GREATER VICTORIA CHAMBER
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Sheri Kasnik and Cynthia Durand-Smith

Connecting people with people

Picture CYNTHIA DURAND-SMITH AND SHERI KASNIK
Evening mixers are fantastic fun, but sometimes people are tied up after work or they prefer more formal ways of making friends. For Sheri Kasnik and Cynthia Durand-Smith, the best time to network is before the day begins.

Kasnik, cash management advisor at Island Savings, and Durand-Smith, Vancouver Island director for the BC Cancer Foundation, met over breakfast. More specifically, at a Chamber Member Networking Breakfast — one of the many opportunities The Chamber hosts to keep the business community connected.

“It’s excellent, it works,” says Kasnik, who spends her day building relationships with people in the business community. “I was looking for a way to meet as many people as possible.”

Networking breakfasts steal a page from speed-dating’s playbook by taking the preamble of schmoozing out of the equation. These a.m. events offer a chance for business people to give their elevator pitch, and listen to other people around the table give theirs. A time limit ensures everyone gets a chance to speak, and a set rotation means everyone in the room is guaranteed to meet. Oh, and it comes with breakfast.

“It’s a good opportunity to build a relationship,” Kasnik says. “You can connect people with other people, which is part of what my job is — connecting people.”

At one of the breakfasts, Kasnik discovered Durand-Smith and the women immediately saw the mutual benefits of getting to know each other.

Durand-Smith was able to show decision-makers at Island Savings some of the cutting-edge research at BC Cancer.

“The work being done here is mind blowing. How wonderful to know it’s happening on our very island. We don’t throw around the words world-class often — this is world class,” Durand-Smith says.

As an organization that survives on the generosity of others, making connections with businesses is key to being able to thrive and continue the foundation’s ground-breaking work.

“This is the beginning of a long-standing relationship,” Durand-Smith says. “I find this Chamber is very informative, even just reading BizNews for details of upcoming events and news about local businesses.”

Kasnik agrees, adding she uses The Chamber’s calendar of events as a foundation for planning her schedule.
She likes the variety of opportunities to connect, and the calibre of seminars and speakers who want to talk directly to Greater Victoria’s business community.

“We are attracting some very powerful people and I think we deserve that.”

Speak to your Member Services Rep: members@victoriachamber.ca

Read the stories about how these Chamber members met

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Getting results often means knowing who can help you get things done.

READ DARLENE AND SHAUN'S STORY HERE





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How did the Chamber help develop the boardroom skills of two prominent business people?

READ JOHN AND RAHIM'S STORY HERE





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A new generation of leaders sharing innovation and energy to inspire positive change.

READ JARED AND BRIANNA'S STORY HERE


 


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Want a surefire way to make lasting connections over breakfast?

READ CYNTHIA AND SHERRI'S STORY HERE





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Find out how certain business truths connected two members of the Chamber.

READ FRANK AND STEPHEN'S STORY HERE





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Neighbours with a long history and strong cultures learn how they can better help each other

READ CHRISTINA AND JASON'S STORY HERE




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CHAMBER PARTNERS

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​Copyright © 2021 Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce.  All rights reserved. 
​#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
  • 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