Blog policy
The following content is intended for any person or organization that is a member of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade or a guest collaborator and wants to contribute to our blog ...
GVBOT blog editorial policy
GVBOT blog editorial policy
Blog policy
The following content is intended for any person or organization that is a member of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade or a guest collaborator and wants to contribute to our blog ...
GVBOT blog editorial policy
GVBOT blog editorial policy
JUN
24

Events Recap May-June 2024

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As we approach the end of June, it's worth reflecting on the vibrant season of events hosted by the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade for the local business community. These events have provided opportunities for members to connect, share insights, and stay attuned to the latest industry trends and developments. From networking sessions to thought-provoking forums, each gathering has been instrumental in fostering collaboration and driving the region's economic growth.
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JUN
24

Work Disrupted: Building a Reinvention-Ready Workforce

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The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade's 'Work Disrupted: Building a Reinvention-Ready Workforce' event featured a detailed presentation and a panel discussion that delved into these critical topics and discussed strategies for future readiness.

Featuring Vancouver Airport Authority's Richard Beed, CPHR BC & Yukon's Naz Kullar, PwC Canada's Jean McClellan and Carolyn Rush, BC Hydro's Carolynn Ryan and Purdys Chocolatier's Paul Taylor, the event focussed on multiple PwC surveys including the Hopes and Fears 2023 survey. The survey brings to light the issues facing workers and the impact of current workforce strategies, including the desire for employment changes, financial dresses, reskilling obstacles, and the implications of AI for their roles.

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MAY
31

How to boost workplace productivity through a people-first approach

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This blog post is part of a TELUS Health series to support employers in navigating several workplace challenges by providing ways to prioritize employee well-being, foster a strong company culture, reduce absenteeism, and increase retention.

This article explores how a people-first approach can boost workplace productivity. From mental health support to flexible work schedules, Telus Health highlights the key factors that help create a productive and engaged workforce.

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MAY
24

Best Practices to Navigate International Payments

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Small businesses are the backbone of British Columbia, numbering over 500,000 in the province. According to BC Stats, we have more small businesses per capita than any other Province, which means one in ten British Columbians operates a business in some capacity. Market expansion and doing business abroad is a crucial growth strategy for many BC companies.

Small businesses benefit from working with clients and vendors in other countries, including the US whether tapping a larger customer base, gaining options for vendors, or mitigating risk with income in different currencies. We see this in importing and exporting, mining and forestry and e-commerce, but also through marketing, advertising, gaming and film and TV production services.

At some point in their journey abroad, businesses need to navigate foreign currency. This can involve bringing in revenue in USD or Euros or paying vendors in other countries. In this blog post, the Vancouver Bullion and Currency Exchange shares best practices for small business owners to navigate international payments.

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MAY
16

Recapping ‘Shaping the Future Together’

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On May 7, Dr. Benoit-Antoine Bacon, President of the University of British Columbia (UBC), spoke to the Greater Vancouver business community During his keynote, Dr. Bacon emphasized UBC's commitment to fostering healthier lives, restoring the planet's health, and nurturing thriving communities. Dr. Bacon touched upon various topics, ranging from UBC's dedication to truth and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples to its pivotal role in driving innovation and addressing global challenges. Here are a few highlights:

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MAY
07

One-to-one with Cathryn Wilson

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Meet Cathryn Wilson, who leads the BC Achievement Foundation (BC Achievement). As Executive Director, she spearheads an independent foundation dedicated to honouring excellence across British Columbia to drive meaningful change. Through five award programs, BC Achievement showcases the very best of the province, highlighting the remarkable efforts of individuals who contribute to building stronger and more engaged communities. With a mission to elevate excellence and inspire achievement in program areas which include civic leadership, artistic endeavors, entrepreneurship, and reconciliation, BC Achievement tells powerful stories of extraordinary people doing extraordinary work

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APR
29

Governors' Gala and Rix Awards 2024

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Last week, the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade hosted the 36th annual Governors' Gala and Rix Awards on Monday, April 22, 2024, to commemorate outstanding leadership within our community.

The Gala paid tribute to the recipients of the Rix Award for Engaged Community Citizenship and the Rix Award for Engaged Corporate Citizenship, both named in honour of the late Dr. Don Rix, a former Chair of the Board of Trade and esteemed philanthropist.
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MAR
22

Canadian CEO Insights for the Future

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With a legacy spanning over a century, PwC is dedicated to empowering Canadian organizations to thrive in today's dynamic business landscape. Boasting a team of 7,700+ partners and staff across the nation, PwC brings a wealth of expertise and a collaborative spirit to address the most pressing challenges and opportunities facing businesses today.

At the recent 'Canadian CEO Insights for the Future: The Reinvention Imperative' event hosted by GVBOT, PwC shared valuable insights gleaned from their deep industry knowledge and global perspective. 

