. Membership – the about the company we keep. What does work at Ogden Point, Crystal Gardens and the E&N rail corridor have in common? Updates on issues of interest to Greater Victoria’s business community.
Publication Mail Poste-Publications 40005319
BUSINESSMATTERS | November 2015
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Building Greater Victoria
New construction and infrastructure projects are key to economic growth and job creation. They give us places to sleep, work, shop, and relax. They help us get from A to B, as well as explore the places in-between. They help us connect with each other to learn, share, and do business. New construction and infrastructure projects help keep our communities vibrant and businesses growing. Over the past year, Greater Victoria has seen a number of multi-million new projects completed, including the University of Victoria’s Centre for Athletics, Recreation and Special Abilities, three public secondary schools: Belmont, Oak Bay and Royal Bay, and the Department of National Defence’s 20,000 square-metre hangar in Sidney. We have also received great news on inbound—and much-needed—infrastructure projects, such as the McKenzie Interchange. 4
BUSINESSMATTERS | November 2015
The online resource Citified lists 21 construction projects for 755 homes underway in the region, including Royal Bay, Bear Mountain and Hudson Walk developments. Citified also lists 25 multi-story office and commercial projects, many of which include rental units and condominiums in their design, such as Legato in downtown Victoria and The Generations in Saanich. “Often when we think of large construction projects, we think of
office or residential towers or even single-detached home neighbourhoods, but it’s also important to consider the vast amount of investment our region receives from major government projects,” said Greater Victoria Development Agency’s economic development officer, Dallas Gislason. “Being the provincial capital and the home of Canada’s Pacific Navy has led to billions in infrastructure spending— and the valuable jobs in the trades often are created alongside these projects— that would not otherwise be here.” Using the nine projects listed as an example, Greater Victoria has a combined estimated value of $1.4 billion in publicly-funded, non-residential construction currently underway. The Belleville International Terminal is a great example of an infrastructure project tied closely to economic
Did you know? Beyond time wasted for commuters, congested traffic means missed appointments, more pollution, higher fuel consumption as well as added wear and tear on roads, tires, and engines.
benefits. As a key international gateway, it links B.C. to external markets. Bringing in more than 665,000 people each year, Belleville has an estimated economic impact of $180 million annually, supporting 4,500 full-time jobs in Victoria and Vancouver Island. Last May, the B.C. Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure announced $17.4 million investment in upgrades and improvements to Belleville. This is a multi-year and phased project, which started in September 2015 and is scheduled for completion in 2017. All construction in Greater Victoria, large or small, creates jobs for tradespeople and building professionals. There are added economic spinoffs as developers purchase products and services from local businesses, or the project attracts workers or investment from outside the region. Further, the economic impact of new construction and infrastructure does not end on project completion. “Once residential, commercial or industrial spaces are occupied/in-use, there are often additional investments, from lease-hold improvements to curtains,” said Greater Victoria Chamber CEO Bruce Carter. “These expenditures can be significant add-ons to direct construction costs, supporting even more households and businesses.”
Outlook There are many factors that suggest a bright future for the construction sector in Greater Victoria. Our economy will likely benefit from improving U.S. economic conditions. Low interest rates in Canada could set the stage for higher spending on construction. According to Vancouver Island Construction Association's (VICA) August 2015 report, there was a 13.6 percent increase in residential permits and a 41.7 percent increase in nonresidential building permits across the Capital Region District over the previous quarter. Using total building permits as a key indicator of future construction activity, demand in Greater Victoria will likely continue to increase. Similar to what has been seen across all industries and sectors, labour force demands are increasing as our aging workforce retires. Attracting and retaining a skilled workforce in the region to meet construction demand is a real issue, especially considering Greater Victoria’s high cost of living.
publicly-funded, Non-residential Construction in Greater Victoria Project
municipality
Developer
Est. Budget
(Millions)
A/B Jetty Recapitalization Project
Esquimalt
Department of National Defence (DND)
$530
BC Hydro Operations Centre
Saanich
BC Hydro
$30
Belleville International Terminal
Victoria
BC Government
$17.4
Camosun College Centre for Trades Education and Innovation
Victoria
Camosun College
$30
E&N Trail
Esquimalt, Langford, Victoria, View Royal
Capital Region District
$36
Esquimalt Harbour Remediation Project
Esquimalt
DND
$150
Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton
Esquimalt
DND
$500
Horsey GIS Replacement Program, including Horsey to George Trip 230kV cable replacement
Victoria
BC Hydro
$95
Johnson Street Bridge Replacement
Victoria
City of Victoria
$96.8
TOTAL INVESTMENT: $1,485.2
BUSINESSMATTERS | November 2015
5
Issue The B.C. government is re-engineering education and training so that B.C. students and workers have the skills to be first in line for jobs in a growing economy—investing millions in tradesrelated programs and infrastructure. B.C. public post-secondary institutions are taking steps to ensure program progressiveness and relevancy— regularly reviewing their curriculum and program delivery models, consulting with industry experts, and seeking alternative funding models. New technology—in the office and on the work-site—is helping offset the demographic shift as well as attract new workers. “Construction-related skills and knowledge are very mobile. Here, we see workers getting on flights to other jurisdictions every day wearing their steel-toed boots and hard hats,”
Employment ConstructionConstruction Employment in Greater Victoria 14,500 14,000
Number of Jobs
“We are expecting an unprecedented level of investment throughout B.C. starting next year, peaking in 2018 and continuing at higher than historical levels for the next five to seven years,” said VICA CEO Greg Baynton. “The increased demand for skilled trades people and mid-level management will generate upward pressure on the cost of construction.”
13,500 13,000 12,500
12,000 11,500 11,000 2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
Year said Baynton. “We are competing with jurisdictions that pay more and offer steady, longer-term work.” The key for retaining this critical workforce is the strategic investment of construction projects. For example, leveraging markets when the cost of money is low and providing continuity of employment, thereby increasing our competitive advantage. Publicly funded projects can have the biggest influence, typically representing the larger scale and longer-term projects. “The Chamber, VICA and like-minded organizations have long been
2020
2021
2022
*Data is from BC Stats
advocating for integrated public infrastructure planning that recognizes the infrastructure deficit that exists and has sustained predictable funding,” said Baynton. “Governments, educational institutions, and employers would then better predict labour force demands and minimize construction costs.”
Conclusion We have many indicators that suggest an increasing number of construction infrastructure projects are on the horizon. The recently elected federal government was elected on a platform of infrastructure investment. There are numerous well-placed and influential organizations hard at work, advocating for our construction sector, our businesses, and our communities. Greater Victoria’s construction sector has a huge role to play in our economic growth, building our vibrant communities and contributing to our businesses prosperity.
Because oil and water don’t mix Catch basins, found in large parking lots and other paved surfaces, can collect pollutants and debris like oil, car grease and cigarette butts. If a catch basin is full or clogged when it rains, it can flood property and release contaminants into our waterways and the ocean. You are responsible for cleaning out the catch basins on your property. For information on how to maintain your catch basins and for a list of service providers, visit www.crd.bc.ca/catchbasin.
