WEST SHORE – In my comings and goings out in the community, I am constantly impressed by the support that businesses provide to non-profit, government and charitable organizations. From support in kind to financial support, from advocacy to volunteers, the role played by business in community well-being is invaluable.
I know firsthand about the generosity of View Royal Casino, who with Prosperity Planning and Westridge Landing, sponsored the Chamber’s “Dinner with David Black” back in May. However, it wasn’t until I had the opportunity to learn more about how Great Canadian Casinos operate that I understood that two-thirds of the gross gaming revenues generated at the Casino goes directly to the provincial government to support programs in areas such as social services, education and health care. Some of this two-thirds is distributed by the province to municipalities. Since View Royal Casino opened in 2001 (up to its 2013-14 financial year), over $51 million has been distributed to Esquimalt, Sooke and West Shore municipalities. The Casino’s 180+ employees also contribute to the Great Canadian Casinos’ proud program, which encourages staff to lend their time to meaningful volunteer projects, plus providing cash donations to charities chosen by the staff.
Bigger businesses can create a bigger single impact. However, the role of small to medium-sized businesses in quietly and steadfastly supporting their community organisations is huge. In July, the Chamber partnered with the Young Entrepreneurs Society (YES) on a golf tournament which was held at the scenic Olympic View Golf Course. Proceeds raised went to support the activities of the Chamber of Commerce and the Saanich Legacy Foundation. This event was a success because of the support we had from a myriad of businesses and organisations who offered up players, volunteer time, sponsors, casino night prizes and silent auction items.
There are too many to thank in one article, so I’d like to highlight Amanda Lumley of Brown’s, The Florist. We put a call out in our weekly e-newsletter for silent auction items, and as a result Amanda picked up the phone and said “We’d like to help!” As a result, Brown’s donated some beautiful orchids which were snapped up on the night, one of the many parts which helped to make the event a success.
Obviously, when businesses make a donation to silent auctions and the like, it creates a profile opportunity for them as well as supporting a non-profit or community organization. I see this very much as a virtuous circle. If as a result of the donation, profile and subsequently further business is generated, that increases business capacity to continue or increase their support.
In a region like ours where people, work, live and play across multiple municipal boundaries within the parameters of an island, our interdependence is even more noteworthy. Chambers across the region exist to support and promote business – and by extension, community – success.
– Julie Lawlor is the Executive Director at the WestShore Chamber of Commerce. You can reach her at 250-478-1130 or jlawlor@westshore.bc.ca.
