BRUCE WILLIAMS
VICTORIA – It was a night for the history books. With about 250 people in attendance in the Crystal Ballroom at the Fairmont Empress, the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce welcomed five new additions into the Business Hall of Fame, presented by RBC.
The Times Colonist, CHEK Media, Michael Williams, the Yuen family-Fairway Market and Alan Lowe were selected for their role in shaping our community’s quality of life and developing our region’s economy.
“It was great to have such a positive celebration of our Greater Victoria business community,” Chamber Chair Kris Wirk said. “This year’s inductees join an impressive group already in the Business Hall of Fame and serve as inspiration for everyone working together to build good business and great community for all.”
This year’s inductees have been instrumental in forming our sense of culture and understanding of place.
“The ceremony truly had the feel of an historic night. Everyone who was there will be able to look back for years to come and say they were there to experience it,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said. “The Business Hall of Fame is an idea many people believed in, especially our presenting sponsor RBC. With the 2024 inductees, we have a growing list of business leaders who have been fundamental to the growth and development of Greater Victoria.”
The Chamber’s Business Hall of Fame recognizes organizations, families and individuals who are positive role models through their leadership, vision and commitment to the prosperity of Greater Victoria. The process used to select inductees considers and respects the diversity of leaders who have helped grow our region’s business community. Every two years, new inductees are added to the Business Hall of Fame.
In 2022, the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce launched the Business Hall of Fame presented by RBC, with five inductees taking their place among our region’s pantheon of entrepreneurial excellence: Chief Robert Sam, Helen Beirnes, Clare Copeland, Ron Lou-Poy and Ian Maxwell. Also added to the hall were previous recipients of The Chamber’s Lifetime Achievement Award: Bill McCreadie, Gordy Dodd, Eric Charman, Mel Cooper, Murray and Lynda Farmer, Naz Rayani, Bob Skene, Keith Dagg, Terry Farmer, Cedric Steele, Gordon Denford, Alex A. Campbell, Robert H. Wright and John Chew.
For more information on The Chamber’s Business Hall of Fame, as well as profiles of the inductees, go to victoriachamber.ca/connect/events/business-hall-of-fame/.
Bruce Williams is CEO of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce
