Let’s welcome this new year with promise, hope, resilience, and determination. Let this be the year that you may try something new, improve your business, or just maintain what you have. Refresh your online presence with a new website or online sales, update your Linked In profile, set up an online store, or launch a new product or an experience that excites you and your customers! Think of this year as a fresh start with fresh adventures. The Tsuts’weye team is here to assist you with new resources and supports to ensure that your business can get that fresh start underway.
Happy New Year, the Tsuts’weye Team wishes you the best in 2021!
Tsuts’weye Workshops
We have new workshops and connections that we hope that you will attend and share. A few of the highlights are:
“Search Engine Optimization – Fundamentals for Success”
Tuesday, January 12 – 12 – 1 PM
“The Value of Event Marketing in New Times”
Thursday, January 14 – 10 – 11 AM
“Tsuts’weye Connections”
Tuesday, January 26th – 12-1 pm – every two weeks!
” Build your HR Toolkit” delivered by the Women’s Enterprise Centre
3 Tuesdays – 10 – 11 AM
- January 26 | Recruiting 101: Tools to Find the Right Person for Your Team
- February 2 | Employee Retention Toolkit for Business Owners
- February 9 | Managing HR: Tools to Unite Your Team
These are just a few of the workshops being delivered through the Tsuts’weye program! More information below.
The Tsuts’weye Connections is a lunch hour networking opportunity for you to learn about important topics to help you with your business.
These session start on Tuesday, January 26 from12:00 – 1:00 pm and run every two weeks.
For more information go to the Tsuts’weye events page!
Welcome to our New Entrepreneur In Residence – Corryn Grayston!
Corryn has worked as the Executive Director of the Salmon Arm Chamber of Commerce for the past 15 years, which has provided her the opportunity to continue to foster her human resources and business support skills. In addition, she has been an active member on numerous Boards, Committees and Task Forces related to business, tourism and economic development.
To make an appointment with Corryn please complete the client intake form.
With a new year on the horizon, there’s plenty of reasons to be optimistic for small businesses across BC. Prepare for the coming year with these
Six 2021 Small Business Trends.
Small and Medium Sized Business Recovery Grant
UPDATED: December 21, 2020!
New program criteria –
Eligibility criteria changed as of December 18, 2020.
If you applied to the program prior to December 18, 2020:
- You do not need to resubmit an application
- Applications received prior to changes will be reviewed under updated program criteria and grant amounts
- Businesses that have already been approved for funding are not affected by these changes but, are eligible for updated grant amounts
How the program works
Grants of $10,000 to $30,000 are available to small and medium sized B.C. businesses impacted by COVID-19. An additional $5,000 to $15,000 grant is available to eligible tourism-related businesses.
The program runs until March 31, 2021 or until the funds are fully allocated, whichever comes first.
Government of Canada Summer Jobs
GOVERNMENT OF CANADA SUMMER JOBS – This year, in response to the pandemic, more funding is available to hire youth for full-time or part-time placements through the Canada Summer Jobs program.
If you’re an employer from a not-for-profit organization, from the public sector, or from a private sector organization with 50 or fewer full-time employees, you can join thousands of other employers who will be hiring a young person this year with the help of funding from the federal government’s Canada Summer Jobs program.
Applying to the Canada Summer Jobs program:
- helps you get wage subsidies
- strengthens local economies and communities across Canada
- creates valuable job experiences for youth
- Find out about the program here today!
Annually Okanagan College hosts a Business Expo each February but with changes due to the Pandemic they are now presenting an online job fair using the Hopin platform Empowering Employment, which they are excited to host on February 4th, 2021! They believe that connecting students and employers has never been more important. They look forward to seeing you at Empowering Employment in 2021! Details of the upcoming event are below:
Date: February 4th, 2021
Time: 10:00am – 3:00pm
Schedule of Events:
- 10:00am-10:30am: Opening Ceremonies and Welcome at the main stage
- 10:30am-2:30pm: Employer Booths at the Hopin Expo
- 2:30pm-3:00pm: Closing Ceremonies and wrap up at the main stage
- Hourly door prizes to encourage student attendance and participation
- 2 Networking Sessions: 10:30-11:30 AM and 12:30 – 1:30 PM
Cost
They will offer employers the opportunity to host their exhibitor booth and network with students at a highly discounted rate of $100.00.
For anyone who wishes to join, please forward an updated logo for your booth to Erin Pedro [email protected] and register here no later than January 15, 2021.
Please reach out if you have any questions to [email protected]
Innovate BC
Have you hired someone who is 15-30 on contract recently? You might be eligible for up to $26,000 to subsidize related costs.
Start the application. Register for an account to apply, quantities limited. Application deadline is January 15, 2021.
**Youth must be working in a technology related position or supporting digital work.
Upcoming Webinars
Vancouver Board of Trade
Foundations in Diversity and Inclusion Certificate – This program starts on March 9th, 2021. More information and registration here.
The Long-term Effects of Mental Health in a Pandemic – From the low-lying anxiety created by the illness itself, to the social isolation of lockdown, and even work-from-home blues as the novelty of remote working wears off – people are struggling. More information and registration here.
Leading Change: Advancing Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging – Join this conversation for a thought-provoking discussion on how leaders can be a part of the change, and advance equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging within their organizations. Thursday, February 4, 2021 – 12:00 PM More information and registration here.
More information and more events here.
SMALL BUSINESS BC
Here are just a few Webinars for you to access in December:
- Business Viability Package – Tuesday, January 12 – 9 – 4 pm
- Creating your Own Website – Monday, January 18 – 1-3 pm
- Market Research for your Business Package – Tuesday, January 19 – 1 – 4 pm
For more information on January workshops and registration here!
Find out what is also happening with Small Business BC in January!
WOMENS ENTERPRISE CENTRE
The Women’s Enterprise Centre provides resources and support for women entrepreneurs. They have a long list of webinars that they provide but they also have lots of other resources available, as well. For more information go to their website.
Find more information on their webinars and to register for here.
TOTA – BC TOURISM RESILIENCY PROGRAM
The Tourism Resiliency Program (TRP), launched in 2020, continues into 2021and if you have been part of the program we hope that you will continue to watch for new webinars, take advantage of the training opportunities, and the one-on-one meetings with TOTA’s advisors. If you have not worked with our TRP advisors in the past year and feel you could benefit from speaking with one of them please connect with us by emailing [email protected].
Supports and Resources for Indigenous Women Entrepreneurs and Shuswap Women Entrepreneurs
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.
Welcome to Tsuts’weye!
(Pronounced “Soots-way-e”, means butterfly, in Secwepemc)
Tsuts’weye is a federally-funded project through Western Economic Development Canada, to support women entrepreneurs in the Shuswap through building skills, knowledge and networks.
We embrace an inclusive community of female entrepreneurs who recognize we are all enriched by our diversity. We are committed to fostering an environment that advocates for respect, acceptance of others, and inclusion. All women are welcome here.
MEET OUR TEAM:
- Carmen Massey – Project Manager
- Caroline Grover – Entrepreneur in Residence
- Corryn Grayston – Entrepreneur in Residence
- Kari Wilkinson – Toliver Design – Website and Marketing
- Jenna Robins – Trilogy Solutions – Digital Marketing and Analytics
- Robyn Cyr – Brabyn Business Solutions – Communications
Please visit Tsutsweye.ca to learn more about the project and the team.
CONTACT US:
Online at Tsutsweye.ca
Please call ahead to make an appointment.
For future contributions to this newsletter or for more information on the Tsuts’weye project, contact us at [email protected].