IN THE KNOW:
Victoria Hockey Legacy Society and BC Lions win Event of the Year
Touchdown Pacific and Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada – Victoria 2024 have been named co-winners of Event of the Year at the Greater Victoria Sports Awards.
Produced locally by the Victoria Hockey Legacy Society, Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada drew over 15,000 people to events scheduled January 18 – 20 at the Save On Foods Memorial Arena and downtown at Ship Point.
“More than 8.5 million television viewers saw how spectacular our city is, with the broadcast showing breathtaking views of Victoria’s vibrant downtown as well as striking images from around the South Island,” VHLS co-chair John Wilson said. “Hockey Day was so well received we couldn’t wait to start planning our next event, and we know the community will love the full range of hockey programming for youth and the general public coming up soon.”
That event is Century Celebration, which commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Western Canada Hockey League’s Victoria Cougars winning the Stanley Cup. It takes place March 29-30 in Oak Bay.
The Canadian Football League (CFL), the BC Lions, and the City of Victoria partnered to produce Touchdown Pacific at Royal Athletic Park on August 31 last year.
The game between the BC Lions and Ottawa Redblacks (the BC Lions won) drew a sellout crowd of 14,727 people, exceeding expectations.
“This award is a true testament of the outstanding work done by our organization to put on a historic event in Victoria,” said Lions’ president Duane Vienneau.
“We’ve long maintained the BC Lions are cherished across the province. That was evident all weekend long in Victoria. We are proud to share the honour with Hockey Day In Canada.”
Destination Greater Victoria estimated Touchdown Pacific had an economic impact of $16 million for the region while Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada’s impact was about $4 million.
Advocacy pays off for business and tourism industry
The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce says a collaborative push for a small change will make a big difference for downtown Victoria businesses.
The Chamber, City of Victoria, Greater Victoria Harbour Authority and Pacific Northwest Transportation Services worked together to solve what was becoming a big problem.
After explaining the concerns of having cruise ship shuttles stop short of Government Street’s retail core, severely impacting tourist access to areas further along the street, a collective agreement was made to shift to the 900 block, effective April 14, 2025.
“We heard concerns from merchants that the buses were letting cruise ship passengers off before they could discover Government Street to its fullest,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said. “Instead of enjoying the area’s shops, cafes and restaurants, it seems passengers were staying in the area they were dropped off. We worked alongside Destination Greater Victoria and the Downtown Victoria Business Association to address this challenge.”
The Chamber noted in its recent newsletter that the new stop was chosen for safety and logistics, as well as its benefit to downtown businesses. About 160,000 cruise passengers used the shuttle service last year, while other passengers chose organized tours or other methods to get into the city.
Tech companies write open letter in support of DEI
In a bold response to recent actions by prominent Canadian tech companies, hundreds of industry leaders, investors, and workers have signed an open letter titled “Innovation Includes Everyone.”
The letter criticizes the rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives within the sector, specifically calling out a major company for platforming a store selling swastika t-shirts.
Signatories argue that these moves go against Canadian values and are detrimental to the country’s tech ecosystem. Vancouver Island business leaders are among the signatories, including Douglas 10 to Watch winners Linda Biggs, CEO of joni and Humaira Ahmed, CEO of BestHuman, as well as Jeff Ward, CEO of Animikii Indigenous Technology and Joanna Buczkowska-McCumber, CEO of Ideas for Impact Agency.
The open letter comes in the wake of controversial decisions by companies like Shopify, which recently dismantled its Equitable Commerce team and terminated programs supporting Black and Indigenous entrepreneurs.
It warns against powerful forces in the tech sector that are reshaping Canada’s approach to inclusion, viewing it as an obstacle rather than an advantage. The authors urge Canadians to stand up for equality and refrain from supporting businesses that abandon these values.
This public stance has ignited a broader debate about the future of DEI in Canadian tech. Critics of the rollback argue that abandoning such initiatives could harm recruiting, retention, and overall economic success in the industry.
B.C. revises Labour Market Outlook in anticipation of tariffs
One million job openings in B.C. over the next decade. That’s a prediction made in the B.C. 2024 Labour Market Outlook (LMO). Now, says the Province, with the threat of tariffs amid a turbulent US/Canada relationship, that optimistic forecast may change.
The LMO delivers a comprehensive forecast of job-market trends over the coming decade. Its purpose is to help current and future post-secondary students, organizations, workers and employers make informed decisions about careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Compared to the 2023 edition, the 2024 LMO projected 122,000 more job openings for a total of 1.12 million over the next 10 years. Of these job openings, 449,000 were identified as the result of economic growth, with the remainder due to replacing retiring workers. By 2034, employment was projected to reach 3.3 million, up from 2.8 million today for average annual growth of 1.4%.
The 2024 edition uses data collected until April 2024, before changes in the federal immigration targets. Slower population growth will impact labour supply, the demand for some goods and services, it says, and the demand for workers in certain sectors, all of which have implications for the provincial economy.
The 2024 LMO was likewise created prior to the U.S. government’s threats to impose tariffs on Canadian goods. The B.C. government says it is working to safeguard the economy through a variety of measures to mitigate the impact of external forces.
At the same time, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce says its multi partisan All-In Canada Plan addresses the critical roadblocks that have until now left Canada dependent on trade with the United States. Among other priorities, such as internal trade barriers, the plan calls for the government to reconvene Parliament.
US tariffs are expected to take effect March 4, 2025.
Goodbye, Mel Cooper
Along with the rest of Victoria, we mourn the loss of local icon Mel Cooper, who passed away on February 20, 2025, at the age of 92. A broadcasting pioneer and philanthropist, Mel left an indelible mark on the city’s business and charitable landscape over his six-decade career.
Best known for co-owning and managing CFAX 1070 radio station since 1974, his influence extended far beyond the airwaves. Mel chaired the TELUS Victoria Community Board for 13 years, overseeing the distribution of over $5 million to local charities. His leadership was instrumental in bringing the 1994 Commonwealth Games to Victoria, and he played a key role in the success of Expo 86 in Vancouver.
Mel’s contributions were widely recognized, earning him the Order of Canada, the Order of British Columbia, and numerous local accolades. His legacy continues through the Mel Cooper Fund for Youth Development and the Performing Arts, established by the Victoria Foundation in 2023 to support youth and the arts in British Columbia.
FROM THE PAGES OF DOUGLAS:
The host of one of the top business podcasts in Canada lives right here in Victoria. We learn the secret to bartender and industry consultant Shawn Soole’s success.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR:
MARCH
March 4 – 6: Rising Economy conference
March 13: GVCC Business Leaders Series with Captain (N) Whiteside
MAY
May 4 – 9: International Seaweed Symposium
May 27 – 30: Web Summit
JUNE
June 4: Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce Business Awards
June 10: TEDxVictoria
