Douglas Weekly 2024

Douglas Weekly – Sep 16

September 16, 2024

IN THE KNOW:

Two Victoria Hotels awarded a Michelin Key

The Fairmont Empress and the Magnolia Hotel are among four Vancouver Island hotels featured on the first ever Michelin Hotel Guide, awarding Keys to hotels who provide outstanding accommodation, unique experiences, and superb service.

Both Victoria Hotels have been awarded one Key each for “A Very Special Stay.”

The Hotel Guide describes the Fairmont Empress as “the most luxurious hotel in town, and its position facing the Inner Harbour makes it an unmissable landmark and a fixture in Victoria’s downtown city life.”

Meanwhile, it says, the Magnolia Hotel is “equally at home in the 21st century and the 19^th.”

In Tofino, the Wickaninnish Inn received 2 Michelin Keys, “An Exceptional Stay,” for its spacious and luxurious accommodation and outstanding natural setting.

Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge received the highest honour of 3 Keys – “An Extraordinary Stay” – for its “superlative take on glamping amidst the picture-perfect, UNESCO-designated, Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve.”

According to its website the Michelin Guide includes over 5,000 hotels vetted and judged excellent in five categories: architecture and interior design, quality and consistency of service, overall personality and character, value for the price, and a significant contribution to the guest experience in a particular setting.

Victoria Chamber adds to Business Hall of Fame

Five new honorees will be inducted into the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce Business Hall of Fame at a ceremony on October 29.

They are the Yuen family, owners of Fairway Market, architect Alan Lowe, CHEK Media, the Times Colonist and philanthropist and developer Michael Williams.

The Business Hall of Fame was launched in 2022 to recognize organizations, families and individuals who are positive role models through their leadership, vision and commitment to the prosperity of Greater Victoria.

VIEA announces breakfast keynote for annual economic summit

Geena Jackson, Founder & Executive Producer, Bears’ Lair and President, Indigenous Initiatives Inc. will be the breakfast keynote speaker on October 24th at the Vancouver Island Economic Alliance’s 2024 ‘State of the Island’ Economic Summit.

The organization describes Jackson as a devoted advocate for Indigenous rights and economic development, with over 25 years of experience serving First Nation communities across Canada. A member of the Shishalh Nation (Sechelt), Jackson has helped over 800 Indigenous entrepreneurs grow their businesses and social enterprises, leading to the creation of the Bears’ Lair TV, an entrepreneurial competition show airing on APTN (Season 1 & 2) and CBC Gem (Season 1) where she joins each week as one of four core judges.

She has also facilitated over 40 camps, educating, elevating, and inspiring over 1200 Indigenous youth across the country, teaching entrepreneurship and life skills while fostering tools for success.

Government pushes municipalities to help end housing crisis

The B.C. government is giving 21 B.C. municipalities more time to amend zoning bylaws and upgrade infrastructure for some, or all, of their community.

The extension is meant to help them comply with the new actions to allow for more row homes, triplexes and townhomes as part of the Homes for People action plan.

The Province set new requirements for local governments to fix outdated zoning rules and create capacity for more row homes, triplexes and townhouses, paving the way for more housing options for people and families with middle incomes. Local governments were required to make changes to zoning bylaws by June 30, 2024, to allow: either a minimum of one secondary suite or detached accessory dwelling unit; a minimum of three to four dwelling units; or a minimum of six dwelling units near bus stops with frequent transit service, depending on location and population.

172 of 188, or more than 91% of local governments in B.C., have now adopted the small-scale, multi-unit housing (SSMUH) legislation by passing local bylaws for all areas where an extension was not requested.

Luke Mari, principal of Victoria’s Aryze Developments says he is in favor of the Homes for People plan, noting that “low supply, speculation, and restrictive zoning policies have resulted in fierce competition and limited housing choice, which impacts the social, environmental and economic prosperity of our province. Safe, affordable and diverse housing options in all neighbourhoods are foundational to the health of our communities and the planet.”