Chamber Chats with Paul Haysom

What new and existing business are helping to drive our economy as we shift into spring.

Housing Crisis discussed with local developers.

Paul Haysom sits down with the CEO of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce to discuss the organization’s priorities in the weeks following the provincial budget. He also speaks with two local business owners about the challenges their companies are facing.  

On the 208th episode of Chamber Chats, outgoing CEO Bruce Williams welcomes incoming Chamber of Commerce CEO John Wilson.

Del Manak will be retiring from his position of Chief Constable with Vic PD. In this Chamber Chat Chief Manak reflects on his career, the current state of policing, and what the future holds in his conversation with Chamber CEO Bruce Williams.

Greater Victoria is comprised of 13 municipalities and each has its own unique profile. In this Chamber Chat CEO Bruce Williams examines the District of Sooke with Mayor Maja Tait.

Communities across Vancouver Island share similar opportunities and unique challenges. In this Chamber Chat CEO Bruce Williams discusses the dynamics of business with his Chamber counterparts in Tofino, The Alberni Valley and Gabriola Island.

Post pandemic measures and ongoing political disruption are adding to a sense of unrest and stress for many among us. In this Chamber Chat CEO Bruce Williams speaks with Jonny Morris, CEO of the Canadian Mental Health Association about taking care of ourselves and others and how to process what is happening in our lives.

Many Canadians are removing the USA from their travel itineraries. Where are people travelling instead and what do we need to know about post COVID travel ? In this Chamber Chat CEO Bruce Williams learns about 2025 travel planning with Departures/Niche Travel CEO Cathy Scott.

Our longtime friendship with our American neighbours is uneasy right now due to the declarations being made by the White House. In this Chamber Chat CEO Bruce Williams speaks with Marc Abshire at the Port Angeles Chamber about the impact to our nearest US destination.

Greater Victoria is a world class travel destination. We have so many experiences and amenities to offer visitors which drive a huge sector of our economy. In this Chamber Chat CEO Bruce Williams talks with Destination Greater Victoria CEO Paul Nursey about the impact of tariffs on travel planning, a new conference centre and added flight options.

Greater Victoria hosts many film crews who use our beautiful region and favourable climate to create productions seen all over the world. In this Chamber Chat CEO Bruce Williams speak about this important sector of our economy with the Vancouver Island South Film Commissioner Tara-Lee Novak.

Our climate change issues and the weather associated with this disruption has created an ongoing plan for our emergency preparedness. In this Chamber Chat CEO Bruce Williams discusses it all with Baljit Sekhon, Warning Preparedness Meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada.

As millions of Canadians do, Chamber CEO Bruce Williams wears a Moose Hide pin. In this Chamber Chat he speaks with Raven Lacerte, the Executive Director of the Moose Hide Campaign, about the significance of their important work.

In the ever changing lives we live risks and opportunities are constant. The role of personal, property, business and vehicle insurance changes with these times. In this Chamber Chat CEO Bruce Williams learns about what we all need to know about making the right choices for insurance from Laura Bolster and Like Mills with Acera Insurance.

In this Chamber Chat CEO Bruce Williams explores options for food and beverage service creating healthy and convenient meal delivery for you, your children’s school lunches and even accompanying drinks and desserts. You will meet Chamber members Way of Life Foods (WOLF) Meal Prep, This Week’s Lunch, and The Bubble Bus Co.

There have been ongoing challenges to the restaurant and hospitality businesses in BC over the past few years. In this Chamber Chat CEO Bruce Williams discusses both challenges and opportunities with Ian Tostenson, CEO of the BC Restaurant and Food Association.

A successful business is one with the capacity to adapt to changes in the economy around them. In this Chamber Chat CEO Bruce Williams speaks with Corey Gillon, CEO of Peninsula Co-op about their pivots in providing vehicle fuel and groceries to diversify their successful operations.

We all love our furry four legged family members but busy schedules sometimes mean we can’t interact as we want. In this Chamber Chat CEO Bruce Williams learns about Woofability and Low Key Dog Walks, organizations who can keep your pup active.

In this Chamber Chat CEO Bruce Williams hears about the current status of Victoria's business community, from CEO of the DVBA Jeff Bray.

March 2025 marks 100 years since the Victoria Cougars won the Stanley Cup, and a Century Celebration is happening for us all to celebrate the milestone. In this Chamber Chat CEO Bruce Williams speaks with Helen Edwards, one of the pivotal people in making it all happen.

BC Ferries are planning transformation improvements to their fleet and services in addition to ongoing current operations. In this Chamber Chat learn about it all when Ferries CEO Nicolas Jimenez speaks with Chamber CEO Bruce Williams.

The important work done by the Our Place Society to support the most vulnerable among us is expanding with the opening of a facility specifically providing service for women. In this Chamber Chat CEO Bruce Williams hears about those plans and other ongoing work from Our Place CEO Julian Daly.

The Construction and Development sector build homes and buildings related to all types of businesses. The sector is robust but not without challenges post pandemic and pre possible tariffs. In this Chamber Chat CEO Bruce Williams speaks with Kathy Whitcher of the Urban Development Institute and Rory Kulmala with the Vancouver Island Construction Association.

The South Island Prosperity Partnership (SIPP)  works to fulfil its name by creating innovative and inclusive economic prosperity for Southern Vancouver Island. In this Chamber Chat CEO Bruce Williams discusses SIPP with their CEO Aaron Stone.

A Globe and Mail survey named View Royal as the best place in Canada for entrepreneurs to live. Hear more about that and the Town of View Royal in this Chamber Chat with CEO Bruce Williams and Mayor Sid Tobias. 

