Peninsula Chamber of Commerce News

Aug30

Zanzibar Mixer Well Attended

Thank you to Zanzibar cafe owners Mohamed Dehairit and Toni Brassard for the wonderful food and atmosphere they provided for the more than 60 attendees at our August mixer! Chris Stephen was the lucky door prize winner – a $100 gift certificate for Zanzibar.

Join us at Beautique Hair Salon & Sanctuary for our next mixer, September 23.

CIMG9096-150x1501 Zanzibar Mixer Well Attended

Mohamed, Chef & Co-owner

CIMG9099-150x1503 Zanzibar Mixer Well Attended

Bambii & Sharon (Barbara's Boutique) with Murray Clarke

CIMG9102-150x1502 Zanzibar Mixer Well Attended

Smiles all around!

CIMG9107-150x1502 Zanzibar Mixer Well Attended

Roger, Nic & Bob

CIMG91041-150x1502 Zanzibar Mixer Well Attended

Owner Toni with Carol & Nikki of Dragonfly Vineyards

CIMG9108-150x1502 Zanzibar Mixer Well Attended

Tony & the Island Savings gang

CIMG91151-150x1502 Zanzibar Mixer Well Attended

Chris (door prize winner) with Toni & Mohamed

                                                

                 
 

Aug12

Golf Tournament Thank You’s

The Chamber would like to extend our appreciation to the following businesses and individuals who so generously sponsored, donated and supported our golf tournament:

A Channel
A Paddle in the Park Kayaking
A.J. Finlayson Architect
Aquarius Music
Audiotronic
Bank of Montreal
BC Hydro
Beautique Hair Studio
Blue Peter Pub
Body Barn Fitness
Brown’s Florist
Budget Car & Truck Rental
Butchart Gardens
Butterfly Gardens
Café Zanzibar
Cameron Rose
Canada Safeway
Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance
Coast Capital Savings
Corbett House Bed & Breakfast
David Moore
Deep Cove Market
Dockside Grill
Ed Price
Elaine Hughesman
Eleni’s Esthetics
Emerald Sea Adventures
Epicure Selections
Events to Be
Flader Hale Hughesman
Flush Bathroom Essentials
Frame One
Fresh Cup Roastery
Ginny Alger
Hear Central Saanich
Home Hardware
Horizon Power
Horizon Signs
Huntingdon Hotel & Suites
Island Blue Print Co.
Island Savings – Brentwood Bay
Island View Golf
James Bay Inn
Jessie’s Juice
Jitterbugs Cafe
Keating Self Storage
C.J. (Kip) Wilson Law Offices
Maria Kirley
Mark’s Work Wearhouse
Mary Winspear Centre
Melinda’s Biscotti
Metro Lexus Toyota
Milano Fashions
Muse Winery
Ocean Palm Spa
O’Ki Tackle
One Stop Furniture
Ooh La La Cupcakes
Orchard House B & B
Panorama Recreation
Patti Anthony
Parveen Nirmal
Paul Hartigan Real Estate
Peggy J. Yelland Inc.
Peninsula Co-op
Peninsula News Review
Peninsula Signs
Pleasant Street Studios
Prospect Lake Golf Course
RBC – Sidney
Roadhouse Bar & Grill
Rodco Interiors
Roger’s Chocolates
Salon J Hair Studios
Salvador Davis Notaries
Scotia Bank
Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse
Seafirst Insurance Brokers
Seaside Times
Sherwood Marine
Sidney Bottle Depot
Sidney Waterfront Inn
Smashin’ Fashion
Smith Manoeuvre
Starbucks Sidney
Superior Collision
Susan Mason
Source by Circuit City,Sidney
The Village Gallery
Thrifty Foods
Times Colonist
Treleaven Consulting Group
Ultimate Water Store
United Carpet, Sidney
Vicki Bridge
Victoria Airport Authority
Victoria Costumes
Video Express
Weir’s Beach RV Resort
West Coast Wood Designs
Western 66 Motel
White Knight Painting Ltd.
White Spot Restaurant
Zanzibar Cafe
Zydeco Gifts

If you would like photos of the event please contact the Chamber Office at 250 656-3616.

