GREATER VICTORIA CHAMBER
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Chamber Committees

Opportunity to Join a Chamber Committee
Every year, there are a few openings on our committees for new members.
We are recruiting now for members who will be available starting Jan. 1, 2023 for at least a two-year term.
Application form
Chamber committees
  • Ambassador Committee
  • Finance and Audit Committee
  • Emerge Committee
  • Executive and Governance Committee
  • Public Policy and Advocacy Committee
  • Inclusion, Diversity and
    Equity Advancement Committee
  • Indigenous Economic Reconciliation Table

From the days before Confederation, the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce — through the work of its board and committees —  has helped shape much of what we now take for granted. We campaigned for the Canadian Pacific Railway to build the landmark Empress Hotel, worked to attract national retailers such as Canadian Tire, advocated for the growth of the University of Victoria and much, much, more. 

Comprised of experienced business and community leaders, its committees advise Chamber leadership on what is needed to improve business conditions in Greater Victoria. Many of The Chamber's current and past successes have resulted from the work of its committees, tapping into the influence and expertise within the local business community to get things done and to generate new ideas. 

The Chamber’s committees have come and gone, some dissolving with their mandate complete, others spinning off from The Chamber as their mandates evolved. In fact, all of the following had their origins with The Chamber:
  • Downtown Victoria Business Association
  • Greater Victoria Harbour Authority
  • Destination Greater Victoria
  • Vancouver Island South Film and Media Commission
  • Victoria Innovation, Advanced Technology and Entrepreneurship Council (VIATEC)
  • South Island Prosperity Partnership
“The Chamber and its committees will continue its long history as the voice of business in Greater Victoria.”

“Our people have the expertise and influence to identify what needs to be done, and get those wheels in motion.”
 

Ambassador Committee
This dedicated team of Chamber members from various professional backgrounds fosters meaningful participation and connection-building as a way of increasing member engagement.
  • Chair: Rose Arsenault, Branch Manager, Agilus Work Solutions
  • Vice Chair: Andrew Peebles, Senior Business Consultant, BAASS Business Solutions
  • Ann Squires Ferguson, CEO, Western Design+Build
  • Emara Angus, Education Specialist, Royal Roads University
  • Danielle Mulligan, CFRE (she/her), Manager of Events & Annual Giving, Victoria Hospitals Foundation
  • Heather Williams, CEO, Hi-Rise Advertising
  • Jack Groucott, Financial Advisor, Edward Jones
  • Josue Dubon, Fernhill Financial Corporation
  • Kimberley Conroy, Technical Advisor - Patents, Merizzi Ramsbottom & Forster
  • Mary Lou Newbold, CEO, Mayfair Optometric Clinic
  • Paul van Koll, Partner, Dusanj & Wirk
  • Richard Michaels, president, MACCRIM Solutions​
  • Tereza Ticha, Greater Victoria Harbour Authority​
  • Staff Liaison: Ashley McCartie, Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce
To contact or learn more about the Ambassador Committee, please email Ashley McCartie.

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Emerge Committee (formerly Prodigy Group)
With a mission to foster authentic connections and a vision to cultivate an inclusive business community full of opportunity, Emerge runs inclusive, casual and fun bimonthly networking events, as well as a mentorship program.

  • Chair: Josue Dubon, DesignWealth
  • Vice-Chair: Frumsa Ibrahim, Regional Director, Scandinavian Building Services
  • Treasurer: Simon Miller, Commercial Account Manager, RBC
  • Communications Lead: Corinne Thiessen, Senior Advisor, External Stakeholder Engagement at BCI
  • Events Lead: Ariel, McGrogan, United Way of Southern Vancouver Island
  • Brittany Winters, CEO, Metis Medical Inc.
  • Carolina Vik, Merizzi Ramsbottom & Forster
  • Julia Barron, Gwaii Engineering Ltd.
  • Mohammed Sulaiman, Kinetic Construction
  • Past Chair: Paul van Koll, Partner, Dusanj & Wirk
  • Board Liaison: Pedro Márquez, Vice President Global, Marketing and Business Development, Royal Roads University
  • Board Liaison: Rose Arsenault, Branch Manager, Agilus Work Solutions
  • Board Liaison: James Gatsi, CEO, CL Web Developers Inc.
  • Staff Liaison: Ashley McCartie, Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce

​To contact or learn more about the Emerge Committee, please email Ashley McCartie.

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Finance and Audit Committee
Advises The Chamber's Board of Directors on financial and audit issues to ensure Chamber finances are run in a professional and transparent manner.
  • Chair: Moira Hauk, Regional Manager (South Vancouver Island), Coastal Community Credit Union
  • Staff Liaison: Cheryl Wirch-Ryckman, Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce
  • James Adams, Destination Greater Victoria
  • Judith Ethier, Chief Administrative Officer, Greater Victoria Harbour Authority
  • Fallon Lindsay, Director of Finance and Administration, Kinetic Construction.
  • Simon Miller, Commercial Account Manager, RBC
  • Cameron Reid, H2 Accelerator
  • Spencer Walker, Director & Team Lead - Commercial Banking, CIBC
  • John Wilson, CEO and Co-owner, Wilson's Group of Companies
  • Paul van Koll, Partner, Dusanj & Wirk
To contact or learn more about the Finance and Audit Committee, please email Cheryl Wirch-Ryckman.

