8 replies to this topic

[Mike K.]

New agency gives Greater Victoria ‘one economic voice’

BY ANDREW A. DUFFY Times Colonist staff

It may be an answer to the disparate business voices crying out for goodies, help and guidance and it may even help steer the economic fortunes of the region.

And for some, the establishment of the Greater Victoria Economic Development Agency could mean a slight realignment of the planets, which would suit Dan Gunn, who just wants his world to make sense again.

“In what universe does it make sense that more people are moving to Edmonton than Victoria,” said the executive director of the Vancouver Island Advanced Technology Centre, noting Victoria is losing out because there’s no one voice extolling the benefits of setting up a business in the region. “Edmonton has a well organized and well-funded economic development group that’s brought everyone together, and they’ve developed a promotional strategy.

“If we do something, we will be successful, because nothing is being done currently and we are paying the price for it.”

The new agency, being spearheaded by the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, is in its developmental stages and has drawn together groups like VIATeC, Tourism Victoria, the Victoria Real Estate Board and the Downtown Victoria Business Association in order to better manage and stimulate economic growth for Greater Victoria.

It will also likely be a cheerleader for the region as a great place to do business.

“There’s a huge opportunity there,” said Lindalee Brougham, president of the GVCC. “We don’t have anyone out there promoting what a great place Victoria is to do business, so yes we’re losing out.”

One of the first steps the agency has undertaken through the chamber is a survey of the business community to determine how the business climate is perceived and what the key issues facing business are.

“Part of the reason VIATeC has had some success lately is we flat out ask our members ‘what are your challenges and what do you want,’” said Gunn. “So rather than have 10 guys in an oak-walled room deciding the future of the city’s economy let’s go out and ask questions.”

To date the survey (http://www.victoriachamber. has been completed by 284 people with the retail trade sector leading the way in terms of responses. The results of the survey, which closes Monday, will be used to determine the focus and priorities of the agency.

As far as the DVBA is concerned it’s about time there was a regional voice on the issue of development.

“With so many municipalities, driving economic development was becoming increasingly difficult, and there’s no one group doing that,” said Darlene Hollstein, chairwoman of the DVBA and general manager of the Bay Centre. “As a municipality you have one set of eyes and you may miss out on things.”

Hollstein said a company looking to relocate into one area may not find everything it needs, and if there’s no regional voice or resource to turn to they may not realize that collectively Greater Victoria can offer them everything.

“There’s a lot of growth across a lot of municipalities and if we don’t start talking with one voice we could see some major things slip through,” she added.

That sentiment was echoed by both Tourism Victoria’s Lorne Whyte and the Victoria Airport Authority’s Richard Paquette, who noted while the agency is in its infancy, there is real potential in establishing a centralized voice for the region on economic matters.

At this point, the Greater Victoria Economic Development Commission appears to be taking it all in stride.

Commissioner Ken Stratford said he doesn’t see the agency as a threat to his organization.

“If it was badly done it could be viewed [as a threat] but we don’t detect any kind of hostility,” he said. “We take the view that if someone wants to assist us with some of that lifting, we’re quite happy. Our role is to make things happen in the community not necessarily to run things in a community.”

Stratford said the two groups have been working together and it’s too early to determine if they would merge at some point.

[G-Man]

I am being cynically optimistic about this. I mean did we not have a group with almost the exact same name about 5 years ago? It lasted for a couple of years and then died because some of the other munis thought they could do a better job on their own.

[Ms. B. Havin]

I'm not sure if this relates directly to the Greater Victoria Economic Development Agency, but there's an article of interest in today's T-C "Business" section: [url=http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/business/story.html?id=5588ca29-e567-43dd-91ab-c2a699d27707:1cc3d]Islanders told to get moving[/url:1cc3d]. Basically, Vancouver Island should develop as a specific economic region. Alas (?for us?), the meeting discussed by the article was held in ...Nanaimo:

Islanders told to get moving
Premier Campbell says Island business leaders must create their future
Andrew A. Duffy, Times Colonist
Published: Wednesday, April 04, 2007

NANAIMO -- Premier Gordon Campbell may as well have borrowed the Nike slogan "Just Do It" during his address to the Vancouver Island Economic Alliance Summit yesterday, as he prodded business leaders to get beyond simply talking about the next phase of Island growth.

In a wide-ranging speech that touched on the Island's potential, its limitations and the problems plaguing all regions, Campbell told an appreciative standing-room-only crowd to get beyond the boardrooms and make change happen.

"In order to reach our full potential we can't just talk about it. We have to do something about it. We have to do something, we have to act on something," he said. "Do something tomorrow that is a little different than what we did yesterday."

