155 Years of Leadership in Greater Victoria

In 2018, The Chamber will be celebrating its 155th anniversary. That kind of longevity only comes with strong leadership and vision. We’ve continued that proud tradition with this year’s incoming board. 

Dan Dagg, President of Hot House Marketing takes over the role of Chair for the next two years and John Wilson, CEO, Wilson’s Group of Companies is our incoming Vice-Chair. Both provide a wealth of business leadership expertise and experience and have been involved in many aspects of the economy and community in Greater Victoria.

We have three new additions to our well-seasoned board, each providing a diversity of business and community leadership experience. 

Christina Clarke is Executive Director at the Songhees Nation as well as serving on several prominent community boards. Christina led implementation of the First Nations Fiscal Management Act (FMA) for Songhees Nation, helping to achieve the first FMA laws in Canada and first debenture bond issue by the First Nations Finance Authority. She also played a key role in the award-winning Songhees Wellness Centre. 

Ian Batey, Principal at IPB Consulting provides consulting services to non-for-profit organizations and businesses. Ian is actively engaged on the issue of affordable housing and homelessness and also serves on the board of the Coalition to End Homelessness, Greater Victoria Housing Society and Our Place.

Rahim Khudabux is the General Manager and Owner of Max Furniture, a furniture store specializing in Canadian-made furniture for your home or office. Rahim has worked closely with The Chamber for many years including chairing the Prodigy Group Committee. He actively gives back to the community, volunteering his time at local events and mentoring up and coming professionals.

Our new board members will be working with seasoned board members including recently re-elected Lise Gyorkos, President of Page One Publishing, Patricia Jelinski, CEO, United Way of Greater Victoria and Kris Wirk, Partner at Dickson Dusanj & Wirk. 

Other continuing board members include: Jason Boyd, Commander of Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt, Carmen Charette, Vice President, External Relations at the University of Victoria, Mark Mawhinney, Investment Advisor at Odlum Brown Ltd. and Mark Smith, Chief Experience Officer with Query Technologies Corp. We are privileged to benefit from these active and experienced board members.

As we bid auld lang syne to 2017, we send our thanks and best wishes to Natasha Reger, owner of The Reger Group and Gary Kinar, Kinar Curry Lawyers, who have both served two terms on our board and provided their time and advice. 

Al Hasham moves to Past Chair. Al has been an active member of The Chamber for 30 years and, in recognition of his tireless efforts and dedication to us and many other organizations and charities in town, we are pleased to say that he is our recipient of the 2018 Chamber Member of the Year award which he’ll receive at this year’s Business Awards. 

Finally, a very special thanks to Frank Bourree, CEO of Chemistry Consulting Group Inc., whose term as Past Chair is ending. This draws to a close (for the time being) his long service to The Chamber board where he has been a director since 2001. Thank you Frank, we have all benefitted from your presence. 

A very happy new year to all of our members and thank you for helping us keep our business community vibrant and strong.
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