Photo provided by CFB Esquimalt
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BUSINESSMATTERS | November 2015
MEMBER NEWS That’s Colonel Farmer Victoria businessman and philanthropist Murray Farmer is adding a military rank to his accomplishments as he assumes the role of honorary colonel. Honorary colonels act as community liaisons, and serve three-year terms with a possibility of extension. Farmer took over from Richard Talbot. "Honorary Colonels and Captains are an important link between the local community and Canadian Armed Forces,” said Captain (Navy) Stephen Waddell, Commander of Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt. “I'm pleased to see a local business leader of Murray's calibre in this role." CFB Esquimalt: member since 1979
Engaged HR is Growing With changing needs and more staff, the lovely Market Square office just couldn’t contain all the new initiatives and staff. After a careful search they found the perfect candidate. Engaged HR can now be found in the Central Building downtown at 316-620 View Street. The office has changed, but the passion remains the same! Working
with organizations on all of their HR needs while building strong employee engagement is still at the heart of what Engaged HR is all about. Engaged HR: member since 2004
Zero-Emission Delivery E-Quick launched its same-day and overnight zeroemission courier services August 4, 2015. Everything about this Victoriabased company demonstrates its commitment to sustainability and environment: they use electric cars, their uniforms are made out of recycled cotton and plastic bottles, and they even use natural non-toxic cleaners. E-Quick: member since 2015
Happy 10th Sapphire! A decade of creating that ahhhhmoment is definitely something to celebrate. During the month of
Ivan Zelko of E-Quick
October, they celebrated by launching a new service menu and hosting Deepak Chopra, an internationally renowned author and public speaker on topics such as attracting success and abundance. Sapphire Day Spa was founded by Heidi Sherwood and is the largest independently owned spa in Victoria. The spa has been nominated for a number of business excellence awards and received national media attention from Alive Magazine as being one of Canada's "aw-inspiring spas." Sapphire Day Spa: member since 2014
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903 Yates At Quadra | 250.381.6000 7 am - 11 pm 125-2401 C Millstream Road | 250.391.1110 8 am - 11 pm BUSINESSMATTERS | November 2015
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MEMBER NEWS Local Lending Generates National Interest
National Recognition
Victoria-based Company Capital, a leader in online small business lending, was recently featured in Globe and Mail and Vancouver Sun articles about non-bank or alternative lending, such as peer-to peer lending, crowd funding, and direct lending. One of the biggest attractions of online lenders is the speed in which they can process an application. While banks can take between four to six weeks to process a business loan application, most online providers can process in one to two days of the application. “We are really trying to keep it simple,” said Company Capital chief executive officer Steve Clark in the high-profile news articles. Company Capital: member since 2011
Visa Processing On the Run Last August, Hot House Marketing successfully brought DC TAG to market after three months of creative development and marketing planning. The DC TAG is an exciting new Visa tap wristband that was created by payment processing and ATM solutions company, Direct Cash Payments Inc. The DC TAG works the same as your
The team at Hot House Marketing wearing DC TAG wristbands.
credit card's tap technology, but it's in the form of a wristband. "DC Payments came to us in early May with the goal of taking the DC TAG to market as quickly as possible in order to achieve the all-important first mover advantage," said Hot House president Dan Dagg. "What we came up with was a fresh brand and marketing strategy. So far the launch of the DC TAG has been very smooth, and we're excited to continue working with DC Payments to build this global brand." Hot House Marketing: member since 2005
The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) has named Uptown as the silver award winner for two innovative marketing campaigns. #CelebrateYou garnered more than 11.6 million impressions asking Uptown’s customers to celebrate their unique qualities. It raised awareness about Uptown’s fashion and beauty offering while giving back to the community. “Holiday Elf on a Shelf” increased sales and the centre’s digital presence during the 2014 holiday season through a social media campaign. ICSC presented the awards to Kristy Lowes, Uptown’s marketing director, at an awards gala on October 7. Uptown has received 10 national ICSC awards since 2010 when the centre first opened. The awards recognize Canada’s most innovative shopping centres for outstanding achievement. A project of Morguard Corporation, Uptown will offer 262,000 square metres of open-air shopping, Class A office space, restaurants and deluxe amenities. Morguard Corporation: member since 1983
We’ve got the locals smiling. • FAMILY AND COSMETIC DENTISTRY • TMJ PROBLEMS • LAUGHING GAS & FULL SEDATION SERVICES FOR THE ANXIOUS PATIENT
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823 Broughton St | UrbanSmilesVictoria.com 8
BUSINESSMATTERS | November 2015
MEMBER NEWS Abstract Principals
Photo provided by Hector for Flytographer
Abstract Development is building more than just outstanding projects, they’re building a great team. Founder Mike Miller has brought on two partners at Abstract Developments. Sam Ganong has been added as vice-president of development and Kyle Ryan takes the position as vice-president of construction. Abstract Developments: member since 2010
Picture This Guests at 35 participating Fairmont hotels and resorts around the world— including our very own Fairmont Empress—can now hire a trusted and highly-skilled photographer through its new partnership with Flytographer, an innovative photography service offering customized, candid photo shoots for travelers in over 160 cities around the globe. "Working with one of our photographers is like meeting a local friend, who shares insider tips, while discretely capturing incredible memories in iconic backdrops," said Nicole Smith, founder of Flytographer. The economic impact of these two conferences will be sizeable.
Frank Bourree, CEO & Partner, Chemistry Consulting
A family at the famous Abbey Road crosswalk in London, England.
"We believe that in order to truly capture memories, guests need to feel comfortable and connected to the person behind the lens. Our carefully selected photographers offer just that to deliver an unforgettable experience every time." Fairmont Empress: member since 1962 Flytographer: member since 2015
Chamber Elections Congratulations to new board members: Lise Gyorkos (Page One Publishing), Al Hasham (Maximum I heard — we’re also looking forward to our 2015 SARMAC Conference.
The VCC’s hosting our 2016 International Biometric Congress.
Laura Cowen, Professor of Mathematics & Statistics, UVic
Steve Lindsay Acting Chair, Department of Psychology, UVic
Express and Max Furniture), Patricia Jelinski (United Way of Greater Victoria), Gary Wayne Kinar (Kinar Curry Lawyers), Natasha Reger (The Reger Group), and Kris Wirk (Dickson Dusanj & Wirk). These six will join the existing 10 members, forming the 2016/2017 Board of Directors. This influential board will work with decision-makers at all levels of government over the year to support our region’s business interests, as well as maximize the value of membership with The Chamber.
I’ll check with the Helicopter Association of Canada.
You can help us bring business to Victoria, too. Let’s connect!