Aug09

Executive Director’s Report – July 2010

Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce
Board Meeting
July 29, 2010

Executive Director’s Report

Public Relations/Events

}        The June mixer, hosted by Miraloma on the Cove attracted more than 50 people members and guests.

}        The July mixer, hosted by Victoria Lavender Farm, attracted more than 80 members and guests.

}        The Peninsula Chamber will host an open house at the Beacon Visitor Centre on Wednesday, August 4.

}        The August mixer will be held on Wednesday, August 25, at Zanzibar, a restaurant at the corner of West Saanich Road and Stellys Cross Road.  

}        Two articles, submitted by the Peninsula Chamber, appeared in the Peninsula News Review; one in monthly paper, Business Vancouver Island (attached).

Visitor Centres

}        The June report to the Town of Sidney regarding Beacon Avenue visitor services, is attached to this report.

}        The June statistics report for all three visitor centres has been submitted to the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts. It is attached to this report.

Golf Tournament

}        118 golfers registered for this year’s Golf Classic. Another 25 people attended the dinner. The final financial report will be available by mid-August. Indications are that we have made our revenue goal of $11,200.

}        Thank you directors, sponsors, donors, players for your great support of this year’s event!

Office Relocation

}        We have moved our offices down the hall to 209, in the Albion Building. We had great help relocating our technology, from Peter Payerl and Will Maxwell, IT support for the Town of Sidney.

UBCM Phase 1 Funding

}        The District of North Saanich has released $52,500 to the Peninsula Chamber, to cover costs of the construction of the Pat Bay VC washroom and septic field.  These funds represent 75% of the total grant ($82,000), less expenses incurred during 2008 for which the chamber had already been reimbursed. The Union of BC Municipalities has approved the report we submitted to the District of NS, outlining the particulars of the project, and will release the remaining $13,000 dollars to NS, for payment to the chamber, within the next few days.

Community Tourism Grant

www.peninsula tourism.ca.

}        Dale Ryan of Jazz Communications has been engaged to review the content/edit/rewrite content of www.peninsulatourism.ca.  The source of funding for this project is the Vancouver Island Community Tourism grant program.

More to Explore Member Directory 2011

}        We are in the early sales phase of the 2011 edition of our member directory. Patti Anthony will spearhead sales. Dale Ryan has been engaged to update content. The 2011 edition will feature a stronger tourism focus. It will be published in early

Starry Night 2010

}        Please save the date for this year’s Starry Night Dinner & Auction – Friday, November 5. Plans are underway to make this another successful event.

Attendance at Outside Meetings and Events:

}        BC Chamber Executives (BCCE) board meeting (conf call) – 1 hour

}        BC Chamber Executives (BCCE) conference meeting (conf call) – 1 hour

}        Chamber Finance Cmte – 1 hour

}        Chamber Governance Cmte – 30 minutes

}        Chamber Executive Cmte – 1.5 hours

}        Chamber website meeting – 1 hour

}        Sidney Mayors’ luncheon, July 1 – 1 hour

}        North Saanich Director of Finance/Director of Building Services – 30 minutes

Respectfully submitted,

Eileen Leddy

Jul28

View pics of the July mixer held at Victoria Lavender Farm

The Chamber’s monthly mixer was held at Victoria Lavender Farm on July 14. The hosts provided a spectacular setting  for the more than 50 attendees to mingle and enjoy the wonderful refreshments. 

Join us for the next business to business mixer on August 25th at Cafe Zanzibar, in Brentwood Bay.

12-300x225 View pics of the July mixer held at Victoria Lavender Farm          22-300x225 View pics of the July mixer held at Victoria Lavender Farm

32-300x225 View pics of the July mixer held at Victoria Lavender Farm          42-300x225 View pics of the July mixer held at Victoria Lavender Farm

52-300x225 View pics of the July mixer held at Victoria Lavender Farm          63-300x225 View pics of the July mixer held at Victoria Lavender Farm

Jul28

Thank you to all Golf Tourney donors!

