LATEST UPDATES & BUSINESS RESOURCES
JOIN IN ON "THE BIG SPEND!"

SPEND LOCAL TO HELP REVIVE CANADA.
THE BIG SPEND is a one-day, buy local event designed to help revive Canada’s economy. On July 25, take action & help the nation’s post COVID-19 rebuilding process.

Local small businesses make our communities run. They support community events and sponsor sports teams. They also provide nearly 70% of all private sector jobs in Canada.

They have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, and we want to support their recovery in the same way they have supported our communities time and again.

The Ladysmith Chamber is happy to support and get on board with this one-day event called the Big Spend. The Big Spend is a great opportunity to see the profound impact created when we support our local businesses by shopping locally.

This is fantastic idea that is simple to get behind. Visit www.thebigspend.com and find out what it means to be a spend friend.

Businesses and organizations, we encourage you to help promote this nationwide event. For more information, click on the boxes below. Make sure to share the news and advertise the big day through your social media platforms.
#TheBigSpend #SupportLocal #CanadianSmallBusinesses
THIS IS YOUR WIN:
Temporary Layoff Provision Extended
Dear Chamber Members
BCMindReader.com spoke with one voice and the provincial government listened on the temporary lay-off provision!
Thank you to Premier Horgan and the BC government for acting on the BC Chamber network and other business associations’ request to further extended the temporary layoff provision in the Employment Standards Act to the end of August.
This is your win, BC businesses – your voice and participation in this urgent conversation through BCMindReader.com drove the insight, and we made sure the provincial government knew that.
From this Layoffs Survey, we know extending the temporary lay-off provision will save thousands of businesses from insolvency. 
Thank you!
Mindreader Platform - A BC Chamber Insight Community 
FREE Island Good Licenses
Economic Development Cowichan and Community Futures Cowichan have partnered with the Vancouver Island Economic Alliance (VIEA) to offer local producers a free Island Good licence. VIEA developed the Island Good brand program as a way for shoppers to easily identify local food products on grocery shelves. Read More...
Digital Economy Response Program DER3
Don’t Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth. The Digital Economy Response Program (DER3) is a free service for Vancouver Island small-medium sized businesses that are considering entering or expanding in the digital economy. Need help with your website, social media strategy, e-commerce, then this is the place for you.
The DER3 program is a free service supported by
and powered by
The program is open to individuals or businesses living or working on Vancouver Island, north of the Malahat, on the Sunshine Coast, or Gulf Islands.
DER3 offers one-to-one business and technical consultations for businesses that are considering entering or expanding their online presence
or putting technology-based tools in place to better serve their needs.
AND ITS FREE! Read more..
Partnering Organizations Launch New Investment Tools for Ladysmith and Area
The Partnership for a Vibrant Local Economy has launched a set of new online investment tools for Ladysmith and the surrounding area to serve as a driver for economic activity and attract new business opportunities.

The new one-stop resources for locals, visitors and those looking to do business here includes a new Tourism Ladysmith and Invest Ladysmith mobile-friendly website, as well as a supporting Ladysmith Heritage and Investment App. The promotion of local business and future opportunities is especially timely as communities move through the phases of BC’s Restart Plan.
Ladysmith Heritage and Investment Walking Tour App is now available on the Apple App Store.

We are excited to share that the Ladysmith Heritage and Investment Walking Tour App is now available on the Apple App Store. Search for “Ladysmith Heritage” on the App Store on your mobile device.
You can also download it from Google Play or use the web version available at app.tourismladysmith.ca
Ladysmith-Open for Business Online Directory is now live!
The Directory highlights businesses that are open and any practices they are implementing to keep themselves and their customers safe.   Click here to submit your business or update your business information.

A Welcome Boost the Ladysmith Open for Business Directory! As Destination BC prepares its consumer content to support our tourism businesses, having updated knowledge of which businesses are open is critical.
Destination BC has compiled a list of communities who are maintaining lists of businesses that are open in their communities

The Ladysmith Open For Business Directory link is included on the HelloBC platform.  
Updates and Survey from Nanaimo Airport
Attitudes About Air Travel SURVEY from Nanaimo Airport.

The Nanaimo Airport is looking for your feedback on your thoughts on how the airport can make air travel safer for you. Follow the link to fill out our survey by July 31st.
Buy Local Cowichan
#CowichanStrong invites all Cowichan businesses to be showcased on  Buy Local Cowichan.  
WEBINARS
Get digital: Upping your e-commerce game
COVID-19 has changed everything, including how to sell online. Our webinar explains new ways to boost your digital presence and acquire new customers.

Date and time
Thu, July 9, 2020
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm ET
Location
Online
VIEW PAST VIEA COVID-19 Video Conference Events
VIEA has hosted special series of brief video conference events designed to provide close-to-the-ground ‘how to’ information. Islanders can hear from thought leaders and network with peers to help their decision-making during this COVID-19 pandemic crisis. Recordings of these sessions can be found in the  ‘News and Media’ Video section . To receive invitations to participate in live sessions,  click here to sign up.
Destination BC:
"The Road to Recovery " Webinars
Response, Recovery, and Resilience from COVID-19
The Road to Recovery webinar series is designed for tourism businesses and organizations that have been impacted by COVID-19. Each webinar will cover a subject related to the travel market, the visitor experience, business operations, digital marketing and more. Check back as new subjects may be added regularly.
All sessions will be held at 2:00 pm, unless otherwise noted, on the dates below. Register for the following free session:
July 7 : Revisiting your COVID-19 Safety Plan
FOLLOW OUR FACEBOOK PAGE
We sincerely hope that you, your families, your employees, coworkers and all around you are safe and healthy in these extraordinary times. The Ladysmith Chamber has worked hard to monitor the many announcements related to federal, provincial and local responses to the Covid-19 pandemic and make information pertinent to business readily available to you on our website, newsletters and Facebook posts. We have also tried our best to monitor how your businesses have adjusted to the current crisis to make this information available to the public through our Facebook page. (If you have not already Liked and Followed our Page, you may need to do so in order to tag us.)
CHAMBER PARTNERSHIPS
The Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce is proud to work closely with the BC Chamber and local area Chambers
Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Centre
In following the Minister of Health recommendation to practice Social Distancing and to do our part to flatten the curve and keep our team safe, we are primarily working from home. We are working on our plans to reopen soon. If you need to contact us by telephone, you can call 250-245.2112 (please try, where possible, to restrict your calls to regular business hours) or send an email
33 Roberts Street, PO Box 598 Ladysmith,
BC V9G1A4 Canada
250-245-2112