Troy Macdonald, Director of Sales, Helijet
bring it Let’s
#LetsBringIt
Monika Lebedynska, Senior Account Executive, VCC
Conferences drive the economy and we all benefit. Contact me: MonikaL@VictoriaConference.com
BUSINESSMATTERS | November 2015
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MEMBER NEWS New Anchor in Town
Thinkshop Workshop
CHEK News is pleased to announce that award-winning, veteran broadcast journalist Ben O’Hara-Byrne will join Canada's only employee-owned TV station as the anchor and producer of a new six p.m. newscast, launching October 5th. “We’re proud to have someone of Ben's calibre join the CHEK News team,” said Rob Germain, News Director and Digital Manager, CHEK News. “Vancouver Island residents have a keen interest in local news but also want to know how national and international events affect them. Ben is uniquely qualified to deliver a first-hand perspective.” CHEK News: member since 1971
The Victoria Executive Centre (VEC) announced the new workshop series, ‘Thinkshops.’ These are workshops presented by both a facilitator and VEC. This Spring, three successful Thinkshops were presented, including two offerings of ‘Visual Meetings Launchpad’ and one offering of ‘Fierce Conversations’. Victoria Executive Centre: member since 2014
Ben O’Hara-Byrne
Public Speaking Book Launch Anna Coleshaw-Echols of GoodToGreat Public Speaking Training (G2G) is proud to announce the release of her newest book Giving the Gift of Public Speaking: A Comprehensive Guide to Overcoming Speaking Anxiety. It’s a follow-up to Presenting Fearlessly: A Guide to Slaying 37 of the Most Common Presentation Anxieties. Both books are now available in local bookstores and online. GoodToGreat Public Speaking Training: member since 2015
New Chair for Camosun Russ Lazaruk has succeeded Marilyn Pattison as chair of Camosun College's board of directors. Lazaruk, a chartered investment manager and Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute, is a portfolio manager with Dundee Goodman Private Wealth in Victoria. He has been a member of Camosun's board since 2011. Camosun College: member since 1981
Children's Health Adds Board Members The board of the Children's Health Foundation of Vancouver Island has added new members - Maria Kang, Norgrove Penny and Bryan
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BUSINESSMATTERS | November 2015
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Thomson—to expand the board to 14 Island community leaders. Kang is a consulting pediatrician in Victoria. Penny is an orthopedic surgeon whose practice concentrates on the treatment of children and adolescents. Thomson is the senior vice-president of public equities at institutional investment firm bclMC. Children's Health Foundation: member since 2007
Under the Sea The University of Victoria’s Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) is exploring a partnership with Dr. Robert Ballard’s Ocean Exploration Trust to host a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math education and outreach program in the lower level of the Steamship Terminal in downtown Victoria. From a theatre style platform that includes ocean displays, audiences will be invited to interact with both educators—via robotic live-streaming videos—onboard Ballard’s ship, the R/V Nautilus, and during ONC’s scientific and maintenance expeditions. ONC manages and operates worldleading, cabled ocean observatories, NEPTUNE and VENUS, off the coast
MEMBER NEWS
of southern British Columbia and a Cambridge Bay observatory in the Canadian Arctic. The University of Victoria: member since 1976
Photo provided by AXYS Technologies Inc
Wind in its Sails Local company AXYS Technologies Inc announced in August that it will acquire 100 percent of the Belgium firm, FLiDAR NV shares. Both AXYS and FLiDAR are world-leaders in cutting edge wind measurement monitoring systems. “AXYS and FLiDAR share the vision of delivering the highest quality data to offshore wind developers of fixed and floating wind farms worldwide,” said AXYS president and CEO Terry Tarle. “By combining the strengths of both companies, this alliance will enable current and future clients to benefit from a deeper expertise in wind resource data collection, a wider offering of offshore measurement solutions, and an agile service team able to cover projects globally.” AXYS Technologies Inc: Chamber member since 2015
THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING THE
FLiDAR buoy
Leveraging Light to Evolve? You may remember Gerry Brimacombe as a Chamber director, from the Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness, or as former CEO of a local company. Gerry is now focused on business productivity. Under the new name of Lightlever Systems, Gerry is thriving as a consultant and SharePoint developer, delivering great value, and having a blast. Lightlever Systems: member since 2014
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Greater Victoria’s
14th Municipality
There is an old tale of a commander of a military base who believed the community didn’t appreciate the base in their midst. So he paid his servicemen—this is truly an old story—in two-dollar bills. Once the community started Photo provided by CFB Esquimalt seeing the large “CFB Esquimalt and Maritime Forces logistical, and information technology numbers of terra Pacific contribute over half a billion services. cotta Bills flooding dollars annually to the local economy “The importance of the sea, and and the Township benefits from this maritime commerce, as they relate to the tills and stuffing economic activity,” said Esquimalt Canada’s economy is undisputed,” said Mayor Barbara Desjardins. “But beyond Captain (Navy) Waddell. “The presence their pockets, the this, the men and women who serve of a vibrant, effective naval base on our country are part of the fabric of message of the bases’ Canada’s Pacific coast from which to our community. They are volunteers, generate, sustain and deploy maritime coaches, neighbours and friends and value was received— power is critical to the security of this this contribution is also very much country.” so at least the story appreciated.” Greater Victoria Defence Greater Victoria’s 14th goes. Community With over $241 million paid out every year to Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC) military members and Department of National Defence (DND) employees, perhaps there is little need to remind Greater Victorians of the value of this base in their midst. But our region’s military and DND employees contribute more to our economy than what they bring home to their families and spend locally. Their very service safeguards our economy and enhances our global reputation. The supply chain needed to deploy ships to sea supports local businesses. DND construction and infrastructure investments creates jobs and gives our workforce specialized skills. The region’s military and DND employees’ specialized training and experience helps to close the skill gap, while their service mentality is a significant and continuing contributor to helping to keep our communities healthy.
Municipality
Although the heart of the base lies within the municipality of Esquimalt, Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Esquimalt—home to the Pacific Fleet— is spread over 41 square kilometers and is the second largest base in Canada by population. Sometimes referred to as Greater Victoria’s 14th municipality, it has its own fire department, police, post office, schools, library, museum, medical clinic, church, military housing and even its own newspaper, the Lookout. But unlike the typical municipality, it also has warships, submarines, boats as well as a variety of other assets to support the Canadian Armed Forces’ mission and operations. The “mayor” is Captain (Navy) Steven Waddell, or commander of CFB Esquimalt. He oversees support services to MARPAC and its nearly 100 units, including materiel, administrative,
There are more than 7,000 military and civilian employees in the Greater Victoria defence community—reserve and regular forces—slightly more than the population of Metchosin and Highlands combined. Add in their families, and the community increases by thousands, This community becomes even larger if you consider veterans and retired employees. Defence Community By the numbers Military (regular)
3,913
Military (reserve)
996
Civilian DND
2,180
Married military (est.)
2,900
School-aged children of military (est.)
3,000
Total
12,989
BUSINESSMATTERS | November 2015
13
2015 Construction & Infastructure Projects Project
Description
Investment
Fleet Maintenance Facility (FMF) Cape Breton
Five-year, multi-phase project to transform $500 million the facility’s 38 maintenance shops into one of the largest enclosed buildings on North America’s west coast.
A/B Jetty Recapitalization Project
Replacement of existing “A” and “B” Jetties to provide structurally sound berthing facilities for Canada’s current and future Pacific naval fleet.
$530 million
Esquimalt Harbour Remediation Project
Remove and remediate contaminated areas $150 million of the harbour seabed and foreshore fill within Esquimalt Harbour.
443 Squadron operations and maintenance hangar
Provide storage for five aircraft, two maintenance bays, an interior wash and maintenance bay, and maintenance shops.
