UPDATES & BUSINESS RESOURCES
the latest from your Chamber
In this Issue
From your Chamber and Local Partnerships
  • Ladysmith Chamber "Ice Cubed" series recap from JUNE 23rd
  • Ladysmith Public Washrooms are OPEN!!!
  • Chamber / Visitor Centre Hours

From Local Partnerships
  • BGC Central Vancouver Island seeks Volunteer Board Member from Ladysmith
  • Show & Shine 2021 – Saturday, August 21st
  • Ladysmith Day(s) August 01 2021!!
  • LMS Harbour Tours are back!
Resources for Members 
  • BC's Restart Plan Step 3 starts July 1st
  • Business recovery grant: deadline July 2
  • BC Chamber of Commerce Proud Champion of 50 – 30 Challenge
  • Register for the Cohort 5 of the series Building Resilience to Thrive
  • Small business grant now available to create inclusive work environments
  • Learn about WorkSafeBC’s preliminary 2022 rates
  • ICET | Capacity Funding Program
  • ICET: New Small Capitol Program Set to Drive Vitality into Downtown Areas
From your Chamber
Ladysmith Chamber Membership Driven Sharing Sessions | "Ice Cubed" Series
Wednesday, June 23rd
Many thanks to our 3 presenters and all of you who participated in the 2nd Ice³ Session on June 23rd.
 
For those not able to attend we are happy to share their presentations with you:

WorkBC Centre: Johnna Pussa / Alissa Laurin
 
Freedom 55 Financial: Kenneth R. Greig
 
CommUNITY Together To End Poverty: Rosalie Sawrie, Social Planning Cowichan
 
We look forward to resuming our ICE ³ Sessions in September. 
Ladysmith Public Washrooms are OPEN!!!
The Ladysmith Chamber applauds the Ladysmith Kinsmen Club, the Town of Ladysmith and everyone involved in this much needed addition of public washrooms in the heart of Ladysmith’s beautiful downtown. Bravo!

Located on First Ave between Ladysmith Health Food Store and CrossFit Ladysmith
From Local Partners
BGC Central Vancouver Island seeks Volunteer Board Member from Ladysmith
VOLUNTEER BOARD MEMBERS
Would you like to make a difference in the lives of children and youth in your community and support them to be the best they can be?

The BGC Central Vancouver Island provides childcare, daycare, summer camps, teen and youth programs, family programs and parenting programs. Our mission is to provide a safe supportive place where children and youth can experience new opportunities, overcome barriers, build positive relationships and develop the confidence and skills for life. Our vision is that all children and youth discover and achieve their dreams and grow up to be healthy, successful and active participants in our community. Our core values are belonging, respect, encouragement and support, working together and speaking out.
Show & Shine 2021 – Saturday, August 21st
The Ladysmith Show and Shine committee and the hundreds of guests that will be bringing their classic/vintage/collector vehicles to our historic downtown, home of Canada’s Best Main Street on August 21st, 2021, invite you to come out and see this great family-friendly community event.

This years show is dedicated in memory of Bhagwan Mayer.
LADYSMITH DAY(S) | August 01 2021!!!
The Celebrations Society has met and is going to move ahead with Ladysmith Day(s) for this year.

With only a matter of weeks instead of months to plan and execute, and adapting to the health orders that may or may not be in place come August 1st they are scaling back the event. Please stay tuned for further announcements as they are reaching out to sponsors, vendors and volunteer organizations as to what activities they can safely offer over the coming days.
Want to help out in some way? Send them an Email
LMS Harbour Tours are back!
The MARITIMER is operating again on Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30 am and 2:00 pm for Ladysmith Harbour Tours. If you have friends or family that are visiting, it makes for a fun activity for everyone! Our tour operators are volunteers and Transport Canada certified.
Pricing
  • $15.00 per adult
  • $7.50 each under 19 years old
  • $40.00 for a family of FOUR (2 adults & 2 under age 19)
Resources for Members and more...
BC'S RESTART PLAN / STEP 3 / STARTS JULY 1ST
Starts July 1
The criteria for moving to Step 3 is at least 70% of the 18+ population vaccinated with dose 1, along with low case counts and declining COVID-19 hospitalizations. In Step 3, all sectors will transition to using communicable disease prevention guidance from WorkSafeBC.

Keep up to date with BC's restart plan and what we can start doing, and where we can travel beginning July 1st.
Business recovery grant: deadline July 2
Business owners impacted by COVID-19 can still apply for a direct grant up to $45,000. This grant has helped thousands of hard-hit BC businesses recover and come back stronger.

