Volume 1 Issue 11 | July 21st 2020
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A Bi-Weekly Roundup of Chamber News & Resources
We're Here to Give A Voice To You and Your Business!
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Greetings!
Thank you to everyone who participated in our first
Digital Marketplace Virtual Business Expo! It was a
smashing success with over 500 booth visits, 35 exhibitors, 21 sponsors, 12 speakers, and 64 guests. We appreciate the support of everyone involved with a special shout out to our two title sponsors, Re/Max of Wasaga Beach Brokerage Inc and Wasaga Foodland.
If you haven't nominated a business for our upcoming Annual Business Awards, the time is now to vote using our online nomination form.
Click here to nominate a business today!
Join us for our upcoming virtual Business After 5 on Thursday, July 30th. It's time to get moving with Alyssa and Deanne from Active Arts!
Click here to register.
See more news and details below.
Sincerely,
Your Wasaga Beach Chamber of Commerce
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Note: Click the button below to 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.
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Sponsorship Opportunity: Personal Protection Kits
All Sales Proceeds Donated to The Ministerial Food Bank
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A Letter From The Wasaga Beach Chamber of Commerce President
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Dear Business Owners,
As a follow up to the report from EDO Tyler King discussing the results of the survey and how business owners and associations may be able to further help the community and businesses, we identified some concerns.
The surveys were a way for business owners and residents to have their voices heard in a respectful, mature and meaningful manner.
In response to the comments and concerns from these surveys and feedback from our relationships with community partners, it was brought to our attention the need for further safety measures given Wasaga Beach is an active tourist destination.
I was able to source 300 Personal Protective Kits as a pilot project to have available for sale at $10.00 to visitors or anyone in need, starting on weekends in July at the Chamber building. The proceeds will be donated to the Foodbank. The PP Kits will be sold by student volunteers utilizing the walk up window at the front of the Chamber to ensure proper physical distancing and only Debit or Credit Card will be accepted.
I
felt since Provincial Parks is not opening Nancy Island this summer there also needed to be representation for the business community in marketing material and as you can see in the attached pictures, the kits include the WB Community Guide, WB Map, a cotton face mask, and an 8 oz bottle of hand sanitizer all inside a reusable mesh draw string bag.
We want to be able to supply more as the demand increases and to keep our business and resident community safe and we need your help! There is a sponsorship opportunity, for a small contribution of only $2.50 per kit, your logo/label can be placed as a sticker on the hand sanitizer and we would also place your Flyer in the bag.
Please keep in mind it is for a great cause and a Win/Win situation. Please email me at
colleenb@wasagatax.com
if you would like more information and/or if you would like to sponsor or even purchase a number of kits.
A few hundred dollars would go along way to providing PP Kits to the community and is much needed support to the Foodbank or any other deserving charity you choose to donate to.
Kind Regards,
Colleen Bannerman
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The Digital Marketplace Web Portal!
Advertise Your Business With A FREE Place Listing
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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.
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Financial Resource Videos For Small Business
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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.
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Wasaga Beach Chamber Resources
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The Digital Marketplace Web Portal
The Digital Markeplace LIVE Demo
Click here 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
How Can We Help?
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Chamber Governing Bodies Resources & Links
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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.
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Canada Business Resilience Network
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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.
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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/
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COVID-19 Information Page
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ENJOY YOUR WATERFRONT - Beachfront Pods Now Available On Beach Drive
For residents of Wasaga Beach, Pod 1 is reserved for you.To gain access all you need to do is bring some form of ID with your address on it. Learn more about the pods here:
https://bit.ly/3gWOXn4
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
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Workplace Safety & Prevention Services
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Workplace Safety & Protection Services is a not for profit organization that is part of the Ontario Occupational Health & Safety System, primarily focused on the service, manufacturing and agricultural sectors.
The organization provides free
information, tools and resources needed to work safely.
Many of these resources can be accessed through their Small Business Centre:
www.WSPS.ca/SmallBusiness
With
t
he COVID-19 pandemic creating unique challenges for businesses and individuals around the world, their website includes information, resources and updates to equip employers to face the months ahead. Click the link to view
COVID-19: Keeping safe during the pandemic
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Post Pandemic Business Playbook
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A starter guide to restarting a Post Pandemic business. This tool can help you set priorities, get plans in place and protect your people.
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COVID-19 Health News & Resources
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Facebook Live Video Briefings With Dr. Charles Gardner
Medical Officer of Health and Chief Executive Officer
Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit
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Federal COVID-19 Information Line (1-833-784-4397)
Public Health Ontario (1-866-797-0000)
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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.
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COVID-19 Government News & Resources
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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.
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COVID-19 Government News & Resources
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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
t
o 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.
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From Our Partners | Employee Benefits
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2019 - 2020 Board of Directors
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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
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Chamber Director -
Georgian Family Chiropractic
Jason Ruttan
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Chamber Director
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RE/MAX of Wasaga Beach Inc., Brokerage
Christina De Palma
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Chamber Director
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De Palma & Associate Legal Services
Marlene Parkins
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Chamber Director
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Wasaga Beach Farmers Market
Jennie Elmslie
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Chamber Director
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Free Spirit Tours
Alex Colthart
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Chamber Director
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Forty-Four Inc
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Ava Alward
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Chamber Director
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Realtor, RE/MAX of Wasaga Beach Inc.
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