Wasaga Beach Chamber of Commerce Logo
Volume 1 Issue 9 | June 19th 2020
A Bi-Weekly Roundup of Chamber News & Resources
We're Here to Support You and Your Business!

Greetings!

Join us for our upcoming Virtual Business After 5 using ZOOM's video conferencing technology on Thursday, June 25th. Originally, we planned to host The Digital Marketplace: Virtual Business Expo in lieu of our monthly Business After 5, but after further thought and plans to make this a grand event, we are going to tell you more about it and how you can be involved on Thursday. We've also lined up Forty Four Inc. as our sponsor with speaker Alex Colthart who will share Tips For Your Digital Presence.

Looking forward to seeing you and hearing about your business! We'll also have prizes, as well as information, opportunities and events to give a voice to your business.

See more news and resources below.

Sincerely,
Your Wasaga Beach Chamber of Commerce
Note: Click the button below to pre-register for the event. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting and the option to add the meeting to your online calendar.
Watch May's Business After 5 Replay!
The Digital Marketplace Web Portal!
Advertise Your Business With A FREE Place Listing
The Digital Marketplace is a Wasaga Beach Chamber of Commerce initiative to share local business and community information during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

From the beginning of the pandemic, we've been working behind the scenes to build a web portal for the Wasaga Beach community to help us all stay up-to-date and connected. We've heard our community asking what businesses are open, how can we reach them and if a business is open how do we interact with them given our new reality.

With those questions and concerns in mind, over the last several weeks, we've asked you to fill in our online form with your business information and current status of operations. Note: As a courtesy to those who filled in our online form, we've added your listing information to our new web portal. We invite you to visit the portal and search for your business listing. From your business (place) listing page, you can click on "Claim Listing" to go through the process of taking ownership of your self-managed page.

With the launch of the Digital Marketplace web portal, we are sending out another invitation to all local businesses, organizations, associations, community resources, clubs and places to register for an account. Once your account is created, you can login to add your business place information and also add any upcoming events. Yes, you can do all of this yourself and update your business listing information as needed! Note: We will be working on tutorials to help you with the set up process, but encourage you to open your account and start to add your business information as soon as possible.

Currently all event and business listings are free and you do not need to be a member of the Chamber to participate. Our goal is to build the Digital Marketplace as the go-to portal for Wasaga Beach business and community information. We need your help to do this! You can help us reach this goal by registering for an account and listing your business information as soon as possible.

Our plan is to market the new portal through both traditional and online marketing channels to spread the word about local business here in Wasaga Beach.
Financial Resource Videos For Small Business
Financial Resource Videos to Support Small Business During COVID-19 are available in approximately 3 minute segments to make it easy to choose the topics that apply to you.

The video presentation features tax and accounting specialist, Colleen Bannerman, our Chamber of Commerce President and Owner of Wasaga Tax and Accounting. The video series was sponsored by RT07, The Centre For Business and Economic Development, South Georgian Bay's Small Business Enterprise Centre and the Wasaga Beach Chamber of Commerce. Thank you also to videographer, Brian Hunt from H Visual Media.
Wasaga Beach Chamber Resources
The Digital Marketplace Virtual Business Expo
Be sure to mark your calendar for our upcoming Virtual Digital Marketplace Business Expo taking place July 16th to 19th. For those interested in being an exhibitor, email  office@wasagachamber.com

The Digital Marketplace Web Portal
Set up your account and add your business information, including the unique and creative business models you've put into place in response to COVID-19. Visit our new Digital Marketplace web portal now: www.thedigitalmarketplace.biz.

The Digital Markeplace LIVE Demo
Watch the replay of our May Business After 5 for a LIVE demonstration that walks you through the steps to register for your FREE Digital Marketplace account and how to set up your business place listing. If you need further assistance, don't hestiate to contact us at  office@wasagachamber.com

Financial Resources For Small Business During COVID-19
A series of topic-based financial resource videos for small business to help you during COVID-19.

Digital Community Information Guide
The 2020 Community Information Guide can be accessed here:

Getting to Know Your Resources
Access videos to learn more about the local and regional resources that are available to your business: https://wasagachamber.com/news-article.php?id=54 

How Can We Help?
The Chamber is a voice for local business. Email us at office@wasagachamber.com to let us know how we can help.

NOTE: The best way to reach us is by email at office@wasagachamber.com or you can call 705-429-2247.
Chamber Governing Bodies Resources & Links
International Chamber of Commerce
The voice of world business championing the global economy as a force for economic growth, job creation and prosperity.