Campbell told the newly established organization that the Island has all the opportunity in the world at its fingertips, but needs to take control of its own future.

He pointed to the opportunity afforded the Island with its proximity to the Asia-Pacific region, the opportunity to take advantage of the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver and the Island's natural attributes as key factors moving forward.

According to Alliance chairman Mike Hunter, the message was taken to heart by the group, which was established after the first Island economic summit in late 2004.

"We're basically 21/2 years on and we're at a place where we have private-sector commitment to the idea, money in the bank and a contribution from the province which will be helpful in getting this going," he said. "And I hope by end of the week we'll have had a whole bunch of people that have been sitting in these rooms that I hope are going to leave here and do something."

As an organization, the Alliance aims to continue to develop the concept of the Island as an economic region with a view to getting new members and marketing itself in the search for investors and capital.

And getting on it appears to be imperative.

"The change these days is our competition is already doing something," he added. "The Okanagan economic development commission is working with the Ministry of Economic Development in Europe to look for immigrant investors and investment capital to go to the Okanagan. They have the same problems we do, they need jobs for their young people."

The two-day summit also covered the topics of tourism growth and how the Island brand could be more than simply the sum of its parts. It delved into the topics of grabbing and holding the world's attention, and kicked around ideas on how to solve transportation and labour-shortage issues.

One topic that did not command top billing this year was the Island's forest industry, which was rolled into a session on the future of the Island's economy.

It was a sharp contrast to 2004 when it had been front and centre, with representatives from Weyerhaeuser, TimberWest and Interfor laying out a plan to breathe life into an industry that had faltered.

The new life has yet to come to that resource sector, and there was next to no mention of it on the agenda.

"The coastal forest industry has lots of problems and the fact they are not here I think is indicative of changes that have happened on Vancouver Island," said Hunter. "Look at the private land ownership on the southern part of the Island especially -- the land the trees is growing on is worth more for housing than it is for forestry."

The summit did get a sneak peek into the minds of the rest of Canada with the release of a survey of what Canadians know about the Island.

The survey of more than 3,000 Canadians done by Innovative Research showed Canadians think highly of the Island's beauty and natural assets, but did not rate it as an economic powerhouse.

"The survey shows the defining of the Island brand is very much about the natural attributes and in a tourism way," said Mike McDonald, senior research associate with Innovative Research.

He pointed out the business community has a lot of work to do if it wants to change the perception and get people thinking about the Island in economic terms.

While the survey showed 70 per cent of those surveyed thought the Island was a desirable place to live, only 28 per cent agreed it was a great place to start a small business (10 per cent disagreed and 44 per cent said they didn't know) and 30 per cent said the Island is heavily dependent on natural resources and lacks a diversified economy.

And when asked if the Island offered more or fewer opportunities for people than the region where they live now, the Atlantic region and Quebec were the only two that had significant responses showing the Island was a better place to work.

"I think what it shows is there is stiff competition out there, and when things are going well like in the rest of B.C. and Alberta it's hard to attract capital and investment," said McDonald, noting the research shows it needs a brand and to define itself to potential investors and job seekers. "These are the types of questions this group has to work on."

© Times Colonist (Victoria) 2007

[Ms. B. Havin]

More on the Greater Victoria Economic Development Agency, from today's T-C: [url=http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/business/story.html?id=55efb550-7e2d-4fa7-bb14-cbe3336413d3:0505a]New agency ready to promote region's economy[/url:0505a] by Carla Wilson:

New agency ready to promote region's economy
Industry organization 'won't duplicate' existing services

Carla Wilson
Times Colonist

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

A new voice to promote the region's economy has arrived, now that the Greater Victoria Development Agency has been launched.

Sasha Angus has returned to his hometown from Edmonton to serve as the agency's economic development officer, based in the Fort Street offices of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce.

Most of the industry-led agency's activities will focus on ways to help existing businesses grow and to keep those we have, said Bruce Carter, CEO of the chamber and of the new agency. "We are trying not to duplicate services that exist."

It's expected that businesses will move, Carter said, referring to a number of firms that relocated but stayed within the region.

Angus added that other jurisdictions are marketing to businesses. "If we don't do anything to counteract that and convince businesses to stay here, we leave ourselves vulnerable that way."

Angus said we can "trumpet a bit more" our regional success stories, such as information technology businesses, marine engineering and technology, and value-added production, such as smoking salmon.

Carter said when looking at this region from a national and global perspective, our advantages include weather, high-tech industries, and post-secondary educational facilities.

