LATEST UPDATES & BUSINESS RESOURCES
News Release

Partnering Organizations Launch 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.

These important initiatives are the result of a working collaboration between the Town of Ladysmith, Stz’uminus First Nation, the Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce, Ladysmith Downtown Business Association, Nanaimo Airport, Economic Development Cowichan and Community Futures Central Island – a group collectively known as The Partnership for a Vibrant Local Economy.

Creation of the investment tools is supported by a $27,500 grant from Island Coastal Economic Trust, with additional funds totaling $17,500 contributed by the project partners. The group also acknowledges $10,000 in funding support from the federal government through the Digital Skills for Youth Program, allowing the Ladysmith Chamber to hire a digital intern who spearheaded the collection and imagery for the new website....
Ladysmith-Open for Business Online Directory is now live!
The Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce and the Ladysmith Downtown Business Association (LDBA) are working hard to promote business recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. Consumer awareness and confidence in business practices will be a key component of successful recovery. The Chamber and the LDBA are here to help. 

The 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.
 
We look forward to working with you and your business as we all try to get back on our feet after this incredible challenge. We Ladysmither’s are a resilient bunch and we’ll get through this … together.
SMALL BUSINESS BC
HOW TO SAFELY REOPEN YOUR BUSINESS
The health and safety of staff and customers must remain the top priority for businesses during the pandemic. Find resources and guidance to help develop your own COVID-19 safety plan:
1. Webinar on developing a communication plan for reopening  - customers expect to hear how you plan to keep them safe. (webinar)
2. Talk to HR expert  - Talk to our qualified HR professional about preparing your workforce for reopening. (advisory session)
3. How to arrange your workplace for a safe reopening  - including guidelines for offices, retailers, and restaurants/cafes.
COVID-19 information and resources for returning to a safe operation/ WorkSafeBC
WorkSafeBC guidelines are now available for some businesses and organizations listed in Phase 2. Working with employees and unions, businesses must use these guidelines to create a public COVID-19 Safe Plan outlining how they will adjust operations to keep employees and the public safe. Download COVID-19 Safety Plan Template
COVID-19
Industry safety (B.C.’s Restart Plan, Phase1 Agriculture ,  Construction ,  Forestry ,  Health care ,  Hospitality ,  Manufacturing ,  Municipalities ,  Retail ,  Small business ,  Transportation
Additional information:   General health and safety ; Insurance support for employers:   premiums waived for Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy ,  Q1 reporting and payment deadlines ;  Claims
Keeping the Cowichan Valley connected.
Resources, tools and information for businesses during the COVID-19 crisis. Cowichan businesses now have a new resource tool to support them in this time of economic crisis. The   #cowichanstrong   initiative provides a one-stop source for the Cowichan business community to respond, adapt, and recover from COVID-19. The Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce is now an active partner in the #cowichanstrong initiative.
Buy Local Cowichan
Cowichan Strong invites all Cowichan businesses to be showcased on   Buy Local Cowichan.  
Buy Local Cowichan  connects consumers to local businesses while COVID-19 restrictions are in place.
It will be promoted on partners’ Facebook pages, webpages, and through local media to encourage people to shop locally.
By registering your business on the  buy local  page, your business is featured on a centralized and community-endorsed tool, giving you the opportunity to reach new and existing customers. Businesses can input a description of products, services, hours and contact information. This helps customers by providing a comprehensive, and up-to-date, catalogue of opportunities to buy local.
WEBINARS
BC Chamber of Commerce
Workplace Health and Safety During COVID-19
Getting back to business
Join us for a Townhall with WorkSafeBC, June 11
BC Chamber has partnered with WorkSafeBC to host a webinar on workplace health and safety during COVID-19.

  • Topics will include:COVID-19 transmission and risks
  • How to control the risk of exposure in the workplace
  • Supporting the mental well-being of your workers
  • Best practices for working from home
  • Resources for your business
This is an exclusive event for our chamber network and our members.

There is no cost, but you must register to attend by Wednesday, June 10 at 5 pm.
VIEW PAST VIEA COVID-19 Video Conference Events
VIEA has hosted special series of brief video conference events designed to provide close-to-the-ground ‘how to’ information. Islanders can hear from thought leaders and network with peers to help their decision-making during this COVID-19 pandemic crisis. Recordings of these sessions can be found in the  ‘News and Media’ Video section . To receive invitations to participate in live sessions,  click here to sign up.
REGISTER for the BC Tourism Resiliency Network / WORKSAFE BC WEBINAR
The BC Tourism Resiliency Network is a long-term resiliency program providing BC tourism businesses with meaningful, one-on-one support to navigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, adapt and work towards eventual recovery.
Destination BC: Supporting BC’s Tourism Industry on The Road to Recovery 
Response, Recovery, and Resilience from COVID-19
Destination BC has launched a series of webinars to support small businesses like yours on the road to recovery from COVID-19. You may have many questions about re-opening, consumer expectations, and marketing strategies in the weeks to come. These webinars will help address these questions as you plan your path forward.
We all want a better, brighter future for tourism in BC. Destination BC believes that through meaningful collaboration and support, together we can re-ignite BC’s tourism industry, propel tourism businesses forward, accelerate growth amongst destinations, and plan for a successful future in our province. 
All sessions are held at 2:00 p.m. on the dates noted below.
June 11:  Work Refusal & Other HR Challenges Amid the Restart
June 16:  SEO in Uncertain Times: How it can Help Recovery Efforts
June 18 : Adapting Customer Service & Guest Communication in a Pandemic Impacted Business Environment
June 25 : Returning to Work: Protecting Mental Health
July 7 : Revisiting your COVID-19 Safety Plan
We all want a better, brighter future for tourism in BC. Destination BC believes that through meaningful collaboration and support, together we can re-ignite BC’s tourism industry, propel tourism businesses forward, accelerate growth amongst destinations, and plan for a successful future in our province.
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
Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Centre
In following the Minister of Health recommendation to practice Social Distancing and to do our part to flatten the curve and keep our team safe, we are primarily working from home. We are working on our plans to reopen soon. If you need to contact us by telephone, you can call 250-245.2112 (please try, where possible, to restrict your calls to regular business hours) or send an email
33 Roberts Street, PO Box 598 Ladysmith,
BC V9G1A4 Canada
250-245-2112