LATEST UPDATES & BUSINESS RESOURCES
LADYSMITH CHAMBER & VISITOR CENTRE
As of July 02, our office reopened to the public.
Chamber Hours:
10am-4pm Monday to Friday
Visitor Centre Hours:
10am-4pm Daily
until Labour Day
HOT AUGUST NIGHTS
Happening from 5 – 7pm every Thursday evening during the month of August. Stay Tuned for more details!
Ladysmith is moving ahead with significant initiatives to help local businesses recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. Town Council originally intended to purchase six concrete outdoor tables, stanchions and some lighting by using some unspent Grants-in-Aid funds (made available due to community activities cancelled because of Covid) paired with a $15K grant from the Island Coastal Economic Trust Small Capital Restart Program. But after hearing about the Mayor and Council’s efforts, members of the community stepped into to make the initiative much more exciting. Thanks to community donations there will now be 18 patio sets distributed around the downtown core together with 30 sets of Edison Lights and an interactive light display. 
“Downtown is often referred to as the living room of our community. Places to gather, connect, visit, rest and linger are good for business. It will provide value far above and long beyond the investment we’re making,” Mayor Aaron Stone said.
To inspire the community and visitors to embrace this new sense of place and to encourage shopping local the Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Business Association and the Art Council of Ladysmith are organizing HOT AUGUST NIGHTS happening from 5 – 7pm every Thursday evening during the month of August. This initiative is being made possible by a grant from the Town of Ladysmith. Local businesses and restaurants will be staying open late and the vibe will be augmented with art and music courtesy of buskers and the Ladysmith Arts Council.  There’s never been a better time to check out what’s new in Ladysmith.      
JOIN IN ON "THE BIG SPEND!"
THIS Saturday, July 25th
THE BIG SPEND is a one-day, buy local event designed to help revive Canada’s economy. On July 25 , take action & help the nation’s post COVID-19 rebuilding process.

Local small businesses make our communities run. They support community events and sponsor sports teams. They also provide nearly 70% of all private sector jobs in Canada.

They have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, and we want to support their recovery in the same way they have supported our communities time and again.

The Ladysmith Chamber, LDBA and Town of Ladysmith are happy to support and get on board with this one-day event called the Big Spend. The Big Spend is a great opportunity to see the profound impact created when we support our local businesses by shopping locally.

This is fantastic idea that is simple to get behind. Visit www.thebigspend.com and find out what it means to be a spend friend.

Businesses and organizations, we encourage you to help promote this nationwide event. For more information, click on the boxes below. Make sure to share the news and advertise the big day through your social media platforms.

#TheBigSpend #SupportLocal #CanadianSmallBusinesses
Here's What You Told Us: COVID Impact Pulse Check #4
Results from our 4th COVID-19 Pulse Check survey show 67% of BC businesses are receiving some form of government support, and many foresee cutbacks, more debt and layoffs when that support ends.
Improved Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy Bill Passes The House  
On Tuesday, MPs in the House of Commons passed Bill C-20, including the improved CEWS, which was announced on Friday last week. The Senate must now study the bill before it can be implemented. We have called for the bill to be swiftly passed and are grateful MPs on all sides worked to achieve that goal. We are hopeful the Senate will now do the same. The improved CEWS will help get Canadians back to work.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON BILL C-20
Digital Economy Response Program DER3
Don’t Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth. The Digital Economy Response Program (DER3) is a free service for Vancouver Island small-medium sized businesses that are considering entering or expanding in the digital economy. Need help with your website, social media strategy, e-commerce, then this is the place for you.

DER3 offers one-to-one business and technical consultations for businesses that are considering entering or expanding their online presence
or putting technology-based tools in place to better serve their needs.
AND ITS FREE! Read more..
DESTINATION BC RESPONSE
Response, Recovery, Resilience
Destination BC’s marketing and industry response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been guided by three-phases:  Response, Recovery, Resilience —principles which align with  BC’s Restart Plan .
We are now in Phase 3 of BC’s Restart Plan. In alignment with this Phase, Destination BC has launched a new chapter of its successful Explore BC campaigns: an extensive domestic marketing campaign encouraging BC residents to plan and book their trips for travel throughout the province. READ MORE...
New Investment Tools for Ladysmith and Area
The Partnership for a Vibrant Local Economy has launched a set of new online investment tools for Ladysmith and the surrounding area to serve as a driver for economic activity and attract new business opportunities.

The new one-stop resources for locals, visitors and those looking to do business here includes a new Tourism Ladysmith and Invest Ladysmith mobile-friendly website, as well as a supporting Ladysmith Heritage and Investment App. The promotion of local business and future opportunities is especially timely as communities move through the phases of BC’s Restart Plan.

The Ladysmith Open for Business Directory highlights businesses that are open and any practices they are implementing to keep themselves and their customers safe.   Click here to submit your business or update your business information.

