– 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.
WEST SHORE – I sat for some time staring at a blank screen when pulling together this article as I pondered 2016, which has been a very strange and a very interesting year. In the West Shore I have very much felt a mood of optimism throughout 2016. More businesses are opening across the region, and some are expanding.
The walls of the Pacific Centre Family Services Association’s new Wellness Centre in Colwood are rising out of the ground. The YMCA-YWCA Westhills opened in Langford in May and was voted the Best Fitness Facility in the 2016 Best of the West Shore Awards. And the list goes on.
Reconciling this sense of confidence against events in the wider world is where it becomes thought-provoking. Whatever your political views, the vote for the UK to leave the European Union and Donald Trump for President of the United States is a clear voice, in both cases, for change. The ripple effects of this change will be felt as our leaders at national, provincial and local levels respond to its impact.
We live, work and play in a region that feels prosperous, with people working hard to make it more so every day. The WestShore Chamber of Commerce is in the fortunate position, as are the other regional Chambers, of affecting positive change. This is very much in line with how people are responding to events on the world stage – “what can I do to make things better?”
At the WestShore Chamber we are very much about continuous improvement as we advance the growth, prosperity and sustainability of business and community life on the West Shore.
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of our members for your support, your challenge and your great ideas – please keep them coming! I would also like to thank the City of Langford, the City of Colwood and the Town of View Royal for your crucial support of the WestShore Chamber’s activities.
While the WestShore Chamber’s membership is growing, we will not be resting on our laurels! In 2017 we will continue to work with our partners and members to make our best possible impact both for our members, and for the community at large.
For further information on what is going on at the WestShore Chamber, please go to www.westshore.bc.ca or give us a call on 250.478.1130.
