ARTICLE
The harbour, one of our picturesque landmark sites, is enjoyed by tourists and Greater Victoria residents alike. It is the heart of the region and a destination differentiator, offering a unique experience for visitors while remaining a working harbour with a rich mixture of activities. It stimulates the economy by generating jobs and attracting visitors to the region. As an important part of our economy, we commend the City of Victoria on its report identifying key areas for improvement in the harbour. This report identifies that the next stages of development to improve the harbour include Ship Point, the lower Wharf Street parking lot, and Belleville Terminal. The harbour is a multi-modal international gateway offering a range of transportation options including float planes, passenger and vehicle ferries, and cruise ship travel. In order to improve on this great asset we need to look at long-term planning. What do we want to achieve? And how will we get there? Identifying key areas for improvement is one step in that direction. Additionally, the flow and movement of people, vessels, aircraft, and vehicles is essential to the intricate behind the scenes harbour management that outwardly seems so flawless. Improvements must be managed with an eye to flow around the Inner Harbour dispersing high concentrations of people. The Chamber looks forward to this pivotal time in harbour development and will work on this key priority area throughout 2014 and beyond. We have already identified what needs to be done, now the hard work must start in order for us to get there. By aligning our collective efforts we can secure the future of Victoria’s harbour through the creation of a usable, sustainable comprehensive vision and plan. Success will only be achieved by the collaboration and partnership between business and community to drive economic activity for Greater Victoria. Bruce Carter CEO, Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce Business Examiner - March 2014