2022 is proving to be an extremely busy year so far for our Board, our Team of Staff and our members.
You'll notice that we're talking about housing in this month's newsletter. Please note the amazing opportunity to get in at the ground level on some employee housing, in the special announcement below. There is also a learning opportunity with the City of Revelstoke's Planning Department, to ask your questions about the various housing initiatives that are underway from the City's perspective.
Our Board of Directors has been working on some issues that are mentioned below in the Advocacy section. We are also well-positioned to have a strong and diverse Board of Directors for 2022. Thank you for the nominations and applications.
Operations are at full tilt as we work on membership renewals and grant reporting. We've also undergone our Tactical Planning Session with our staff to formulate a solid game plan to achieve many of our goals for 2022.
As our organization adapts to our changing world, we are really thrilled at the amount of work that is being achieved. We continue to work with our colleagues and working partners to support their work and to seize opportunities for our members. There is a lot going on in our community, and we aim to keep you informed and to put our hand up when we see opportunities to make things better for business.
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SUBMIT YOUR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR EMPLOYEE HOUSING OPPORTUNITY.
Many businesses in Revelstoke face challenges acquiring staff and securing a safe place for them to live. Thanks to Community Futures Revelstoke, the Revelstoke Employee Housing Society has been newly formed.
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Community Futures, along with other community partners, are in the process of purchasing The Cube property and turning it into employee housing so that local businesses can attract and house their employees. |
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THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!
Membership renewals have now been sent out, and we have frozen our rates one last time to ease the costs for our members during the pandemic. Our membership fees have not been increased for SEVEN years, despite the rising costs of operating that you are all too familiar with.
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Begbie Kids is Revelstoke’s one and only kids shop, carrying a wide variety of clothing, outerwear, children’s books, baby gear and maternity wear. The store is open daily and you can also shop online with Canada wide shipping!
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Delreé is a Cree artist that paints wildlife, landscapes, dancers in their regalia and anything in the natural world. Her style of painting is pointillism. Delreé also offers paint days/nights in your organization or home!
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Elevation Engineering Ltd. Is a structural engineering firm. They provide structural design, drafting and inspection services with multiple construction sectors.
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Books. Music. Community. Fable carries a wide selection of carefully curated new & used books, vinyl records, music instruments, record players and music accessories. Fable boasts a modest café in a cozy and inclusive space. Visit their website for weekly music events, book club offerings, gatherings and more.
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Naturopathic medical practice offering primary healthcare for the whole family. The naturopathic doctors work with you to help find solutions to your health concerns. Utilizing modalities such as; botanical medicine, clinical nutrition, supplementation, acupuncture, homeopathy, prolotherapy, wellness IV therapy and more. They work to customize your healthcare plan.
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Our Business Outreach Program is going strong. The feedback we receive from our businesses is actioned whenever possible by our Executive Director and our Advocacy Committee. |
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WAS YOUR BUSINESS ORDERED TO CLOSE DUE TO HEALTH ORDERS AND RESTRICTIONS?
We are working on a potential support mechanism and are developing a list of our members that were forced to close, and the length of time this was in effect. Please reach out to the Chamber at projectsupport@revelstokechamber.com if you have this information about your business handy. It will expedite the process for us and ultimately allow us to advocate on your behalf in a more timely manner.
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FARMER'S MARKET UPDATES.
Return to Downtown. The City of Revelstoke has confirmed that the LFI Farmer's Market and the Farm and Craft Market will return to downtown starting in the spring.
Changes to Layout. We heard some businesses' concerns about the booths having their backs to the businesses, and requested that instead, the booths run back-to-back down the centre of the street. The City of Revelstoke has informed us this suggested layout will be adopted in Grizzly Plaza.
Possible Expansion. We also reached out to businesses on the 300 block of Mackenzie Avenue to gather feedback regarding the potential expansion of the market up to the corner at Third Street. Of the 10 businesses surveyed, 9 were in favour of the market expansion, 3 with some conditions contingent on market layout and market hours. 1/10 businesses was not available for consultation. We have gladly shared this feedback to the City at their request, and we are pleased to have the opportunity to ensure our members are heard. A final decision regarding the market location will be shared when those details become available.
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GRIZZLY PLAZA REVITALIZATION PROJECT.
Following the confirmation of the Outdoor Markets to downtown, the next natural question is "What's happening with Grizzly Plaza?".
Council has appointed a steering committee to help shape the future vision of Grizzly Plaza. The Chamber has received confirmation that our Executive Director will have a voice at the table to represent our members.
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LETTER OF SUPPORT.
The Chamber has issued a letter of support for the Economic Trust of Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) to receive an extension of grant funds to continue our Business Outreach Program. Our Outreach Contractor has worked with hundreds of our businesses and organizations and our Project Support Worker has been deployed to several different initiatives to aid in the recovery of our community.
This program has been very impactful and we know that its continuation will be money well spent.
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LET'S TALK ABOUT HOUSING | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2 | 12:00 - 1:00 PM
With so many new projects and initiatives on the go, we’ve invited Paul Simon from the City of Revelstoke’s Planning Department to a quick Q&A Wednesday March 2 from noon-1pm.
Business owners are busier than ever but there is an appetite for our members to stay informed. Paul has offered to connect with our business community to answer your questions and bring you up to speed on what’s happening with housing in Revelstoke.
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NOT JUST ANOTHER SURVEY.
Doing business in Revelstoke is deeply affected by the availability and affordability of housing. The City of Revelstoke is currently developing a Housing Action Plan and they're working with the Chamber to get the feedback they need. Widespread challenges require widespread efforts and we are pleased that the City is seeking feedback from our members on this issue.
