The Bobcaygeon & Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to join the Chamber Partnership Initiative to Support Business Growth and Student Career Development across Canada 

The Chamber Partnership Initiative brings together local chambers and boards of trade, small and medium-sized enterprises, job seekers, and post-secondary institutions to support economic recovery and opportunities for student job seekers from coast to coast, across Canada.

The Bobcaygeon & Area Chamber of Commerce is among the local chambers and boards of trade across Canada that will partner with Magnet and the Talent Opportunity Program (TOP) to connect chamber members to the Magnet platform, a digital social enterprise at Ryerson University. Through Magnet, businesses can connect with new talent, access business growth opportunities and tools to navigate the impacts of a changing labour market and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly changed Canada’s social and economic landscape, leaving a significant impact on hiring capacity, operations, and business growth opportunities. The partnership is part of a nation-wide effort to connect local chambers and their members to a network of hiring tools and business growth resources in a single digital space.

Key to the partnership between Magnet and local chambers is connecting businesses of all sizes and industries to opportunities to hire young talent and access wage subsidies through the Student Work Placement Program (SWPP).* Funded by the Government of Canada, SWPP allows employers to access wage subsidies of up to $7,500 when they hire Canadian post-secondary students for work integrated learning experiences.

“Ensuring a strong economic recovery depends on the success of our students and youth. Programs like the Student Work Placement Program exist to provide post-secondary students with the chance to grow professionally and develop new skills while working in sectors that are in line with their interests and field of study,” said Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion Carla Qualtrough. “Our Government’s investment in Magnet will go a long way in helping young Canadians gain meaningful placement opportunities in a variety of disciplines including health care and other high demand sectors, all of which play an especially important role in responding to the current pandemic.”

“The combination of a national recruitment platform and the SWPP wage subsidy will be an important resource for our members,” says Denise Benning-Reid, Manager of the Bobcaygeon Chamber. “The Chamber Partnership Initiative represents an innovative and necessary approach to helping small businesses grow, connecting early talent to new opportunities, and emerging from this challenge stronger and better.”

Whether businesses need to access specialty skills such as digital marketing, bring on flexible workers or inject fresh, innovative thinking, tapping into the next generation of talent from Canada’s post-secondary schools is a great way to boost business. As businesses work toward recovery, SWPP will be a valuable resource in not only supporting new hires, but helping businesses offset costs.

The Chamber Partnership Initiative will support access to the following key features through Magnet’s platform:

Nationwide student recruitment: Hiring a student? Use the Outcome Campus Connect functionality to reach student job seekers across 85+ post-secondary institutions with one click.

Financial support for student hiring: Wage subsidies of up to $7,500 available to employers to hire post-secondary students through the Student Work Placement Program (SWPP).

Intelligent job matching: Employers can target job postings directly to job seekers based on skills, experience, education, and industry-specific certifications.

Diverse hiring: Employers know the value of a diverse workforce. Build more inclusive and equitable hiring practices with the Hire Immigrants and Discover Ability resource hubs. Magnet’s platform also enables diverse and inclusive hiring with tools that target LGBTQ candidates, newcomers, persons with disabilities, Indigenous persons, women, and visible minorities.

Customized business growth content: Access to export-related opportunities and business growth information from Magnet content partners, including OCC, Export Development Canada, Business Development Bank of Canada, Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade and Global Affairs Canada and the Future Skills Centre.

Working with chambers and boards of trade across Canada, the Chamber Partnership Initiative will support businesses in all sectors in accessing Magnet’s intelligent job matching technology.

Local businesses are invited to create their free Magnet account today at their Chamber Portal and instantly connect with a national network of job seekers, employers, and post-secondary institutions.