The Ladysmith Open For Business Directory link is included on Destination BC's HelloBC platform .  
Ladysmith Heritage and Investment Walking Tour App is now available on the Apple App Store.

We are excited to share that the Ladysmith Heritage and Investment Walking Tour App is now available on the Apple App Store. Search for “Ladysmith Heritage” on the App Store on your mobile device.
You can also download it from Google Play or use the web version available at app.tourismladysmith.ca
Get involved in your community
Get involved in your community by applying to be part of the Parks, Recreation and Culture Advisory Committee – helping provide advice to Council and making a difference through civic engagement.

There is one (1) vacancy to be filled on the Town’s Parks, Recreation & Culture Advisory Committee (PRCAC). The mandate of the PRCAC is to assist Council by providing advice and recommendations on matters referred by Council and to provide input supporting the Parks, Recreation & Culture Master Plan. The PRCAC meets monthly, September to June, or at the call of the chair.
Application deadline extended until August 7th, at 4 p.m.
Find out more here
Updates and Survey from Nanaimo Airport
Attitudes About Air Travel SURVEY from Nanaimo Airport.

The Nanaimo Airport is looking for your feedback on your thoughts on how the airport can make air travel safer for you. Follow the link to fill out our survey by July 31st.

Nanaimo Airport Health and Safety Video
The Nanaimo Airport recently produced an update video that shows the measures the airport has put in place to keep their passengers safe and healthy while they travel through the airport and we begin to encourage local travel on Vancouver Island and throughout BC. View Video
Funding & Resources | Cowichan Strong | Vancouver Island
Relevant resources, tools and information about funding and grants for the Cowichan Valley business community during the COVID-19 crisis.
cowichanstrong.ca

BUY LOCAL COWICHAN
#CowichanStrong invites all Cowichan businesses to be showcased on  Buy Local Cowichan.  
WEBINARS & MORE...
Mental Health & Well Being for Business Owners/Staff
Thursday, July 23rd
10am-11am

In this webinar brought to you by the CVRD and Community Futures Cowichan, they are joined by a panel of health professionals to discuss mental health and well being for business owners/staff during COVID-19.

Together with Jodie MacDonald, MSW RSW IBP, and Ben Kotler, MA, RCC, PgCSH, we will explore what kind of expectations we should have on ourselves to perform at 100% during these times, plus mental health tools we can utilize to support ourselves and those in our business community. Further, we will discuss how your company's benefit plans may support mental health counseling, and what long term practices we can put into place to cultivate a resilient and mentally healthy business community in Cowichan.
14th Annual ‘State of the Island’ Economic Summit Goes Digital
Registration for the 14th Annual State of the Island Economic Summit will open in August, 2020.
 
The 14th Anniversary ‘State of the Island’ Economic Summit is scheduled for Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday, October 27, 28 & 29, 2020.
CHAMBER MEMBER EVENTS
COWICHAN VALLEY WINE FESTIVAL / AUGUST 1-31
ON SALE NOW! Purchase your $20 ticket online to visit 12 Cowichan wineries any time August 1 through 31 for safe tours and tastings. Fill out your Festival Passport with stamps from every winery and enter to win a case of Cowichan wine.

SO…HOW DOES THIS WORK?
Download your digital ticket and take it to any of the participating wineries to get your keepsake tasting glass and your “Passport”. Your passport is your guide to each winery that you can use to plan your trip.
As you go, be sure to collect your “stamps” at each visit for a chance to be entered into a draw for a case of hand-selected Cowichan wines!
Find out more and purchase tickets here
Cowichan Recognized with BC VQA Certification
The Cowichan Valley is being recognized as a new sub-geographical indication, an official and protected term under B.C. law used to help consumers identify B.C. wines' origins. There are nine official geographical indications in the province and five sub-geographical indications. The Cowichan Valley is the first sub-GI outside of the Okanagan. FULL PRESS RELEASE
LADYSMITH ROTARY
BOTTLE DRIVE
All proceeds will be donated to community and Rotary projects. Many thanks to the LDCU for donating their parking lot to help with our collection and sorting.
FOLLOW OUR FACEBOOK PAGE
We sincerely hope that you, your families, your employees, coworkers and all around you are safe and healthy in these extraordinary times. The Ladysmith Chamber has worked hard to monitor the many announcements related to federal, provincial and local responses to the Covid-19 pandemic and make information pertinent to business readily available to you on our website, newsletters and Facebook posts. We have also tried our best to monitor how your businesses have adjusted to the current crisis to make this information available to the public through our Facebook page. (If you have not already Liked and Followed our Page, you may need to do so in order to tag us.)
CHAMBER PARTNERSHIPS
The Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce is proud to work closely with the BC Chamber and local area Chambers
33 Roberts Street, PO Box 598 Ladysmith,
BC V9G1A4 Canada
250-245-2112