April 23 | 2020
COVID-19 INFORMATION BULLETIN # 8
BUSINESS PULSE CHECK: Almost half of B.C. Businesses that are temporarily closed are not confident in their ability to reopen

The COVID-19 crisis is deepening for BC businesses with four-in-ten (43%) of those surveyed in the most recent Chamber Pulse Check stating they can only continue to operate for up to three months under current restrictions and the clock is ticking.

For businesses temporarily closed, the future is similarly dire, with only half (53%) expecting to reopen once the restrictions are eased on workplace operations, while 38% are unsure, and 8% will not reopen. The pulse check survey was conducted by our partners at the BC Chamber of Commerce using the BCMindReader.com platform.

On the recovery side, many businesses are not confident in their ability to restart or whether consumers will return. Businesses are doing everything possible to remain viable, but an increasing number are reaching the point of no return. READ SUMMARY
ON THE LOCAL FRONT
COVID-19 WEBINAR

Managing & engaging staff working remotely
(When this is ALL new)

Thursday April 23, 2020 @ 9:30am - 10:30am
The session will explore how to keep your people engaged in the work, their teams and the organization while they (and you) keep your distance.

GUEST SPEAKER:
Shawnee Love, Founder & Lead Consultant
LoveHR

No charge to participate but registration required.
OKANAGAN CHAMBERS LAUNCH UNITED EFFORT ON COVID-RECOVERY

#OK we got this  

Chambers of Commerce from the US border in the south to Enderby in the north have launched #Ok we got this – a multi-faceted program aimed at providing an Okanagan-wide approach to helping businesses across the valley deal with and respond to the challenges of COVID-19.

The valley-wide coalition will focus on three primary areas:
  • Providing the business community in the valley with easy access to information
  • Sharing stories of business leaders in the Okanagan who have responded to the crisis
  • Ensuring a unified voice in promoting the value of shopping and investing local. 

Governments play a key role but chambers are singularly positioned to drive local economic recovery: we know how to do this, we’ve got the structure, and the people.

Kelowna Chamber COVID Webinars available online
Did you miss one of the webinars that the Kelowna Chamber has produced to help answer some of the questions about government's relief efforts to help small businesses? Don't worry, all webinars have been recorded and are now available to watch at anytime.
Bell Media Making a Difference
Like a number of our great local media partners, Bell Media in the Interior has put together a campaign to help our local businesses, they’re calling it the Shop Local Directory. The online directory connecting consumers with the innovative ways that local businesses are continuing to serve customers during the COVID-19 emergency. This directory is FREE of charge with regular updates to keep customers informed.  CLICK HERE TO CHECK IT OUT 
And did we mention that AM1150 is our fabulous broadcast media partner for our BDO Top Forty under 40 program? Thanks Phil!
ON THE PROVINCIAL FRONT
The provincial government has taken action to defer payments for school taxes and provided local governments with the option of borrowing to help with short-term cash flow in light of anticipated reduction in revenues. The move should help cities like Kelowna ensure the continuation of services that city residents rely on. 

The Province also has provided additional help to businesses by reducing the school property tax rate and deferring the late penalty tax date for commercial businesses to September 30, 2020. READ MORE

The City of Kelowna’s final 2020 budget will be presented to Council on May 4 and it’s expected expenses will be reduced through ongoing and one-time cuts to base budgets, elimination of new positions and programs and the deferral of some capital projects.
ON THE FEDERAL FRONT
Mark The Date: National Webinar on Mental Health in the Workplace  
The Canadian Business Resilience Network established by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Workplace Strategies for Mental Health (compliments of Canada Life) invites you to a webinar on April 29 at 11:00 a.m.

We all juggle work, financial, family and social demands – but unexpected circumstances, like the ones we are experiencing right now, can cause multiple stressors to coincide.

GUEST SPEAKER : Mary Ann Baynton, Director of Collaboration and Strategy from Workplace Strategies for Mental Health . The FREE webinar will:
  • Discuss factors that can test our resilience and strategies to help us cope and bounce back from them.

  • Talk about ways you can encourage your team to do the same.

  • She will point to some free resources you can use in the weeks and months ahead.
Explore An Improved CBRN.ca
Our partners at the Canadian Chambers are continuing to improve the Canadian Business Resilience Network’s website to make the most important and recent information easy to find.

The site includes information on financial support, tips and advice, news and insights, frequently asked questions and more. The website is updated daily. Click on the CBRN logo below to connect.

We want to hear from you

  • If you have an idea or concern you would like government to address please send us a note via the Chamber's ONLINE PORTAL

  • If you are aware of a colleague, customer or business going above and beyond during these challenging times, let us know via EMAIL as we’d love to share the news.
Need to add someone else in your organization to our mailing list? Email us.
KELOWNA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | kelownachamber.org