For more information, please contact:

Denise Benning-Reid
Manager, Bobcaygeon & Area Chamber of Commerce
manager.chamber@bobcaygeon.org
416-710-3899

Luke Nixon-Janssen
Senior Manager, Industry Engagement
Magnet
luke.nixon@ryerson.ca
416-436-8846

Louie Di Palma
Vice President, SME Programs
Ontario Chamber of Commerce
louiedipalma@occ.ca
647-243-3539

The Bobcaygeon Chamber is the busiest service provider in our community with responsibilities that involve business advocacy and support, Service Ontario licensing and tourism information. We are committed to providing leadership, support and communication for a healthy business community, and to ensure a high quality of life for all. 

About the Chamber Partnership Initiative

The Chamber Partnership Initiative is part of a suite of programs funded by the Federal Government to support economic recovery across Canada, in partnership with chambers of commerce and boards of trade, small and medium-sized businesses, post-secondary institutions, and communities from coast to coast.

Magnet is a digital platform with a mission to accelerate inclusive economic growth across Canada by advancing careers, businesses and communities.

Magnet and the TOP, in partnership with provincial and regional chambers and boards of trade from coast to coast, will deliver a range of supports targeted at employers, students and local communities, through Chamber Portals across the country.

*Funded by the Government of Canada

Bobcaygeon, October 26 - Globus Theatre is delighted to be able to present the smash-hit show Boy Falls from the Sky featuring Broadway and Degrassi star, Jake Epstein, from November 5th-7th at the Lakeview Arts Barn.

Since beginning his musical theatre career as the Artful Dodger in Oliver! for Mirvish in Toronto Jake has starred in productions all over North America including the 'boyhood dream' role of Spiderman in Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark on Broadway! He also played Carole King's husband Gerry Goffin on Broadway in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical and toured the US in Green Day's Tony Award-winning musical American Idiot. He has starred in TV shows such as Suits and spent six years playing the role of Craig Manning on Degrassi: The Next Generation.

Boy Falls from the Sky sold out its run at the Toronto Fringe before it even opened; won the 'pick of the fringe' award; and enjoyed an extended run at the Toronto Centre for the Arts. It is scheduled as part of Mirvish's 2021 Season but Globus Theatre audiences will get the unique opportunity to see it here first...with an exclusive audience of just 50!!

Artistic Director, Sarah Quick, says, "We are so excited to have Jake and his whole team here at Globus. To be able to bring a show of this calibre with such a great performer to Bobcaygeon and the Kawartha Lakes is just the sort of thing we strive for - making sure lovers of world-class theatre can indeed shop locally "

Join us at this no-holds-barred cabaret, full of stories, anecdotes, and show-stopping musical numbers, as one of Canada’s very best musical performers regales us with the highs and lows of show business (including falling each night from very high to very low in his role as the webbed wonder!)

CABARET OF THE HIGHEST CALIBRE! NNNNN Now Magazing Toronto

November 5th - 7th @ 6:00pm

Dinner & Theatre tickets can now be booked by calling the box office!

705-738-2037

Theatre & Dinner Tickets $75.00 (plus HST + $2.00 per ticket fee)

Groups of up to 6 can book together.

Boy Falls From the Sky

Written and Performed by Jake Epstein

Developed with and Directed by Robert McQueen

Music Direction by Daniel Abrahamson

Produced by Derrick Chua

On Friday, October 9th, the Canadian Federal Government announced more supports to help businesses that have been affected by the on-going COVID-19 pandemic. While some areas of the economy have been recovering, many are still struggling with reduced revenues, increased costs, and the on-going uncertainty this pandemic presents. To aid struggling businesses at this time, the Federal Government is putting forth legislation that will expand current emergency responses to the pandemic. 

This will include expansions on the Canadian Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS), Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS), and the Canadian Emergency Business Account (CEBA). 

These expansions will aid both for profit and non-profit businesses that have been affected by the pandemic, and will help to keep businesses afloat and employees employed throughout this time. 

To read more about the announced legislation and if your business may be eligible, head here . 

