Business Voice
// May E-Newsletter
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In this issue...
Your Voice //
PPE Local Suppliers / FanSavesHelps
Your Low Down //
Keep it Local Marketplace / Business Tips
Your Membership //
Member Marketplace / Business Law 101 Articles
Your Community //
Virtual Town Hall / Business Resource Series
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Your Connection //
Upcoming Events
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Vaughan Chamber Virtual Networking
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Grab your cup of coffee and join us this Friday for a virtual networking session with the business community. Registration is necessary for this free event as the Zoom link will be provided in the registration confirmation.
In partnership with: Vaughan Business Enterprise Centre
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Virtual Town Hall: A Conversation with Political Leaders on Reopening our Economy
Featuring
Hon. Mary Ng, MPP Stan Cho and Hon. Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua
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Join us live on Tuesday, May 26th at 10:00 am for our next Virtual Town Hall as political leaders discuss navigating this changing landscape while we reopen the economy.
Please submit your questions
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Your Voice //
Policy & Advocacy
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Need PPE Supplies? York Region Chambers have created a guide of local suppliers
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As businesses start to re-open, the need for PPE equipment increases. The York Region Chambers and Boards of Trade have collected a list of local suppliers in the area that are supplying Personal Protection Equipment (PPE). The guide contains local suppliers of your personal protective equipment needs, from masks to plastic shielding. The guide will also be updated every few weeks as more PPE suppliers are available.
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New Free Program for Members - FanSavesHelp
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We have an exciting new program named
FanSavesHelps
which is completely free for Chamber Members and allows businesses to post gift cards. These gift cards are aimed at supporting local businesses as customers can buy them to use at a later date or choose to donate them. Once a gift certificate is purchased through the
FanSavesHelps
website
, the buyer will receive a digital gift certificate with a unique code that will be tracked for you in a spreadsheet (which you will have access to). Any money received on your behalf will then be transferred to you via Direct Deposit or e-transfer within 14 days.
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Canadian Business Resilience Network's National Toolkit Guide for Reopening Canada's Economy
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The Canadian Chamber of Commerce's Canadian Business Resilience Network prepared a toolkit to provide guidance and/or access to guidance, for business owners as businesses prepare to reopen. This toolkit provides information on government regulations, childcare availability, sourcing PPE, government financial supports and communicating to staff, customers and suppliers.
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Vaughan Chamber COVID-19: Business Resources
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To assist businesses dealing with COVID-19, we’ve created this resource page which contains all the information on business supports announced by the Federal, Provincial and Municipal levels of Government. We’ve provided details and access to links.
Please check back frequently as we update this page on a regular basis with information as further announcements are made.
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Digital Boost: Vaughan Small Business Resiliency Program
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Are you a local small business owner with a brick-and-mortar location? Gain access to training and mentorship to help move your business forward by growing your online presence.
The City of Vaughan’s
Digital Boost: Small Business Resiliency Program
supports local small business owners in finding new opportunities during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond. Scale your marketing efforts, strengthen your online presence, and deliver compelling content that helps you keep in touch with your current customers and connects you with new business opportunities.
The City of Vaughan has partnered with
General Assembly
, an internationally recognized provider of award-winning education specializing in today’s most in-demand skills, to provide expert training and instruction to help program participants reach their business goals, as well as mentorship opportunities to bring their new digital marketing strategies to life.
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Your Low Down //
What You Need to Know
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Keep it Local Facebook Marketplace
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#KeepItLocal
by shopping from Vaughan businesses. Our rapidly growing Facebook Marketplace allows anyone in the Vaughan community to post,
free of charge
, and shop from the amazing products and services in the Vaughan area. We have seen some great deals with convenient delivery or pick-up options and this is the place to showcase them.
Vaughan Chamber members get added benefits and recognition.
Are you a Vaughan business? Post your offerings today.
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In partnership with: Vaughan Business Enterprise Centre
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Business Tips from the Vaughan Chamber Community
To assist businesses dealing with COVID-19, we’ve created a Business Tips page which contains information and helpful tips sent to us by our members and community.
If you have an informative business tip that would be helpful to share with the Vaughan business community, please send it to us at
info@vaughanchamber.ca
.
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Tag us in your Social Media Posts
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Share what your business is doing to support the community during COVID-19. This can be anything from changing your operations to accommodate, COVID-19 recovery efforts, offering convenient delivery options or initiatives you would like us to share. Tag the Vaughan Chamber and let everyone know about your current offerings and how they can connect with you. We will share your post and highlight our members with a
#MemberSpotlight
.
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Looking to hire? Post Available Jobs at no cost
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Take advantage of our Job Bank to help you find the right candidates. Members can post employment opportunities at
no cost.
Please contact Abinaa if you have any questions or require further assistance with posting jobs:
abinaa@vaughanchamber.ca
.
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Your Membership //
Benefits & Programs
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Member Marketplace - Take advantage of these savings
Members of the Vaughan Chamber post their savings on our website and newsletter at
no cost
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*Interested in having your offers on our Member Marketplace?
Vaughan Chamber members can post available offers at
no cost.