Our 2010 Golf Tournament was a great success and a full day of fun! The Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce wishes to thank all who so generously sponsored, donated and supported this cause. We extend our gratitude to the following businesses and individuals:

A Channel

A Paddle in the Park Kayaking

A.J. Finlayson Architect

Aquarius Music

BC Hydro

Beautique Hair Studio

Blue Peter Pub

Body Barn

Brown’s Florist

Budget Car & Truck Rental

Butchart Gardens 

Butterfly Gardens

Café Zanzibar

Cameron Rose

Canada Safeway

Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance

Coast Capital Savings

Corbett House Bed & Breakfast

David Moore

Deep Cove Market

Dockside Grill

Ed Price

Elaine Hughesman

Ginny Alger

Eleni’s Esthetics

Emerald Sea Adventures

Epicure Selections

Events to Be

Flader Hale Hughesman

Flush Bathroom Essentials

Frame One

Fresh Cup Roastery

Hear Central Saanich

Home Hardware

Horizon Power

Horizon Signs

Huntingdon Hotel & Suites

Island Blue Print Co.

Island Savings – Brentwood Bay

Island View Golf

James Bay Inn

Jessie’s Juice

Keating Self Storage

Kip Wilson

Maria Kirley

Mark’s Work Wearhouse

Mary Winspear Centre

Melinda’s Biscotti

Metro Toyota Lexus

Milano Fashions

Muse Winery

Ocean Palm Spa

O’Ki Tackle

Ooh La La Cupcakes

Orchard House Bed & Breakfast

Panorama Recreation

Parveen Nirmal

Paul Hartigan Real Estate

Peggy J. Yelland Inc.

Peninsula Co-op

Peninsula News Review

Peninsula Signs

Prospect Lake Golf Course

RBC – Sidney

Roadhouse Bar & Grill

Rodco Interiors

Roger’s Chocolates

Salon J Hair Studios

Salvador Davis Notaries

Scotia Bank

Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse

Seafirst Insurance

Seaside Times

Sherwood Marine

Sidney Bottle Depot

Sidney Waterfront Inn

Smashin’ Fashion

Smith Manoeuvre

Starbucks

Superior Collision

Susan Mason

The Source by Circuit City – Sidney

The Village Gallery

Thrifty Foods

Times Colonist

Treleaven Consulting Group

Ultimate Water Store

United Carpet

Vicki Bridge

Victoria Airport Authority

Victoria Costumes

Video Express

Weir’s Beach RV Resort

West Coast Wood Designs

Western 66 Motel

White Knight Painting Ltd.

White Spot Restaurant

Jul20

Welcome To Our Newest Members

Please check our member directory to see our newest members for June and July!

Jul15

2010 Golf Classic a Huge Success!!

A swinging time for all attendees at our annual golf classic last friday at Glen Medows Golf Course. The weather was terrific and so were the many smiles of the 108 golfers at the event. With activities at so many holes from our sponsors and the “goodie bags” filled with donations from our seasoned and our newest members, a guaranteed wonderful time was there for all. The friendly staff at Glen Meadows provided a great meal, while Glen at Aquarius Music provided the background music. A complete list of sponsors and winners will be featured in the upcoming newsletter. If you would like a copy of your team photo, please contact Patti at the Chamber Office 250 656-3616 or email her at sales@peninsulachamber.ca

Great Golfers

Great Golfers

Chillin at dinner

Chillin at dinner

The Fantastic Four

The Fantastic Four

Smith Maneuver and tee time girls

Smith Manoeuvre and tee time girls

Massage Time

Massage Time

The Flader Hale Huseman Gang

The Flader Hale Hughesman Gang

The Football Golfers

The Football Golfers

Jun29

Laughter and Merriment at the Miraloma and Latch Mixer

The night was bright and so was the atmosphere at this recent mixer. With over 50 guests sampling the appies provided by the Latch, and enjoying the ambiance of the Miraloma, a great time was had by all. Our mixers are a great opportunity to meet other members, exchange ideas and promote your business. Be sure to come to our next mixer at Victoria Lavender on July 14th.

