Dear Business and Community Leaders,
Thank you for your continued support and resilience in our business community. It has been an extraordinary time of change and challenge with many lessons learned and opportunities to build back better. We continue to advocate on behalf of business at all levels of government focusing on support and measures to facilitate reopening, safely and permanently.
In our discussions, despite the extended shutdown, there is a general sense of ramping up for a strong reopening, recovery and rebound. The work at hand is to ensure we leverage new opportunities, strengthen partnerships and focus on policy making that will inspire confidence
and growth. And soon we can look forward to seeing many of you in person again.
Meanwhile, I wish to thank everyone who participated in the City Building Summit last month.
Our intention was to build excitement and pride in what Ottawa has to offer, to incite a community conversation about our future and create a picture that everyone can see themselves in. There was some controversary on the content. And that is welcomed. Diversity in thinking will lead us to the best possible solution together. This event was a launch pad for a continuing conversation and we thank all our economic partners and business leaders for their contributions.
Last week we shared that have partnered with the Ontario and Canadian Chambers, all levels of government and local partners to distribute rapid screening test kits to Ottawa businesses. We are close to finalizing the details and hope you can join us for an info session next week. We are still on target to launch the last week of May.
and I am excited to bring the Ottawa perspective to the Ontario agenda. Please see below the policy book that we passed at the recent annual meeting. Also note the our response to the Ontario government in light of the shutdown extension.
Finally, I am pleased to share that we have appointed a new OBoT representative to the Ottawa Airport Authority Board of Directors following an extensive search and interview process. Please join us in congratulating and thanking our member and business leader, John Proctor, President & CEO of Martello Technologies, for accepting this role. John is a strong contributor to our business community. He is currently an OBoT Executive Member and volunteer for the OBoT CEO Council.
We also wish to acknowledge the amazing contribution and dedication of our outgoing representative, Craig Bater, who has be serving the Airport Authority on behalf of the Board of Trade for the last nine years. Craig has been a valuable contributor to the airport and an exceptionally effective liaison for our OBoT Board of Directors as well as our OBoT Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
Mark Laroche, President and CEO, Ottawa International Airport Authority, says, “Craig Bater served the Airport Authority for nine distinguished years. His meaningful contribution included serving as Chair of the Major Infrastructure and Environment Committee, Chair of the Governance Committee, and Interim Chair of the Board. Craig has represented the Board of Trade exceptionally well and leaves an enduring mark on the Authority and the Ottawa Airport.
We look forward to welcoming new Board of Trade nominee John Proctor from Martello Technologies. John’s skill set and experience in cybersecurity dovetail nicely with the Authority’s leadership in cybersecurity across the aviation sector in Canada.”
The Ottawa Board of Trade applauds the work of the Airport Authority as a key economic driver and implores the business community to prioritize the use of our airport as our economy begins to reopen as a means of supporting Ottawa's recovery and building a strong case for the addition of flights moving forward.
I hope you and your families are safe and well. I look forward to continuing to work for you and with you as we begin the journey of recovery and rebound in the coming months.
Yours in prosperity,
Sueling
Sueling Ching | President & CEO | Ottawa Board of Trade
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ONTARIO SHUTDOWN EXTENDED TO JUNE 2
The Ontario Chamber Network and the Ottawa Board of Trade call on the Province to help restore public and business confidence in the government’s management of the COVID-19 crisis by providing Ontarians with clarity on:
- Evidence-based metrics for reopening, namely thresholds related to daily case counts, capacity within our healthcare system, and how rapidly the virus is spreading. For instance, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer said he would like to see the number of new daily COVID-19 cases for Ontario “well below” 1,000 before easing public health restrictions. Will this be the threshold for reopening?
- When and how Ontarians who received their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine will receive their second dose, or at least when that decision will be made and what information it will be based on.
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How public health measures will adapt when the majority of Ontarians will have received their first vaccine dose. For instance, other jurisdictions like Saskatchewan have provided a clear plan and roadmap for what can open and when, accompanied by an expected timeline.
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Rapid Screening Initiative Information Session
May 19, 2021 | 3:30pm
Join us to learn more about the Rapid Screening Initiative. Help Ottawa curb the spread! The Ottawa Board of Trade and the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Ontario and Canadian governments, have launched the COVID-19 Rapid Screening Initiative. Through this initiative, we will be distributing free rapid tests for small and medium sized businesses across Ottawa.
Register today to learn more about how your business can get involved!
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Apply for the Ontario Tourism and Travel
Small Business Support Grant Today!
Applications are now open for the Ontario Tourism and Travel Small Business Support Grant, which will provide one-time payments of $10K to $20K to support eligible small businesses in the tourism and travel sector recover from the impact of the pandemic.
