Every Child Matters…
We encourage everyone in the Tsuts’weye network to pause and reflect, at this moment, and respect the grief that our Secwépemc communities are experiencing at this time. We must all show that every child matters..
The continuing road to recovery….
On May 25, the Province announced BC’s Restart: a careful, four-step plan focused on protecting people and safely getting life back to normal. The plan lays out key benchmarks and target timelines for moving through each step.
For now though our focus still needs to be on encouraging our local residents to explore locally within our local health zone.
Soon, we will be able to welcome visitors from other parts of the province but right now we need to ensure that we continue to support our local businesses. And we still need to do our part to ensure that we are engaging safely with our family and friends so that our businesses can welcome these visitors. Their livelihood depends on all of us doing our part now so travel can safely resume this summer and set these businesses on the road to recovery.
Just a few things that businesses can do to ensure visitor confidence in your business:
- Ensure your COVID-19 safety plans, required by WorkSafe BC are completed and posted publicly (at the business and on the website, if there is one), and shared proactively.
- Share your plan proactively across channels and with the media, to help rebuild consumer confidence and demonstrate all of the incredible efforts you’ve made to keep your guests and staff safe.
- Leisure travel is now permitted within your Regional Health Zone (as established on April 23). Non-essential travel between Regional Health Zones is still restricted. These measures apply to the entire province.
Please support our local restaurants!
Restaurants, pubs, bars and food courts are now open for indoor dining, as well as patio and take-out service, with health and safety protocols in place (capacity limits based on physical distancing requirements, masks when not seated at a table, events prohibited.) Indoor and outdoor dining for groups up to 6 people (not restricted to your household or bubble).
For more information in regards to reopening from Destination BC for the Tourism Industry go here.
And again, take this time to explore our backyard and the wonderful experiences and businesses we have here in the Shuswap region. If you want an overnight getaway book a local accommodation and enjoy a ‘staycation’ – we have some outstanding places to stay that are exceptional. They won’t be available for us soon so take advantage now!
It is a pivotal time in our region and we must stay local now so that we can get back to welcoming visitors once again to the Shuswap this summer.
Stay safe everyone!
Introduction to Indigenous Tourism
Last week Tsuts’weye and Secwepemc Lakes Tourism partnered to host the “Introduction to Indigenous Tourism” workshop for Indigenous entrepreneurs that are interested in developing a business in the Indigenous Tourism sector of the Tourism industry. It was our privilege to meet eight Indigenous entrepreneurs during the course of this workshop.
The workshop was delivered by Moccasin Trails with instructors Greg Hopf and Kukpi7 Frank Antoine.
Thanks also to Kukpi7 Oliver Arnouse for delivering a prayer to open the workshop and also tell his story about the business development and their journey to create an Indigenous experience at Quaaout Lodge.
It was a privilege to host this workshop and we are hoping that we can continue to work with Indigenous entrepreneurs to provide further business development workshops.
Read the full press release here.
BSAFE is a new online health and safety training program designed to ensure foundational health and safety knowledge in BC’s tourism and hospitality businesses to keep everyone safe as we move through the COVID-19 pandemic.
BSAFE is open to all businesses, but the program was specifically designed for the tourism and hospitality industry.
It is critical to rebuild confidence in the health and safety protocols of the tourism and hospitality industry. COVID-19 specific content designed to empower employers and employees with superior foundation knowledge of COVID-19 safety and protocols. This program is intended to instill confidence in our visitors that businesses are doing everything to ensure their ongoing safety when they visit.
BSAFE stands for BC Safety Assured For Everyone.
Their tagline, “Your Trust, Our Priority”, is their pledge and our promise.
REGISTER BELOW!
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Guest Speaker – Monique Cusson
Tuesday, June 22nd – 12 Noon to 1 PM
Monique Cusson started her journey to woodworking and entrepreneurship a little over a year ago. She will share how she overcame multiple barriers to discover a new passion and how she came to realize that she had been an entrepreneur her
whole life, she just didn’t know it. She came to discover that she was an artist!
Registration:
Send a message to [email protected] and you will be sent a unique zoom link to join the session.
Brandi Butts, the owner of Granting Wishes, and Carmen Massey, Tsuts’weye Project Manager, will co-facilitate the Tsuts’weye Lunchtime Connections series.
Grant Applications 101: Learn How to Win Grants
It can be challenging to stay up to date on what incentives and opportunities are available to businesses. Pocketed and Accelerate Okanagan are here to help.
A brand-new grant cycle has started and, with some of the best grant opportunities of the year about to be posted, you’ll want to make sure you’re submitting winning grant applications. Our Grants 101 webinar is designed to give you the skills to make that happen.
JUNE IS FREE EDUCATION MONTH AT SMALL BUSINESS BC!
Start your summer off on the right foot with a month of free education at Small Business BC.
Delivered in partnership with WorkSafeBC, June’s FREE Education Month delivers over 25 webinars and Talk to an Expert sessions, offering plenty of opportunities to upskill. Whether you’re looking to start or grow your business, our educational calendar for the month is stacked with informative and practical sessions that will put your business on the road to success.
We want you to make the most of this offering, so we’ve laid on extra availability for all our webinars and Talk to an Expert advisories. However, demand is expected to be extremely high and places are limited. Book as early as possible to avoid disappointment. If you do happen to miss out on the webinar of your choice, we will be opening a waitlist.
Please Note: Attendance of Talk to an Expert advisory sessions will be on a first-come, first-served basis, with a limit of three first-time sessions per client.
Small and Medium Sized Business Recovery Grant
The Province is adding millions in additional funding to keep the Small and Medium Sized Business Recovery Grant operating until the expected start of Step 3 of BC’s Restart plan on July 1, 2021.
