News Impacting Southern Vancouver Island Business
VICTORIA
John Wilson
John Wilson has officially assumed his new position as CEO of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce.
Chief Frank Brown, λáλíya̓ sila, has been appointed the new Indigenous Climate Fellow at the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS) at UVic.
The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce welcomes its newest members including Endurance Media (Ben Farris), SpeedWash, RMC Chartered Professional Accountants LLP, and Brian Corfield Real Estate.
The Victoria Marriott Inner Harbour will host a half-day session on July 24, 2025, titled “Understanding CUSMA Compliance,” intended for BC exporters.
Hey Happy coffee shop on Johnson Street has signed a deal with Empresa Properties to open a second outlet in one of the commercial ground-floor units of a six-story rental building planned for the site at Birch Street and Richmond Avenue, near Royal Jubilee Hospital.
Alyssa Foote
Alyssa Foote has been hired as the new Senior Lab Instructor in the UVIC School of Health Information Science.
The Roxy Theatre is set to debut the Spotlight Series, a fresh concert night starting on Sunday, Aug. 3.
Beacon Community Services was nominated for the 2025 Distinguished Service to Families Award by the BC Council for Families, recognizing its partnership with SD63 and the ILC.
The researchers at the University of Victoria have been awarded $25 million in funding from various programs run by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC-CRSH) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).
The Mechanical Contractors Association of BC welcomes its newest members, Independent Supply Company BC, DynamiX Building Automation LTD, and BAUCO.
Lori Wanamaker
Lori Wanamaker, former deputy minister to the premier, cabinet secretary and head of the BC Public Service has been appointed Royal Roads University’s next chancellor and chair of the Board of Governors effective August 1, 2025.
Chard Developments and Knightstone Capital Management have initiated the construction of their inaugural purpose-built hotel in Victoria’s historic Old Town.
Downtown Victoria Gift Cards are now available in both physical and digital formats. See their website for more information.
Focus Equities’ Bayview Place master-planned project, which is also referred to as the Roundhouse development, has been approved by the City of Victoria.
Three residential buildings on three combined lots across from the Victoria Golf Club at 1101, 1069, and 1051 Beach Drive would make up Sotheby’s International Realty‘s proposed 582-unit development on 6.1 acres of Oak Bay’s coastline.
The National Loan Program by Women’s Enterprise Organizations of Canada has reached a significant achievement, having disbursed $20 million to women entrepreneurs throughout the country.
Hormone replacement therapy for menopausal symptoms will be covered by the government for free at the new Complex Menopause Clinic at BC Women’s Hospital beginning in March 2026.
Habitat Victoria’s Gingerbread Showcase fundraiser, an iconic holiday tradition in Victoria, returns for its 17th year, presented by Peninsula Co-op and hosted at Hotel Grand Pacific.
MeeT, a vegan restaurant company, will soon shut down its location on Hillside Avenue, which overlooks Blanshard Street.
Patriot Electric Ltd. has successfully completed the commercial lighting retrofit at Inspire Sports, located at 601 Boleskine Road, Victoria.
North Indian cuisine themed restaurant, Ustad G76 (Kulcha King) is opening its 11th location in Victoria.
The first phase of the Better Homes Energy Savings Program Condo and Apartment Rebate, which is available starting Tuesday, July 15, 2025, will offer rebates of up to $5,000 to assist in the purchase and installation of high-performance electric heat pumps in individual suites of multi-unit residential buildings (MURBs).
B.C. has received nearly 780 job applications from qualified health professionals across the United States in the past two months, which is indicative of the Province’s U.S. recruitment campaign. On July 7, 2025, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C. (CPSBC) implemented bylaw changes that benefited physicians trained outside of Canada in order to enhance recruitment.
Sean Holman has been awarded the Bill Good Award by the Jack Webster Foundation this year.
Mike Nesbitt has been appointed as the new Head Coach and General Manager of the Westshore Wolves Hockey Club.
Central Saanich council approved an amendment to the official community plan (OCP) to allow Aryze Developments and Legion Manor Victoria to build two purpose-built rental buildings with 187 units on 1934 Hovey Rd.
The rezoning and development permit for a six-story rental apartment building with 68 units, which Rizzo Developments has proposed for Harriet Road and Whittier Avenue, was unanimously approved by the Saanich council.
Saanich has been allocated almost $300,000 for enhancements to its 911 dispatch system, part of British Columbia’s $150-million initiative aimed at advancing Next Generation 911 services.
King’s Auto Sales held its official Grand Opening on July 18th at 101 – 3035 Leigh Road, Langford.
The District of Sooke is working with Regehr Contracting Ltd. on the Little River Pedestrian Crossing project, which is intended to enhance community access and trail connectivity.
Sooke Veterinary Hospital has officially launched its new mobile service on July 19.
Rosemead House in Esquimalt, has joined the BC Hotel Association as a new member property.
The Sooke Region Communities Health Network was planning to open a new medical clinic in a mixed-use affordable housing facility on Wadams Way this year, the first of its kind on the Island. It would offer multiple primary care services and a doctor-led healthcare model.
Smør Scandinavian Bakery located at 104-2376 Bevan Avenue, Sidney, is celebrating its 1st anniversary.
Cameron Rose Gifts is celebrating its 21st anniversary in Sidney and moving into a new location at 100–2506 Beacon Ave.
BC Transit and the Town of Sidney are working together on a new Transit Hub aimed at enhancing service in Sidney and the Saanich Peninsula.
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