International Chamber of Commerce Launches SOS (Save Our SMEs) Website
The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has launched a new website for the SOS (Save Our SMEs) campaign. The website features key advocacy materials and is designed to help entrepreneurs find the insights and information they need to navigate through COVID-19. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Canada's national committee for the ICC, provides a platform for our members to become involved in International Chamber of Commerce activities. Visit SOS website.

Canadian Chamber of Commerce
With a network of over 450 chambers of commerce representing 200,000 businesses, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce is Canada’s largest and most influential business association. The Canadian Chamber is the primary and vital connection between business and the federal government. It continually demonstrates impact on public policy and decision-making to the benefit of businesses, communities and families across Canada.
Canada Business Resilience Network
In partnership with the Government of Canada, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce has established the   Canadian Business Resilience Network   to help Canadian businesses navigate the COVID-19 reality and prepare for recovery.
Ontario Chamber of Commerce
For more than a century, The  Ontario Chamber of Commerce  (OCC) has been the independent, non-partisan voice of  Ontario  business. The OCC's mission is to support economic growth in  Ontario  by defending business priorities at Queen's Park on behalf of its network's diverse 60,000 members.

Ontario Chamber of Commerce: COVID-19 Tools & Resources For Your Business
During these turbulent times, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce is here to support you. As one of your indispensable partners in business, they have revamped their website  to give you, your business, your employees, and/or members additional support throughout the COVID-19 crisis. This resource will be updated ongoingly based on member feedback.

COVID-19 Business Webinars To Support You
The Ontario Chamber of Commerce has partnered with members to provide you with up to date information to support your business. Click here: https://occ.ca/webinars/
Town of Wasaga Beach
COVID-19 Information Page
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FREE Y.M.C.A. Virtual Recreation Programs For Adults and Children:

Economic Development staff continue to be available by phone and e-mail to provide support and assistance to the public, business community and investors. Please call 705-429-3844, ext. 2274 or email at   edo@wasagabeach.com .
COVID-19 Health News & Resources
Facebook Live Video Briefings With Dr. Charles Gardner
Medical Officer of Health and Chief Executive Officer
Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit

Join Dr. Charles Gardner on Facebook LIVE for briefings three days per week (Monday, Wednesday and Fridays at 1pm). You can also access recorded videos on the Simcoe Muskoka District Heath Unit Facebook page and YouTube Channel.
Federal COVID-19 Information Line (1-833-784-4397)
Public Health Ontario (1-866-797-0000)
New Mental Health Web Portal Launched By The Government of Canada
The Government of Canada connects Canadians with mental wellness supports during COVID-19 with the Wellness Together Canada Initiative. Connect to their web portal or download the app to connect to peer support workers, social workers, psychologists and other professionals for confidential chat sessions or phone calls.
COVID-19 Government News & Resources
Visit The Main Ontario Government Newsroom

COVID-19 TACKLING THE BARRIERS WEBSITE
On April 28, the Ontario government  announced  that it would be accepting proposals for temporarily changing rules and regulations through its  COVID-19: Tackling the Barriers  website. In order to help Ontario businesses deal with immediate challenges, the province will be pausing or extending any existing public consultations, delaying non-urgent related consultations while the emergency situation remains in place, and considering extending deadlines for reports and audits. 

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.
COVID-19 Government News & Resources
Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) Portal
The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) is administering the CECRA program on behalf of the Government of Canada and the provinces and territories.

Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy Program
Businesses can start to apply for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy program beginning Monday, April 27. Use the  CRA website now  to calculate how much your business is eligible for. Also  announced  was an investment of $350 million to support vulnerable Canadians through charities and non-profit organizations that deliver essential services. 

Resource Web Page From Finance Canada
Finance Canada has produced a refined search tool to help businesses find the financial supports they may be eligible for, including direct financial support programs, access to credit and more.

To ensure that small businesses have access to the capital they need to see them through the current challenges, the Government of Canada has launched the new Canada Emergency Business Account, which has been implemented by eligible financial institutions in cooperation with Export Development Canada (EDC).

Eligibility For Emergency Benefit Expanded
On April 17 the Government of Canada   announced  new actions to protect Canadian jobs and provide $1.7 billion to support businesses and organizations dealing with the economic impacts of COVID-19. These new supports are available to those unable to access existing supports including startups, rural businesses and communities, culture, heritage and sports organizations as well as young entrepreneurs. The government also introduced new measures to help retain and create approximately 10,000 well-paying jobs in the Canadian energy sector.
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.