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Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1458960
F I V E Q U E ST ION S That's a tough one, because they are the experts. If anything, I have learned so much from all of them during the pandemic. I have been in awe of their ability to innovate and be resilient. Nobody thought that at two years, we would still be in this place. Many of us thought we would be coming out the other side of this by now. My message would be less to those businesses, who know what they're doing, and more to those who are setting policy, to think about how we can make it easier for businesses to operate in this region, and to ensure that we are a competitive economy and region so we're attracting investment, attracting trade and ensuring that we're going to thrive in the future. • 5. IN THESE UNPREDICTABLE TIMES, WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT ARE HOPING TO COME OUT THE OTHER SIDE? 1 Over the past couple of years, what has surprised you the most? What I have been pleasantly surprised at is the resilience and the innovation of so many businesses. But when I look at the other side of that coin, what I have been surprised with, maybe in not such a positive way, is the growing divisiveness that I'm seeing across society. The polarization, I think, is really challenging. We're at a time in society, and particular- ly the pandemic, where people need to come together to find solutions to some really com- plex problems. And so seeing the polarization and the divi- siveness, whether it's regarding the pandemic and health care or a number of other issues, is discouraging and concerning. 2 Professionally and per- sonally, what have you taken away from the experience? I took on this role just a few months before the pandemic hit, so almost my entire expe- rience at the Board of Trade has been impacted by it. And while it was challenging in many ways—a lot of what we do is bringing people together in person—it offered so much opportunity. We made a very quick pivot to virtual events, and we were able to continue to bring people and perspectives together in a virtual manner. So it has taught me, again, about resilience and innovation and looking for opportunities for growth outside the usual parameters. It has also taught me to reach out. There has been a sense of collaboration that was unusual, I would say, in previ- ous times. It's collaboration among different business organ- izations, industry organizations, and also the willingness to work with government. That is not to say that we will always agree with what government is doing, but there is a willingness to try and find solutions. 3 It's been a tough time for many businesses, families BRIDGITTE ANDERSON The president and CEO of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade calls on British Columbians to put aside their differences and work together for a strong pandemic recovery by Nick Rockel and individuals, but has COVID done anything to change our province for the better? I hope so, and particularly around the acceleration in the digital shift. I think it has taught us that we don't have to do things the way we had always done them, that we can look for new and innovative ways. And so that shift to digital really needed to happen and contin- ues to need to happen. But during this pandemic, we also had an enormous cli- mate event that has awakened a lot of individuals and busi- nesses to think about what they need to do to address climate change. There have been enormous events around diver- sity and inclusion and around Indigenous reconciliation. I would call it an awakening on many levels. 4 If we want to build back better from the pandemic, how can we do that in Metro Vancouver and across B.C.? What key steps could we take? We all need to take a look at the challenges and the op- portunities that have been presented over the past few years, whether that is the pandemic or climate events or issues around economic reconciliation with our Indigenous communities. There is a lot of work that we can and we should be doing, but together we can do it. And so my advice is to think about how we all find solutions together. We're not always going to agree on every- thing, but the polarization and divisiveness needs to stop if we are going to build back better. HOBBIES Running, hiking, snowshoeing, cooking LAST BOOK I READ Five Little Indians by Michelle Good, which was heartbreaking and devastating but so incredibly well written FAVOURITE TV SHOW Ted Lasso. It's such a message of positivity, it's funny, and it makes you feel good MOST MEMORABLE CONCERT The Tragically Hip's final tour FAVOURITE PLACE IN B.C. Anywhere with water PET PEEVE Inconsiderate drivers GUILTY PLEASURE Chocolate MARCH/APRIL 2022 BCBUSINESS 23 BCBUSINESS.CA ( the informer )