Please spend a few minutes to take the Workforce Housing Survey and tell the City about your business’ needs to house your workers. This is a big opportunity to weigh in on one of the most important topics for our community for today and in the years to come.
The survey will be open for participation until March 6th and the results will aid in describing the impacts of housing availability and affordability on Revelstoke’s employers. That's you!
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2022 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16 | 12:00 - 1:00 PM
Please join us at our 2022 AGM.
Last year we had 40 attendees virtually, and we are hoping to bring even more of our members and working partners together to re-cap 2021.
We'll hear governance updates from our President, operational updates from our Executive Director, and BDO LLP will present the Financials for our membership to approve.
We’ll formally welcome our newest members of 2022 and conduct our Elections for 2022.
Please register for this event. We look forward to seeing you!
Location: Community Centre MP3 Room
Price: $23/person
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LEARNING SESSIONS CALENDAR.
Did you know that we have a calendar that highlights FREE INFO SESSIONS for those of you who are continually upgrading your skills and seizing educational opportunities? Click here if you are interested in topics like increasing your digital presence, or having an HR consultation FOR FREE !
Reach out to us at info@revelstokechamber.com if your business is offering any sort of information session that you would like us to share on our calendar.
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BANFF MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL 2022 - POSTPONED UNTIL MAY.
We have set a NEW date for the Banff Mountain Film Festival! Join us at the Roxy Theatre May 13-15 to kick off the mountain biking and summer season adventures! Tickets will be for sale at the Business Information Centre soon!
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VIRTUAL COVID-19 TESTING NOW AVAILABLE IN REVELSTOKE.
In partnership with the Kelowna International Airport (YLW) and Whitecap RSC Medical, Revelstoke Mountain Resort is offering easy access to COVID-19 testing for travelers. Once travelers have ordered a self-test kit, they can book a virtual consultation with a certified guide to complete their test and receive a verified digital certificate to present when traveling. Click here to learn more.
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REVY BUCKS.
We've grabbed at some grant money to establish a program that we'll be able to use well into the future!
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All non-franchise businesses are encouraged to register to take part in this program. If you've signed up and haven't received your window decal, stop into the VIC on Victoria Road. Our friends at Tourism Revelstoke are starting to give away REVY. Bucks as prizes for their contests- get your business on board so that these e-gift cards can be redeemed at YOUR business today. REVY. Bucks will be used as a tool to keep our dollars local, and we will continue to market this program in the coming days.
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BYLAW NO. 2263 - BYLAW TO REGULATE SINGLE-USE ITEMS.
In Revelstoke, Bylaw 2263 which bans plastic checkout bags, foam containers and plastic straws was adopted by Council on January 11, 2022. The City plans to raise awareness about the ban in the community and why it is important to avoid single-use items and will provide digital education materials to affected businesses to support the transition to better options. Click here for more information.
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Okanagan College is a member of our Chamber and we work closely with them in many ways. We provide insight to what types of educational opportunities might be beneficial to address the workforce gaps in our community, and we’ve even partnered with them to deliver programming. In January we extended an invite to our members to benefit from a marketing and communications strategy exercise with Okanagan College students.
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TOURISM MANAGEMENT DIPLOMA | OKANAGAN COLLEGE. |
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In Fall 2022, Okanagan College will be welcoming up to 25 students to its Tourism Management Diploma program. The program is designed to allow students to build a strong foundation in core tourism and business management functions and gain practical knowledge through course work, a paid co-op term, and a tourism sector study. Local businesses have the opportunity to retain or recruit new employees thanks to this program, as the two-year program also presents an excellent opportunity for international employees to stay in Revelstoke and continue to work up to 20 hours per week while studying, and is considered one of the pathways to residency. |
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To find out more about the program, interested parties can register for information sessions:
Businesses interested in taking on a co-op student can email Lisa Cyr directly at: lcyr@okanagan.bc.ca
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PROVINCIAL RELIEF GRANT DOUBLED FOR BUSINESSES ORDERED TO REMAIN CLOSED.
The Province is extending the COVID-19 Closure Relief Grant and doubling supports for eligible businesses that have been ordered to remain temporarily closed until February 16, 2022. Businesses directed to stay closed through public health orders – including bars, night clubs and lounges, and event venues – are now eligible for up to $20,000 in funding based on staffing levels at the time of closure.
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SUPPORT PROGRAMS.
Stay up to date with the latest Federal and Provincial information. If you need support with navigating current updates, please contact our Outreach Support worker, Carolyn Gibson, free of charge at startup@revelstokecf.com or call her directly at 250-814-3952.
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Learn how to take full advantage of your Chamber membership by exploring your options here.
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NEW 2022 EXPERIENCE GUIDES HAVE ARRIVED!
We are excited to share that the 2022 Experience Guides are here. If you would like some copies, please drop by the Visitor Centre between 08:30 – 16:30, Monday to Friday, to collect some.
Thank you to those who participated in the guide this year, and to everyone in the community for making Revelstoke a world-class destination.
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CHAMBER TOURISM STAKEHOLDER MARKETING.
We have limited spaces still available on certain 2022 marketing programs:
- Ferry brochure racking
- Visitor Centre digital advertisements
- City map listings
- Summer roaming van brochure racking.
If you would like to promote your business in these key locations, please contact Rowan Hargreaves, Visitor Experience Manager, at visitor.exp@revelstokechamber.com.
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The Revelstoke Chamber of Commerce gratefully acknowledges that we live, work and play on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Sinixt, Ktunaxa, Secwepemc and the Syilx peoples.
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