$155 million
Utility Corridor project
Provide new underground routing for mechanical, electrical and telecommunications services at the dockyard at CFB Esquimalt
$19.7 million
Dry Dock Caissons
Repair and extend one of the two dockyard dry-dock caissons
$4 million
Belmont Park
New and renovated residential housing units at Belmont Park
$2.75 million
Security Upgrades
Upgrade physical security across CFB Esquimalt
$11 million
TOTAL : $1.37 Billion
Direct Spend The power of this strong and tightlyknit community helps create jobs and support local businesses. With estimated annual spending at nearly $800,000, they are a significant contributor year in and year out to Greater Victoria’s estimated GDP of $15 billion.
Construction and Infrastructure Projects CFB Esquimalt is also continually rebuilding and upgrading to meet operational, environmental, and technological innovations. The current projects—estimated at $1.37 billion— provide a multitude of economic benefits for Greater Victoria, creating jobs in construction and material/ equipment-supply and encouraging growth in the field of marine construction work. The Canada First Defence Strategy is a strategic road map for the modernisation of the Canadian Armed Forces. Within this strategy, 25 percent of DND infrastructure holdings will be refurbished over 10 years, with 50 percent being replaced/refurbished over 20 years.
Labour Force MARPAC supports work-integrated learning, working closely with Greater Victoria public post-secondary institutions to help prepare the students of today for the workforce of tomorrow. For example in 2015, • seventy-two trades were hard at work progressing their apprenticeship programs, and • approximately 60 co-op students spent an academic term working in areas such as human resources, public affairs, policy, engineering, and finance. Military and civilian employees have specialized training and unique experiences that add significant value to the regional workforce. Those who choose to stay in our region after retiring from the Queen’s service are often young enough to start their second career, choosing a wide variety of paths: entrepreneurs, accountants, teachers, managers, skilled tradeswomen and men and more. FMF has arguably the most diverse, highly skilled workforce in Greater
14
BUSINESSMATTERS | November 2015
Victoria, able to support everything from steam valves to network systems. FMF employs nearly 1,000 civilians, some of whom are considered leaders in their fields. In addition to those who bring their specialized skills with them into the civilian labour force upon retirement, there are nearly a thousand reservists who manage two careers in tandem.
Social Impact In addition to their service to our national economy and global reputation, support to local businesses and households, and contribution to the civilian workforce of today and tomorrow, the Greater Victoria Defence community is an active contributor, both in time and money. For example, local military and civilian DND employees contribute an estimated 400,000 hours a year of volunteer work and raise more than half a million dollars each year during the annual Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign. “Not only does CFB Esquimalt represent our largest campaign but they are tremendous community leaders in Victoria,” said United Way of Greater Victoria CEO Patricia Jelinski. “We are proud to work alongside them and recognize the significance of being in the community designated as home to the Pacific Naval Fleet.”
Presenting… A Victorian
Christmas
Come View our Courtyard Winter Wonderland all December!
Christmas Dinner December 25th A Victorian Christmas in The Gatsby Mansion Complimentary Hot Cocoa and Cookies in our Drawing Room
Conclusion Measuring the economic impact of the 14th municipality is complex. Its contributions to our economy are on the national, provincial and local levels. The RCN ensures the continuing flow of goods through the maritime highways of global trade, keeping our shelves stocked and external investment into Canada flowing. Our 14th municipality injects billions in the economy through its continual investment in infrastructure projects and its operations, creating household-sustaining jobs, and supporting local businesses and a skilled workforce. The Greater Victoria Defence community donates their time and money to help keep our community healthy. Our region’s businesses and residents all benefit in a myriad of ways from having the 14th municipality in our midst.
Winter Afternoon Tea Wednesday – Sunday
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BUSINESSMATTERS | November 2015
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Dinner Auction Gala
Bidding Goes Viral Fly Away with Air Canada Value: $3800 Two economy class Air Canada tickets valid for Continental North America and the Caribbean. Courtesy of Air Canada
Everything old is new again in an online world. The Chamber Auction Gala is one of our many events that sells out year after year, which means only attendees get to enjoy the great deals and an enjoyable evening with other business leaders. Now we haven’t quite figured out how to share the auction good times and laughs in a virtual environment, but we can open up a few of the deals so they are available for anyone to bid. For the first time ever, this year’s auction will have items available online to allow more people to bid on some great items and get a head start on their holiday shopping. Whether you are attending in person or bidding at home, get ready, because these items are going once, going twice—sold to one lucky bidder.
Advertise in Greater Victoria Value: $5,000 Receive one half-page, full colour advertisement in the Victoria News, Oak Bay News, Saanich News, Boulevard Magazine and Monday Magazine. Courtesy of BlackPress Community News Media Grill Master Value: $999 Get grilling with the Napoleon Prestige® EP-310 P500 stainless steel natural gas barbecue. Courtesy of FortisBC Energy (Vancouver Island) Inc.
Golf, Kayak, and Stay in Port Ludlow Washington Value: $510 Enjoy two nights wrapped in our guest robes, plus 18 holes of golf for two with cart rental and two one-hour kayak rentals. Courtesy of The Resort at Port Ludow Escape to Jasper Value: $400 Discover the wonders of Jasper National Park, from the snow-capped mountains to the spectacular lakes and waterfalls with this two night stay. Courtesy of Whistler's Inn To participate, simply login at GoBid.ca and click on The Chamber event. Bidding will start as early as two weeks before the auction.
rd
Dinner Auction Gala ANNUAL
SAT U R DAY, NOV EM BER 28 The Union Club of British Columbia 6 to 10:30 pm Book your tickets today! victoriachamber.ca or 250-383-7191
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BUSINESSMATTERS | November 2015
TICKETS ON
SALE NOW!
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Going once, Going twice!
CALENDAR of EVENTS
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Prodigy Group November Mingle
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33rd Annual Dinner Auction Gala
November Business Mixer
November 12 from 5 to 7 p.m. DoubleTree by Hilton 777 Douglas St.
November 19 from 5 to 7 p.m. Regus 1321 Blanshard St., Suite 301
Business Leaders Luncheon: Peter Fassbender, Minister of Community, Sport & Cultural Development
Business Leaders Luncheon: Presidents Panel
November 17 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort & Spa 100 Harbour Rd.
November 28 from 6 to 10 p.m. The Union Club of British Columbia 805 Gordon St. Chair's Holiday Reception
November 25 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Harbour Towers Hotel & Suites 345 Quebec St. Holiday Office Closure
WEDNESDAY THURSDAY
December 8 from 5 to 7 p.m. Craigdarroch Castle 1050 Joan Crest.
The Chamber office will close Friday, December 25 and will re-open Monday, January 4. Happy Holidays!
Monthly Mingles Where emerging business leaders need to be. Mark your calendars for the second Thursday of every month from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm! These events are fun, laid back and can help foster great business connections in Victoria’s growing business economy. The opportunity is here to advance your career with the Prodigy Group.