mixer2-225x300 Laughter and Merriment at the Miraloma and Latch Mixer.mixer4-300x225 Laughter and Merriment at the Miraloma and Latch Mixermixer5-225x300 Laughter and Merriment at the Miraloma and Latch Mixermixer3-300x225 Laughter and Merriment at the Miraloma and Latch Mixermixer1-225x300 Laughter and Merriment at the Miraloma and Latch Mixer

Jun25

Executive Director’s Report – June 2010

Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce
Board Meeting
June 24, 2010

Executive Director’s Report

Public Relations/Events

}        The May mixer, hosted by Island View Family Golf Centre and Honeycomb Webworks, attracted more than four dozen members and guests.

}        The June mixer will be held on Thursday, June 24 (tonight) at Miraloma on the Cove with food provided by The Latch. We have received 18 email responses to the invitation, which we consider a very high number as, usually, most people who attend do not RSVP. 

}        The June 7 breakfast with Dr. Jennifer Thanscheidt, an executive with a 50,000+ chamber in Osnabruek Germany, attracted 17 people, plus three chamber staff members. The breakfast was held at Jazzaniah Café in Sidney.

}        Two articles, submitted by the Peninsula Chamber, appeared in the Peninsula News Review; one in monthly paper, Business Vancouver Island (attached).

 

 

Visitor Centres

}        The March-April and May reports to the Town of Sidney regarding Beacon Avenue visitor services, are attached to this report.

}        The May statistics report for all three visitor centres has been submitted to the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts. It is attached to this report.

}        Visitor centre manager Carol Whitehouse has completed training of this year’s new volunteer recruits.

 

 

Golf Tournament

}        To date we have 95 confirmed players in our July 9 golf tournament. We have 23 confirmed golf tourney sponsors (Seaside Times and Metro Lexus Toyota are sponsoring hole in one contests) and several pending. Members have been generous with donations to the silent auction.

     The 2010 budget calls for revenue of $19,150 with a net revenue of $11,260.  Gross revenue to date is $15,200.

     Thank you directors for your great support of this year’s event!

 

 

Office Relocation

}        On Thursday, July 14, we will move our office from #201 to #209 in the Albion Building (our current location on Beacon Avenue). The new offices will provide a larger meeting room, larger reception area and a dedicated office for marketing and sales. Peter Payerl, from the Town of Sidney’s IT department, will provide the office technology support.

 

 

BC Chamber AGM

}        ED attended May 26 though 29, in Vancouver. Article attached to this report

 

BC Chamber Executives (BCCE) Conference

}        The 2010 professional development conference will be held in Sidney, September 9 through 11. ED sits on BCCE board and on conference committee. Local planning is being done by a committee comprising Graham (Director of Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan for BC) and Eileen Barnes, Doug Wedman and ED. About 80 delegates from across BC will attend.

}        The conference venue is Mary Winspear Centre. Boondocks Café  will provide the meals and coffee/tea service. The Thursday night reception will be held at the Sidney Pier Hotel. The Peninsula Chamber will host a reception at the Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre on Friday, September 10, to which local dignitaries are to be invited. The Victoria Airport Authority will sponsor the event. The wind-up dinner will be held at Church & States Winery. Graham Barnes will sponsor the dinner. Bus transportation to the winery will be supplied by Wilson’s Transportation.

}        Delegates will have plenty of free time to enjoy Sidney and the peninsula.

 

 

New Email Format

We are now using an email program called Constant Contact. It enables us to generate reports on who is opening our email communications. Our open rate is 35%, an indication that we have engaged members. The average open rate for a not-for-profit is 20%. The average open rate for a range of two dozen business sectors is less than 20%. 

 

 

Community Tourism Grant

We have received approval to use the CTO grant money of $7684 for the Saanich Peninsula routes brochure and update of www.peninsulatourism.ca. The funds were originally designated for Ocean Discovery Days but were not granted in time to allow for mounting of that event this year. The money is granted through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture. 