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 August 31, 2021 or until the funds are fully allocated, whichever comes first.
The Launch Online Grant program has expanded!!
In response to a high number of applications, the B.C. government is investing an additional $30 million in the Launch Online Grant program.
The Launch Online Grant program provides up to $7,500 to businesses to help build or expand an e-commerce site to reach more customers and to sustain and grow their business.
An online presence is integral for businesses that want to adapt their operations to better reach customers in their community, throughout B.C. and beyond. These changes will help approximately 4,000 more businesses market their products and services online.
The new funding is in addition to the February 2021 announcement of $12 million to support 1,500 businesses to enhance or establish their online presence. Currently, over 3,500 businesses from around the province have applied, demonstrating the need for these supports.
The deadline to apply for this grant is September 30, 2021.
NEW PROGRAMS
The Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) — The CRB provides $500 per week (minus a 10% tax withheld) for up to 26 weeks until September 25, 2021 for workers who have stopped working or had their income reduced by at least 50% due to COVID-19, and who are not eligible for Employment Insurance (EI). Check your eligibility or apply to the CRB here.
Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) — The CRSB provides $500 per week for up to a maximum of two weeks, for workers who:
- Are unable to work for at least 50% of the week because they contracted COVID-19
- Are self-isolated for reasons related to COVID-19
- have underlying conditions, are undergoing treatments or have contracted other sicknesses that, in the opinion of a medical practitioner, nurse practitioner, person in authority, government or public health authority, would make them more susceptible to COVID-19.
Check your eligibility or apply to the CRSB here.
Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB) — The CRCB provides $500 per week for up to 26 weeks per household for workers:
- unable to work for at least 50% of the week because they must care for a child under the age of 12 or family member because schools, day-cares or care facilities are closed due to COVID-19
- because the child or family member is sick and/or required to quarantine or is at high risk of serious health implications because of COVID-19.
Check your eligibility or apply to the CRCB here.
Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS)
Rent support program for eligible businesses, charities and non-profits whose revenues have been impacted by COVID-19. The program reimburses rent expenses (or commercial mortgage interest expenses), on a sliding scale, up to a maximum of 65% of eligible fixed property expenses starting on September 27, 2020, until June 2021. A 25% top-up of the subsidy is available to businesses and other organizations that have been closed by mandatory public health orders. This program replaced the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) program on September 30, 2020 and does not require tenants to negotiate and enter into rent-reduction agreements with landlords. Read more here.
Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) –
This program provides a wage subsidy to eligible employers who have experienced a drop in revenue due to COVID-19. All eligible employers who’ve experienced a revenue drop can now qualify for a base subsidy. The base subsidy can now be calculated using the revenue drop in either the current period or the previous period – whichever is greater. Eligible employers may also be entitled to receive a 100% refund for EI and CPP contributions. Full eligibility requirements can be found here and a wage subsidy calculator is available here. Businesses can apply here.
For more information on all of the business services provided by the Government of Canada – go here.
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BUSINESS RESOURCES
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WOMENS ENTERPRISE CENTRE
Business Skills Training for Women Entrepreneurs
Gain essential business skills to succeed!
We know what it’s like to start and grow a business, which is why we’ve developed training that delivers results. After all, knowledge is the best investment you can make in your business!
Our business skills training features:
SMALL BUSINESS BC
Small Business BC also provides practical business seminars and online education to develop your business skills and strategy to run a successful business. Whether you need help starting your business, hiring employees, managing operations, or anything else, Small Business BC has a business education seminar for you.
For more information on June workshops and to register go here!
Business Resources for Women Entrepreneurs in BC
Are you a woman entrepreneur looking to start or grow a business in British Columbia? Small Business BC strives to provide support for everyone wanting to start their own business. Here is a list of resources in different areas dedicated to female entrepreneurship.
More information here!
Business Resources for Black Owned Businesses and Entrepreneurs
Black Entrepreneurs still face unique challenges in starting and growing their own businesses. This page in partnership with the Black Business Association of BC provides aspiring, emerging and established Black entrepreneurs the resources they need to start and thrive in our province.
More information here!
Business Resources for Indigenous Entrepreneurs
This page provides aspiring, emerging and established Indigenous entrepreneurs with the resources you need to thrive in the small business world.
Already a small business owner? Join our BC Marketplace for free province-wide promotion, increased web traffic and marketing opportunities.
More information here!
GREATER VANCOUVER BOARD OF TRADE
The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade is one of Canada’s busiest and most sought-after events platforms, with more than 100 events annually. Build connections at our free networking receptions or learn from business and thought leaders at our speaker events. Our reputation attracts top-notch speakers and leading authorities — from Prime Ministers and Presidents, to industry magnates and global influencers.
For more information on their workshops go here.
TOTA – BC TOURISM RESILIENCY PROGRAM
The Tourism Resiliency Program (TRP), launched in 2020, continues into 2021
and 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 them by emailing [email protected].
For a list of webinars provided by TOTA go here.
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Business Resources for All Women Entrepreneurs
Access other Business Resources on the Tsuts’weye website. and is located the top right hand corner of the website.
Let us know if these resources are helpful and if there is anything else that you would like to see listed in the Business Resource section of the website. Email us at [email protected].
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.
Three Ways to 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 Form and 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!
Attend a workshop, course, or the new Lunchtime Connections sessions. More information on the Tsuts’weye event calendar.
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
- Corryn Grayston – Entrepreneur in Residence
- Andrew Klingel – Entrepreneur In Residence
- Kari Wilkinson – Toliver Design – Website and Marketing
- Brandi Butts – Granting Wishes – Social Media Strategist
- 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].