Letter Re: Potential Funding for the WestShore Chamber of Commerce

April 18, 2017Pages 139–1468 sections

A funding request and detailed fee-for-service proposal from the WestShore Chamber of Commerce for 2017.

1. CALL TO ORDER (Mayor Screech)

February 22, 2017Requested fee for service: $3,000Membership fees cover 62% of operating costs

Mayor David Screech and Council View Royal Town Hall 45 View Royal Avenue Victoria, BC V9B 1A6

22 February 2017

Dear Mayor Screech, Councillor Weisgerber, Councillor Mattson, Councillor Rast and Councillor Rogers,

Re: Potential Funding for the WestShore Chamber of Commerce

Thank you for considering funding from the Town of View Royal to the WestShore Chamber of Commerce after your kind grant-in-aid of $1500 in 2016. I attach a proposal providing further detail as to what the WestShore Chamber does, and why we are requesting funding.

Out of our 384 members, 13 are from View Royal. I appreciate that this is only 3% of our membership, but I hope our proposal will indicate to you that the WestShore Chamber of Commerce’s impact extends well beyond our membership to the benefit of View Royal and the larger community of the West Shore.

I would be happy to answer any questions and thank you again for your consideration!

Yours sincerely,

Julie Lawlor Executive Director

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WESTSHORE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FEE FOR SERVICE PROPOSAL

A FEE FOR SERVICE PROPOSAL FOR 2017-2018 AND REPORT ON 2016 TO THE TOWN OF VIEW ROYAL SUBMITTED BY THE WESTSHORE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FEBRUARY 2017

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REQUEST

The WestShore Chamber is a non-profit organization which exists to advance growth, prosperity and sustainability of business and community life on the West Shore. The WestShore Chamber of Commerce is requesting a 2017 fee for service of $3,000 from the Town of View Royal to support the core activities of the Chamber that directly support View Royal businesses, the wider View Royal community, and the Town of View Royal. While this request is for 2017, should Council be willing to confirm funding for more than one year this would be very much appreciated. The Chamber would of course provide annual reporting.

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RATIONALE

Why should the Town of View Royal fund the WestShore Chamber of Commerce? We do good work for View Royal at a very small cost.

In 2017 we will:

Offer a minimum of 24 networking events which support business and community in the West Shore
Offer a minimum of 15 workshops and 6 lunches which provide support and training to the business community, available to both members and non-members
Promote View Royal and the Town of View Royal through our weekly e-news, articles and items in the Goldstream News Gazette, Monday Magazine, Business Examiner, Facebook and Twitter, as well as radio and television as opportunity presents
Promote View Royal and the Town of View Royal through our Best of the West Shore Awards and the accompanying featurette, circulation 18,000
Continue to play our part in regional and West Shore co-ordination, making connections for the benefit of all

The WestShore Chamber receives membership fees. Why then do you need money from the Town of View Royal? Membership fees only cover 62% of Chamber operating costs

In 2016 we received approximately $119,000 net in membership income. Core operations of the Chamber cost about $192,000 per year ($16,000 per month) and so there was a gap of $73,000. We can and do run events, but they don’t cover the full difference.

We keep our membership fees low to provide an affordable option for people wishing to grow and develop their businesses while networking with others. To make this possible, funding from our local municipalities support our core operations at the Chamber. In 2016 the City of Colwood provided a Fee for Service of $12,000 while the City of Langford’s Fee for Service arrangement with the Chamber is for $19,000.

What value did View Royal receive from the WestShore Chamber in 2016? Please see Appendix One which combines a 2017 plan with 2016 results.

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CONCLUSION AND CONTACT

The WestShore Chamber provides a tangible View Royal through our activities, and is actively working to enhance the resilience and prosperity of the West Shore.

We are always open to discussions on how we can help the Town of View Royal achieve its aims!

Contact: Julie Lawlor, Executive Director WestShore Chamber of Commerce jlawlor@westshore.bc.ca 250.478.1130