The ongoing concerns about street safety in our communities has resulted in an SOS alarm being raised. The SOS stands for Save Our Streets, a BC Organization. In this Chamber Chat CEO Bruce Williams speaks with some of the organizers of SOS.

Food and Finance are closely linked. The price we pay for food and how we afford it by budgeting are is the topic of this Chamber Chat as CEO Bruce Williams discussed strategies with representative from The Mustard Seed Food Bank and a budgeting expert from Island Savings.

The legacy of the 1994 Commonwealth Games continues to grow through the 94 Forward organization. In this Chamber Chat CEO Bruce Williams learns about the continuing work of 94 Forward with CEO John MacMillan.

Taxes, road construction, housing and managing all things municipal is the life of Mayors across Canada. In this Chamber Chat CEO Bruce Williams gets an update on current issues and outcomes in The District of Saanich with Mayor Dean Murdock.

Among the 13 municipalities in the South Island The City of Victoria is the one most closely scrutinized by the public and media. In this Chamber Chat CEO Bruce Williams gets an update from Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto at the halfway point in her term in office.

One of the big surprises in the municipal election 2 years ago was the sweeping change with The Council in Langford. In this Chamber Chat CEO Bruce Williams speaks with Langford Mayor Scott Goodmanson about the process of governing in Langford so far.

The pending Holiday Season presents mental health challenges to many. Add concerns about current events and cost of living to concerns. In this Chamber Chat CEO Bruce Williams hears guidance from CMHA CEO Jonny Morris and Chris Forester with Island Community Mental Health Association.

Persons living with a brain injury are often judged as being impaired, forgetful or angry due to their behaviour. In this Chamber Chat CEO Bruce Williams speaks with Pam Prewett, Executive Director of the Victoria Brain Injury Society about the connection between drug overdoses and brain injury and the support programs in place for all who manage brain injuries.

Every year Greater Victoria is given a report card on the issues of most concern to residents. It’s The Vital Signs Report created by the Victoria Foundation and this year we received a B grade. In this Chamber Chat CEO Bruce Williams examines the data with Paige Schoenfeld with Leger, the organization who collate that data, and Jonathan Dyck of the Victoria Foundation.

The past 20 years have seen progress and transformation in the culture and growth of Greater Victoria municipalities. The Township of Esquimalt is no exception. In this Chamber Chat CEO Bruce Williams talks about the past 20 years and the next 20 years with Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins.

It’s Small Business Month. There are constant changes to ways of doing business including interest rates, technology and succession planning. In this Chamber Chat CEO Bruce Williams hears business advice from Tara Benham at Doane Grant Thornton.

We are in need of affordable housing everywhere across Canada especially in Greater Victoria. Habitat for Humanity has been building affordable housing for decades and in this Chamber Chat CEO Bruce Williams speaks with Habitat CEO Scott Dutchak.

One of the world’s largest float plane operators are a regular part of our travel around British Columbia and innovation is in their DNA. In this Chamber Chat CEO Bruce Williams chats with Bert van der Stege, CEO of Harbour Air

Businesses operating in and identifying with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community are making a difference in the Chamber of Commerce movement across Canada. In this Chamber Chat CEO Bruce Williams engages with the Canadian 2SLGBTQIA+ Chamber CEO and a local queer business owner for a conversation about how this inclusion makes a difference.

Don’t ever think you are not able to be more environmentally friendly and better manage our climate at home, at work and wherever you are. In this Chamber Chat CEO Bruce Williams speaks with Jill Doucette and Georgia Lavender at Synergy, an organization who work with people to be more green.

We are living in a time of disruption with our economy, environment and elections. How do these factors impact our investment and spending ? In this Chamber Chat CEO Bruce Williams hears insight into this topic with Manny Del Dago at Island Savings, and Yohaan Thommy with MNP.

Food security is both a challenge and an opportunity for Vancouver Island residents. In this Chamber Chat CEO Bruce Williams talks food production with Linda Geggie and Laura Gair with CRFAIR (Capital Region Food and Agricultural Initiative Roundtable).

Victoria’s waterfront is one of the most spectacular in North America and is comprised of multiple properties and facilities managed by The Greater Victoria Harbour Authority. In this Chamber Chat CEO Bruce Williams talks about the current and future plans for the harbour with GVHA CEO Robert Lewis-Manning.

One of Canada’s most diverse and vibrant festivals is happening soon in Greater Victoria. In this Chamber Chat CEO Bruce Williams speaks with Nick Blasko the festival founder of Rifflandia.

In another of our conversations about Business and industry connected to our oceans we hear about monitoring the security of watercraft. This Chamber Chat features CEO Bruce Williams learns more about technology offered by BRNKL (Barnacle) from CEO Brandon Wright.

Policing in the Capital Region continues to evolve as safety issues connected to housing, mental health and addiction are mounting. In this Chamber Chat CEO Bruce Willliams discusses these matters with Vic PD Chief Del Manak

In this Chamber Char CEO Bruce Williams finds out about another of this region’s innovative marine technology operations who work to protect our oceans. Rockland Scientific founder Fabian Wolk is the guest talking about monitoring marine turbulence.

As a coastal business community Greater Victoria has an abundance of marine opportunities to grow our economy and boost the health of our oceans . In this Chamber Chat CEO Bruce Williams speaks with Jason Goldsworthy, Executive Director of COAST (Centre for Ocean Applied Sustainable Technologies) about these opportunities.

Interest rates and soaring prices have created both uncertainty and opportunity in the real estate market. In his Chamber Chat CEO Bruce Williams speaks with Tessa Strong with Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty and Tony Joe with RE/MAX Prime Realty, two real estate professionals who offer insight into today’s housing market.