Free workshops, webinars and information to help employers and employees in industries hard-hit by the pandemic manage stress and build resiliency. The Workplace Mental Health Hub provides a range of tools for workers in the tourism, hospitality, and community social services and other sectors to improve their overall mental health as well as navigation support to connect to other mental health services, including counselling and peer support.
Read MoreWestern Economic Diversification Canada (WD) provides eligible small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with an interest-free repayable contribution of up to $60,000 to help alleviate financial hardship resulting from COVID-19 during the period of April 1, 2020 – March 31, 2021. The objective is to assist western Canadian SMEs that do not qualify for the Canadian Emergency Business Account (CEBA) program, or the "RRRF – Community Futures Stream." Application Deadline: June 30, 2021.
Read MoreTOTA hosted a virtual Job Fair & Open House on April 22 to introduce participants of the Tourism Skills Training Program to potential employers and industry connections.
Read MoreBusinesses heavily impacted by COVID-19 can access guaranteed, low-interest loans of $25,000 to $1 million to cover operational cash flow needs. These loans are for small and medium-sized businesses that have seen their revenues decrease by 50% or more as a result of COVID-19. The HASCAP Guarantee is available until June 30, 2021.
Read MoreABLE BC has developed several resources for liquor primary establishments to operate through the pandemic, including the Liquor Primary Reopening Best Practices Handbook, guidelines for what to do if you have a COVID-19 outbreak at your business, and signage to display at your establishment.
Read MoreGrants of $10,000 to $30,000 are available to small and medium-sized businesses impacted by COVID-19, with an additional $5,000 to $15,000 available to eligible tourism-related businesses.
UPDATE: The application deadline has been extended to August 31, 2021, or until funds are fully committed, whichever comes first.
Businesses now only need to show a 30% revenue loss from March 2020 to now, when compared to the same one-month period in 2019.
If businesses need extra help gathering the right documents during the application stage, or support with translation or interpretation services, they can now get that help from a Small Business BC vetted professional service provider. This service will now be included in the up to $2,000 in additional government funding paid to the service provider.
On Friday, March 12th, the BC Tourism and Hospitality Conference is pleased to offer 8 complimentary workshops for all to take part in. Workshops are designed to build industry knowledge, offering the foundation needed to drive success in 2021.
Read MoreList of Province of British Columbia updates relevant to COVID-19.
Read MoreList of Government of Canada updates relevant to COVID-19.
Read MoreRestaurants Canada launches “Picture life without restaurants” Campaign calling on consumers to support their local restaurants.
A pivotal piece of this Campaign is the television-ready public service announcement (PSA) set to be released in time for the holiday season.
SupportRestaurants.ca was recently launched where consumers can pledge their support in the form of actions they will take to support their local restaurant.
Restaurants can download the “Restaurants Are Family” toolkit which provides a diverse and helpful set of options for every operator and the entire supply chain of the foodservice industry to participate in this action.
The Canada Cultural Spaces Fund (CCSF) supports the improvement of physical conditions for arts, heritage, culture and creative innovation. The Fund supports renovation and construction projects, the acquisition of specialized equipment and feasibility studies related to cultural spaces.
Read MoreCommunity Futures Okanagan-Similkameen is organizing 7 upcoming events from Digital Marketing to Business Plan Development for Small Businesses. Check out Community Futures Okanagan-Similkameen's Live events and past events.
Read MoreThe new Launch Online Grant program will provide business owners with up to $7,500 to build or improve their online store and promote BuyBC at a local, national, and international level. The Launch Online Grant program is based on a first come, first-served basis. The program will run until March 31, 2021, or until all funds are distributed.
Read MoreIn December 2020, the B.C. Tourism Task Force presented a final report to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport with a series of recommendations for the immediate allocation of $50 million in funding to support the recovery of tourism businesses and enhance the tourism industry’s long-term competitiveness.
Read MoreBounceBack is a program designed to help adults and youth 15+ manage low mood, stress, worry, mild to moderate depression, and/or anxiety. It is available for free, to work at your own pace online or over the phone with a trained coach. Provided by Canadian Mental Health Association British Columbia.
Read MoreIntroduction to Mental Health at Work is a virtual, 45-minute course providing foundational information about mental health, the role of the workplace, plus how and why employers should promote well-being throughout their organization. It is a great starting point on the road to a psychologically safe and healthy workplace.
Read MoreTourism businesses can sign up for a FREE subscription to eLearningU to gain access to live and recorded webinars for Canadian tourism marketing, internet marketing, social media, branding, sales, packaging, and more.
Members will have access to the full webinar library of 350+ recordings, live webinars, and the Tourism Digital Marketing Certification Program.
Read MoreThe Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) gives income support to employed and self-employed individuals who are unable to work because they are sick or need to self-isolate due to COVID-19, or have an underlying health condition that puts them at greater risk of getting COVID-19.
Read Morego2HR is pleased to support a new Psychological Support Toolkit for Workers and Employers: COVID-19, which was developed by the BC Municipal Safety Association (BCMSA) in partnership with workplace mental health expert Diana Vissers, Work to Wellness.
Within this FREE and comprehensive toolkit, users will have access to:
5 Part - Virtual Summit with industry experts to create an intimate dialogue on their recommendations in light of COVID-19
Information packs, checklists, and other resources designed to better equip you or your co-workers to mitigate the psychological impacts of COVID-19
Online discussion forum where you can offer support, encouragement, and share your experiences with managing your stress and anxiety related to the COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 Tourism Workforce Recovery Toolkit is a practical, no-cost online program designed to help tourism operators succeed during this unprecedented crisis – now and into the future. Drawing from a myriad of public-domain, academic and business resources, this Toolkit – which includes presentations, checklists and downloadable content – will be frequently updated to support tourism operators at every stage of their journey. Topics include Communications, Workforce, Budget & Finance, Marketing, and Strategy.
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