Tsuts’weye is officially one year old! To the hundreds of women in our network, to our funders and our numerous community partners, thank you for your support, encouragement, and participation. Together we have created a program that works for the women entrepreneurs of the Shuswap.  We could not have predicted the economic and social upheaval Covid-19 would bring to us in the spring, and we put our hands together for the many women who pivoted their businesses, adapting to the challenges this past year has presented. Thank you to our committed team of Consultants and Tsuts’weye Team Members who diligently seek out creative ways to deliver programming and meet the needs of female entrepreneurs during these challenging times.
To give you a sense of engagement in Tsuts’weye: in our first year we supported over 130 individual Shuswap businesswomen through our one-on-one Entrepreneur in Residence Program and at least 300 women attended a networking session, course, or workshop. An additional 15 women have participated in online Peer Mentoring sessions. During late summer and fall, we hosted 40 women in several small group networking sessions, and 43 more women have been engaged in the Business Recovery and Expansion program set up in response to Covid-19. An astounding 94% of our clients said they would refer the program to a friend or colleague.
Looking forward, we see challenging times ahead for our businesses. Tsuts’weye commits to continuing to support all women entrepreneurs in the Shuswap, whether seeking to improve or pivot their businesses or bring a new idea to fruition. We will deliver courses, classes, and workshops you need to gain the knowledge and skills you need today, and will provide marketing and networking opportunities for our network to connect and support one another.
Considering Remembrance Day this week, let us pause to reflect and remember those who went before and sacrificed so much to create opportunities we enjoy today. To them we say thank-you.
We wish you a wonderful, snowy start to winter, and remember to support local businesses for your seasonal shopping!
Warmly,
Carmen Massey
Project Manager, Tsuts’weye Entrepreneur and Innovation Network
cell: 250-804-3466
Please everyone stay safe and healthy, support each other, follow the COVID 19 protocols always, and most of all be kind and patient with each other. And again – our residents and businesses will benefit by everyone remembering that we can make it through this by working together.
This workshop will provide an insight into the Indigenous Tourism industry and the business opportunities that are available. Indigenous community members who have considered exploring a business opportunity in Indigenous Tourism can obtain more information about starting a business in this workshop.
For more information on this event visit Tsuts’weye Events.
Please email [email protected] to register for this workshop! Deadline to register is Wednesday, November 25, 2020 at 4:00 pm.
Small and medium-sized businesses are vital to British Columbia’s economy. The Small and Medium-Sized Business Recovery Grant program provides fully-funded grants to businesses to ensure they have the support they need during and beyond COVID-19.
The Small and Medium-Sized Business Recovery Grant program will invest up to $300 million in targeted financial support for some of the hardest hit businesses in B.C. that employ between two and 149 B.C. residents and have experienced declines in revenue since March 10, 2020.
Grants of $10,000 to $30,000 are available. An additional $5,000 to $10,000 grant is available to eligible tourism-related businesses that have been hit especially hard by COVID-19.
The program runs until March 31, 2021 or until the funds are fully allocated, whichever comes first.
More information here.
Two ways that you can connect through Tsuts’weye!!
Join the Tsuts’weye Network Business Directory and share your business. To get your business profile on this page, simply fill out our Business Profile Formand email it to us! Check out the current listings on the Tsuts’weye website.
Join the Tsuts’weye Network Facebook Group. Keep up to date on workshops, podcasts, events, resources, and much more!

Upcoming Webinars

SMALL BUSINESS BC
November is Free Education Month at Small Business BC!!!
Small Business BC is excited to announce that, in partnership with WorksafeBC, they are extending their free webinars and advisory from Small Business Week for the entire month of November!!
Free Education Month will have over 25 webinars and 10 expert advisory sessions all stacked with practical info to help you start, grow or pivot your business for success. More information here.
There are a lot more webinars from Small Business BC! These are just a few that we highlighted. Make sure that you check them out!
WOMENS ENTERPRISE CENTRE
The Women’s Enterprise Centre provides resources and support for women entrepreneurs. Listed below is their webinars that they provide but they also have lots of other resources available. For more information go to their website.
A few that we are highlighting:
  • Emerging Trends in Small Business – November 16 – 10 – 11 AM – register here
  • Build. Grow. Thrive. – Virtual Event – November 18 – 9:30 – 3:30 – register here
  • Negotiating Contracts: Get the Right Deal – November 20 – 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM – register here
There are more webinars available from the Women’s Enterprise Centre! We just highlighted a few. Make sure that you check them out!
SHUSWAP TOURISM PARTNERS WITH DESTINATION BC – GOOGLE WORKSHOPS
Shuswap Tourism is excited to partner with Destination BC to host TWO FREE virtual information sessions for Shuswap businesses to help maximize online presence with Google.
  • Monday, November 23, 2020 – 1:00 – 2:00 PM – Get the Most Out of Your Website – Discover how to create a search-friendly website that drives user action and supports your goals. Register here
  • Wednesday – Dec 2, 2020 – 3:30 – 4:30 PM – Google My Business – A free tool for local businesses who want to connect with customers through Google Search and Maps. Register here.
TOTA – BC TOURISM RESILIENCY PROGRAM
Expert-Led Webinars To Learn & Grow
TOTA has partnered with industry leading professionals to bring you expertise where you may need it most. This series of webinars and bulletins provides you with key information and training through this difficult time, such as impacts on the region, managing your business through the crisis, best practices, reputation management, human resource strategies, and recovery strategies.
To see the list of webinars – current and past – go here.

