C-19 BULLETIN - October 2, 2020

Federal Government News - Second Intake for RRRF

Today the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages, announced an additional $263.7 million for Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) to help businesses across the West through the RRRF.

This flows from $600 million in new national RRRF funding announced by the Prime Minister. Of these additional funds, $67 million will be used by Community Futures (CF) organizations to support businesses in rural communities across the West.
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Provincial Government News - Funding for Tourism

As announced on September 17th, the Province has allocated up to $90 million to support community economic resilience, tourism, heritage, and urban and rural economic development projects, through the Community Economic Recovery Infrastructure Program (CERIP).

CERIP funded projects will help communities impacted by COVID-19 and support B.C.’s post-pandemic economic recovery through investment in four key application-based streams: 

Community Economic Resilience supports initiatives through investment in short term, small scale public infrastructure meeting the economic recovery objectives of initial job creation in the community and ancillary job creation in other areas hard hit with COVID -19 such as local retail and services. 
Destination Development investments in the development, conservation, repair, or rehabilitation of new or existing tourism infrastructure and amenities to assist in the re-emergence and resiliency of the tourism sector, creating jobs that will provide long term benefits for the tourism sector and local communities. 
Unique Heritage Infrastructure supports projects focused on the conservation, repair, rehabilitation and development of cultural heritage infrastructure to help communities safeguard and enjoy their heritage places while creating employment through the stewardship of cultural heritage. 
Rural Economic Recovery improves the prosperity and quality of life in rural communities through projects that create jobs, develop economic infrastructure, support a vibrant local business sector, and accelerate economic recovery. 

The final approval of projects and funds will not occur until a new cabinet is sworn in. 
The online Local Government Information System (LGIS) portal is open for applications and will close application intake on October 29th at 11:59 p.m. 

Download more information here or visit:
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BC Election Toolkit 2020

TIABC, ABLE BC, BCHA and Restaurants Canada are among the largest tourism and hospitality sector associations in British Columbia, representing hundreds of thousands of employees and businesses throughout the province.

Together with our partners and stakeholders, we have been working with all levels of government, particularly at the provincial level, to address the enormous challenges our sector has faced since the start of the COVID-19 crisis.

With the unexpected variable of a provincial election in the middle of a pandemic, our individual and collective efforts become even more important. Informing, educating and questioning candidates of all parties on the issues and needs of the tourism and hospitality industry is paramount to government decisions on recovery efforts post-election.

This Election Toolkit is your guide to ensure our sector's voice is both heard and understood by those running for office, and that each party is prepared to address the issues and opportunities to help tourism and hospitality rebound in the months and years ahead.

Download the Election Toolkit here or on our website at:
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CEO Message

My message today is personal. On the surface, it may seem to have little to do with advocating for tourism and hospitality businesses. But given that tourism is among the largest employers in BC, this is advocacy for increased awareness on the mental health impacts of COVID-19 on our workforce and in our homes, businesses and communities. To that end, I feel compelled to share a bit of my family's story in the spirit that we are indeed all in this together.

As you are aware, Dr. Bonnie Henry has identified the link between COVID-19 and increasing mental health challenges. Many health care professionals contend that being cooped up, socially distant from friends and family, out of work, worried about contracting COVID-19, or losing a loved one during this time has elevated stress and anxiety, among other mental health concerns.

One of the consequences of this serious issue is the growing number of overdose deaths in British Columbia, particularly in recent weeks as the pandemic stretches into its seventh month. In fact, over 1,000 people have died from an overdose in 2020, nearly five times more than coronavirus casualties. While not all deaths by overdose are mental health related, many are.

Here's where it gets personal. My older sister wrestled with mental health and addiction virtually her entire adult life. Without getting into detail, this once vibrant, gorgeous, happy and gentle soul slid further away from us into her own darkness and ended up living on the streets and in shelters on Vancouver’s Downtown East Side (DTES) for over six years.

Working nearby, I spent countless hours in DTES during lunch or after work trying to find her, arranging for rehab and pursuing other intervention measures to help her out of a deep, dark hole. It was exhausting, frustrating and heartbreaking to realize that even though I did all I could, it simply wasn’t enough.

My beautiful sister died two years ago from a fentanyl-laced heroin overdose. She was found in her DTES apartment sitting upright in her wheelchair more than five hours after she had passed away. She left behind many loved ones including an amazing five-year old grandson whom she never met. Tragically, two of her family members are still in DTES fighting daily to stay alive but slowly losing the battle.

There is so much more that I can say, and so much more to the story that would shock even my closest friends, but I’ve already far exceeded my comfort zone in exposing family grief. 

Odds are that many individuals reading this know someone or have been touched by mental health and/or addiction challenges personally. I can relate to the anguish it's caused and offer my assurance that you’re not on this journey alone. More importantly, I've listed some of the confidential support services that you or your loved ones can access to get help now (see below).

Since March, all levels of government have rightfully invested extraordinary resources to keep us safe and manage through COVID-19. While we all have a role to play to contain the spread of the virus, we also have an obligation to be aware of the corresponding impacts on our mental health. People from all walks of life, including those in our industry need support to tackle this corresponding issue as well...especially now.

Along with the business challenges in tourism and hospitality, I believe that this election campaign is the opportune time to draw attention to the other crisis in British Columbia to compel current and future elected officials to lead and respond in the same way they did to manage COVID-19.

After all, the life of someone you know and care about, or possibly your own wellness may depend on it.

Walt Judas
CEO, TIABC

Resources

310 Mental Health
310-6789

24-hour BC Alcohol and Drug Information and Referral Service
Toll-free in B.C. at 1-800-663-1441 or from the Lower Mainland at 1-604-660-9382. 

