Welcome to this week’s Midweek Memo. In this issue, check out photos from a recent community mixer, find out if Joni is coming to a Costco near you, and watch an octopus hold on for dear life.

Now on to today’s briefing. It’s 791 words: a three-minute read.

-Emily, [email protected]

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Bruce Williams set to leave the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce

Five years after joining the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, CEO Bruce Williams will step down. Williams’ contract expires in June 2025, at which point his term at the head of the organization will end.

Joining just as the pandemic took hold, Williams found himself in charge of a 157-year-old institution facing an existential risk as traditional revenue streams evaporated. In addition to his other responsibilities, it became responsible to develop new business models and diversify the Chamber’s income sources.

“Under Bruce’s stewardship, The Chamber has navigated through unprecedented challenges, most notably the COVID-19 pandemic. His leadership during this critical time was instrumental in shaping policies and helping our members adapt,” said Kris Wirk, chair of the chamber’s board of directors. “Bruce also worked tirelessly to ensure that our chamber became more inclusive, expanding opportunities for new and diverse businesses to become members. His commitment to diversity and inclusion has enriched our network and created a stronger, more vibrant local economy.”

Williams will continue living in Greater Victoria, where he and his wife own Spark Strategic Group.

📰 More Victoria innovation news

📸 All I’ve got is a photograph: The South Island Prosperity Partnership highlighted photos from its holiday mixer, held in partnership with the Centre for Ocean Applied Sustainable Technologies and the Indigenous Prosperity Centre.

👍 Acing your tests: Joni announced that its products will be available at Costco as a trial run. You can find them at the Costco in Langford—or if you’re in Ontario, at the Costco in Vaughan.

🐙 In an octopus’ garden, near a cave: At its Folger Pinnacle research site, Ocean Networks Canada recorded a Giant Pacific octopus doing its best not to get swept away during the bomb cyclone.

🕴️ Tech jobs of the week

Find your next career:

• Hardware Engineer at Polaris

• Security Incident Response Developer at Wealthsimple

• Senior Technical Program Manager at Autodesk

Hiring in Victoria? Reply to this email and let us know!

📅 Upcoming events

December 13 | 2024 AGM and Holiday Breakfast

Don't miss this annual celebration with fellow iWIST members and allies. Join for iWIST’s 2024 Annual General Meeting and Holiday Breakfast at Hatley Castle on the Royal Roads University Campus. Start your day by celebrating iWIST's past and future surrounded by STEM friends.

December 17 | Inspire 2024 Year End Conference

Inspire welcomes you to their third annual conference, an event designed to celebrate innovation, collaboration, and community impact. The conference offers a unique opportunity to engage with co-op students who have dedicated the past four months to community-driven STEM projects.

​December 19 | Tech Nachos: Holiday Edition

Victoria Tech Nachos… a covert group at the intersection of Nachos and Technology. A no-speaker, social-only, no-sponsor, nacho-friendly event. 

Have an upcoming event? Reply to let us know.

🙋 I need a…

We at Victoria Tech Journal know you, our community, pretty well. Are you searching for someone in your field to have coffee with, a hiring hookup, a lead on local investors, or suggestion for a great Victoria tech tool? Whatever you’re hunting for, let us know. We’ll post it in this section and make it happen.

Email your requests to [email protected].

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