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By: Stuart Rudner, Employment Lawyer and Mediator, Rudner Law
The team at Rudner Law has been working with our clients to navigate this unprecedented situation, and it is heartening to see that the discussion is shifting from closures and layoffs to getting back to business and safety at work.
Of course, this phase of gradually reopening business raises all sorts of new questions. As we often say, we know that you don’t have “Employment Law issues”; you have business decisions to make. Our job is to make sure that you are aware of your rights and obligations as an employer, so you can make an informed decision.
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Business Law 101: Strategic Use of Contracts
By: Stuart Rudner, Employment Lawyer and Mediator, Rudner Law
As we start to look forward, one point that has become increasingly clear during the pandemic is that employers with strategic Employment Contracts in place are in a far stronger legal position than those without.
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Chamber of Commerce Workout Challenge from GYMGUYZ Vaughan
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Are you spending a lot of time sitting down working from home? Feeling tired, anxious, and having difficulties concentrating?
Join
GYMGUYZ Vaughan
by participating in our 10 minutes fitness daily challenge from May 25
th
to June 5
th
and enter to WIN a $100 gift card to Lululemon.
Regular exercise has been shown to:
- Decrease stress and anxiety
- Improve productivity
- Improve mental health and mood
- Promote better sleep
- Increase immunity
- Boost energy
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Minuteman Press Vaughan Bounce Back Initiative
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Bounce Back Vaughan is a free business listing aimed to support local business, spearheaded by Vaughan Chamber member, Minuteman Press Vaughan.
Click the following link to learn more
about Bounce Back Vaughan. Let’s join the movement and together we can Bounce Back.
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Your Community //
Virtual Events Recap
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Virtual Townhall with Thornhill Leaders
Featuring MP Hon. Peter Kent, MPP Gila Martow and Hon. Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua
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The Vaughan Chamber hosted its third Virtual Town Hall with all three levels of Government on April 22
nd
. We thank MP Hon. Peter Kent MPP Gila Martow, and Hon. Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua for answering questions submitted by our membership. We will continue to work with all levels of Government to ensure that our members receive relevant information about programs to assist businesses during the COVID-19 crisis.
Key areas discussed include:
- Support for students through emergency funds
- Rent relief measures
- Continuity of municipal services
- Canada Emergency Business Account ($40k Loan)
- Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy
- Ontario’s economic recovery
- Business continuity and adaptability
- Canada summer jobs program
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Exploring the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy and Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance
Featuring
MP Francesco Sorbara and BDO Partner, Luigi Ciciretto
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On April 30
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the Vaughan Chamber was pleased to have MP Francesco Sorbara and BDO Partner Luigi Ciciretto join Vaughan businesses for an in-depth overview of CEWS and the recently announced Commercial Rental Assistance Program.
Key areas discussed include:
- Rental concerns
- Canadian economic recovery
- Business and community compliance during COVID-19
- The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy and SME support
- Ontario Together Campaign-Repurposing to combat COVID-19
- Support for parents and children's education
- Support for seniors and their families
- Digital Government and continuing services
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Addressing Mental Health in the Midst of a Pandemic
Featuring
Minister Michael Tibollo and Psychotherapist, Mary Marano
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We were pleased to have MPP Minister
Michael Tibollo and Mary Marano
, Life & Family Counselling, Psychotherapist, and owner of Life & Family Counselling with us Fri, May 1
st
to discuss mental health during COVID-19.
This important discussion focused on a number of areas including:
- Government resources for mental health
- Ways to reduce anxiety and stress during social distancing
- Mental health tips for employers and employees while working from home
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COVID-19: Economic Perspective
Featuring Benjamin Tal, Managing Director & Deputy Chief Economist of CIBC World Markets
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The Vaughan Chamber hosted a segment with Benjamin Tal, Deputy Chief Economist of CIBC World Markets on May 4
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. Following his presentation, Mr. Tal had an interactive discussion with our President & CEO, Brian Shifman, which included questions submitted by our membership.
Key areas discussed include:
- Canadian Economic Recovery
- Value and Direction of the Canadian Dollar
- Equity Markets
- Future of Global Trade
- Effects on Housing Markets
- Long Term Projections for Canada's GDP
- The National Deficit
- Rebuilding Consumer Confidence
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Physically Apart but Digitally Together
Featuring Arik Kalininsky, Tali Hasanov, and Joe Pampena
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On Wednesday, May 13
th
we were pleased to have Arik Kalininsky, CEO of dalikoo.com, Tali Hasanov, Managing Director of WSI Digital Path Marketing and Joe Pampena, Principal & Business Coach at C4C Coaching-4-Change with us to discuss leveraging the power of the internet to build relationships during the pandemic.
The discussion focused on a number of areas including:
- Leadership During COVID19
- Collaboration & Teamwork
- Communications
- 7 Tips to Pivot your Marketing
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How to Navigate Your Brand in Troubling Times
Featuring John Amendola, President of Amendola Media Group
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On Wednesday, May 20
th
we were pleased to have John Amendola, President of Amendola Media Group join us for a discussion on how to navigate your brand in troubling times.
The discussion focused on a number of areas including:
- Marketing & Advertising Strategies
- Social Media Presence and Tips
- Pivoting your strategies to accommodate changing landscape
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Members: $120/month or $99/month for three consecutive months.
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