Grants of $10,000 to $30,000 are available to small and medium sized B.C. businesses impacted by COVID-19. An additional $5,000 to $15,000 grant is available to eligible tourism-related businesses. 

Businesses have until July 2 to apply:
BC Chamber of Commerce Proud Champion of 50 – 30 Challenge
The BC Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce that it has committed to the 50 – 30 Challenge, an initiative between the Government of Canada, business and diversity organizations, that asks organizations to aspire to two goals:
  1. Gender parity (“50%”) on Canadian board(s) and senior management; and
  2. Significant representation (“30%”) on Canadian board(s) and senior management of other under-represented groups: racialized persons including Black Canadians, persons living with disabilities (including invisible and episodic disabilities), Canadians who identify as LGBTQ2, and First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples as founding peoples of Canada, all of whom are under-represented in positions of economic influence and leadership.
Register for the Cohort 5 of the series Building Resilience to Thrive
Building Resilience to Thrive - Business Foundations introduces new concepts to help your business with recovery, resiliency, and growth.

This is a new course in Building Resilience to Thrive, which introduces new concepts to help your business with recovery, resiliency, and growth. This course will be relevant to individuals/businesses that took the first course in the program as well as those that have not participated in the program yet.

Developed in partnership with the University of Victoria, Gustavson School of Business, the new Building Resilience to Thrive - Business Foundations online course will take you through how to build a resilient business using case studies, contemporary research, and practical experience. This 6-week course will examine the fundamental building blocks of great business: strategy, marketing, people, and processes, presenting new material you won’t want to miss! Better position yourself, your team, and your business for the future by building back stronger with strategy.

The course will run Wednesdays from July 7 to August 11, 2021, 11:00AM – 12:00PM PDT, and you will receive a certificate upon completion. A $700 value, at a fraction of the cost!

Late registration will be accepted until July 12, 2021 at 8am. However, in order to receive a certificate, attendees must attend a minimum of 5 out of the 6 sessions.
Small business grant now available to create inclusive work environments
Small Business employers can apply for grants of up to $1000 per business. Grant applications are open from June 21, 2021 to April 30, 2022 for a range of eligible services, such as:
  • Adapting the environment: adding ramps, lighting, accessible washrooms and more.
  • Adding technologies: such as software that enables accessible documents, tablets, laptops and specialized tools.
  • Information and communication: ASL or Braille versions of company documents, website updates for accessibility, screen readers and more.
  • Changing policies and practices: anti-bias training, ASL interpretations, accessibility audit, etc.
A full list of eligible services, grant eligibility criteria and application details can be found through Small Business BC, at smallbusinessbc.ca/accessibility-resources
Learn more about Accessibility Legislation in BC here.
 
ICET | Capacity Funding Programs
The CAPACITY Funding Program focuses on support for economic development capacity building, investment readiness and business and community support.

There are 2 separate CAPACITY Funding programs

  • READY – Capacity Building Program (formerly known as our Economic Development Readiness Program)
.
  • RECOVER – Business and Community Support Program (formerly known as the Rural Business and Community Recovery Program)
New Small Capital Program Set to Drive Vitality into Downtown Areas
To help with long-term recovery in the region, Island Coastal Economic Trust partnered with Tourism Vancouver Island & Destination British Columbia to launch our new program, THRIVE!
.
This fully funded, small capital initiative will support projects that help drive vitality back into our downtowns, Main Streets and business area.
Learn about WorkSafeBC’s preliminary 2022 rates
We invite you to attend WorkSafeBC’s virtual rate consultation sessions. During these sessions, we will provide an overview of the preliminary rates for 2022, inform employers about rate and classification changes, and outline what they can do to influence their rates.
Dates and times (PST)
  • Monday, July 19, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
  • Monday, July 19, 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday, July 21, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
  • Wednesday, July 21, 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
The presentation topics include:
  • The financial state of the workers’ compensation system  
  • Rate and classification changes
  • How you, as an employer, can influence your rates through improved health and safety
 
To register for the session of your choice, visit www.worksafebc.com/rates and fill in the registration form. You’re welcome to participate in any one of the virtual sessions. Participation is free.
The Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce works with many partners to create and improve business opportunities for our members
Proudly working with Provincial & local Chambers
(250) 245 - 2112
33 Roberts St
Hours:
Monday to Friday
10am - 4pm