Psychological Support Toolkit (go2HR)

Mind the Bar

Canadian Mental Health Association

Bounce Back

Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety (CCOHS)
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Quotes from the Campaign Trail

Premier Horgan pushed back against his rivals’ accusations that the NDP’s pandemic economic recovery program is too slight for BC’s hard-hit tourism sector. Despite a July request from the tourism sector for $680 million in aid, the sector is set to see $100-million in dedicated funding from the recovery program.

“Our tourism sector was the envy of the country and now it's very much under stress, but there's a whole bunch of good reasons for that,” Horgan said. “Government's responsibility is to give opportunity. We're going to continue to do that with the plan that's in place, and other initiatives that we announce in our platform.”
Source: BC Today
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Call for Board Nominations

TIABC's AGM is scheduled for November 25th with further details to come. In the meantime, we are also seeking nominations for board positions. Watch for details and a nomination form in Monday's Bulletin.
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Additional Indigenous tourism Businesses Provided Financial Assistance in Phase 5 Funding

With the support of the Federal Government of Canada’s $16 million stimulus grant fund, the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) is continuing to provide relief to many Indigenous tourism operators across the country with its COVID-19 Development Stimulus Fund.

After providing hundreds of businesses and entrepreneurs across the Indigenous community funding this summer to help them cope through the COVID-19 shutdowns, ITAC today announces its Phase 5 in financial assistance. An additional 103 tourism operators will receive funding totaling over $2.448 million in the form of non-repayable contributions up to $25,000.

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Comox Valley Vancouver Island Visitor Centre Reports Strong Local #s

Since the June 24th, date of the Phase 3 BC Reopening Plan, and the launch and completion of the Summer Campaign, the Visitor Centre has seen:

  • A 26.09% year-over-year increase of BC travellers; with BC visitors being a total of 3103 for 2020

  • Local residents of the Comox Valley that are using the Visitor Centre services has increased 18.44% over 2019 figures (2826 locals in 2020 over 2386 in 2019)

  • Nights spent in the Comox Valley by visitors is down -32.3% over the 2019 figures, which is in line with industry stats as reported by Tourism Vancouver Island

  • The most common inquiries over the summer months were for maps and directions, adventure recreation, parks and outdoor pursuits such as hiking, biking and marine water sports
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Royal Roads University hosts the BC Resource Forum and has added some great recordings this week:

You will find these links at the top of the page on the Forum site, accessible to members receiving this email. 
Others can join us for free by contacting Geoff Bird at Geoff.2bird@royalroads.ca
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Designated Winter Tire & Chain Routes

Winter tires or chains are required on most routes in British Columbia from now until April 30th, 2021. For select highways not located through mountain passes and/or high snowfall areas, tire and chain requirements end March 31st. 

These routes are marked with regulatory signs posted on highways throughout the province.

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Visit the South Okanagan — the All-Season Getaway in Your Own Backyard

Visit South Okanagan is a newly-launched tourism initiative, comprised of the tourism associations of the following communities:
Peachland, Summerland, Naramata, Penticton, Kaleden, Okanagan Falls, Oliver, and Osoyoos. 

Acting as a central hub, VisitSouthOkanagan.com offers detailed information about each community, in addition to trip planning resources — including how to access the region (whether by land or air) — plus, regional wine maps and blog posts outlining activities and points of interest throughout the region. 
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RRU
Marketing with Scarce Resources: 
Perspectives from Tour Operators

Join the Tourism and Hospitality Resource Forum on Thursday, October 8th, at 1:30 pm (Pacific) for their next panel discussion:
Marketing with Scarce Resources: Perspectives from Tour Operators
Panelists:

Link to Discussion: Free Access

For more information on joining the Tourism and Hospitality Resource Forum for free, please contact Dr. Geoff Bird at Geoff.2bird@royalroads.ca
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Tourism Digital Academy

The Tourism Digital Academy is a free, 8-week digital marketing program for BC tourism businesses who are interested in building their knowledge and skills in digital marketing at an intermediate level.

Designed for business owners or their marketing team members, this comprehensive program is focused on providing practical, actionable guidance to complete your digital marketing plan. From setting your goals, to building a better understanding of SEO, email, website usability, content, analytics and more – you’ll leave the program with the confidence and knowledge to put that plan into action.

This online program includes:
  • 8 weeks of interactive sessions led by digital marketing experts and ongoing access to the video recordings (Tuesdays & Thursdays each week for a total of four hours per week)
  • Technical tutorials to dig deeper into specific areas and share experiences with other participants (Wednesdays each week for one hour)
  • One-to-one coaching available, on demand, to answer your sticky questions
  • Audits of your business website, SEO and social media channels to assess your current situation
  • A marketing plan template to guide development of your own plan
  • Opportunities for peer support and networking

There are multiple intakes, each running for 8 weeks, beginning the week of:
  • October 19 – Applications due by Oct 8
  • October 26 – Applications due by Oct 16
  • November 9 – Applications due by Oct 30 (with a break over the holiday period)

The application-based program is free for all participants and requires a minimum level of digital marketing experience to participate to participate. We advise that participants dedicate up to 10 hours per week to the program: five hours to attend classes and tutorial sessions, and up to five hours to apply the learning to your marketing plan as you go. Please allow 15-30 minutes to complete the application.

To learn more and apply, visit:
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October 2nd

October 7th

October 21st

TIAC Congress (virtual, free event)
November 17th-18th

TIABC AGM
November 25
TIABC's C-19 Bulletin is published every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Feel free to send us your ideas on what information would be valuable for TIABC to share through our COVID-19 Bulletin going forward. Drop us a line at info@tiabc.ca.