A message from GVBOT's 2024-25 Chair, Walter Pela

This article is from our 2024-25 Annual Report.

It has been a profound honour to serve as Chair of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade during a year that has tested the strength, adaptability, and optimism of our business community. Beneath a backdrop of global uncertainty, rising protectionism, tariffs, and rapid technological transformation, our region continues to face long-standing challenges – lagging productivity, growing fiscal pressures, and policies that too often work against competitiveness. Yet even amid these headwinds, I remain inspired by the resilience, creativity, and leadership of our members and businesses across our region. Throughout this period, the Board of Trade has played a vital role: advocating for evidence-based policy, equipping companies with practical tools, and connecting leaders across sectors to strengthen our collective resilience.

At the heart of our efforts this year was Agenda for Economic Growth – The 3% Challenge. This bold campaign rests on a simple truth: economic growth is essential to improving quality of life. It calls on all levels of government to target real GDP growth of 3% annually—an ambitious yet achievable goal. This agenda has guided much of the Board of Trade’s advocacy, programming, and partnerships throughout the year, sparking meaningful dialogue on how to unlock our region’s full economic potential.

Our progress this year reflects the leadership and dedication of many. I want to acknowledge and thank our 35 board of directors for their time, expertise, and unwavering commitment to our mission. I also want to recognize our President and CEO, Bridgitte Anderson, who has led the organization during this challenging and eventful year with poise, strategy, and resolve, rising to every occasion as one of our region’s leading voices.

The GVBOT continues to be recognized for its exceptional event programming and convening power. Our forums and signature gatherings bring together voices from across industries and around the world, positioning the Board of Trade as the convener of Vancouver’s business community. This year we saw record participation—over 12,000 attendees across 47 main-stage events, representing a 20% increase over the previous fiscal year.

Among the highlights was a focus on the foundations of future growth—both the infrastructure that enables it and the technologies that will define it. Early on, the Board of Trade recognized the transformative potential of artificial intelligence, launching a unique AI Adoption Program to help members seize the opportunity. This was followed by the report Accelerating AI Adoption in B.C., which highlighted how AI can boost productivity and create value. We also convened the landmark Building B.C.: Major Projects Driving Economic Growth, presented by KPMG. The event brought together leaders from government, industry, academia, and the not-forprofit sector for a timely discussion that foreshadowed the Province’s Infrastructure Projects Act and the federal government’s evolving infrastructure agenda.

The message from these discussions was clear—and echoed sentiments we continue to hear from members and business leaders across the region. B.C. has the resources, expertise, and global demand to grow. And yet our economy has reached a crisis point. What we need is speed, certainty, and collaboration to build. Amid a patchwork of both welcome and counterproductive legislative developments, lasting success will instead require intentional and systemic change focused on stronger economic policies—enabling faster approvals, lower regulatory burdens, improved tax competitiveness, and greater investment readiness, attracting both capital and talent to the region. The Board of Trade will continue to advocate across all levels of government and with stakeholders to adopt good policy, move from words to action – to get things done—and to drive the meaningful change needed for businesses and communities to thrive.

This year also marked the 25th anniversary of our Leaders of Tomorrow (LOT) program, which continues to empower emerging leaders in our community. Nearly 90 students graduated in 2024–25, joining a network of more than 2,750 alumni who have helped shape our region’s business and civic landscape since the program’s inception in 1999.

Another highlight of the year was our Governors’ Gala and Rix Awards, a signature celebration recognizing outstanding leadership and community contribution. We proudly honoured the great Bob Rennie with the Rix Award for Community Citizenship and Stantec with the Rix Award for Corporate Citizenship—two exemplary recipients who reflect the very best of our region’s values. We also welcomed our remarkable immediate past chair, Juggy Sihota-Chahil, into our esteemed Council of Governors.

Our member surveys reaffirm that the organization continues to meet the moment. Growth in both our membership and partnership base has strengthened the Board of Trade’s financial foundation, ensuring we remain well-positioned to lead an increasingly unpredictable economic landscape. This success is a testament to the dedication of the exceptional team at 999 Canada Place, whose work continues to advance the goals set out in our three-year strategic plan.

As we look ahead, our mission remains clear: to make British Columbia a place where businesses can build, people can thrive, and communities can prosper. Achieving this will require courage, innovation, and collaboration – qualities that define the Greater Vancouver business community.

The work of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade has never been more important—and I am deeply proud to be part of it.

I also want to extend my sincere thanks to our incoming Chair, Stuart Louie, whose entrepreneurial leadership will serve the Board and its members well in the year ahead.

Thank you to our members, partners, volunteers, and staff for your unwavering commitment and support.