Whether you’re a current or future member of The Chamber, come down and see what it’s all about – and invite your friends and colleagues! Jared Webb Prodigy Group Chair
For more information visit us at prodigygroup.ca BUSINESSMATTERS | November 2015
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West Coast Ingenuity, Borderless occupations make up 12.5 percent of all As part of our Trade the jobs in the region, or 415,000 jobs. and Investment California’s Bay Area typically receives 40 percent of all the venture capital Program, we’ve raised in the entire United States. The San Francisco/Bay Area is where the undertaken extensive future is being invented. analysis and outreach Connections to determine the The connections that already exist between southern Vancouver Island most important and the San Francisco/Bay Area are international trade extensive. We have a solid Canadian in the Bay Area. Local highrelationships to south presence tech foundation Alacrity has an office in Francisco where their B.C.-based island-based companies. San companies can work out of when they Not surprisingly, the United States came out at #1. Though there are many international markets that we trade with—China, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Germany, the United Kingdom, etc.—there are none as large and as deep as the USA. An interesting phenomenon on Canada’s west coast is that the flow of business activity on this side of the Rockies tends to flow North/South from the island and lower mainland, to Seattle and further down the coast to Portland, San Francisco/Bay Area and even Los Angeles. Other Canadian cities tend to flow East/West. Even in Kelowna many more economic relationships tend to link to Alberta and eastward. This means the Pacific Northwest region of North America is often the first place where Greater Victoria businesses pursue expansion and other business development activities. As part of the Trade and Investment Program, we are pulling the region together to take advantage of that opportunity.
San Francisco/Bay Area San Francisco is at the core of the world’s epicenter of high-tech and innovation: the Bay Area of California. It has a population of over seven million people spread throughout nine counties and 100 cities and a regional GDP of $535 billion. It has the highest patent-per-employee ratio in the country and the largest concentration of innovation-related jobs in the country. It is the home of many renowned tech giants—Facebook, Google, Oracle, HP, Intel, Apple—and has wages 52 percent higher than the U.S. national average. High-tech
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BUSINESSMATTERS | November 2015
visit. Victoria start-up Sendwithus went through one of the most prestigious tech accelerator programs, and now has in-market presence in the area. Local success story Send-to-News also has offices there. In addition, the University of Victoria (UVic) has student co-op placements in many of the top Bay Area companies. This means these students are exposed to world-class learning environments— and it could mean that jobs at these firms are within reach for many of them. As UVic’s alumni office has indicated, the Bay Area is already home to hundreds of alumni. On the flip-side, Bay Area start-ups have a presence in Greater Victoria. For example, Kixeye Gaming and Change. org maintain Victoria offices for research and other activities. Did you know? The GVDA’s threeyear Trade and Investment Program will increase the region’s international competitive advantage by assisting businesses, stakeholder organizations and educational institutions to expand international business activities.
Team Victoria in San Francisco When Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps told us she was planning to attend an upcoming international conference in San Francisco, we jumped at the chance to organize a multi-sectoral trade mission around the trip. The GVDA convened a 31-member delegation to San Francisco September 28 to 29 that we coined “Team Victoria in San Francisco.” After several weeks of planning, our mission was to leverage the power of collaboration and showcase Greater Victoria as a prime investment opportunity. Over the packed two-days, the delegation: • met with the RocketSpace Accelerator, one of the first and most successful acceleration programs in the Bay Area. This is the accelerator that helped establish the B.C. company Hootsuite for global success. • had numerous meetings between stakeholders and their prospective clients and partners, for example, with Tesla, Google, Oracle, and other leading companies, AirBnB, Change. org, Blumberg Capital. • hosted a reception and audience discussion with James deGreef (Chatterblock), Jeff Mallett (former CEO of Yahoo, from Victoria), and Paul Friedland (BevMo). This was a high-profile event, with B.C. Minister of Technology, Innovation and Citizen Services, Hon. Amrik Virk, to help attendees visualize Greater Victoria as a great place to live, work and invest. • met with the C100 and Digital Moose Lounge, as well as the Canadian Trade Commissioner Services to explore how we can better support Greater Victoria companies with connections into the Bay Area.
Team Victoria in San Francisco • • • • • • • • • •
Alacrity Foundation Arbutus Cove Enterprises Inc. ASASoft Canada Inc. B.C. Ministry of International Trade Chatterblock City of Victoria Cognilab Technologies Consulate General of Canada (San Francisco) Cube Global Storage Downtown Victoria Business Association
• • • • • •
Greater Victoria Development Agency Referral SaaSquatch Tourism Victoria University of Victoria VanEdge Capital Victoria Innovation Advanced Technology & Entrepreneurship Council • Victoria Airport Authority • Wesley Clover
Real results Team Victoria in San Francisco was a face-to-face let’s-do-business type of trip. We now have dozens of contacts in the world’s high-tech capital who are primed on the opportunities that we have to offer. This means when we call them with companies in need of millions of dollars of investment—they will answer. When Bay Area companies are in need of setting up a Canadianoffice or an R&D lab, we are on their radar. The next step is to invite all of them here for a follow-up event in February 2016.
Conclusion The Greater Victoria Development Agency worked hard to bring this delegation together, and are very pleased and proud at what we accomplished as a team. We convened a diverse group of local stakeholders around a common goal of making connections. We showed influential entrepreneurs, investors and organizations in the Bay Area that Greater Victoria may be small in size but is big on innovation, entrepreneurial zest and talent.
Productivity is on the rise. EASE, COMFORT AND PRACTICALITY
• met with AutoDesk where we learned about their city simulation software (for urban planning and civic engagement) and where we also explored how the San Francisco Mayor’s Entrepreneur-in-Residence Program helped accelerate their technology while it also connected new ideas into city practices. Something we can learn from here at home. • Several organizations in the delegation also had specific reasons for trip. For example, VIATEC to promote “Tectoria”, UVic for coop placements, as well as Tourism Victoria and the Victoria Airport Authority to strengthen their relationship with regional travel partners, with Victoria Airport Authority specifically meeting with United Airlines about their direct flight to San Francisco.
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BUSINESSMATTERS | November 2015
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From Co-op student to Co-op Employer Learning environmental stewardship, project management and teamwork through Camosun’s Co-operative Education Parks Canada’s Nathan Fiskhas moved from Co-op Student to employing Co-op Students. Nathan came to Camosun’s Environmental Technician Program after earning a bachelor’s degree from the University of Waterloo. When deciding to continue his education, he specifically looked for cooperative learning opportunities to help launch his environmental technology career. Not only did the co-operative education experience helped expand Nathan’s academic knowledge; it has left a positive impact on a national historic site. While attending Camosun, Nathan was the recipient of the 2012 British Columbia’s Co-operative Student of the Year presented by the Association of Co-op
Education BC/Yukon due to high academic standing, professional attitude and his exemplary eco-technical skills he employed which resulted in significant costsavings for Parks Canada. Nathan is currently a Resource Management Officer for Parks Canada at Fort Rodd Hill and specifically looks to hire co-op students. “Co-op students are adaptable, motivated and have up-to-date skills. Hiring and training new students is a big investment in time and money, so it’s a huge benefit to hire someone who’s ready to go on day one. Camosun gives them the hard skills and their students are always ready to put their schooling into action.” For more information about co-operative education at Camosun, call 250 370 4410 or visit www.camosun.ca/coop.
Co-operative Education and Student Employment 250.721.7628 www.camosun.ca/cese 250.370.4100 20 BUSINESSMATTERS | November 2015 uvic.ca/hireacoop
It’s simple. Hire a student. See results. Contact us today to hire a student.
A View from the Top Jessica McDonald, President and CEO of BC Hydro, provides an overview of the behind the scenes work that ensures we have power when we need it.