BC Chamber Network
Launches Building Resilience to Thrive Program

The Building Resilience to Thrive program, powered by the BC Chamber of Commerce network and UVIC’s Gustavson School of Business, has launched to businesses across the province. Offered as a COVID-19 recovery certificate, the 6-week program, delivered by award-winning professors Dr. Mark Colgate and Prof. Brian Leacock, will be presented to three cohorts between November and March 2021. The program will offer relief to businesses, helping to mitigate the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic by teaching them how to adapt their business models, re-engage customers, and adjust workplace cultures.

Canada United Small Business Relief Fund
Grants of up to $5,000 available

Created by RBC, Canada United is a movement to support local businesses in communities across the country. The Canada United Small Business Relief Fund (CUSBRF) was established to help small businesses offset the cost of expenses to reopen safely or adopt digital technologies to move more of their business online.
Over $14 Million has been contributed by the Federal Government, RBC, and Canada United partners to support recovery efforts due to COVID-19. We are now able to extend relief grants to more small businesses and restart accepting grant applications from small businesses across all Provinces for expenses incurred no earlier than March 15, 2020.
Learn more at: www.gocanadaunited.ca

Supports and Resources for Indigenous Women Entrepreneurs

Small Business BC – Business Resources for Indigenous Businesses
Thinking of starting your own business? This page provides aspiring, emerging and established Indigenous entrepreneurs with the resources you need to thrive in the small business world. If you are already a small business owner? Also, join the Small Business BC Marketplace for free province-wide promotion, increased web traffic and marketing opportunities. Also Indigenous Business Development Services has partnered with Small Business BC to provide education for Indigenous businesses. More information here.
Upcoming Webinars
FINANCIAL UNDERSTANDING BOOTCAMP FOR INDIGENOUS WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS
This Financial Understanding Bootcamp is designed for both start-up and existing businesses. We’ll look at your current personal finances, and then build achievable financial goals for your business. We’ll also provide you with step-by-step guidance and tools for completing your own financial statements.
This workshop starts on Wednesday, November 25, 2020. Register here and get more information on this workshop.
MARKETING AND BRANDING FOR INDIGENOUS BUSINESSES – How to Incorporate First Nations Art in Branding – Thursday, November 26, 2020
1:00pm to 3:00pm – Register here.
Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program: Access to Capital – Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada
This program promotes entrepreneurship in Indigenous communities and seeks to increase the number of viable Indigenous-owned businesses. The program has 2 components: access to capital and business opportunities. More information here
Community Futures Development Corporation of Central Interior First Nations
Community Futures Development Corporation of Central Interior First Nations (CFDC of CIFN) promotes and provides community economic development support services to Indigenous people within the Central Interior of British Columbia. More information here on their programs and resources for Indigenous businesses.
Women’s Enterprise Centre
Support for Indigenous Women Entrepreneurs – At Women’s Enterprise Centre, they work to ensure that Indigenous women entrepreneurs have access to business support and advice to help you reach your business goals. More information here.
Tsuts’weye Entrepreneur In Residence Services
To access these services, complete the Client Intake form on our website and you will be contacted by one of our Entrepreneurs In Residence.
For more information about the EIR program go to the Tsuts’weye website.

Other business resources for women entrepreneurs

Government Resources for Individuals and Businesses –
GOVERNMENT OF CANADA updates:
  • CEBA Loans (Canada Emergency Loans Account) are still available until December 31, 2020. The Government of Canada has also recently proposed to expand the CEBA program to include an additional interest-free $20,000 loan, 50% of which would be forgivable if repaid by December 31 2022. Details for the expanded program will be announced soon.
  • Legislation introduced for New, Targeted support to Help Businesses Through Pandemic. Business supports include:
  • Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy – Rent and Mortgage interest support to tenants and property owners through to June 2021
  • Lockdown support – additional support through the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy
  • The extension of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy until June 2021
  • More information here.
PROVINCE OF BC updates:
COVID-19 resources for BC Businesses – updates as of November 12, 2020.
OTHER RESOURCES:
  • WorkSafe BC –  COVID-19 information and resources updated for safe operations for Phase 3.
  • GO2HR – COVID-19 industry sector best practices guides and support services – more information here.
  • BC Economic Development Association – COVID19 Resources for BC Businesses.
  • BDC – COVID-19 – Resources and support for BC businesses. Webinars for businesses resources recovery.
  • Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) -Shuswap-Revelstoke – for resources to assist you please click here
  • Community Futures Shuswap – COVID-19 Business Resources for businesses in the Shuswap region.
  • Destination BC – Learning Centre – Free Resources/Webinars for your business – COVID-19 Resources for the Tourism Industry – updated November 10, 2020. Here also is their latest bulletin – November 12, 2020.
  • Farm Credit Canada – COVID-19 Resources for the agriculture industry.
  • Greater Vancouver Board of Trade – COVID19 resources and Business Reinvention Series Webinars – more information here.
  • Okanagan College – Continuing Studies will be offering most of its certificate programs, corporate training services and general interest courses online and via distance education this fall. Explore online offerings courses here and also go to their continuing studies website for more information.
  • Salmon Arm Economic Development Society – Business Restart Toolkit – Resources for businesses to reopen and more.
  • Small Business BC – Back to Business Resources from Small Business BC.
  • Shuswap Economic Recovery – Providing resources and support for all Shuswap businesses. Learn more.
  • Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association – Tourism Resiliency Program – Resources for Tourism businesses in the Thompson Okanagan Tourism region.
  • Tourism Industry Association of BC – C-19 Bulletin – November 9, 2020
  • Women’s Enterprise Centre – Assisting women entrepreneurs through recovery – Resources and Support..

Tsuts’weye Entrepreneur In Residence Services

To access these services, complete the Client Intake form on our website and you will be contacted by one of our Entrepreneurs In Residence.

For future contributions to this newsletter or for more information, contact Robyn Cyr, Communications for the Tsuts’weye project at [email protected].