UPDATES & BUSINESS RESOURCES
IN THIS ISSUE
  • Chamber Week Invites x 3
  • Membership Renewals
  • Welcome New Chamber Member
  • Get up to $7500 to improve your online store
  • Mindreader: BC's Scale Up Survey
  • Love your Small Business February
  • Final Opportunity to join The Building Resilience to Thrive Program
  • Sip Savour & Support Cowichan

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16TH
Invite from Duncan Cowichan Chamber
BC Business Recovery Grant, Info Session
As part of Chamber Week, the Duncan Cowichan Chamber is pleased to host Morningstar Pinto and Jon Cruz from the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation for a information session on BC's Business Recovery Grant Program.

This session will be held on Zoom and is free to attend. Advance registration is required and Zoom login details will be emailed to participants just prior to the event. Note: Members from our Chamber have been invited to participate. You can register as a guest. Space is limited to register early to ensure you don't miss out.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17TH
You're invited to an exclusive fireside chat with the Hon. Ravi Kahlon
Dear Chamber Members,
 
We're thrilled to announce that next week, the Hon. Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation, will be joining the Chamber network for a fireside chat on Wednesday, February 17th, 2021 from 10:30am-11:00am PST.

We're excited to welcome Minister Kahlon during Chamber Week as he shares his vision for our province in 2021 and to address your questions about the future. 

If you would like to attend this member-exclusive event, you can register here. We also invite attendees to submit any questions you're interested in having Minister Kahlon address during the fireside - this can be done upon registration. 

Registration deadline Tuesday, February 16th at 12pm PST.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18TH
Virtual Happy Hour/Networking Event
On Thursday, February 18th from 4:30 pm to 5:30pm the Ladysmith Chamber will host our first-ever Virtual Happy Hour/Networking Chamber Week Event

A Zoom meeting will be scheduled complete with break out rooms which will provide participants the opportunity to meet in smaller groups to encourage plenty of conversation as well as the opportunity to mingle about between rooms. We encourage everyone to line up their favourite adult beverage and snack and join us for a much-deserved social break. 

Please RSVP prior to the event if you plan to attend so we can send you an invitation with login information. Hope to “see” you there.
Chamber Membership Renewals
Membership Renewal invoices have been emailed along with a message from the Chamber Board and Staff. Thank you to all who have renewed to date.

Also available in 2021 are new options for payment. If you would like to take advantage of any of the options indicated in the message, if you have any questions about membership or if you did not receive your invoice please don’t hesitate to respond to this email or call Mark or Jacquie at the office at 250-245-2112. We sincerely thank you for your past support and look forward to working with you to improve the business climate in Ladysmith through economic and business development programs.  
Welcome New Chamber Member
Join us in welcoming new member Ladysmith Top Drawer Boutique Consignment. Check them out online or visit them at 411C 1st Avenue.

The Top Drawer Ladies Consignment Boutique – the store where fashion only looks expensive. Our mission is to accept, for resale, quality clothing in a friendly, welcoming atmosphere.
Province Creates New Grant Program to help Small & Medium Sized Businesses launch & improve online stores
To support BC businesses in adapting to changes in consumer behaviour and pivot to market their products online, the Government of British Columbia is investing $12 million in a new "Launch Online" grant program to help over 1,500 eligible SMEs.
For more information on the Launch Online Grant program, including the application process and eligibility, visit:
MindReader: BC's Scale Up Survey
BC Chamber and Innovate BC have partnered on a survey of BC businesses to better understand the challenges you face in adopting new technology and scaling your business.

We want to hear from you – how can we help your business adopt new technology? 

Your feedback will be shared directly with government to inform potential future government programs to support businesses during COVID recovery and beyond.
This survey will take ~8 minutes to complete and closes at 5:00 p.m. on February 12, 2020. Complete the survey and you will be entered to win a $500 VISA gift card.
Small Business BC
Love Your Small Business this February
February has arrived and love is in the air. As we build towards Valentines Day, show some love to your small business...here are some of the highlights:




  • Register for the BC Marketplace - join 2000 other small business owners, and the #supportlocal movement on the BC Marketplace to reach a province-wide audience. List your business for free.
Better position yourself, your business, and your team for our collective recovery.
The BC Chamber has partnered with UVIC’s Gustavson School of Business to offer an online training program that will help businesses mitigate the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Learn critical leadership and resiliency skills in the 6-week Building Resilience to Thrive program that will foster teamwork, improve workplace culture, and service excellence – and get a certificate from
Peter B. Gustavson School of Business! Also, it only takes one hour a week!

The Building Resilience to Thrive program will feature weekly seminars delivered by award-winning professors Dr. Mark Colgate and Prof. Brian Leacock offered on the following dates: 

  • FINAL COHORT: February 24th to March 31st 
PS. Read about how our program is helping businesses reinvigorate workplace culture and boost their productivity in the Pique.
Sip Savour & Support Cowichan
On until March 31st
You need good food and drink, and the cheer of good company now more than ever. 

Our restaurants and craft beverage makers need your influence, your thanks, and your patronage, now more than ever. 
Take a seat at our tables, pull up a chair or a stool, and embark on a taste journey that is a world away from ordinary but available, right here and right now. Cowichan Valley’s Sip, Savour Support celebrates the dining and tasting experiences that make Cowichan great and asks you to support your neighbours through patronage when they need you the most.

Two great ways to sip, savour, and support local over the upcoming months:

BUY LOCAL COWICHAN
All Cowichan businesses are invited to be showcased on Buy Local Cowichan

Buy Local Cowichan is an initiative of a local coalition supported and facilitated by Economic Development Cowichan, the Downtown Duncan Business Improvement Area, The Discourse Cowichan, Tourism Cowichan, Used.ca, The Chemainus BIA, Cowichan Lake District Chamber Of Commerce, Ladysmith Chamber Of Commerce, Ladysmith Downtown Business Association, and the Duncan Cowichan Chamber of Commerce. Our goal is to assist small businesses affected by the devastating economic interruptions caused by the COVID-19 global outbreak. By encouraging customers to buy the goods and services they need locally, the better chance many business owners will have at making a financial recovery. Small businesses are the backbone of the Canadian economy and provide for our communities far beyond just the products they sell through employment and social cohesion. Buy local to support the comeback!

Buy Local | Support Local | Recover Local
FOLLOW OUR FACEBOOK PAGE
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.)
CHAMBER PARTNERSHIPS
The Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce is proud to work closely with the BC Chamber and local area Chambers
33 Roberts Street, PO Box 598 Ladysmith,
BC V9G 1A4 Canada
250-245-2112
Hours: Monday - Friday 10am-4pm