BC Hydro manages over $20 billion in assets and has over $5 billion in annual revenue. We serve four million customers through a provincewide network of 79 dams, 31 generating stations, 300 substations, more than 300 kilometres of underground and submarine transmission cables, and 77,000 kilometres of transmission and distribution lines - or enough lines to wrap around the world twice. British Columbians own this system. So, what’s in it for you as the customer? To start, as a BC Hydro customer you pay one of the lowest electricity rates in North America. An independent study by Hydro-Quebec found that our residential rates continue to be the third lowest in North America, and we offer the fourth and fifth lowest rates in North America for commercial and large industrial customers. The main reason for this cost advantage is that we rely on large hydroelectric dams and generating stations. Our hydroelectric facilities
were built to respond to customer needs and attract industry. They were built to account for increased electric load, put an end to the daily and seasonal peaks of power consumption that challenged B.C. utilities for over a century, and respond directly to a rising demand for power. The clear legacy of this build era is the standard of living we enjoy today. We are self-sufficient, our power is clean, and our province has never experienced a brown-out that can seriously damage the electricity grid and cripple an economy. All day, every day, BC Hydro is behind the scenes to make sure the power is there when you need it.
BUSINESSMATTERS | November 2015
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Further up island, we are in the midst of redeveloping the 67-year old John Hart generating station. As the largest generating facility on Vancouver Island and also one of the oldest, this redevelopment will ensure that John Hart continues to safely and efficiently produce power for our customers here on Vancouver Island. We also have the Interior to Lower Mainland (ILM) Transmission line. Scheduled for completion in December, ILM will play an integral role in getting power from the Peace and Columbia River dams to the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. It’s the first 500-kilovolt line we’ve built in more than four decades, and a major part of the work that must be done to meet B.C.’s electricity demand. This project is incredibly complex. It crosses six distinct climactic and geographic regions—each with their own environmental considerations. In one section near Spuzzum, our BC Hydro crews built over five major crossings: two railways, a river, a major highway and an existing transmission line.
Planning for the future
From our dams to you To keep it this way, we need to make sure our assets remain safe and reliable. That is why we are spending— on average—$2.4 billion each year to upgrade our infrastructure across the province. These projects range from building new transmission lines to upgrading generating stations to replacing power poles. On a local level, some of these investments can be seen in your own backyard. BC Hydro is investing 22 BUSINESSMATTERS | November 2015
$95 million to upgrade two major substations in Greater Victoria, Horsey and George Tripp Substations, and install a new high-voltage transmission cable that connects both facilities. One of the largest substations in BC Hydro’s system, Horsey, serves 74,000 customers; it’s the most important substation in the region. These investments will enhance the reliability of electricity supply in the Greater Victoria area and accommodate an increased number of customers.
Across B.C. electricity demand is expected to grow by 40 percent over the next 20 years, mostly due to population growth, but also economic growth. We need to plan for the future and that is why we are continuing our successful conservation programs. A remarkable two-thirds of our demand is met through conservation. We will continue to build on this success. We are also building Site C. Site C will be a third dam and hydroelectric facility on the Peace River. Once operational, in about 2024, Site C will power the equivalent of about 450,000 homes every year for more than a century. Construction work began at the dam site in July and will continue to ramp up in the months to come. Site C will play an important role in ensuring future generations continue to receive the reliability we have come to take for granted today.
Meeting your expectations These investments are incredibly important if BC Hydro is to meet customers’ expectations. As we continually rely on electricity, technology is also keeping pace, filling gaps that either weren’t as noticeable or previously didn’t exist. Electric vehicles, home energy management and energy storage devices are increasing in popularity.
Personalized services are becoming the norm, not the exception, in all industries. These services require upgrades, and with more people accessing electrical services from more devices than ever before, demand will only increase. With our new digital grid, we now have the technology in place to help us restore power more quickly to our customers, such as during the surprise windstorm on August 29 that left 710,000 customers on Vancouver Island and in the Lower Mainland without power. BC Hydro was able to remotely “ping” meters to make sure power was restored, allowing our crews to move to the next repair job sooner. While we continue to invest in our infrastructure and accommodate a growing province and economy, one of my top priorities as BC Hydro’s President and CEO is to keep our costs low and in line with our 10-year rates plan, announced last year. This is a commitment we made, along with the Government of B.C., to ensure our rates remain competitive for years to come. It is a commitment we are keeping. We know it’s our responsibility to keep costs down. In fact, across all 563 generation,
substation and transmission line projects delivered over the last five years, BC Hydro came in 1.8 percent under the original budget. It’s a no-fail proposition—our economy and our daily lives depend on the reliable supply of electricity. BC Hydro needs to be ready. And we will be.
Jessica McDonald President and CEO BC Hydro
BUSINESSMATTERS | November 2015
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250-383-7191 VICTORIACHAMBER.CA CHAMBER@VICTORIACHAMBER.CA
New Members August 1 to September 30 Add2cart
Looking to purchase something from a Vancouver area store like IKEA, Crate & Barrel, or Moe’s? Add2Cart is a personal shopping service here to help you attain those hard to get items not available on the Island. 250-888-2988 www.add2cart.ca
Canatech Systems
Canatech Systems provides premium on-site and remote computer network administration services to businesses within the Capital Region District. We will help you reduce downtime and improve productivity. 250-813-3438 www.canatech.ca
Freedom 55 Financial-Courtland Sandover-Sly
Working with clients to create a financial security plan that addresses their concerns in four key areas: financial security at death, living benefits, liquidity, and retirement. 250-475-1100
Grand & Toy
Grand & Toy is a leading provider of workplace products and solutions, serving Canadian businesses for over 130 years. 250-952-7007 www.grandandtoy.com
Habitat for Humanity Victoria / ReStore
Habitat for Humanity Victoria is a registered Coastline Metal Works charity whose mission is to mobilize Your friendly neighbourhood welder, providing volunteers and community partners in high quality, reliable service to the Greater building affordable housing and promoting Victoria area for over 20 years. homeownership as a means to breaking the 250-883-2324 cycle of poverty. www.coastlinemetalworks.com 250-480-7688 www.habitatvictoria.com
Construction Innovation Alliance
The Construction Innovation Alliance is a collection of construction-related companies who have taken up a mandate to help small businesses succeed and grow. 778-402-0087 www.constructioninnovationalliance.com
Disaster Aid Canada
Disaster Aid Canada provides and assists in delivering humanitarian aid, shelter and sustainable water systems to people affected by natural and other disasters. 778-265-8821 www.disasteraid.ca
Dye & Durham
Dye & Durham is the most comprehensive supplier of world-wide registry and legal support services in Canada. We provide timely and accurate search, filing, registration and process-serving services supported by a satisfaction guarantee. 250-953-1700 www.dyedurhambc.com
HES PV Ltd.
