Founded 1863 Focus Business Advocacy | Type Advocacy group Website The Chamber Website | |
Location Victoria, British Columbia Area served Greater Victoria, British Columbia, Canada | ||
The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce is a business association that serves the Greater Victoria Region of the province of British Columbia in Canada.
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History
The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce (The Chamber) has been in operation since 1863, before the Confederation of Canada was formed, and only two years after the City of Victoria was founded and it has played a significant role in the Greater Victoria region ever since. Over the years, The Chamber has initiated or been involved with many of the developments in the region’s business community including encouraging the Canadian Pacific Railway to build the landmark Empress Hotel, and establishing the Greater Victoria Film Commission, Victoria Economic Development Agency, the Victoria Innovation, Advanced Technology and Entrepreneurship Council (VIATEC), and Tourism Victoria, all of which first started as committees of The Chamber.
Description
The Chamber was created as a result of the Federal Board of Trade Act. The organization is operated by a volunteer board of directors. The Chamber, like other Chambers of Commerce in Canada, is not a part of government but is affiliated with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the British Columbia Chamber of Commerce.
It has a membership of more than 1,400 members, and is one of largest chambers in the Province of British Columbia. Their membership reflects the diversity of the business community, representing the interests of small, medium and large businesses across all sectors as well as members from the not-for-profit sector.