Brockville and District Chamber of Commerce joins Canada United to support local businesses and accelerate small business recovery

Created by RBC in collaboration with the national network of Chambers of Commerce and over 50 corporate partners Brockville and District Chamber of Commerce to support local businesses as part of the nationwide movement

July 29, 2020 Brockville, Ontario  – Brockville and District Chamber of Commerce announced today it is joining Canada United, a national movement to support local businesses in communities across the country. As part of the movement, RBC has brought together more than 50 of Canada’s leading brands, Business Associations and the national Chamber network to rally Canadians to “show local some love” by buying, dining and shopping local.

The Brockville and District Chamber of Commerce is pleased to support the Canada United movement and help bolster businesses in and around our community. Small businesses are the backbones of our local economies and key to thriving communities,” says Pamela Robertson, Executive Director. The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for businesses in the Brockville and Area and across the province. We need to continue to support SMEs who create jobs, drive innovation, and generate wealth for communities across Ontario – they will play an integral role in helping the province bounce back.

Canadians are invited to join the Canada United movement by buying and dining local, including celebrating and supporting local businesses during the Canada United Weekend from August 28 to 30, 2020.

Canadians are also encouraged to watch the Canada United videos online at GoCanadaUnited.ca, like posts from @GoCanadaUnited on social media and use #CanadaUnited to demonstrate their support. For each of these actions until August 31, 2020, RBC will contribute 5 cents up to a maximum contribution amount of $2 million to the new Canada United Small Business Relief Fund, while working with government and corporate partners to source additional contributions to the fund during the course of the campaign.

The Fund will provide small businesses with grants of up to $5,000 to cover expenses related to personal protective equipment (PPE) renovations to accommodate re-opening guidelines and developing or improving e-commerce capabilities.

Small Canadian businesses across the country will be able to apply for up to $5,000 in grant funding. The program intends to support small Canadian businesses of all kinds from across the country. The Canada United Small Business Relief Fund will be administered by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce on behalf of the national Chamber network. Small business owners who are interested in the program can visit GoCanadaUnited.ca to learn more about grant application details, including eligibility criteria, and to apply.

“We are excited to welcome the Brockville and District Chamber of Commerce to Canada United to help local businesses and Canada’s economy come back strong,” said Neil McLaughlin, Group Head, Personal & Commercial Banking, Royal Bank of Canada. “Canada United was created to kick-start an economic rebound by rallying consumers to give local businesses the support they need to re-open during these uncertain times. By bringing together government, business associations and corporate Canada, we are looking to start a movement to get Canadians to buy local and support businesses across the country. We are genuinely excited by the energy all of our partners are bringing to this effort.”

“If there has been one silver lining in all the tragedy and sacrifices of the current crisis, it has been the spirit of collaboration and unity of purpose that has been evident between levels of government, across provinces and across sectors,” said Rocco Rossi, President and CEO, Ontario Chamber of Commerce.

“We are calling on that same unity of purpose with Canada United. Small, local businesses are the heart of our communities, our Main Streets and our economy. Together, it is time to show local some love.”

About Brockville and District Chamber of Commerce:

The Brockville and District Chamber of Commerce is part of a network of Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade that exist in virtually every community across Ontario and Canada. The Chamber network consists of 65,000 businesses provincially and 170,000 businesses nationally. Locally, the Chamber has over 300 members and is recognized as this area's official "Voice of Business." This voice is an effective force in influencing issues and legislation affecting your business and our community. It is a membership based and not-for-profit association that is led by an elected volunteer Board of Directors.

About RBC:

Royal Bank of Canada is a global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from the 84,000+ employees who bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada's biggest bank, and one of the largest in the world based on market capitalization, we have a diversified business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to our 17 million clients in Canada, the U.S. and 34 other countries. Learn more at rbc.com.

We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments and employee volunteer activities. See how at rbc.com/community-social-impact.

About Canada United

The #CanadaUnited campaign is a nationwide small and local business campaign encouraging Canadians to buy local.