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MAR
20

One-to-one with Joshua Myers

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Joshua Myers is the Executive Director of the BC Centre for Ability (BCCFA). Under the leadership of Joshua Myers, the BC Centre for Ability designs and delivers community-based programs for persons with disabilities. They are on a quest to foster inclusive communities where every person thrives at all stages of life. Based in Vancouver but serving nearly 5,000 people across BC each year, they offer a wide range of programs to support people with disabilities to achieve personal goals and be meaningfully included in all aspects of life.

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MAR
14

Navigating the Social Media Landscape: Trends and Insights for 2024 with Megan Shallow

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Hello there! I'm Megan Shallow, the founder of BNL Media Consulting. We specialize in helping businesses engage with their communities both online and offline through a range of services, including social media management, email marketing, UGC creator management, and social media consulting.

With over 7 years of experience in the social media industry, I've gained valuable insights that I'm eager to share. That's why I founded BNL and launched my Social Media Academy last September. And today, I'm excited to share with you the top social trends to keep an eye on in 2024!

Here are the top 4 trends you'll want to pay attention to this year as you navigate your own social media marketing journey:

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FEB
16

Understanding Consumer Trends: Accenture’s latest Life Trends Report

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Accenture, a global professional services company in the field of strategy, consulting, technology, and operations, shared their observations on consumer trends, drawn from their extensive experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries.

Last week during our GVBOT's event - "Consumer Trends: Develop Stronger Relationships with Customers" - Accenture shared the findings of their latest Lifestyle Trends report which covers several of the latest consumer trends. Here are 5 of the trends explored during the event and the key insights from the panellists.

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JAN
29

Critical Juncture for B.C.’s Critical Minerals

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The mining sector represents 35,000 rural and urban jobs, makes up $7.3 billion of provincial GDP, 28 percent of B.C's goods exports and approximately $1 billion in provincial government revenue to support services.

Critical minerals are those that have been identified by the federal government as essential to the energy transition -- metals and minerals such as copper, cobalt, nickel and lithium. Critical minerals are the building blocks of the digital and green economy.

B.C is home to 16 of Canada's 31 critical minerals and is Canada's largest copper and only molybdenum producer. This month may mark a pivotal moment for the future of the mining industry in British Columbia.

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JAN
20

Legacy: Alan Hart

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Reflecting on Alan Hart's impact and legacy.

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JAN
15

Reinvest in B.C. by making carbon tax revenue neutral again

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Read the latest op-ed in the Vancouver Sun by Greater Vancouver Board of Trade President and CEO Bridgitte Anderson on the rising costs squeezing B.C.'s smaller businesses and the need for action.
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JAN
10

Exploring Major Projects in British Columbia

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British Columbia is at a crossroads. For the past several years, major projects have been a significant pillar of B.C.'s economy, creating tens of thousands of jobs and injecting billions through procurement spending. However, as many of these projects reach completion, the province faces a crucial juncture that demands strategic foresight and careful planning.
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JAN
02

It Takes More than Food to Make an Impact

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You don't need to search far to see an article or news story discussing the growing need in Vancouver. We've seen an increasing dependence on food banks and social support services in the years following the pandemic, with record-breaking costs for food and housing driving people to the tipping point in their finances. Despite this relentless growth, the Greater Vancouver Food Bank (GVFB) has kept up with the skyrocketing need due to our transparent and tactical approach to the non-profit work we do.
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NOV
29

7 takeaways from the 2023 Labour Market Outlook for in-demand careers

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The Province of British Columbia released its 2023 Labour Market Outlook report, which revealed that about one million job openings are expected in the next decade. In an era of rapidly changing workforce demands, the annual report provides useful insights to help post-secondary students and those thinking about entering, switching, or advancing their careers in the workforce, make informed decisions on optimizing their career, skills training, and education for a good-paying job. In particular, it is a valuable resource for identifying job opportunities, growth sectors, and skills development for British Columbians of all ages to use in planning ahead and investing in a future-proof and in-demand education, career, or business. 

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NOV
28

Filling the data gaps and setting the foundation for new investment attraction

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Invest Vancouver's latest report identifies the rising stars with previously unavailable critical regional datasets to advance regional prosperity and amplify opportunities 

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NOV
27

Paper Planes Café By PAFN Now Brewing At YVR, Advancing Inclusive and Accessible Travel And Employment Experiences

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In a groundbreaking move towards fostering inclusivity and accessibility in the travel industry, Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and the Pacific Autism Family Network (PAFN) have joined forces to unveil the Paper Planes Café. This innovative addition to YVR's reimagined food and beverage offerings marks a significant milestone as the first-of-its-kind inclusive coffee bar at a Canadian airport.
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NOV
20

Vancouver's other land crisis

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Read the latest op-ed in the Business in Vancouver by Greater Vancouver Board of Trade President and CEO Bridgitte Anderson on the current industrial land crisis facing our region.
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Featured stories

Beginning on November 1, 2023, in accordance with British Columbia's Pay Transparency Act (the "Act"), employers will be required to specify the expected salary or wage or expected salary or wage rang...
A message from Rob Chiarello, Senior Vice President of People and Culture at Pacific Blue Cross (PBC) and outgoing co-chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Council (DLC) at the Greater Vanco...
Reflecting on Alan Hart's impact and legacy.