Stay the course… Hang in there...
We know that the new restrictions are tough on everyone and there is hope as more people become vaccinated. But we still are not quite there yet. We know that we have to give up welcoming visitors from outside of our region to reduce the burden on our health care system and the workers that face this pandemic with courage and compassion every day.
We encourage everyone to stay local and support our local businesses. We have wonderful businesses that have had to continuously make changes and pivot their business to support all of us and to survive. We need to recognize this by supporting them…continuously. Their livelihood depends on all of us doing our part now so some travel can safely resume this summer and set these businesses on the road to recovery.
Also, take this time to explore our backyard and the wonderful experiences and businesses we have here in the Shuswap region. Take time to hike and picnic on our trails, eat local take out at a picnic table on the beach or a patio, explore the downtown businesses, tour in your car and stop at a park that you haven’t been to before, get a picnic lunch from a local café and ride your bike to a new special place. If you want an overnight getaway book a local accommodation and enjoy a ‘staycation’ – we have some outstanding places to stay that are exceptional.
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.
Stay safe everyone!
CPABC Financial Literacy Free Session:
Maximizing Your Business (Online)
Are you a small to medium sized business or entrepreneur? Attend this free virtual CPABC Financial Literacy Session on Maximizing Your Business on Tuesday, May 18th, 2021 from 12 PM – 1 PM (PST) to learn more on the key concepts of cash management, working capital, and operational efficiency. At the end of the session, participants will be able to review and change their cash management practices so less cash is required to operate the business and the cash needs of the business can be projected and analyzed.
Event details:
Date: Tuesday, May 18, 2021
Time: 12 PM – 1 PM
Presenter: Zara Kanji, CPA, CGA
Format: Online
Cost: Free
This free webinar is specifically for small to medium sized business owners and/or managers and entrepreneurs.
If you have any questions, please email.
NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY!
Every second and fourth Tuesday of the Month.
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.
For more information on this program visit Tsuts’weye Connections on the Tsuts’weye website.
On April 26, 2021, the BC government announced they are adding $75 million to the Circuit Breaker Business Relief Grant, bringing the amount available for hard-hit BC businesses to over $125 million. Read more here.
The grant remains open to bars, pubs, restaurants, breweries, wineries, gyms, and fitness facilities impacted by the March 31st provincial health officer’s orders. The orders remain in place until May 25.
The grant is now also open to hotels, motels, and other short-term accommodations impacted by the April 23rd emergency order to restrict travel between BC’s regional zones.
Learn more about this grant and how to apply here.
Small and Medium Sized Business Recovery Grant
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 new 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.
BUSINESS RESOURCES
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:
- Practical, applicable skills that are 100% relevant to the successful operation of a small business
- A range of workshop topics known to be pivotal to small business success
- Materials developed by industry experts, often featuring real-life storytellers, informative panelists or inspirational spotlights
- Different learning approaches including live workshops, webinars, teleconferences and self-directed study
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 May workshops and to register go 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!
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!
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 us by emailing [email protected].
Free Online Health & Safety Training Course for Tourism & Hospitality Employees Open for Registration
BSAFE (BC Safety Assured For Everyone) a new, 90-minute online health and safety course created by go2HR is expected to launch in mid-May and is now open for employers to pre-register. Pre-register here.
For a list of webinars provided by TOTA go here.
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].