UPDATES & RESOURCES REGARDING THE COVID-19
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COMING SOON:
Ladysmith-Open for Business Online Directory
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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.
We are now very pleased to announce that within the next few days there will be an online directory for the community that will highlight all businesses that are open and any practices they are implementing to keep themselves and their customers safe. The Chamber and LDBA will reach out to the business community as soon as the website is live. In the meantime, if you are business owner manager who would like to be included you can get ahead of the curve by
emailing
the following information to us:
- Your business name:
- Phone number:
- Website and or Facebook
- Business Hours:
- Anything unique about the way you are operating: (For example: shop by appointment, customer limits, curb-side pickup etc.) Please limit your response to 2-3 sentences.
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.
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Message to our Chamber Members from BC Chamber CEO Val Litwin
Thank you for continuing to partner with us.
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Message to our Chamber Members,
Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership with the Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce.
We know there has never been a more difficult time for businesses, as we all
navigate the new reality that has been imposed on us due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Take some comfort in the fact that you are a member of
BC’s biggest and broadest business organization,
and our chamber network is working overtime to advocate on your behalf to ensure BC businesses like yours move through this crisis and toward recovery.
We wanted to share a special message with you.
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Thank you for continuing to partner with us.
Here’s to your safety, health and prosperity as we weather this storm together.
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Exclusive event for our chamber network and our members.
BC Chamber Townhall Meeting with Minister Mungall
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LADYSMITH CHAMBER MEMBERS
BC’s chamber network is hosting an exclusive town hall discussion on
May 13 at 4 pm,
with
The Hon. Michelle Mungall,
Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Competitiveness.
The Minister will answer questions about the re-opening of the economy, available supports for businesses, and how the Province will work with stakeholders to provide a clear pathway forward for BC businesses.
This is event
is only open to you and other members of BC chambers of commerce
, so please do not forward.
We look forward to hearing your questions for the Minister on May 13.
Stay Safe,
Mark Drysdale
Executive Director,
Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce
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Use Your Voice: COVID Pulse Check 3
Mindreader Platform - A BC Chamber Insight Community
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As you know, we've been tracking the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on BC businesses via a series of surveys—done in partnership with the BC Business Council, the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, The Mustel Group, and all of you.
Survey results are shared directly with government.
As in previous 'pulse checks' we want to know the most recent impacts to your business, and the efficacy of existing government supports.
However, we're also asking about
BC’s Restart Plan
, announced by the Premier on May 6—and the impacts you're anticipating under the new guidelines.
If you can't click the link, please copy and paste the URL below:
Thank you!
Mindreader Platform - A BC Chamber Insight Community
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Destination BC: Supporting BC’s Tourism Industry on The Road to Recovery
Response, Recovery, and Resilience from COVID-19
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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 will be held at 2:00 p.m. on the dates noted below. Register for the following free sessions:
- May 12: Business After Re-opening: A Look at the Post-closure Traveller. Register here.
- May 14: Essential Strategies to Innovate your Visitor Experience and Offerings. Register here.
- May 19: Planning for Doors Open. Register here.
- May 21: Managing Expectations and Reputation through Effective Communication. Register here.
- May 26: Using Social Media to Support Re-opening. Register here.
- May 28: Building a Digital Marketing Strategy for Re-opening. Register here.
Thank you, we hope you find these helpful.
Jenn MacIntyre
Manager, Industry Development
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Prime Minister announces additional support for businesses to help save Canadian jobs
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COVID-19 has altered the way we live our lives and, every day, Canadians are facing new challenges during this crisis. As more people worry about paying their bills and caring for their loved ones, the Government of Canada is continuing to take unprecedented action to help protect middle class jobs, and the health and safety of all Canadians.
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced new measures to support businesses so they can keep their workers on the payroll and weather this pandemic.