RBC, ‘Corporate Canada’, Business Associations and Major Media Partners have teamed up to start a movement, Canada United™, where everyday Canadians and large businesses come together in support of small and local businesses. The movement will start with a #CanadaUnited campaign where Canadians are asked to

complete ‘micro-actions’ (likes, views, etc.) in support of small and local businesses on social media. In short, Canada United encourages action from everyday Canadians and Corporate Canada and kickstarts the recovery of local economies and small businesses.

Learn more at GoCanadaUnited.ca.

Canada United is offering small business relief grants of up to $5,000 to help small Canadian businesses with recovery efforts as a result of COVID-19. The grant funds will grow over the next several weeks as every video watched and social post liked from Canada United will result in a 5¢ contribution from RBC. Funds can be used for PPE, renovations, or e-commerce capabilities.

• To determine if you’re eligible to apply for a relief grant or learn more about this program, visit Ontario: occ.ca/canadaunited-on 
   

Conditions apply.

LEARN ABOUT THE CANADA UNITED SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF FUND

We’re happy to establish the Canada United Small Business Relief Fund in collaboration with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and the support of other chambers and partners to help small Canadian businesses with their recovery efforts as a result of COVID-19.²

If awarded, a relief grant can be used for any of the following activities: 
 

• Purchasing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as masks, face shields, and latex gloves
• Renovating physical space to adhere to local, Provincial or Federal reopening guidelines
• Developing or improving e-commerce capabilities for your business

Successful applicants will receive a relief grant of up to $5,000. We intend to support local businesses of all kinds (from retailers to barbershops to farmers) from across the country.

The Canada United Small Business Relief Fund will grow over the next several weeks as views, likes and shares from Canadians (including yours) result in a 5¢ contribution from RBC. You can keep track of the growing fund amount on this website, and soon you’ll be able to apply for grant funding.

Applications for the Canada United Small Business Relief Fund will be accepted starting on August, 31, 2020. Learn more about the eligibility criteria on the Ontario Chamber of Commerce website.

COVID-19 UPDATES

The safety and well-being of our members and community are of the utmost importance to us. We will communicate all updates to our members, and the community through email, social media posts, and updates on our website. There has been so much support from so many individuals and business in our community. We have a  very supportive community and we will get through this!!!

The Brockville and District Chamber of Commerce is appreciative of all of the front-line staff, first responders and health care professionals who continue to show dedication in our community. We will continue to update these pages as information becomes available.

Government of Canada

The Government of Canada is committed to providing you with the information and support you need to make informed decisions as your business navigates through these challenges; including supporting your employees.

• Support to Businesses
• Risk-informed decision-making guidelines for workplaces and businesses during COVID-19
• Frequently Asked Questions - Temporary Wage Subsidy for Employers
• Employment and Social Development - Benefits and Services for Individuals and In Your Workplace

• Economic Response Plan:

  https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/economic-response-plan.html

• Canada Emergency Response Benefit:

• https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/cerb-application.html

  https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/benefits/apply-for-cerb-with-cra.html

• Resources for Canadian Businesses

Calling All Suppliers - Help Canada Combat COVID-19
The Government of Canada is asking suppliers about their ability to provide products and services.  See the list of items needed, and notify them if you can help out.

Government of Ontario 

• Ministry of Economic Development Job Creation and Trade Update - March 26, 2020
• WSIB Financial Relief Package
• Alcohol and Gaming Commission - Liquor Licenses sell liquor for takeout or delivery along with food - March 26, 2020
• Ontario's Action Plan: Responding to COVID-19 - March 25, 2020
• Newsroom
• List of Essential Services - March 23, 2020

  • Updated ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES LIST REDUCED FROM 74 to 44 CATEGORIES - April 3, 2020

    Following advice from Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, on April 3, 2020, Ontario updated the list of essential businesses that can remain open. The restrictions are aimed at further reducing contact between people and stopping the spread of COVID-19. See the revised list here.  

  • Cannabis stores and most construction projects, including non-critical industrial construction have been removed from this list. 
  • The new essential services list will go into effective at 11:59pm on Saturday, April 4.
    • Businesses and service providers with question about closures of at-risk workplaces or how emergency measures impact their business or employment can learn more at Stop the Spread Business Information Line or call -888-444-3659.
      Help is available Monday - Sunday, from 8:30 a.m - 5 p.m.

