Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce
Encyclopedia
The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce or GVCC is a business association that serves the Greater Victoria Region of British Columbia
Canada. The Chamber of Commerce is created under the [Federal Board of Trade Act]. http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/B-6/index.html?noCookie The organization is operated by a volunteer board of directors and has been in operation since 1863, before the Confederation of Canada. The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, like other Chambers of Commerce in Canada, is not a part of government but is affiliated with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the British Columbia Chamber of Commerce.
The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce was formed only two years after the City of Victoria was founded and has played a significant role in the Victoria region ever since. Over the years the Chamber has initiated or been involved with so many of the developments in the region’s business community including encouraging Canadian Pacific to build the landmark Empress Hotel, to establishing both the Victoria Film Commission and Tourism Victoria, which first started as committees of the Chamber.
The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce has a membership of more than 1,500 members, and is the second largest of the 131 chambers in the Province of British Columbia. Their membership reflects the diversity of the business community, representing the interests of small, medium and large businesses across all sectors as well as members from the not-for-profit sector. Reflective of the character of businesses in Greater Victoria, approximately 60% of our membership is from organizations with 5 employees or less and the majority of the remainder has less than 50 employees.
The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce support economic development through a special committee called the Greater Victoria Development Agency (GVDA) http://www.gvda.ca/. The GVDA is an industry led group that will facilitate and promote development of a strong economic base in Greater Victoria. Board members of the GVDA are nominated by the partner organizations and appointed by the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
The Vision of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce:
As the Voice of Business for the Greater Victoria region, the Chamber works to ensure the region is a vibrant and prosperous place to carry on business. The Chamber seeks to maintain and enhance a strong socially responsible business climate based on the principles of free enterprise and fair profit. They are committed to advancing existing business and attracting new economic opportunities and constructively influencing public policy to support a healthy private enterprise system. The Chamber values the region's historical character, culture and diversity while embracing economic prosperity and innovation as key components to the quality of life we enjoy. They consistently work to build value for our members.
2010 Priorities
Municipal Taxation
Crime Reduction
Homelessness
Regional Leadership
Board of Governors
The GVCC Board of Governors is composed of all past Chairs of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce. They function as an advisory group for the Chambers current Board of Directors as the knowledge and experience of our past leadership remains a valuable resource.
A complete listing of the Board of Governors can be found here.
Board of Directors
A listing of the current Board of Directors can be found here.
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
Canada. The Chamber of Commerce is created under the [Federal Board of Trade Act]. http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/B-6/index.html?noCookie The organization is operated by a volunteer board of directors and has been in operation since 1863, before the Confederation of Canada. The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, like other Chambers of Commerce in Canada, is not a part of government but is affiliated with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the British Columbia Chamber of Commerce.
The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce was formed only two years after the City of Victoria was founded and has played a significant role in the Victoria region ever since. Over the years the Chamber has initiated or been involved with so many of the developments in the region’s business community including encouraging Canadian Pacific to build the landmark Empress Hotel, to establishing both the Victoria Film Commission and Tourism Victoria, which first started as committees of the Chamber.
The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce has a membership of more than 1,500 members, and is the second largest of the 131 chambers in the Province of British Columbia. Their membership reflects the diversity of the business community, representing the interests of small, medium and large businesses across all sectors as well as members from the not-for-profit sector. Reflective of the character of businesses in Greater Victoria, approximately 60% of our membership is from organizations with 5 employees or less and the majority of the remainder has less than 50 employees.
The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce support economic development through a special committee called the Greater Victoria Development Agency (GVDA) http://www.gvda.ca/. The GVDA is an industry led group that will facilitate and promote development of a strong economic base in Greater Victoria. Board members of the GVDA are nominated by the partner organizations and appointed by the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
The Vision of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce:
As the Voice of Business for the Greater Victoria region, the Chamber works to ensure the region is a vibrant and prosperous place to carry on business. The Chamber seeks to maintain and enhance a strong socially responsible business climate based on the principles of free enterprise and fair profit. They are committed to advancing existing business and attracting new economic opportunities and constructively influencing public policy to support a healthy private enterprise system. The Chamber values the region's historical character, culture and diversity while embracing economic prosperity and innovation as key components to the quality of life we enjoy. They consistently work to build value for our members.
2010 Priorities
Municipal Taxation
- The Chamber is concerned about the sustainability of municipal budgeting level and the approach to taxation. We appreciate that the provincial government has committed to reviewing the municipal tax structure in British Columbia and will be involved in that process as a stakeholder. Specifically we are concerned about the business to residential tax ratio, the rate of increase in municipal budgets, and the expenditures of municipal governments.
Crime Reduction
- The Chamber continues to advocate for increased attention to reducing and preventing crime in our community through:
- more visible policing;
- focused efforts on repeat offenders;
- the amalgamation of our regional police forces;
- implementing a community court in the capital region; and,
- addressing root causes of crime, such as drug addiction and mental health issues
Homelessness
- The Victoria Chamber is the national champion of making homelessness a business priority in the Chamber movement, advocating for a national housing first strategy, with significant investment from the federal government
Regional Leadership
- The Chamber focused on the business perspective on issues that impact of the vitality of the business community. We represent the business voice in a regional context to the municipal governments of the Capital Region.
- The Chamber advocates on ongoing issues as well including the regional economic development, the redevelopment of Belleville Street Terminal, fair taxation for business, to name a few.
Board of Governors
The GVCC Board of Governors is composed of all past Chairs of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce. They function as an advisory group for the Chambers current Board of Directors as the knowledge and experience of our past leadership remains a valuable resource.
A complete listing of the Board of Governors can be found here.
Board of Directors
A listing of the current Board of Directors can be found here.