Chamber Chats with Paul Haysom

Bruce chats with three unique specialty business owners. Lindsay Dault of Country Bee Honey, Tara Black of Origin Bakery, and Autumn Maxwell of Cold Comfort Ice Cream.

Housing costs continue to escalate as the supply chain for the Real Estate, Construction and Development sectors are operating at full speed. Three Pivot Pilots from the Construction and Development speak about that in this week’s Chamber Chat. Chamber CEO Bruce Williams speaks with Kathy Witcher from the Urban Development Institute and Chamber Champions John Knappett, President of Knappett Projec...

In this Chamber Chat we learn about the pivots undertaken by a live music venue, a live event planner, and a public safety and security provider. All have been Pivot Pilots as we taxi along the Recovery Runway.

No sector has been impacted more by the COVID pandemic than the restaurant and hospitality sector. Ups and downs, open then closed. This week we gather perspectives on that from the BC Restaurant and Food Association plus two restauranteurs, one established and one quite new.

Businesses continue to make strategic pivots as we all continue to taxi along the Recovery Runway. Among the Pivot Pilots is a local media outlet who have been in pivot mode for over 10 years as they have redefined and grown their business and culture. We hear their story in this week’s Chamber Chat

As businesses continue to taxi together along the Recovery Runway there are some who are actually expanding their operations as they pivot into the new economy. Three of these Pivot Pilots tell us about their expansion plans.

As we continue to taxi along the Recovery Runway we are having conversations with the “Pivot Pilots”, business leaders who were able to pivot their operations into innovation mode. In this edition a company who undertook manufacturing much-needed ventilators for medical support to COVID patients, a post-secondary who created face shields and a safe model for transporting vaccines, and a brewery pi...

As we traverse our pathway through the COVID-19 pandemic The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce sees us all together as we taxi along the #RecoveryRunway. Businesses of all sizes have had to pivot their planning to adapt with change, and among those businesses are the #PivotPilots who have shown great innovation and leadership in their business practices. In this edition of Chamber Chats Bruce W...

Canada conducts a census every five years, and 2021 is one of those years. A census tells us more than simply how many people live in our country, it’s a thorough look at the profile of our population. What has changed and what has stayed the same — crucial data as we chart our COVID Recovery. Bruce Williams speaks with Statistics Canada Director General Geoff Bowlby.

Has working your dining room table “office” outlived its purpose? Converting home space into working space is a pandemic priority for many right now and looking into the future. Three experts join us to discuss all you should consider when creating a suitable situation for working from home.

The demand on non-profit and community organizations has become even more important throughout the COVID pandemic and many have seen a profound shift in their funding and support. What’s the future of philanthropy and its impact on the work of non-profit and non-Governmental programmes? Greater Victoria Chamber CEO Bruce Williams speaks with two non-profit leaders in this week’s Chamber Chat.

COVID-19 impacted residents and the care they receive at Long Term Care facilities. How have LTC facilities adapted to COVID and what changes are here to stay? Bruce Williams discussed with Amir Hemani, Berwick Retirement Communities CEO, and David Cheperdak, Broadmead Care Society CEO.

We see a group of people as homeless, campers, temporary hotel residents. Who are they? Bruce Williams does a deep dive into the fundamental reason why these are living these circumstances with Our Place CEO, Julian Daly.

Community connections shine as the pandemic brings out the best in businesses as they rally to keep customers coming in or shopping online. Campaigns such as #ChamberLocalVicBC, shopping by appointment and free delivery by local BIAs helped many small businesses survive 2020. Featuring Geoffrey Beattie (Oak Bay BIA), Shannon Toogood (Sidney BIA), and Jeff Bray (DVBA).

Chamber CEO Bruce Williams speaks with Oak Bay-Gordon Head MLA Murray Rankin, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation. Topics include efforts to help more businesses make better use of provincial grants, and how the inclusion of indigenous people in the workforce is changing attitudes about reconciliation across the province.