FedDev Ontario

The Government of Canada is taking action to support tourism and other businesses and workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. You can take advantage of new investments and initiatives.  Learn more about the support available.

• 1000 Islands CDC
• Grenville CFDC
• Valley Heartland CFDC - loans
•  

Canadian Chamber of Commerce

Update: April 6 , 2020       The Canadian Chamber of Commerce established the Canadian Business Resilience Network to bring together its vast network of over 450 chambers of commerce and boards of trade and over 100 of Canada’s leading business and industry associations, including the Business Council of Canada, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business and Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, to help the business community prepare, persevere and, ultimately, prosper as we collectively face the COVID-19 pandemic.

• COVID-19 | Pandemic Preparedness for Business

Ontario Chamber of Commerce

• Pandemic Preparedness Toolkit for Ontario Business

Leeds Grenville Economic Development - COVID - 19  Business Resources and Update

Leeds Grenville Small Business Enterprise Centre Training & Resouce's

City of Brockville - Information and Resources 

United Way of Leeds & Grenville COVID 19 Resources 

Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO)

• Second Phase COVID-19 Industry Survey (deadline for completion by Monday, March 23 at 8am)
• TIAO Survey 3.0 - We Need Your Input (deadline for completion by Monday, April 6)   TAKE THE SURVEY 
•  

Regional Tourism Organization 9 (RTO9)

RTO9 strives to support the tourism and travel industry in the region by closely monitoring events that could cause significant challenges to the industry, including the Covid-19 virus.  Visit the Tourism Talk website for more support.

News

Canada's COVID-19 Economic Response Plan / Plan d'intervention économique du Canada pour répondre à la COVID-19 English

French

What Canada's Regional Development Agencies are doing to help business during the COVID-19 pandemic 

Business Development Bank of Canada - Support for Entrepreneurs impacted by coronavirus 

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Resources for Canadian Businesses 

Health Resources & Updates

Leeds, Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit

• healthunit.org/coronavirus

Ontario Government

• www.ontario.ca/page/2019-novel-coronavirus

• Update March 16 – Enhanced Measure to Protect Ontarians from COVID-19

Government of Canada

• www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html

COVID-19 subscription for Public Health Updates 

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF

The Government of Ontario recommends taking the following actions to avoid the continuous spread of germs and viruses:

• wash your hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• sneeze and cough into your sleeve
• avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth
• avoid contact with people who are sick
• stay home if you are sick

Coronaviruses are spread mainly from person to person through close contact, for example, in a household, workplace or health care centre.

There is no vaccine available to protect against the 2019 novel coronavirus.

 May 11, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                     

Brockville’s Island Breakfast on Refugee Island latest event casualty due to COVID-19

BROCKVILLE – The Island Breakfast on Refugee Island Committee announced today that it will cancel what would have been its seventh year of operation. The closure of Brockville’s City parks and provincial protocols restricting largely attended events due to COVID-19 has resulted in the decision.

The event was scheduled to take place June 17-20^th.

“Our committee and volunteers are disappointed however Island Breakfast is not the kind of event that is possible these days, even with some restrictions beginning to loosen,” said Cathy McHugh, spokesperson for Island Breakfast and committee member.

“The logistics of transporting people alone and implementing social distancing on the Island would be impossible.”

Letters went out to sponsors last week thanking them for their support in hopes of their return in 2021. Cheques will be returned to sponsors who had already issued them.

Island Breakfast is made possible through the sponsors and close to 150 volunteers who help set up, purchase and cook food, seek sponsorships, drive boats, sell tickets, manage traffic, tear down, address health and safety issues, provide entertainment and numerous other tasks.

McHugh added a later date this year will not be considered by the committee with so much up in the air right now about restrictions.

“This event does not come together overnight and with so many unknowns, we felt pushing it to 2021 made the most sense,” she said.

The money being raised is to build a pavilion on the island which has already begun. Plans for the next phase have also been postponed (building of posts and roof) due to construction restrictions in the province.

McHugh noted that the Committee has raised $50,000 since inception and currently has enough funds for the next phase of the project however when it will be done, is yet to be determined.

“We hope to complete the next phase by the time the event returns next year,” said McHugh.

