May 11th 2020

Good Evening, When the COVID-19 crisis suddenly burst into our daily life we were hoping for a quick return to the pre-season frenzy, but only a few weeks later the picture changed drastically. As we come out of the outbreak, there is plenty to do; today some of the businesses on Queen Street were back! Thanks to the Town ECG for reopening the public washrooms. We should understand that as the situation continues to evolve today’s measures to ease the restrictions might be reevaluated. The Chamber and Tourism NOTL Team continues to monitor and provide updates on the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, including the steps governments are taking to address the situation. We are working hard to make sure the NOTL businesses voice is heard, and that you have the information you need to keep your business going in these uncertain times. Be well and stay healthy The Team at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Chamber of Commerce and Tourism NOTL

Take The Survey

As part of the efforts to advocate on the steps business needs to take to safely re-open, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) has designed this survey. The survey is anonymous.   The primary focus of governments across Canada continues to be on containing the spread of COVID-19 and supporting the individuals and businesses most affected by the crisis. As attention begins to shift to reopening the economy, there are several critical elements to address:  The availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) Smart quarantine policies Protection for the most vulnerable Mass testing Contact tracing, and workforce safety procedures.

Download Recovery Playbook

Recovery Playbook  Retail Council of Canada and the Boston Consulting Group are leveraging global best practices and input from RCC members to develop Canadian-specific guidelines to help retail leadership teams build their recovery strategies. Please consider participating in this critical initiative to create a world-class resource for retailers of all types and sizes. The first four chapters of the Retail Recovery Playbook are now available for download.

Resources for Businesses  Comprehensive list of resources for all types of sector businesses related to COVID-19. For operators looking for information on how to prepare to safely reopen their operations in the coming weeks, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety has a series of bilingual guidelines available to businesses regarding COVID-19. Google for SMEs has also launched a page dedicated to supporting businesses during COVID-19 including practical steps and free digital skills training. Our partners at Tourism HR Canada have opened their Emerit courses and created a resource hub for sector businesses

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Best Practice Guide for Food Service Restaurants Canada has released a  Best Practice Guide for Food Service , in anticipation of food service re-openings, to help restaurants and food service businesses keep their employees and customers safe.

Ontario Retail Stores Open for Curbside Pickup and Delivery Resources to prevent COVID-19 in the workplace

Two new press releases from the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake

NOTL Lifts Parking Ban NOTL To Reopen Public Restrooms

The Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum takes part in Museum Week, a global initiative where over 7 days, Museums come together to share content, stories and ideas!

For day 1, our first story is about those who risked their safety to treat those who contracted the Spanish Flu and the women who supported Camp Kosciuszko! Learn more by exploring our exhibition on Google Arts & Culture.

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Business Community Chat Please join us at 10 am Tuesday for a conference call style chat with fellow members of our Niagara-on-the-lake business community. This will give you an opportunity to speak with others and share your stories and experiences during this challenging time. If you would like to join the Tuesday morning chat please email Nicole at chamberevents@niagaraonthelake.com by 9am on Tuesday Morning. We look forward to chatting with you!

Lecture: Marathon swimmers on Lake Ontario Free Webinar Tony Chisholm presents a talk about the history of solo swims across Lake Ontario and his own experience accompanying swimmers on the long journey from Niagara-on-the-Lake to Toronto. This talk will be accessed through Zoom Webinar. Participants must register through link.

Register Now

Bringing Chauffeur and Shuttle Services to Niagara Hi my name is Debbie Reed and I'm the proud owner of Driverseat Niagara. I am so excited to bring a unique and needed solution to Niagara. Transportation is changing and Driverseat is driving the change. Founded upon the core values of integrity, respect and social responsibility. Driverseat has seen an incredible response to it's service and business model. We make transportation affordable, accessible, convenient and provide solutions for any type of transportation needs. We look forward to delivering a white glove service to ensure you have a memorable experience.  We hope to be your service of choice.  In these difficult times with Covid we are offering a free shop and drop program for the seniors and vulnerable citizens of Niagara-on-the-Lake and St Catherines. If you know of someone needing our help please feel free to reach out. More to come on what we are doing to help flatten the curve.  Check out our link below and also check us out on facebook, Instagram And Linkedin   Stay Safe, Stay Home

National Nurses Week starts today. Thank you to all the nurses for everything you do everyday, especially in these unprecedented times.