Wasaga Beach Chamber of Commerce Logo
Volume 4 Issue 4 | March 27th 2020
  • Message From The President
  • COVID-19 News, Survey & Links
  • Digital Business Marketplace
  • Community Information Guide
Let us know about your current business operations and we will promote it to our email database and social media. See link to online form below.
Message From The President & Chamber Board
The Chamber Is Here For You And Your Business!
Greetings!

The situation with COVID-19 is constantly evolving with widespread ramifications impacting our lives and the economy. The most important thing right now is to stay healthy. In addition to paying extra care to hygiene, sanitary conditions and the practice of social and physical distancing, it is also a time to act. We are aware that the current situation is putting pressure on all business owners, supply chains, cashflow and people.

So here is what we are doing to help you and your business get through this:

  • Providing information from our government and public health officials on our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/wasagabeachchamber) and in email communications.
  • Working with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, as well as our municipal and regional partners by collecting information.
  • To understand the impact on local business in our region in all sectors and areas of need, The County of Simcoe Economic Development Office (EDO), in collaboration with its member municipalities and partners, has launched a COVID-19 Business Impact Survey. To participate in the survey, click here: www.surveymonkey.com/r/BusImpact
  • Continuing to provide services to our members from our virtual office:
  • Email: office@wasagachamber.com
  • By Phone: 705-429-2247
  • Created Digital Business MarketPlace to share news about your business, including the unique and creative business models you've put into place in response to COVID-19. We will share this information across our social media and email distribution channels. Fill in our online form:
  • https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Fl79ddFBKHZyInrUv3uAfv34Z8K5-QAer- knN5Sm3sI/edit?usp=sharing
  • Published the 2020 Community Information Guide and Map. Guide distribution will begin to all Wasaga Beach households and further reach as they become available.
  • The digital version of the guide is available on our website (see link below). This publication includes a new feature, hyperlinks that link directly to your website and/or email address. 
  • https://wasagachamber.com/uploads/files/Wasaga%20Community%20Information%20Guidebook%202020.pdf
  • Sharing is caring so copy the link above and paste in your email, social media and website communications.

See COVID-19 news and resources below, as well as information about the Ontario Chamber of Commerce's new partnership with BarterPay--an organized bartering platform that helps businesses across Canada get the things they need without having to use money. Instead, you can pay for these things using your own goods and services. See more information and link to video newscast below.

We look forward to our continued service to you, your business and how we can work together to serve and support our greater community.

Be well, stay safe and reach out to let us know how we can help.

Sincerely,
Your Wasaga Beach Chamber of Commerce

P.S. The videos from our Getting to Know Your Resources Open House at the Chamber are online and available to view at your convenience. The presentations were jam-packed with information that benefit local business. A big thanks to our presenters, as well as Alex Colthart of Forty Four Inc. for recording and providing the video presentations to share with our local business community. Click the following link for the list of presentations: https://wasagachamber.com/news-article.php?id=54
COVID-19 News & Resources
Town of Wasaga Beach Initatives
  • Members of council approved implementing a number of steps to make life easier for the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/2JkxFSi
  • OPP Interest in Working with Business Community to Ensure Property is Secure. During the Community Policing Advisory Committee meeting on March 27th, Inspector Phil Browne, Detachment Commander of the Huronia West Detachment of OPP expressed an interest in working with the local business community to secure their property during this period where a number of non-essential businesses have closed. The concern is that the impact of the virus on many people through job losses, some may resort to desperate measures. He would like to work with business and property owners to ensure their properties are protected.

Ontario's Action Plan: Responding to COVID-19
Finance Minister Rod Phillips released Ontario's Action Plan: Responding to COVID-19 (March 2020 Economic and Fiscal Update). https://budget.ontario.ca/2020/marchupdate/index.html

The Government of Canada / The COVID-19 Emergency Response Act
The Government of Canada is taking strong, immediate and effective action to protect Canadians and our economy from the impacts of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Stop The Spread: Business Information Hotline Now Open: 1-888-444-3659
The province has launched a toll-free line (1-888-444-3659) to provide support to Ontario businesses who have questions about the province's recent emergency order to close at-risk workplaces following recommendations by Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health.

Canadian Chamber of Commerce / Ontario Chamber of Commerce: COVID-19 Tools & Resources For Your Business
During these turbulent times, we are here to support you. As the indispensable partner of business, we have revamped our   website   to give you, your business, your employees, and/or members additional support throughout the COVID-19 crisis. This will be our dedicated one-stop shop resource to you. We will continue to update this page based on member feedback.

Canadian Chamber of Commerce / Ontario Chamber of Commerce: COVID-19 Pandemic Preparedness Toolkit For Ontario Businesses

Canadian Chamber of Commerce & Ontario Chamber of Commerce: Working With Over 60 Businesses to Lobby The Government on Behalf of Business
60+ Leading Canadian Business Organizations Call on Government to Protect Jobs and Postpone Non-essential New Measures.

Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit: Link to Self-Assessment Tool & More


BarterPay: Get The Things You Need Without Using Money
BarterPay has made a special offer for the first 1,000 businesses within the Chamber Network membership (province-wide–not per chamber or board of trade) that sign up.
 
These first 1,000 members will receive a reduced activation fee of $29.00 instead of the special Chamber Network rate of $49.00. Note: the regular activation rate is $99 . Click here to view video newscast: https://www.chch.com/bartering-economy/ and s ee flyer with more information below.
 
The link to join is:
COVID-19 Printables
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From Our Partners | Employee Benefits
2019 - 2020 Board of Directors
Colleen Bannerman, Chamber President - Wasaga Tax & Accounting
Tyler Rollins, Chamber Vice President - Key Mortgage Partners
Leslie Listro, Chamber Secretary/Treasurer - Caithkin Treatment Foster Homes
Selena Blais - Chamber Director - Georgian Life Media
Joel Simpson - Chamber Director - Georgian Family Chiropractic
Jason Ruttan - Chamber Director - RE/MAX of Wasaga Beach Inc., Brokerage
Christina De Palma - Chamber Director - De Palma & Associate Legal Services
Marlene Parkins - Chamber Director - Wasaga Beach Farmers Market
Jennie Elmslie - Chamber Director - Free Spirit Tours
Alex Colthart - Chamber Director - Forty-Four Inc .
Ava Alward - Chamber Director - Realtor, RE/MAX of Wasaga Beach Inc.