COVID-19 Update: April 14, 2020

Dear ABLE BC Members and Industry Colleagues, 

We hope you and your family had a safe and happy long weekend. We are back with our COVID-19 liquor industry updates.

Beginning this week, we’re planning to reduce our daily email updates to 3 updates per week (excepting of course anything urgent).

As always, if you have any additional questions or need to reach us you can email: jeff@ablebc.ca or danielle@ablebc.ca

Included in today’s email you will find: 

  • Free ABLE BC webinar on Thursday: COVID-19 and BC’s Hospitality Industry – What you need to know

  • Emergency Wage Subsidy Analysis

  • Have your voice heard! BC Chamber of Commerce: Second ‘Pulse Check’ COVID-19 Survey

  • Free BDO Canada Webinar on Friday: Unlocking the COVID-19 Financing Programs

  • BC Wine Institute: Virtual 2019 BC Vintage Preview on April 22

Find all past updates from ABLE BC here.

Free ABLE BC webinar on Thursday: COVID-19 and BC’s Hospitality Industry – What you need to know

Join ABLE BC’s Executive Director Jeff Guignard for a complimentary webinar on COVID-19 and BC’s hospitality industry: what you need to know.

The webinar takes place on Thursday, April 16 from 10:00 am to 11:00 am. Register here.

This 1-hour webinar will cover: 

  • What’s happened over the past 4 weeks

  • Current state of the liquor industry and tourism + hospitality industry at large

  • What ABLE BC is doing to help

  • Government support programs

  • Other financial support available to you.

  • What’s next what you can expect from ABLE BC in the weeks and months ahead and what we’re advocating for to help your businesses recover

All welcome. Advance registration is required.

Can’t make it, but still interested? Register now and we will send you the webinar recording afterwards so you can catch up on your own time.

We look forward to having you join us!

Emergency Wage Subsidy Analysis

McMillan LLP has released a new comprehensive analysis of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy: the 75% wages subsidy program designed to encourage employers that have been grappling with financial challenges to recall employees from layoff, or to keep employees on payroll, while the COVID- 19 crisis continues. 

Read McMillan’s analysis here and learn more about: 

  • Basic parameters of the CEWS

  • Eligibility for the subsidy

  • Other important points of note, including application tips

Applications for CEWS have not yet opened, but we will let members know when they do.

Find a summary of all federal government COVID-19 economic support programs here.

Have your voice heard! BC Chamber of Commerce: Second ‘Pulse Check’ COVID-19 Survey

At the end of March, the BC Chamber of Commerce partnered with the BC Business Council, the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, The Mustel Group, and businesses in BC to run regular ‘pulse checks’ to find out how businesses are faring due to COVID-19, and how your needs are evolving.

The chamber’s previous COVID-19 Pulse Check survey saw close to 2000 responses and informed several existing programs put forward by the BC government to help businesses and employees. 

The BC Chamber of Commerce is continuing to listen, and share your concerns with government. As the economic impacts from COVID-19 continue to unfold, how is your business doing?

Take the second ‘pulse check’ survey.

We will keep you informed as the second survey results come in.

Free BDO Canada Webinar on Friday: Unlocking the COVID-19 Financing Programs

Business owners can now access new financing options from the federal government. Many of these programs are administered by the BDC and EDC. The programs offer loans to fund your operations, and could help you sustain and manage your business through the COVID-19 crisis. 

Our associate member BDO Canada is hosting a free webinar in partnership with BDC and EDC on April 17 from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm ET: Unlocking the COVID-19 Financing Programs.

Register here.

This webinar demystifies a financing process that continues to evolve. Hear directly from BDC and EDC professionals as they explain the programs and how to apply. BDO accounting professionals will cover the financial reporting that you need to support these loan applications.

In this webinar you will learn:

  • Why some applications succeed – and others fail

  • How to adjust your business plan

  • When funds will flow to your business

  • What financial reporting options are available to support your application

Register now.

BC Wine Institute: Virtual 2019 BC Vintage Preview on April 22

Finding inspiration in our new reality can be difficult. Physical distancing and staying home have meant many industry events have been cancelled or postponed. The good news is winemaking hasn’t stopped. Vines continue to grow, grapes continue to ripen and winemakers continue to produce fresh and vibrant wines meant to be savoured and enjoyed.

Which is why the BC Wine Institute is excited to bring you a brand-new virtual two-part webinar preview of BC’s 2019 Vintage. 

Streaming to you in the comfort and safety of your home, please join Barbara Philip MW and two panels of top BC winemakers from across the province as they welcome you into BC’s diverse wine regions to discuss the 2019 vintage directly from the vineyards where the grapes are grown.

Details: Preview of BC’s 2019 Vintage Part One

Date: April 22, 2020
Time: 10:00 am to 10:45 am

Regions and panelists: 

  • Lake Country: Nikki Callaway, Winemaker, O’Rourke’s Peak Cellars

  • Kelowna: David Paterson, Winemaker, Tantalus Vineyards

  • Vancouver Island: Chris Turyk, Marketing Specialist, Unsworth Vineyards

Every vintage has a story to tell. We invite you to step into BC’s breathtaking wine regions to find out what makes the 2019 story so special.

Please register for Part I here. Registration for Part II will follow.

For more information:

Public Health Agency of Canada Website

Updates from the Government of British Columbia

Updates and Resources from ABLE BC

Human Resources & Occupational Health & Safety Info from go2HR

If you have any other questions or concerns, please contact ABLE BC:
604-688-5560 or info@ablebc.ca.

Ann Brydle