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Appendix One

RELATES TO VIEW ROYAL KEY STRATEGIC PRIORITY – COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC GROWTH

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Activity	2016 Achievement/Contribution	2017 Plan
Business Support and Development Providing businesses with the tools and resources they need to thrive.	General member support: Provision of a range of benefits and Member 2 Member discounts to member businesses Advisory services to members and non-members seeking assistance View Royal business support, promotion of: Cascadia Liquor Eagle Creek Village’s Grand Opening Urban Ground Market’s Grand Opening Eagle Creek Village’s Grand Opening (non-member) Quality Foods View Royal Customer Appreciation Night (non-member) Grand Opening and then Postponement of Island Afrikan Supermarket Provision of events to give people the opportunity to make connections, namely: One lunch mixer, one private view of the Telus Future Home and 11 evening mixers 12 morning coffee talks, of which three were held in View Royal (North of Hadrian’s Kilts and Celtic Clothing, The Wine Maker and Seriously Creative in their new View Royal location) Holiday at Hatley’s at Royal Roads in December, sold out at 185 tickets Learning/professional development events: Delivery of 11 By Members For Members workshops, free for members Introduction of Lunch and Learn series, in 2016 held in September and November open to members and non-members Discounted access to business events for Chamber members, specifically: SOHO (Small Office Home Office) Conference, with two tickets also given away Free tickets to the 13th Annual Small Business BC Awards (in Vancouver) Leadercast Live, the largest one-day leadership event in the world locally held at UVic. Broadcast live each year from Atlanta to 100,000+ people, Leadercast Live brings together many of the world’s most recognized and respected global leaders to create a unique leadership experience.	Provision of benefits and discounts Provision of advisory service Provision and promotion of our grand opening / events service Specific support anticipated for View Royal Casino’s expansion plans Provision of networking events Further expansion of learning events
West Shore Coordination The Chamber participates in a variety of meetings and initiatives at a local level to represent and support our municipalities and local businesses, and make connections between people.	Participation in: The Rotary Club of the West Shore, and support of their initiatives and those of West Shore Sunrise Rotary Westshore Women’s Business Network The Goldstream Gazette’s “Women of the West Shore” panel and publication Regular meetings with municipal staff and councillors and/or attendance at Council and Committee meetings Launch of partnership with Junior Achievement, recruiting Chamber members as volunteers to teach in classrooms Royal Canadian Navy update and information session in February, and Navy Day Business Leaders luncheon and tour of the Winnipeg on 10 June 30th anniversary celebrations of the WestShore Centre for Learning & Training Delivery of Vision WestShore, a dinner and panel discussion at Olympic View Golf Club, made possible by the kind participation of former Mayor Graham Hill (via Mayor David Screech) and his four Mayor colleagues “Health care in the western communities” strategy session Organization of “A Tribute to the Saunders Family” at Royal Roads University in partnership with RRU, Black Press and the Jim Pattison Auto Group Royal Roads University community interaction, including involvement of RRU students in Best of the West Shore and mixers, and promotion of the Idea Challenge and Social Innovation Lab The Rotary Club of the West Shore Chili Cook Off, raising funds for the Pacific Centre’s new Wellness Centre Support/promotion of: Student Works Painting hiring fair Coins for Kids at Westshore Town Centre Westshore Navy Day on June 11 Jeneece Place charity golf tournament held at Highland Pacific Golf Woman 2 Warrior charity obstacle race at West Shore Parks and Rec SOHO Westshore Mixer in September Halloween Trunk or Treat Extravaganza 14th Annual Salmon Run 5K WorkLink Employment Society seeking new Board members Indigenous Perspectives Society workshops and annual administrative conference	Continued participation in Rotary, WWBN and other initiatives which contribute to the West Shore Continued support of West Shore organizations like RRU, and plan for further engagement with William Head in 2017 Continued promotion of West Shore events and information
Regional Coordination The Chamber holds membership with Tourism Victoria, Think Local Victoria, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and all Chambers of Commerce in the CRD, allowing regular opportunities for exchange of information	March Tourism Victoria mixer attended at the Holiday Inn Westshore Express VIP launch and ribbon cutting at View Royal Casino on 5 May WestShore Chamber and the Sooke Region Chamber held a well-attended joint mixer at The Prestige in May “Oasis” (roof garden) at Victoria General Hospital unveiling on 21 June, opened by the Lieutenant-Governor WestShore Chamber and Tourism Victoria held a well attended joint mixer at The Westin Bear Mountain in July By Members For Members “It’s A Scam!” presented by BBB in July Tourism meeting with Tourism Victoria and West Shore representatives at City Centre Park Promotion of Tourism Victoria’s social media West Shore spotlight from July 20-29. Joint meeting with South Island Prosperity Project, the Victoria Chamber and the Saanich Peninsula Chamber CRD’s 50th Anniversary celebration CRD Arts meeting at Coastal Offices Victoria Business Service Providers Information Session at the City of Victoria Municipal Hall Promotion of UVic and Camosun Co-op Programs to West Shore businesses Supported the creation of a Newcomer Welcome Event, held at the Songhees