Speakers

"The Hotel Association of Greater Victoria serves as the collective voice of hotels within Greater Victoria and its surrounding municipalities.”
Bill Lewis, Chair

Bill will speak on the health of the industry and impact of new short term rental regulations in the province. 

Building Community through Music

The research is clear: for everyone, but especially for youth, elder and disadvantaged populations, music can powerfully aid in cognition, resilience and social connection. Through programs and partnerships with local schools and social service organizations, Victoria Symphony strives to make these benefits widely accessible. Learn how music is playing a vital role in fostering innovation, inclusivity and social cohesion across our region.

Matt White spent his early career as a vocal soloist performing and recording with top-flight opera companies and symphonies around the world. Highlights included appearances at the Glyndebourne Festival, New York City Opera, Boston Early Music Festival, Houston Grand Opera and with the San Francisco Symphony, Toronto Symphony, National Arts Centre Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, Netherlands Bach Society, Bach Collegium Japan and many more. He then became an administrator and driver of classical music in the Lower Mainland providing strategic oversight and direction as the Executive and Artistic Director of Early Music Vancouver (EMV). From 2012, Matthew played a central part in more than doubling EMV’s budget and administrative capacity as well as in dramatically growing EMV’s audience. EMV now offers one of the most ambitious programs of its type in North America, presenting and producing between 40-50 concerts per year featuring internationally renowned local, regional and guest artists. Known for his strength in artistic programming, audience development, community leadership and collaboration, White stepped into the position of CEO at the Victoria Symphony in October 2020.

 

Charlene SanJenko is an Indigenous Storyteller, Impact Producer, and Media Visionary. Born in the community of Splatsin in the Shuswap Nation, Charlene is a two-time founder and a veteran in the social impact space.

She is a former two-term municipal politician in Gibsons, BC, and a community economic-development enthusiast. Charlene’s 20-year+ commitment to the expansion of human potential can be summarized as: "Our imagination expands our greatness; as we SEE possibility, we BELIEVE more deeply."

Through her second company, reGEN impact media, Charlene is exploring where the vehicles of media-tech and inclusive innovation intersect to lift society and shift our future’s narrative through the return to the sacred art of storytelling fuelled by the power of media and highest use of technology’s tools.

You can meet Charlene and learn more at:

https://www.regenimpactmedia.com/

Background Article:  https://bit.ly/44T6pT5

 Councillor Chris Coleman has a consistent record of serving his community, and his country, in a multi-faceted fashion. In his seventh term on Victoria City Council, Chris has addressed many issues that affect the way citizens are able to improve the communities in which they live. He has been repeatedly recognized for his efforts, including recognition as "Citizen of the Year".

Chris has been able to weave his educational and workplace experiences into a tapestry that enables a pragmatic approach to any problem. Built on the understanding that all issues are interrelated, he has always worked with many to find common ground.

Chris spent a decade on the National Board of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) making sure community development was supported by federal programmes. His contributions to FCM included three years as Chair of the BC Caucus and representing FCM in Ukraine.

Chris credits much of his success on the support given by his wife, Judit

Special Start Time. 8 30 AM.  Special Location: Conference Hall at the Royal BC Museum .  Use the main entrance,  the big glass doors facing Belleville.
Special meeting!   Denton Pendergast is back with an expanded historical talk on our inner harbour.
Bonus:   All who attend will receive complimentary admission to the museum when it opens at 10.  Bring a guest.
Note a caterer will provide coffee, treats etc,  cash or debit/credit card.  

Our speaker:

Denton, a career graphic designer, worked in agencies and studios in both Ottawa and Calgary before establishing Victoria ‘s Rocket Science Design in 1996.

He inherited his fascination for history from his father, archaeologist Dr. Jim Pendergast. In 2012 Denton’s growing fascination with Victoria’s harbour led to his developing victoriaharbourhistory.com for which he has researched and posted over 250 harbour stories to date. Despite no promotion other that occasional talks at community centres and retirement homes, the site has served well over 20,000 visitors. The site is currently undergoing a major technical upgrade.

Denton is currently a member of the Thermopylae Club and the Maritime Museum of British Columbia, a contributor to the Victoria UNSESCO World Heritage Project, and is a Friend of Centennial Square.

No morning meeting,  rather,  evening event at Uplands to celebrate the end of a Rotary year and start of a new one (July 1)