This grant will support eligible small tourism and travel businesses that did not receive the Ontario Small Business Support Grant (OSBSG), such as travel agents, hotels, motels, resorts, and bed and breakfasts. To qualify, businesses must have fewer than 100 employees and demonstrate they have experienced a minimum 20 per cent revenue decline between 2019 and 2020.
Applications for this grant will close on Friday, June 25, 2021.
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Thank you, Craig Bater, for your nine years of exceptional service on the Ottawa International Airport Authority Board of Directors on behalf of the Ottawa Board of Trade. You are a true community leader and the impact of your dedication and expertise will known in Ottawa for many years to come! |
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Congratulations to John Proctor for your appointment to the Ottawa International Airport Authority Board of Directors! We are very proud to have you represent the Ottawa Board of Trade at this important economic table. |
As President and CEO of Martello Technologies, John oversees corporate direction and strategy, to grow the business and ensure the company's position as a global industry leader. John led Martello's debut as a public company on the TSXV in 2018. Prior to his work in the private sector, Mr. Proctor served for more than twenty years in the Canadian and British Forces. On entering the private sector he has served in multiple roles, including Vice President, Global Cyber Security at CGI, where he was responsible for the company’s strategic vision on Cyber Security. John is also a very active member of the ICT community, supporting tech startups and sitting on the ICT advisory board for Government Affairs Canada.
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The Canadian Chamber of Commerce
calls for travel strategy from governments
Governments need a travel restart strategy now - we can't wait until after COVID-19 to come up with one. The better we plan today, the more efficiently businesses can implement new procedures when the time comes, and the faster our recovery will be.
The Canadian Chamber outlined key elements that need to be included in any strategy, including clear metrics for targeted travel restrictions, coherent rules across all modes of transportation, and replacing broad quarantine measures with regulations based on a combination of testing, vaccination and other measures to protect public health.
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Will you travel for business once restrictions are lifted and are assured of safety protocols?
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The summer edition of OBoT's CAPITAL
media enterprise is in production!
The next edition will explore city building - the process of creating a thriving community driven by diversity and inclusion, environmental sustainability and economic development. We'll be highlighting high impact projects in the National Capital Region, focusing on talent, tech, tourism, and transportation.
Interested in owning your city and building Ottawa's future together?
Contact Stephan Pigeon at spigeon@gordongroup.com
or 819-209-3344 for details.
Our enterprise offers exposure in both CAPITAL's print and digital magazines, and our new custom social media campaign amplifies your messaging on OBoT's channels - driving traffic to both your sponsored content, and your website.
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You're invited!
Through your dedication to business in the Ottawa region, hundreds of small businesses have benefited from the DMS program. This virtual event will bring together our DMS Ambassadors and community one last time, take a look back at what we have accomplished and discuss ways we can further work together to help our local small business survive and thrive beyond the pandemic. We are stronger together. Please mark your calendar and join us for the third DMS Ambassador Appreciation Networking Event
May 25 from 11:30am to 1:00 pm
This virtual event will include:
- Virtual opportunity to network with community leaders,
- An address from
- Jim Watson, Mayor of the City of Ottawa,
- Sueling Ching, President and CEO, Ottawa Board of Trade,
- Sonya Shorey, Vice President, Strategy, Marketing and Communications,
- Michelle Groulx, Executive Director at OCOBIA,
- Patricia Boal, co-anchor of CTV News at Six, and
- Jessica Lim, Business Owner, Hippie Mylk
- The event will also feature networking time for business owners and ambassadors to share their experiences and raise awareness of their business.
Thank you for your commitment to our small business community.
We look forward to continuing our important collaboration.
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May 18, 2021 | 11:00am to 12:00pm
Join OBoT, Ottawa Public Health, OCOBIA, and RGA for a vaccine 101 information session for businesses and workplaces.
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May 20, 2021 | 4:00pm to 5:00pm
Join OBoT and the Ottawa Business Journal as we celebrate 2021's award recipients at a special virtual awards reception. Bring a beverage, network and learn about these fastest growing companies.
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May 27, 2021 | 4:30pm to 6:00pm
Hey Ottawa! Time to invest in our local women leaders. We are excited to host the sixth edition of this special event - virtual style.
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May 28, 2021 | 7:30am to 9:00am
Join Mayor Jim Watson, OBoT and the Ottawa Business Journal as the highly anticipated Mayor's Breakfast returns with a timely talk on Ottawa's Tourism industry.
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Promote Your Business| Build Your Brand | Support Your Community |
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Special Thanks to our Community Partners! |
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