HES PV is dedicated to helping Canadians use solar electricity, using their 25 years of experience and the best equipment available to provide quality energy solutions. 250-483-0871 www.hespv.ca
Home Instead Senior Care
Home Instead offers an individualized approach to keep seniors safe and sound at home, instead of anywhere else. 250-382-6565 www.homeinstead.com
Kanakas Total Gardens
Kanakas Total Gardens believes that the best way for a garden to be maintained and structured is with eco-friendly, hands on work, and provides eco-gardening and arborist services to Vancouver Island. 250-507-3003 www.kanakastotalgardens.info
LegalShield
With LegalShield you’ll be empowered to worry less and live more. As a member, you have access to experienced and dedicated law firms. 250-616-9990 www.yourlifestylecanchange.com
Mercedes Lane Too
An exciting and vibrant clothing boutique has come to the Cook Street Village. Women of all sizes and ages will step out from Mercedes Lane Too looking stylish and polished in affordable, well-designed fashions from all over the world. 250-590-3584 www.mercedeslanetoo.ca
Cedar Hill Golf Course
We’re thinking about Christmas... Planning your office Christmas Party? Great Value & Free Parking Seasonal Christmas Buffet $37 For Details Call: 250-475-7156
Dynamic Systems Analysis Ltd
or visit our website: www.saanich.ca
DSA’s analysts and engineers generate solutions to tough marine and ocean engineering problems using advanced dynamic analysis and simulation. 250-483-7207 dsa-ltd.ca
E-Quick Local Eco Courier & Messenger Services E-Quick is a courier service provider operated by 100 percent electric vehicles, dedicated to providing fast, clean, and sustainable delivery options to the Greater Victoria region. 250-891-7421 www.e-quick.ca
GOLF COURSE
1400 Derby Rd Victoria BC
BUSINESSMATTERS | November 2015
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New Members August 1 to September 30 Orbus International Business Networks Inc.
Orbus Business Network Chapters are business networking, referrals and leads clubs and more. Orbus members are entrepreneurs but also citizens who are commited to sustainabily and support their community. 250-388-4933 www.orbusnetworks.com
Passion and Performance
Get fit, feel sexy, have fun, and be confident while experiencing the power of dance. 250-590-8099 www.passionandperformance.com
Pacifica Housing Advisory Association Pacifica Housing is a not-for-profit housing provider offering subsidized, supported, and affordable housing to over 1,500 people in Greater Victoria, Duncan, and Nanaimo. 250-385-2131 www.pacificahousing.ca
Quests & Rewards
Quests and Rewards goal is to simplify your life by providing instant links and easy access to regional activities in a single package. 403-466-2933 www.questsandrewards.com
Raven Marine Services
Raven Marine specializes in providing you with quality yacht services and full concierge yacht management. 250-655-3934 www.ravenmarine.ca
RBC Insurance-Dee N.E. Govang
RBC Insurance. Offering insurance as unique as you are. Life, disability, critical illness, travel for your business and personal needs. 250-216-0433 www.rbcinsurance.com/personal.html
S. L. Burt & Associates
S. L. Burt & Associates provide creative solutions for you and your business. 250-384-0747 slburtandassociates.com
Signature Merchant Services
Signature Merchant Services has operated in Victoria for the past eight years. Signature offers solutions and discounted provider service rates for credit card acceptance in the retail and internet markets. 250-995-2872
Did you know... that most businesses spend more than they should on telecommunications – up to 35% more? Our concept is simple. 4 We analyze your telecommunications system and needs. 4 We give you independent and objective advice on how to optimize your configuration. 4 Our fee is simply a share of the savings we generate for you.
WE ARE THE TELECOM EXPERTS. 26 BUSINESSMATTERS | November 2015
Eszter Farkas Strategic-Partner Tel: 250-598-6991 www.schooleymitchell.com/farkas eszter.farkas@schooleymitchell.com
August 1 to September 30 Simply Pure Ice & Water
With large scale events, ice and water can be essential items contributing towards success. That’s why when you work with Simply Pure Ice and Water, we make sure you have the product you need, when you need it. 250-920-4002 www.simplypurecanada.com
Style'N'Print
New Members
Titan Boats
Titan Boats, a division of Titan Inflatables Ltd., is located on Vancouver Island in Sidney. Titan Boats is the result of over 20 years of dedication to developing the finest Titan Rigid Hull Inflatables and conventional aluminum vessels. 250-656-3153 www.titanboats.com
Style 'N' Print is a locally owned garment press and design shop located in beautiful Victoria. We produce traditional hands on screen printing, and we do it very well. 250-590-1644 www.stylenprint.com
Trek Bikes Victoria
SureSwift Capital
Victoria Event Centre
We started with a simple idea—take businesses that are profitable and help them grow. Whether you are looking to sell your business or want to invest in our simple idea, we want to hear from you. 250-216-8734 www.sureswiftcapital.com
A non-profit organization that operates a multipurpose rental venue for other non-profits, arts groups & cultural communities—and everyone in between—to use for their events, shows, celebrations or cultural gatherings. 250-380-1280 victoriaeventcentre.ca
The Guild
Whitehall Reproductions Canada Ltd.
Traditional English, Irish and American fare with 12 beer taps and 30 varieties of bottled beer from around the world. 250-385-3474 www.theguildfreehouse.com
This local bike shop has road, mountain, commuter bikes—we have them all and the gear to keep you moving. 250-380-7877 www.trekbikesvictoria.com
The Fall Marketplace Mixer at the Bay Street Armoury.
Builders and retailers of the world's finest allwater rowing boats. Rowing or sailing any of the Whitehall Spirit® line of watercraft will bring out the best in you! 250-384-6574 www.whitehallrow.com
Commercial Cleaning Services Jani-King franchisees provide janitorial services to a variety of businesses throughout Vancouver Island including: Offices Medical & Dental clinics Long-term care facilities Schools & Day Cares Restaurants Many more Get started with a free, no obligation quote for commercial cleaning services! Call or visit us online today!
250.389.0214 janiking.ca/vancouverisland
BUSINESSMATTERS | November 2015
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PROFILE:
Stantec
Stantec provides professional consulting services in planning, engineering, architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, environmental sciences, project management, and project economics for infrastructure and facilities projects.
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robert Jack | Jack insurance & financial services rob@jackinsurance.ca | Phone: 250.383.9866 | fax: 250.383.6241 #201, 1137 yates street, victoria, bC v8v 3n1
28 BUSINESSMATTERS | November 2015
Did you know? Stantec has permanent offices in over 150 locations across North America. The firm presently employs over 15,000 professional and technical staff.
Stantec’s Greater Victoria clients range in size and diversity: from CFB Esquimalt, Island Health, Seaspan, BC Hydro, Victoria Airport Authority, Greater Victoria Harbour Authority, Capital Regional District, City of Victoria; to Vancouver Island municipalities, small independent local businesses and private individuals. For this edition’s profile, we interviewed Dave Duncan, Vancouver Island Office Leader and B.C. Regional Leader. How would you describe Stantec? We support public and private sector clients in a diverse range of markets at every stage, from the initial conceptualization and financial feasibility study to project completion and beyond. The global Stantec community collaborates across disciplines and industries to make buildings, infrastructure, and energy and resource projects happen—there isn’t a consulting problem we can’t solve. How would you describe Greater Victoria’s consultancy sector? Consulting in Greater Victoria is very competitive, with very knowledgeable consultants. We work well with other consultancies, partnering where we can on opportunities that provide the best value to the client.
