LATEST UPDATES & BUSINESS RESOURCES
Partnering Organizations Launch New Investment Tools for Ladysmith and Area
The Partnership for a Vibrant Local Economy has launched a set of new online investment tools for Ladysmith and the surrounding area to serve as a driver for economic activity and attract new business opportunities.

The new one-stop resources for locals, visitors and those looking to do business here includes a new Tourism Ladysmith and Invest Ladysmith mobile-friendly website, as well as a supporting Ladysmith Heritage and Investment App. The promotion of local business and future opportunities is especially timely as communities move through the phases of BC’s Restart Plan.
Ladysmith-Open for Business Online Directory is now live!
The Directory highlights businesses that are open and any practices they are implementing to keep themselves and their customers safe.   Click here to submit your business or update your business information.

A Welcome Boost the Ladysmith Open for Business Directory! As Destination BC prepares its consumer content to support our tourism businesses, having updated knowledge of which businesses are open is critical.
Destination BC has compiled a list of communities who are maintaining lists of businesses that are open in their communities

The Ladysmith Open For Business Directory link is included on the HelloBC platform.  
Updates and Survey from Nanaimo Airport
Attitudes About Air Travel SURVEY from Nanaimo Airport.

The Nanaimo Airport is looking for your feedback on your thoughts on how the airport can make air travel safer for you. Follow the link to fill out our survey by July 31st.
We Want to Hear From You!
The BC government has declined to extend the 16-week period for temporary layoffs.
This means that in a few weeks many employers in BC will be faced with the prospect of terminating employees (and delivering severance payouts) before they are fully reopen. We want to know what impact this will have on your business and your team.
If you can't click the link, please copy and paste the URL below:
Thank you!
Mindreader Platform - A BC Chamber Insight Community 
Businesses Province-Wide Call on Labour Minister to Urgently Act to Avoid More Employee Terminations and Forced Small Business Bankruptcies

Business organizations representing almost all of British Columbia’s 500,000 businesses are frustrated by Labour Minister Harry Bains refusal to appreciate the severity of current business challenges. At issue specifically is the potential for bankruptcy and insolvency for thousands of small and medium-sized businesses and not-for-profits as they are forced to payout severance costs due to the unforeseen circumstances brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Minister has it within his power to provide a Ministerial Order to extend the temporary lay-off time limits under the Employment Standards Act (ESA) to provide employers with the “breathing room” needed to survive, recover, and facilitate return-to-work for laid-off employees as possible. Read More...
Announcements from Federal Government
  • Prime Minister announces new mobile app to help notify Canadians of COVID-19 exposure...Read More
  • More small businesses can soon access the Canada Emergency Business Account...Read More
  • Prime Minister announces extension of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit...Read More
CVRD shares results of first #CowichanStrong Post Disaster Needs Assessment Survey
In response to the unparalleled economic impacts of COVID-19, the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) and its #CowichanStrong partners have compiled the results of an initial survey to assess the effects of the pandemic on the local business community.

The survey, completed by 70 business owners and/or operators from across the region, found that more than 50% of businesses have temporarily or indefinitely shut down, while 65% had seen revenue decreases of at least 75%. The survey also revealed that a significant number of businesses have modified their business model and introduced online ordering or delivery options (30% and 24%, respectively) as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This was the first of a series of surveys that will be shared with the business community every four weeks for the next three months to assess the economic recovery progress. 
Buy Local Cowichan
#CowichanStrong invites all Cowichan businesses to be showcased on  Buy Local Cowichan.  
WELCOME NEW CHAMBER MEMBERS
VANCOUVER ISLAND REGIONAL LIBRARY
Company name: Vancouver Island Regional Library
Address: #3 – 740 First Ave, Ladysmith, BC, V9G 1A3
Phone: (250) 245-2322
BAYSIDE VAPES AND JERRY'S CANNABIS CO.
Company name: Bayside Vapes & Jerrys Cannabis Co.
Address:  510c Esplanade, Ladysmith, BC. V9G1B9
Phone: (250) 245-5055 Bayside Vapes / Website
Phone: (250) 245-4987 Jerry's Cannabis Co./ Website
WEBINARS
BC's Post-Pandemic Economic Recovery
A Townhall with Opposition Leader Andrew Wilkinson,
June 25th
You're invited to an exclusive digital town hall with B.C. Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson to discuss the effects of COVID-19 on provincial politics and the economy, what British Columbia's recovery should look like and how we can be best positioned to succeed in the post-pandemic reality.
This is an exclusive event for our chamber network and our members.
There is no cost, but you must register to attend. Registration closes Thursday, June 25th at 11am. 
VIRL Professional Series:
Learn About Investment Fraud – Live Cast
Doug Muir, Director of Enforcement at the British Columbia Securities Commission (BCSC), will speak on investment fraud awareness. Mr.Muir will discuss how attendees can recognize, reject, and report investment fraud. He will highlight the techniques fraudsters use and will discuss real-life investment fraud cases.
Join us for this important online discussion and have your questions answered.

Wednesday, June 24, 2020
Space is limited. The session starts at 12pm.
VIEW PAST VIEA COVID-19 Video Conference Events
VIEA has hosted special series of brief video conference events designed to provide close-to-the-ground ‘how to’ information. Islanders can hear from thought leaders and network with peers to help their decision-making during this COVID-19 pandemic crisis. Recordings of these sessions can be found in the  ‘News and Media’ Video section . To receive invitations to participate in live sessions,  click here to sign up.
Destination BC:
"The Road to Recovery " Webinars
Response, Recovery, and Resilience from COVID-19
The Road to Recovery webinar series is designed for tourism businesses and organizations that have been impacted by COVID-19. Each webinar will cover a subject related to the travel market, the visitor experience, business operations, digital marketing and more. Check back as new subjects may be added regularly.
All sessions will be held at 2:00 pm, unless otherwise noted, on the dates below. Register for the following free sessions:

June 25 : Returning to Work: Protecting Mental Health
July 7 : Revisiting your COVID-19 Safety Plan
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
Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Centre
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. We are working on our plans to reopen soon. 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
33 Roberts Street, PO Box 598 Ladysmith,
BC V9G1A4 Canada
250-245-2112