COVID-19 Update: April 7, 2020
Dear ABLE BC Members and Industry Colleagues,
The COVID-19 outbreak continues to evolve rapidly and we’re working hard to get answers for you.
Included in today’s email you will find:
New signage: asking customers to remove masks for ID checking
What ABLE BC is doing to help: connecting with Federal Minister of Small Business
LDB Update: Distribution Centres and BC Liquor Stores
Free webinar: Navigating COVID-19 federal government support
3-way protective cashier shields now available for liquor stores from BWI Business World
Protective face masks now available from Blackwood Apparel
Tourism HR Canada Offers Free Emerit Online Training
Asia Pacific Wine and Spirit Institute Offers Free and Discounted Training
Please continue to send your questions by email to ABLE BC:
jeff@ablebc.ca or danielle@ablebc.ca.
Find all past updates from ABLE BC here.
New signage: asking customers to remove masks for ID checking
In response to member concerns, we have created a new sign available for free download, advising customers they may be asked to temporarily remove their mask so you can check their ID.
Find all free COVID-19 signage ABLE BC has created in our online store.
What ABLE BC is doing to help: connecting with Federal Minister of Small Business
As you can imagine, we’re in touch with all levels of government several times per day during this crisis.
ABLE BC is working with other hospitality and tourism industry partners on a coordinated list of urgent and emergency policy changes and financial stimulus for our industry.
We recently connected with the federal Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade Mary Ng to underscore the significant crisis in BC’s hospitality industry and the urgent need for liquidity and rent support.
Please see the attached briefing note for more details.
LDB Update
The LDB has shared with us the following updates:
Delta and Kamloops Distribution Centres
Both KDC and DDC are picking on-time, following a period where KDC was picking a day behind
Volumes are starting to flatten off but do still remain higher than normal
Both DCs continue to function with lower than optimal staffing levels; however, we are starting to see staffing levels rise, slightly
Both DCs are planning extra shifts over the coming long weekend to focus on inbound and inventory build-up
We are seeing some agents and manufacturers missing weekend appointments that they have committed to, we suspect this is due to carrier delays
BC Liquor Stores
BCLS continue to operate across the province with the exception of a couple of stores in some of the smaller communities who have hit critical staffing levels; however, we have a couple of stores that have been closed due to staffing but will be reopening this week with reduced hours. You can view store closures online.
Free webinar: Navigating COVID-19 federal government support
In this time of unprecedented uncertainty, the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade wants to make sure its members and the broader business community can find answers to the most pressing questions facing their businesses.
Their next webinar will focus on the latest support available from the Federal Government for Canadian businesses:
When: Wednesday, April 8, 2020 from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm
Free registration: here
The webinar will include a moderated discussion with the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, Government of Canada.
If you are unable to attend, the webinars will be posted on the GVBOT website and YouTube channel following the broadcast. It is hoped that these sessions can provide you and your business with some clarity in the face of uncertainty.
3-way protective cashier shields now available for liquor stores from BWI Business World
ABLE BC long-time associate member BWI Business World now has 3-way protective cashier shields specifically designed for liquor stores.
They offer 4 designs of shields to keep your employees and customers safe:
2 sizes custom built for liquor & retail stores
13″ H x 15″ W slots specially designed to fit Cases of 15/24 Beer and Large Boxed Wine through
Sizes: 30″ H x 30″ W or 30″ H x 42″ W
2 sizes with smaller slots
9″ H x 10″ H for designed for extra protection:
Sizes: 30″ H x 30″ W or 30″ H x 42″ W
For more information please click here, visit the BWI website, or email Kim Barton: kim@bwibusinessworld.com
Protective face masks now available from Blackwood Apparel
Blackwood Career Apparel + Essentials is now producing a washable and reusable fabric face mask in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The company is Canadian-owned and operated and the masks are sewn in the Lower Mainland.
The Blackwood Protective Face Mask, sold under the Maverick label, is made of 100% cotton (6.5 oz) and features comfortable elasticized straps to hold it in place around the ears. The mask is an excellent alternative to disposable options, as it can be reused after washing, which is cost-effective and reduces environmental waste.
Purchasing the Blackwood mask also helps support a local business during tough economic times. Combined with social distancing measures, the masks help both staff and customers feel more comfortable.
The cost of the Blackwood Maverick Protective Face Mask is $5.50 per mask, with a reduction to $4.50 on orders over 200. At the present, colour is random based on available inventory.
It is available in three sizes: regular (women’s), large (men’s), and a kid’s size. Blackwood plans to introduce additional fabric options in the future. For more details, or to place an order, please visit their website.
Tourism HR Canada Offers Free Emerit Online Training
Tourism HR Canada, the not-for-profit behind Emerit Tourism Training, is committed to helping tourism operators and employees through these troubled times, with a vision towards the recovery of our vibrant tourism sector.
As part of this, Tourism HR Canada is pleased to offer a variety of frontline, supervisory, and managerial online training modules free of charge. These modules can assist with ongoing training needs, as well as giving those whose jobs have been adversely affected by COVID-19 the opportunity to up-skill or cross-train.
Their hope is this will help our workforce be as prepared as possible for the eventual resurgence of travellers exploring the amazing destinations across Canada.
Visit their website for a list of free training modules currently available.
Asia Pacific Wine and Spirit Institute Offers Free and Discounted Training
APWASI (Asia Pacific Wine and Spirit Institute) is a Canadian non-profit organization that offers online wine and spirit certifications primarily to those in the airline, cruise ship, hotel, hospitality and restaurant industry, as well as to the general public.
APWASI will be making the important Wine Essentials I Course complimentary and introduce discounts for other courses to help workers in the hospitality industry stay competitive during this trying time.
Additionally, for a limited time, when you purchase any APWASI course, you can select one of the following certification courses for free with coupon code buy1get1: Wines of China Course, Caviar Course, Foie Gras Course, Truffles Course, Port Course or Sherry Course.
The program goals are to allow people to be more productive, acquire new knowledge and get certified during this period at home that many are experiencing.
Further information is available on the APWASI website.
For more information:
Public Health Agency of Canada Website
Updates from the Government of British Columbia
News Releases from BC Government on COVID-19
Provincial Health Officer Public Health Orders
Updates and Resources from ABLE BC
Human Resources & Occupational Health & Safety Info from goHR
If you have any other questions or concerns, please contact ABLE BC:
604-688-5560 or info@ablebc.ca.