Millions of Canadians pay their bills and feed their families by working for large and medium-sized businesses. The government will offer support to those businesses affected by COVID-19 based on a number of conditions. To help protect Canadian middle class jobs, and safeguard our economy, the Government of Canada will:
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Retail Council of Canada Recovery Playbook
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To assist retailers in their reopening planning, Retail Council of Canada, in partnership with the Boston Consulting Group and retailers from across Canada, are leveraging global best practices for a diverse range of retail formats with the fundamental aim of ensuring a safe environment for employees and customers.
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BCRFA Blueprint for Reopening
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Upon receiving the call to action for innovative thinking from Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, the British Columbia Restaurant and Foodservices Association (BCRFA) assembled a group of world-class British Columbia restaurant operators and industry representatives to come together with the goal of building a set of best practices for operators timed for the reopening of in-restaurant dining. The group includes a cross-section of independent restaurants, chains and franchises including both licensed and non- licensed establishments.
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Keeping the Cowichan Valley connected.
Resources, tools and information for businesses during the COVID-19 crisis.
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What is #cowichanstrong?
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. Check out the latest edition of the newsletter
here
or visit the Cowichan Strong
website
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The Digital Economy Response
Program
(
DER3
)
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It takes time to pivot to the digital economy. Businesses are having to get online and get digital very quickly during this time.
If you know a small/medium sized business, in any sector, that needs to "get digital" to thrive and in some cases survive, have them check out the new
DER3 Program
that was launched in partnership with
Island Coastal Economic Trust.
Encourage them apply and connect with one of our Program Managers discuss their specific digital and technical needs.
"Many companies are trying to do in months, what most online BUSINESSES have done in decades.
"Let's help them make it happen!"
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Our Program Experts Answer Your Finance and HR Questions
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The
BC Tourism Resiliency Ne
twork
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.
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Webinar #5
Return to Work: Employment Law and COVID-19
Wednesday, May 13
at 10:00 a.m. (1 hr plus 30 min. for Q&A)
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Has it ever been more important to support local producers when you shop?
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It’s good for us and good for our economy
Island Good Makes It Easy to Find Local Products
COVID-19 is teaching us all that local goods production is vital to our economy. And, we have seen Island Good businesses rise to the challenge with retailers adapting quickly to keep us safe; food processors and other Island Good businesses collaborating to support local food banks; and creating online shopping to provide us with fresh, local goods.
Become a Licensee
Have your products promoted through the Island Good brand by joining the Island Good licensee program.
Join Island Good
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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.)
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FREE Webinar Series from Small Business BC / Strategies for Staying Resilient During COVID-19
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Faced with significant challenges wrought by COVID-19, resilience is more important than ever for small business owners.
As a follow up to our special topics webinar “Staying Resilient During Extraordinary Times” facilitated by Christina Nikiforuk, Leadership Coach and Consultant, we are pleased to offer a three-part next resilience series.
Each webinar will feature a small business owner who will share their tools and tips for enhancing resilience. You will have an opportunity to learn what other business owners are doing from both a business point of view, as well as a mental health perspective, during this extraordinary period. Sign up once for the entire package here to reap all the benefits of the whole series.
May 13, 10:00am – 11:00am PST
May 27, 10:00am – 11:00am PST
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Small Business BC
UPCOMING FREE COVID-19
DIGITAL MEETUPS
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We believe this is a time, more than ever, for small businesses to come together to help each other overcome challenges and find solutions.
To help facilitate this, SBBC is pleased to announce our new Digital Meetups, a community video call for small biz during COVID-19. Every Tuesday - Thursday at 11:00AM, we will be hosting a Digital Meetup focused around one pressing issue re:COVID-19: from how to generate revenue, to employment law, all specific to small businesses.
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The Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce is proud to work closely with the BC Chamber and local area Chambers
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Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Centre
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All upcoming events have been postponed until further notice.
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.
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
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33 Roberts Street, PO Box 598 Ladysmith,
BC V9G1A4 Canada
250-245-2112
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