Dogwood Express Newsletter
August 4, 2023: Issue 50
In This Issue:
  • Industry Associations Call for More Time to Repay CEBA Loans
  • REMINDER: Camper’s Code Toolkit Available for Operators
  • Camping Appreciation Weekend
  • New Funding Announced to Help Businesses with Vandalism Costs
  • WorkSafeBC Announces 2024 Preliminary Insurance Rates for Industry
Dear BCLCA Member:

This year, BC Lodging and Campgrounds Association’s members and stakeholders will gather in person at The Beach Club Resort, Parksville November 6 – 8 2023. 
 
 
Registration opens mid August, and we hope you can join us!
 
Have you visited the “Member Area” recently? The area can be accessed by the following link and typing in your email and password. There is a reset password if you have forgotten your password.
 
 
In the member area you can access documents such as the Campground and RV Parks License to Occupy Agreement and watch recordings of the Parking Lot and Webinar educational meetings we hosted earlier this year. Just search the Partner Bulletin categories.
INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS CALL FOR MORE TIME TO REPAY CEBA LOANS
 
On July 24, over 280 industry associations across Canada sent an open letter to Canada’s Minister of Finance, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, urging the federal government to extend the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) repayment deadline by at least another year.

A recent debt study delivered by TIAC and supported by the Provincial & Territorial Tourism Industry Associations, including the Tourism Industry Association of BC, shows revenue is not back to normal levels for all.

The hope is that the collective voice has highlighted the significance of this issue. It also underscored how vital extending the CEBA repaying deadline is for both the stability and recovery of the tourism sector.

To read the open letter to Deputy Prime Minister Freeland visit: 
REMINDER: CAMPER'S CODE TOOLKIT AVAILABLE FOR OPERATORS
The Camper’s Code Marketing Toolkit, designed to help you share the Camper’s Code with your guests is available online and can be downloaded.

You can find all the Code social media messaging, print ready signage files and the training guide at: https://www.camperscode.com/marketingmaterials
 
The password to access that page is: Tak3ThePledg3!

As you know, the Camper’s Code was developed collaboratively by a dozen BC-based organizations, including the BC Lodging and Campgrounds Association, that recognize everyone can play a role in creating a safe, enjoyable, respectful camping experience for all.

The Code consists of nine simple messages to inspire a sense of shared responsibility and an understanding of appropriate behaviour.

Campers are encouraged to take an online pledge and to help inspire a camping culture that is rooted in common sense, respect, and sustainability. To date over 2,600 people have pledged.
 
To take the pledge visit https://www.camperscode.com/

Earlier this summer the Camper’s Code released nine animation reels, one a week, that can be viewed via YouTube, Instagram, or Facebook.
CAMPING APPRECIATION WEEKEND
 
Camping Appreciation Weekend will soon be here and it's a time when many Canadian campgrounds coast-to-coast say thank you to campers for their patronage.

2023 Dates: September 8th - 10th

The weekend is organized and sponsored by the Canadian Camping and RV Council and supported by the BC Lodging and Campgrounds Association to:

  • Say thanks to those that enjoy the camping and RVing lifestyle.
  • And, to raise funds for Care Camps to send children with cancer to camp.

There are many BC campgrounds participating - reservations are recommended.

Visit HERE to view the map of participating campsites. It’s not too late to sign your campground up to participate. Email Joss Penny at jpenny@bclca.com or sign up online at https://ccrvc.ca/2023-canadian-rv-and-camping-week-campground-sign-up-form/
NEW FUNDING ANNOUNCED TO HELP BUSINESSES WITH VANDALISM COSTS
 
The provincial government has announced that small businesses throughout British Columbia will soon have access to new funding to support increased costs due to crime and vandalism, and to prevent further crime.
 
Starting in fall 2023, the Province will support small businesses in recovering expenses incurred after experiencing property damage due to crime and vandalism, and to recoup expenses after taking measures to prevent vandalism.
 
The new $10.5-million Securing Small Business Rebate Program will be available on an application basis and retroactive to January 1st, 2023. Businesses will be able to apply for as much as $2,000 per business for the cost of repairs due to vandalism, and up to $1,000 for vandalism prevention.
 
Information about how businesses can apply for funding is expected to be made available in the fall and communicated through local chambers of commerce, boards of trade and business improvement areas to ensure business owners can get funding as soon as possible.
 
Read the official news release HERE.
WORKSAFEBC ANNOUNCES 2024 PRELIMINARY INSURANCE RATES FOR INDUSTRY
 
The preliminary insurance base rates for 2024 have just been unveiled by WorkSafeBC, impacting your annual insurance premiums. These base rates are influenced by various factors, including injury rates and return-to-work performance.
 
Check out go2HR's compiled list of tourism and hospitality business types with their corresponding preliminary base rates for 2024.

Note these quoted rates are preliminary, with final confirmation and communication to individual employers scheduled for November. According to the rate changes - across all industries, 54% of employers will see a decrease, 37% will experience an increase, and 9% will have no change in rates.
 
Source go2HR E-Blast Newsletter – July 28, 2023
BC LODGING & CAMPGROUNDS ASSOCIATION
209, 3003 St. Johns Street, Port Moody BC V3H 2C4
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