    

 

Attendance at Outside Meetings and Events:

}        BC Chamber Executives conference planning meeting (local) – 1 hour

}        BC Chamber Executives (BCCE) board meeting (conf call) – 1.5 hours

}        Peninsula trolley meeting – 3 hours

}        Chamber Finance Cmte

}        Chamber Governance Cmte – 1 hour

}        Chamber Events Cmte (2) – 3 hours

}        Chamber Membership Cmte – 1.5 hours

}        Chamber Executive Cmte – 1 hour

}        Chamber HR Cmte – 1 hour

}        Sidney-Anacortes Ferry teleconference – 1.5 hours

}        BC Chamber AGM – 3.5 days

}        Website meeting – 1 hour

}        Vic-AM breakfast – 2 hours

}        Women’s Network luncheon – 1.5 hours

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

Eileen Leddy

Jun11

Executive Director’s Report – May 2010

Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce
Board Meeting
May 26, 2010

Executive Director’s Report

Public Relations/Events

}        The May mixer is this Thursday, May 27, 5 – 7 pm. Hosts are Island View Family Golf Centre and Honeycomb Webworks.

}        Two articles, submitted by the Peninsula Chamber, appeared in the Peninsula News Review; one in monthly paper, Business Vancouver Island (attached).

 

 

Beacon Visitor Centre Opening

}        Sidney Mayor Larry Cross cut the ribbon at the new Beacon Visitor Centre on Friday, April 30. Three representatives from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts came out for the opening. Several Peninsula Chamber directors and volunteers were on hand for the festivities.

}        Many thanks to Mayor Cross and the Town of Sidney for their stellar support in getting this exciting new venture off and running.

 

Golf Tournament

}        The date for the annual golf tournament has been moved from June 4 to Friday, July 9, at Glen Meadows Golf Club. We are looking for a minimum of 100 golfers. Sponsorships are $300/hole and include a sign at hole featuring company name and logo and special thanks in the chamber newsletter. Directors, please consider signing up and putting a team together. This is a great networking event!

 

Visitor Services

}        We were granted funding for two summer students, through the Service Canada Summer Student Employment program.

}        We are attracted about 20 new volunteers: tourism counsellor training will be held on June 15 and 16 at the BC Aviation Museum.

 

Website/Technology

}        We have received permission from the Town of Sidney to engage their IT department to perform necessary technical work (especially work related to network maintenance) for our office. Peter Payerl and his assistant Will, will perform the work at a reduced cost. They have been very helpful in their advice to us.

}        We have met with Honeycomb Webworks to discuss the chamber website, particularly upgrades.

}        Web links to www.peninsulatourism.ca will be disabled until the website can be updated.

 

Ocean Discovery Days

}        We were successful in our application for funding to Tourism, Vancouver Island (via Ministry of Tourism) to produce a second annual Ocean Discovery Days. Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre mounted the event in 2009, in conjunction with the grand opening of the centre.

}        The amount of the grant – $7700 – was much reduced from the grant allowed for 2009. Confirmation of the grant was not received until a bare three weeks before the event was to begin. The committee felt there was that this was insufficient time and funding to mount a successful event and decided not to proceed for this year. 

 

UBCM Phase 1 and 2

}        Projects funded by UBCM Phase 2 Community Tourism grant money, through the District to Central Saanich have been mostly completed. A ‘peninsula routes’ brochure will be completed within the next two weeks. A final report on Phase 2 projects has been submitted to the District.

 

Office Staff

}        Patti Anthony has rejoined our chamber as Marketing and Sales Representative. We are pleased to welcome her as a full-fledged member of our staff.

 

Office Move

}        We will move into larger premises, just down the hall from where we are no, in the Albion Building, at the end of June.

    

 

Attendance at Outside Meetings and Events:

}        Peninsula Chamber of Tour of Industry

}        BC Chamber Executives conference planning meeting

}        BC Chamber Executives (BCCE) board meeting (conf call)

}        Peninsula trolley meetings

}        Ocean Discovery Days mtg

}        Chamber Finance Cmte meeting

}        Chamber Governance Cmte meeting

}        Chamber Events Cmte meeting

}        Sidney-Anacortes Ferry mtg

}        Association of Vancouver Island Coastal Communities 2010 conference planning meeting

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

Eileen Leddy