Anyone who has received complimentary tickets for the event can use them in 2021.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Cathy McHugh – 613-341-1116 or cathymchugh@cogeco.ca

Brockville and District Chamber of Commerce and 1000 Islands Gananoque Chamber of Chamber: Presents a Members Only Town Hall Meeting with MPP Steve Clark. We will be hosting this virtual meeting through Zoom Platform. Register Members and will receive the invitation details by Thursday April 30, 2020. Space is limited, we are asking Members to write their questions in the comment section of the registration or email directly to your respective Chambers: Amy Kirkland - amy@1000islandsganchamber.com or Pam Robertson – pjrobertson@brockvillechamber.com  With respect to time allotted for this Townhall, we will be forwarding your questions or concerns to MPP Clark in advance and also hoping to have time at the end of the Townhall to have questions from the floor.  

**** Brockville and District Chamber members, when you sign up for the Townhall Meeting you will be directed to the 1000 Islands Gananoque Chambers page, click on registration and then on the right side of the page click on register as a Non member. If you are a member of both chambers then you have your own log in for this site. Thank you*****

Click here to Register

Deadline for submission of questions/concerns: Thursday April 30 at  noon

• The Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) is being expanded to include businesses that paid between $20,000 and $1.5 million in total payroll in 2019. This new payroll range will replace the previous range of between $50,000 and $1 million in payroll. Businesses can apply for a CEBA loan through their financial institutions.

•  Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) for small businesses. This program will seek to provide loans, including forgivable loans, to commercial property owners who in turn will lower or forgo the rent of small businesses for the months of April (retroactive), May, and June. Implementation of this program will require a partnership between the federal government and provincial and territorial governments, which are responsible for property owner-tenant relationships. We will share more details about this program as soon as they are available.

 Dear Member,

Brockville and District Chamber of Commerce and 1000 Islands Gananoque Chamber of Chamber: Presents a Members Only Town Hall Meeting with MP Michael Barrett. We will be hosting this virtual meeting through Zoom Platform. Register Members and will receive the invitation details by Thursday April 23, 2020. Space is limited, we are asking Members to write their questions in the comment section of the registration or email directly to your respective Chambers: Amy Kirkland - amy@1000islandsganchamber.com or Pam Robertson – pjrobertson@brockvillechamber.com  With respect to time allotted for this Townhall, we will be forwarding your questions or concerns to MP Barrett in advance and also hoping to have time at the end of the Townhall to have questions from the floor.  

Click here to Register

Deadline for submission of questions/concerns: Wednesday April 22 at 3pm.

APRIL 14: UNDERSTANDING AND ACCESSING BCAP PROGRAMS AND CAPITAL LOANS DURING COVID-19

• Join us on Tuesday, April 14 from 12:00 pm to 1:15 pm for a discussion on understanding and accessing the Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP) and capital loans during COVID-19.
  • On March 13, 2020, the Government announced the BCAP to help Canadian businesses obtain financing during the current period of significant uncertainty. The BCAP will support access to financing for Canadian businesses in all sectors and regions. Learn more. 
• During this event you will get to hear from three experts from some of Canada’s top institutions: Meridian, MNP and RBC, as they share the most up-to-date information on accessing the BCAP programs and capital loans.
• Featured panelists:
  • Don Ludlow, Regional Vice President, Business Financial Services, RBC
  • Jason Teal, Vice President, Business Banking, Meridian
  • Dan Porter, Senior Vice President and Director Corporate Finance, MNP
• Click here to register! Businesses of all industries and sizes are encouraged to attend.

The federal and provincial governments have made a number of announcements over the last number of days about business supports designed to assist companies through the COVID-19 crisis. What do we know, and what details do we still need to know?

Businesses are looking for answers, and much is still a moving target. Most particularly, which companies are eligible for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy of 75%? What is the application process, and how long is it likely to take?

The OCC and MNP LLP hosted a webinar about

everything you need to know regarding Business supports

announced by the Federal and Provincial Governments to assist

companies through the COVID-10 Pandemic. Click here to

watch and access the powerpoint here.

How to cope with the impacts of COVID-19 on your Business

The spread of COVID-19 poses important challenges to Canadian businesses. With the situation constantly evolving, you need to be prepared for any disruptions. Join BDC experts as they share short-term economic perspectives and advice on how to manage through the crisis.