Attracting new businesses is on the agency's to-do list. If a head office locates here, that helps raise the average wage in the region, Carter said yesterday. However, our low unemployment and shortage of available commercial space can hinder our ability to lure companies.

The agency's first-year budget has total funding so far of $160,000 from the chamber, Victoria and Saanich. Applications are in for $75,000 Western Diversification program funding and for $25,000 from the province.

The goal is for three-year commitments from senior governments, and to seek funding from more municipalities after the agency has a year to prove itself, Carter said.

Carter anticipates the agency will take a different role from the Greater Victoria Economic Development Commission (Business Victoria), which he said is more focused on employment.

Ken Stratford, who heads the commission, said there may be parallels in their work.

During the past 20 years, the commission has primarily emphasized stimulating business here, he said. It has 17 employees and two locations.

The new agency is a committee of the chamber and if it becomes an external agency representing the region,

"We will be right there with them," Stratford said.

It needs to be involved with issues such as social services and housing, he said. "We are not doing a lot in that regard and we would like to see more done."

Angus traces his family's roots to the R. Angus Caterpillar dealership, subsequently sold to Finning in 1989. The original R. Angus firm started in Victoria in 1919.

He earned a degree in economics and political science from Carleton University, worked as an investment adviser, and served as president of the Edmonton-Glenora Progressive Conservative Riding Association.

Angus was chief of staff for former economic development minister Mark Norris in Alberta, leaving government in 2004. He found himself in the headlines in Alberta because of reports he used a government credit card for personal use. He said yesterday that at the time the policy was if someone put personal expenses on a card, it was to be paid back, which he did.

Most recently, Angus was director of development, community relations and volunteer services with the Child and Adolescent Services Association in Edmonton.
© Times Colonist (Victoria) 2007

[VicHockeyFan]

Greater Victoria, BC News - Greater Victoria | Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce | Victoria, BC


MEDIA RELEASE

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 1, 2012 – Victoria, BC –

The Victoria Chamber is publicly endorsing the Greater Victoria Development Agency’s (GVDA) Top Infrastructure Priorities list:

Regional Overpasses: McKenzie Interchange / #1 Highway
Connection of the Westshore Communities to Victoria/Saanich
Victoria Harbour Transportation Gateway Optimization (including the Belleville Terminal)
Airport Runway Extension
BC Marine Highway
Marine Production Centre – Graving Docks
Legislative Precinct
UVIC: Centre for Atheltics, Recreation and Special Abilites (CARSA)
Camosun College: Centre of Excellence for Marine, Metal and Mechanical Trades
Pacific Institute for Sports Excellence (PISE) – Phase Two
Amphitheatre/Downtown event site
Visitor and Interpretive Centre (On the Saanich Peninsula, Pat Bay Highway)
Cycling Infrastructure

[Mike K.]

Connection of the Westshore Communities to Victoria/Saanich

What does that entail?

[Nparker]

"Connection of the Westshore Communities to Victoria/Saanich" - What does that entail?

I believe it will involve the construction of the a very long string of popsicle sticks glued end-to-end to create the worlds thinnest Light Rail Transit system. Anything more robust is financially infeasible; unless of course the Chamber is endorsing a 10,000% increase in business taxes.

[Bingo]

Victoria beeswax firm prize finalist.

 

Abeego Designs Inc., founded by nutritionist Toni Desrosiers, has been chosen by the Business Development Bank of Canada's Young Entrepreneur Award, as a finalist for a $100,000 grand prize.

 

Votes can be cast for Toni here each day until June 12th. 

https://www.bdcyoung...sts/bee-wrapped

 

You can view the company website here;

http://abeego.com/

 

[Bingo]

BDC Young Entrepreneur Award contest

 

The contest runner-up, who will receive $25,000 in consulting services offered by BDC, is the project Bee Wrapped, submitted by Toni Desrosiers, owner of Abeego Designs, Inc. in Victoria, British Columbia.

 

About the 2014 BDC Young Entrepreneur Award contest
Created by the Business Development Bank of Canada in 1988, the BDC Young Entrepreneur Award contest pays tribute to remarkable Canadian entrepreneurs between 18 and 35. For the first time in 2014, a national committee evaluated the quality of the finalist projects and gave each finalist a ranking that was combined with the public vote. The national committee evaluation was weighted to account for 30% of each project's final ranking and the public vote accounted for the remaining 70% of the ranking. Online voting in the BDC Young Entrepreneur Award contest took place between May 29 and June 12 at www.bdc.ca/yea.

 

 

Read more: http://www.digitaljo...1#ixzz3503puHU4