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Executive and Governance Committee
Acts on behalf of the board between board meetings, monitors board development, reviews The Chamber's bylaws and acts as a nominating committee for external appointments. To contact or learn more about the Executive and Governance Committee, please email The Chamber CEO Bruce Williams.

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Public Policy and Advocacy Committee
Identifies The Chamber's annual advocacy priorities for business and meets with community leaders to advance those priorities on behalf of members.
  • Chair: Christina Clarke, CEO, Indigenous Prosperity Centre
  • Staff Liaison: Jim Zeeben, Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce
  • Frank Bourree, Owner of Bourree and Associates
  • Jeff Bray, CEO, Downtown Victoria Business Association
  • Judith Ethier, CAO, Greater Victoria Harbour Authority
  • Lise Gyorkos, President, Page One Publishing
  • Al Hasham, President and CEO, Maximum Express Courier & Freight
  • Moira Hauk, Regional Manager (South Vancouver Island), Coastal Community Credit Union
  • Gary Hollick, Sales Manager, Print & Digital, Times Colonist
  • Chris Horbachewski, Vice-President External Relations, University of Victoria
  • Captain (Navy) J. Jeffery Hutchinson , Base Commander, CFB Esquimalt
  • Fallon Lindsay, Director of Finance and Administration, Kinetic Construction.
  • Charlotte Salomon, Senior Partner, McConnan, Bion, O'Connor & Peterson
  • Jessica Stigant, Associate Director of Government Relations and Partnership, Ocean Networks Canada (ONC)
  • John Wilson, President and CEO, The Wilson's Group of Companies
  • Kris Wirk, Partner, Dusanj & Wirk
To contact or learn more about the Public Policy and Advocacy Committee, please email Jim Zeeben.

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Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Advancement (IDEA) Committee
Offers advice and guidance to The Chamber to create a more inclusive and welcoming business community that truly represents the diversity of the Greater Victoria business community we aspire to have.
  • Chair: Richard Michaels, president, MACCRIM Solutions
  • Staff Liaison: Cheryl Wirch-Ryckman, Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce
  • James Gatsi, CEO, CL Web Developers Inc.
  • Ann Squires Ferguson, CEO, Western Design+Build
  • Jessica Stigant, Associate Director of Government Relations and Partnership, Ocean Networks Canada (ONC)
  • Paulina Grainger, Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria
  • Pedro Márquez, Vice President Global, Marketing and Business Development, Royal Roads University
  • Tony Joe, RE/MAX Island Properties Victoria
  • Wendy Cox, Executive Director, Disability Resource Centre
  • Casey Edmunds, Executive Director, La Société francophone de Victoria
To contact or learn more about the Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Advancement Committee, please email Cheryl Wirch-Ryckman.
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Indigenous Economic Reconciliation Table
Offers advice and guidance to The Chamber to provide a voice to Indigenous businesses, First Nations and Indigenous non-profit organizations in order to foster economic reconciliation for the Indigenous community using business-to-business connections and advocacy. Terms of Reference

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CHAMBER PARTNERS

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​#100 – 852 Fort St., Victoria, BC V8W 1H8, Canada   |   Phone: (250) 383-7191 

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Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce
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  • Membership
    • Why Join?
    • Job Board
    • Member to Member Offers
    • Benefits, Discounts & Savings >
      • Chamber Store
    • Chamber Local
    • 1863 Impact Award
    • Questions & Answers
    • Join Now
    • Member Login
  • Member Directory
  • Events
    • Signature Events >
      • Annual Auction
      • Business Awards
      • Business Hall of Fame
      • Business Leaders Series
    • Event Calendar >
      • Chamber Events
      • Community Events
    • Event Photos 2023
    • Sponsorship
  • News & Advocacy
    • Weekly BizNews >
      • BizNews Articles
    • Advocacy / Wins for Business >
      • Advocacy Wins
      • Business Property Taxes
      • Advocacy Priorities
    • Chamber Chats
    • In the News >
      • Published Op-Eds
      • Media Releases
    • Non-market housing
    • Find and keep workers
    • Business Matters Magazine
    • COVID-19
  • The Chamber 1863
    • 1863-Indigenous
    • 1863-Early Chamber
    • 1863-History Events
    • 1863-Booms and Busts
    • 1863-Members & Communities
    • 1863-Women, people and organizations
    • 1863-Committees
    • 1863-Chairs and Chair Businesses
  • About Us
    • Emerge >
      • Emerge Events
      • Emerge Mentorship
      • Emerge Connect
    • Staff Directory
    • Board & Governance >
      • Governors
      • By-Laws, Plans & Reports
      • Committees
    • Chamber History
    • Partners & Sponsors
    • About Victoria >
      • Starting a Business
      • Moving Here
      • Visiting Victoria, BC
    • Contact Us