Wellness Centre in co-operation with the Township of Esquimalt 2017 Camosun Trades, Technology & Business Career Fair Promotion via e-news of: Dine Around & Stay In Town 2016 Vancouver Island’s fourth annual Top 20 Under 40 Awards nominations Canadian Chamber news and information including Business & Technology Survey Saanich Peninsula Chamber’s 7th Annual Tour of Industry All-Island Entrepreneur Summit Young Entrepreneurs Society’s 9th Annual WestShore Quay Classic Golf Tournament, with proceeds going to the new Wellness Centre CRD Arts Service request for input and feedback South Island Prosperity Project request for input in their first Strategic Plan CRD survey on integrating services Think Local Week, Nov 27-Dec 3	Joint mixer with Young Entrepreneurs Society in January 2017 Joint mixer with the Esquimalt Chamber in February 2017, with plans to create other Chamber joint mixers in 2017 Promotion of Tourism Victoria’s social media West Shore spotlight WestShore Chamber and Tourism Victoria joint mixer planned for July 2017 Continued promotion of and/or participation in regional items and issues which may be of interest to or impact upon the West Shore
Public Program Support Consistently contacted by Federal, Provincial and Municipal representatives around their programs, workshops, grants, and other opportunities which we promote to our members and the West Shore community.	Publicity through our e-news of: Federal Budget Consultations CUVIC (Community-University-Victoria) 2016: Reconciliation, Innovation and Transformation through Engagement Conference Census 2016 Canada BC Job Grant Literacy Connection WestShore’s 4th Annual Family Learning Tour Get Youth Working Grant SmallBusiness BC webinars and nomination for Small Business BC Awards Canadian Red Cross Alberta Fires Emergency Appeal FrameWork pre-employment programs offered by WorkLink and job fair Proposed changes to the Canada Pension plan Business Works Youth program 2016 Victoria Small Business Information Expo MPs Randall Garrison and Alistair MacGregor’s Community Town hall on Electoral reform Camosun College Campus Closet – loaning professional clothes at no cost to students for job interviews Road Safety at Work workshop John Horgan MLA Annual Christmas Open House Maurine Karagianis MLA Holiday Open House	Continued support and publicity of opportunities
Community/Business Promotion The Chamber’s communication tools include a weekly e-newsletter, Twitter and Facebook. West Shore. Chamber staff write one article per month in Monday Magazine, and one per month in the Business Examiner	Town of View Royal logo appeared on 50 Chamber e-newsletters in 2016, with approximately 16,275 views 7 tweets via Twitter specifically relating to View Royal, plus retweets Relaunched in 2016, 9 WestShore Chamber Facebook posts specific to View Royal View Royal and/or View Royal businesses promoted in 1 Business Examiner, 1 Goldstream Gazette, 1 Monday Magazine and 3 Times Colonist articles (relationship terminated by TC in May) in 2016	E-news promotion continues as per 2016 Opportunity for increased content for View Royal via Twitter and Facebook Increased number of articles planned for the Goldstream News Gazette
Best of The West Shore Awards This event recognizes our community and engages the public to vote for their favourite businesses and community features, including hiking trail, beach, local sports team, and many more. Promotions for the event run across the region and present the West Shore as the best place on the west coast to live, work, and play.	In partnership with the Goldstream News Gazette, this was the biggest response ever with over 8000 votes. Full public voting in 40 categories in September, with a sold-out Awards Gala (198 seats) at the Olympic View Golf Club on 26 October. View Royal was featured and promoted by: Picture of and interview with Mayor David Screech inside the Best of the West Shore featurette, alongside other West Shore Mayors (circulation 18,000) Mayor Screech presented the award for “Best Place to Make Beer/Wine” The following View Royal sites/businesses won Awards: Thetis Lake (Best Free Fun, Best Place for a Summer Swim, Best Place to Walk Your Dog, finalist for Best Hiking & Best Beach) Quality Foods (Best Grocery Store, finalist for Best New Business) Six Mile Pub & Eatery (finalist, Best Pub) Seriously Creative (Best Tech Business) The Wine Maker (Best Place to Make Beer/Wine) The Salvation Army (finalist, Best Second Hand Shopping) Westshore U-Lock Mini Storage (finalist, Best Storage)	We will start the voting earlier and provide tools to businesses to encourage even greater awareness and participation The featurette, with comment from our municipal leaders, will be part of the 2017 Awards

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RELATES TO VIEW ROYAL KEY STRATEGIC PRIORITY – ENHANCE LIVEABILITY

Activity	2016 Achievement/Contribution	2017 Plan
Arts Support Work with arts organizations such as the Victoria Conservatory of Music, the West Shore Arts Council, and Coast Collective to provide new venues for performances and displays.	Promotion of Coast Collective’s Grand Opening and activities Promotion of the Victoria Conservatory of Music’s arrival on the West Shore, including their “March Into Music” month of free lessons Promotion of and participation in a forum on the viability of a performing arts centre in the West Shore West Shore Arts Council Summer Photo Contest, concerts and summer speaker series Four Seasons Musical Theatre search for volunteers to join its Board of Directors Four Seasons’ performance at the Royal Bay mixer in October Collaborated with the West Shore Arts Council on our Holiday at Hatley’s event	Continued support and promotion of the arts in the West Shore

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Document Images

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Extracted from: 2017 04 18 Council Agenda - Agenda - Pdf