The Victoria Chamber of Commerce has named its new treasurer: Deborah Huelscher, who serves as vice-president of administration and chief financial officer at Camosun College.
Huelscher succeeds Moira Hauk, regional manager at Coastal Community Credit Union.
Kris Wirk, partner in Dusanj + Wirk Chartered Professional Accountants, and Christina Clarke, executive director of the Indigenous Prosperity Centre, are reprising their roles as chamber chair and vice-chair respectively.
This year will mark the first full year for two members who joined the board mid-year. Capt. (N) Kevin Whiteside became director in July when he succeeded Capt. (N) Jeff Hutchinson as base commander at CFB Esquimalt. Dean Clarke, senior partner owner of Tru Value Foods, joined last fall when a vacancy became available.
TV host Brown films in Victoria
Longtime American TV host Samantha Brown paid a visit to the capital region last summer for an episode of Samantha Brown’s Places to Love, set to air on PBS on Jan. 26.
Brown dropped in for tea at the Fairmont Empress, snacked on fish and chips at Fisherman’s Wharf, toured Butchart Gardens and visited Chinatown for the episode, which can also be viewed online on Jan. 21.
For the past 25 years, Brown has been a host on Travel Channel, shining a light on getaway destinations around the world.
Paul Nursey, chief executive of Destination Greater Victoria, said Brown’s visit shows its marketing efforts for the capital region have paid off.
“We reduced overheads and built a lean, scalable, and flexible model with increased marketing and sales muscle,” Nursey said of the organization’s restructuring since COVID-19. “DGV is able to compete with much larger cities as a result.”
Clipper gets new team members
FRS Clipper, which provides ferry services and vacation planning in Seattle and Victoria, has added new business development managers Krista Holmberg and Lisa Symonds to its team.
Leading the new sales team is Holmberg, a 30-year veteran of the travel industry with experience at Holland America Line, Club Med, Scenic Luxury River Cruises and Emerald Cruises.
Symonds is tasked with overseeing corporate team experiences. Before joining the FRS Clipper team, she worked with Holland America Line, Waterways Cruises and Events, Compass Outdoor Adventures and REI.
Since 1986, FRS Clipper has provided transportation, tours and accommodation packages for more than eight million travellers.
Lidstone to chair real estate board
The Victoria Real Estate Board’s 2024 board of directors will be chaired by Laurie Lidstone.
Lidstone has been involved as a volunteer with several board committees and has served on the board for three years.
Other board members are chair-elect Dirk VanderWal; treasurer Fergus Kyne; past chair Graden Sol; and directors Bev Berger, Neil Bosdet, Kash Burley, Tara Lynn and Mark McDougall.