What is one of the best parts about doing business in Greater Victoria? People live in Greater Victoria because they want to be here, which becomes a strategic advantage for Stantec. Some very experienced professionals with unique and specialized skills live in Victoria, which provides Stantec will recruitment opportunities, supporting our growth and diversity. What is the best thing Stantec is doing for Greater Victoria? Large organizations like Stantec bring with them ethics standards, structure and stability, a wealth of resources, and people with wide and deep expertise. Their trusted global reputation also helps attract and retain skilled professionals to the region. What is it like working at Stantec? The people here at Stantec are innovative, energetic and passionate about what they do. We do go great work on thought-provoking and challenging projects—the type of work we do draws the best. We are continually challenged to push the envelope, supported and mentored through strong leadership and industry-leading professionals. We are continually learning—no two jobs are the same. Our employees are the strength and future of Stantec, and we take care of them. We have well-developed programs to support our employees, ranging from on-the-job training to research and development grants. The more skilled and experienced our people are, the better and bigger our projects. The better and bigger our projects, the more skilled and experienced our people become.
• The 850-metre pedestrian passage reputation, industry credentials, and along the Ogden Point Breakwater local knowledge. It only makes sense for the Greater Victoria Harbour that a company like Stantec sees Authority. growth in its future as well. • Renovation of Crystal Garden, built Stantec: member since 2002 in 1924, which required renovation of 4,392 square meters to allow Crystal Gardens to function as a banquet “I have been in the consulting industry facility and trade show centre. here for 25 years and feel the future The Future of the consulting sector in Victoria is Greater Victoria and Vancouver Island very bright because of the accelerated is growing, with billions of dollars in growth and diversity in our economy,” construction expected over the coming years. During times of such growth, said Chemistry Consulting principal business owners and leaders want Frank Bourree. the peace of mind that comes with demonstrated experience, a trusted 15.VictoriaChamberAd 15-09-22 1:28 PM Page 1
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$2,000,000 $1,000,000 $500,000
What is Stantec proudest of? We are a large company, and we are very proud of our nearly 40 years in the region. We have helped build Greater Victoria, with projects that include: • The CRD’s 17-kilometer cycling and pedestrian trail, a multi-year and phased project constructed largely within the E&N rail corridor, which is already attracting over 200,000 visitors annually.
$250,000
95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15
Balance. Diversification. Risk management. The unending search for opportunity. When you are ready for disciplined portfolio management, with a singular focus on meeting your long-term objectives, Call us. Contact Branch Manager Peter Jando at 250-952-7777. Visit odlumbrown.com for more information. * Compound annual returns are from inception December 15, 1994 to September 15, 2015. The Model was established by the Research Department in December 1994, with a hypothetical investment of $250,000. Trades are made using the closing price on the day a change is announced. These are gross figures before fees. Past performance is not indicative of future performance. Member-Canadian Investor Protection Fund.
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Advocacy in action We stand up for you. As the largest and most influential business association in Greater Victoria, we are the voice of our members and the Greater Victoria business community. Our views are sought after and respected by government, business and industry leaders and the media.
Municipal Accountability Initiative
Greater Victoria residents now have access to easily digestible information on The City of Victoria’s municipal decision-making. The Chamber has begun posting monthly digests to its website, which include a summary of motions, Council and committee votes, as well as a general description of motions. “If the pilot project proves to be a success, we hope it will set a standard for reporting that we can promote across the province,” said Chamber CEO Bruce Carter. “This project is only possible because of the advances made by the City of Victoria in transparent reporting to the community.” "At the City of Victoria 'Engage and Empower the Community' is one of our key objectives. Information, transparency and accountability are key to achieving this," said City of Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps. "We're happy to have The Chamber profile Victoria's leadership in this regard and to see The Chamber creating this municipal accountability initiative."
Sale/Distribution of Medical Marijuana As part of its community consultation process, the City of Victoria asked for The Chamber’s perspective on the regulation of medical marijuana-related businesses. In its response, The Chamber said it does not anticipate legal marijuanarelated businesses, e.g., those who provide advice on navigating the developing systems’ complexities, to generate any negative community impacts, such as exposure of young
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persons to the sale of marijuana, infiltration of organized crime, and sale to persons without a medical need. The negative impacts, including those already passed to the City of Victoria by concerned citizens and businesses, are related to both the illegal sale/ distribution and use of recreational marijuana as well as the illegal sale/ distribution of medical marijuana. “This issue here is not decriminalizing recreational marijuana, but specifically the sale/distribution of medical marijuana other than though Canada Post,” said Chamber CEO Bruce Carter. “The Chamber supports a diverse and vibrant business community, one that will be attractive to outside investment, tourism, as well as to skilled workers and their families. Illegal businesses— any business—are bad for business.”
Natural Gas Expansion
The Chamber recently asked the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) to accept FortisBC’s proposal to expand natural gas service delivery within Greater Victoria by reducing the barriers for new customers. Presently, potential customers within 40 metres of the main gas grid would have to commit thousands—if not tens of thousands of dollars—before they can access natural gas as an energy source. The high cost to potential customers is a significant barrier to expansion of gas service delivery throughout the region, if not B.C. These barriers can restrict economic development initiatives, particularly the revitalization of established neighbourhoods as well as attraction of new manufacturing industries. The Chamber believes increasing residents’ and businesses’ energy source options will stimulate economic growth e.g., help reduce the cost of living, attract new businesses and skilled workers, and create jobs.
Virtual Candidate Forums
The Chamber hosted three virtual forum for Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke, Saanich-Gulf Islands and Victoria ridings on Sept 29, Sept 30 and Oct 1. The questions ranged on topics, from corporate taxes, economic development, workforce housing to negotiations with First Nations, subsidies to BC Ferries, and support of co-op work terms.
The interactive virtual forums were broadcast to a wide audience via webstream, supported by simultaneous Twitter dialogue, allowing the general public to engage candidates via The Chamber during the forums and directly afterwards. “With over 1000 online views—plus the active and lively conversation on Twitter—I am confident we helped to inform and engage tens of thousands of Greater Victoria’s voters,” said Chamber CEO, Bruce Carter
BC Budget 2016 The Chamber recently gave a presentation to the B.C. government’s Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services recommending it: • commission and adequately resource an independent commission to study local governance within Greater Victoria to maximize efficiencies and encourage our region’s competitiveness. • increase the provincial subsidy to BC Ferries’ minor and northern routes for the system to be sustainable and ferry travel to be affordable. • secure the funds necessary to upgrade Belleville International Terminal’s common-use building as befitting one of B.C.’s links to external markets. • take the lead for long-term strategic transportation planning across all levels of government as well as secure long-term, stable funding for transportation infrastructure improvements. “We think these recommendations will address many of the specific priorities that our members have identified as affecting their businesses,” said Chamber CEO Bruce Carter. “As the voice of Greater Victoria’s business community, we look forward to our continuing work with the Province on areas that affect our region.”
In the News! In August and September, local and regional media asked The Chamber’s perspective more than 21 times, on topics ranging from global markets to municipal development. Between January 1 and Sept 30, 2015, The Chamber has been in the local and regional media more than 150 times.
Your Community.
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• www.victoriay.com Ph: 250-386-7511 BUSINESSMATTERS | November 2015
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electrical contracting building controls & automation data networks security & life safety systems industrial construction power quality 24 hr service
Get plugged into electrical safety 250.544.0099 www.houle.ca
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