Business Walks

Council's Economic Development Advisory Committee advises and assists Council by carrying out the corporation’s strategic plan and developing and monitoring economic development initiatives. Activities undertaken by the Economic Development Advisory Committee have included the completion of a report on the future of an economic development function in Central Saanich, which was submitted to council in 2016, along with Business Walk in Saanichton Village and Brentwood Bay. 

Central Saanich business walk pilot

Through the Economic Development Advisory Committee, established by Council, a business walk pilot was undertaken in 2017 in Saanichton Village. Armed with a survey endorsed by Council, over 40 businesses were visited by members of the committee and business owners provided time to answer the survey questions. The survey is available for viewing here. The survey responses were compiled and presented to council. In the fall of 2017, members of the Economic Development Advisory Committee visited businesses within the core are of the Brentwood Bay Village. A similar survey was initiated and will be compiled and presented to council.

What is a business walk?

A business walk is when local leaders and key community stakeholders visit local businesses, and through face-to-face interviews, provide our Council with the information it needs to identify and remove barriers to doing business in Central Saanich. It is also part of a much broader business retention and expansion initiative, which serves to retain jobs and tax revenues within our community, foster the growth and development of local firms, and enhance our community‘s reputation as a good place to do business.