The new Canadian Recovery Benefit (CRB) has been put in place to replace the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB).  The Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) was an important and necessary temporary response to support Canadians who stopped working because of COVID-19. As we safely restart Canada’s economy, the Government is transitioning most Canadians who still cannot work to a simplified Employment Insurance program, effective September 27, 2020. 

For those who are not eligible to receive EI regular benefits, such as the self-employed, or those experiencing a reduction in income of at least 50% due to COVID-19, the Government is introducing the Canada Recovery Benefit. This temporary benefit will provide $500 per week (taxable) for up to 26 weeks between September 27, 2020 and September 25, 2021.  To be eligible for the Benefit, you must be available and looking for work and must accept work, when it is reasonable to do so.

The Government is also introducing the temporary Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit and the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit.

One main change for the CRB over CERB is that this payment is retroactive, and does not project into the future. This means that you can only apply for the two weeks that have just passed, not for time periods that are in the future.

To Learn more about the new Canada Recovery Benefit and if you will be eligible to apply, head here: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/cerb-application/transition/questions.html

Time-of-Use or Tiered Electricity Prices?  You Now Have a Choice

If you’re a residential or small business customer that pays Time-of-Use (TOU) electricity prices, you now have a choice. You can contact your electricity utility and opt-out of TOU and pay Tiered prices instead, choosing the price plan that’s right for how you consume electricity.

With TOU, the price you pay depends on when you use electricity whereas with tiered prices, you use a certain amount of electricity each month at a fixed price anytime of the day. Once you exceed that limit, a higher price applies. If you want to continue paying TOU prices, no action is required. If you’re considering a switch to Tiered prices, get a price comparison using the OEB’s online bill calculator at www.oeb.ca/calculator.

Temporary Bridge Closure: Bobcaygeon Swing Bridge 

Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site

Peterborough, Ontario, October 13, 2020 – Parks Canada would like to inform the public that the Bobcaygeon Swing Bridge on Main St. (at Canal St.) will be temporarily closed to vehicular traffic over the winter months. The bridge will be closed on or after October 26, 2020, pending the approval of Contractor submissions, and will open in the spring of 2021, prior to the opening of navigation on the Trent-Severn Waterway.

A temporary, accessible pedestrian bridge will be installed across the canal near the downstream lock gates. The area around the cenotaph will remain outside of the construction site.

Public safety is a priority for Parks Canada. Residents and visitors are advised to follow detour signage and to exercise caution.

Engineering inspections in recent years have indicated that this bridge requires intervention. Parks Canada is leading this important infrastructure work along the Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site to ensure safe, high-quality experiences for visitors by improving heritage, visitor, waterway, and highway assets located within national historic sites, national parks, and national marine conservation areas.

To ask questions or register to receive updates about any Trent-Severn Waterway construction project, please contact us at Ont.TrentSevern@pc.gc.ca and include the project name in the subject heading. More details about this work, or other construction work in your region, can be found at www.pc.gc.ca/tswKawarthaLakes

TORONTO — The Ontario government is continuing to help businesses rebuild, reinvest and create good jobs across the province. Today, Prabmeet Sarkaria, Associate Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction, announced Ontario’s Main Street Recovery Plan and later today will introduce the Main Street Recovery Act, 2020, proposed legislation that would support small businesses and modernize rules to allow them to innovate and meet the challenges of today. If passed, the act will remove hurdles faced by small businesses and allow them to pursue new opportunities—while maintaining or enhancing protections for public health, safety and the environment.

The plan includes:

·         A one-time grant of up to $1,000 for main street small businesses—in retail, food and accommodations, and other service sectors—with fewer than 10 employees to help offset the unexpected costs of personal protective equipment (PPE);

·         Ontario’s Small Business COVID-19 Recovery Network, which links 47 Small Business Enterprise Centres across the province as places where small businesses can access tailored advice and information on local, provincial, and federal programs;

·         Digital Main Street Squads to help small businesses grow online;

·         Mental health supports for families, frontline workers, young people, children, and Indigenous communities;

·         Ontario’s Small Business Recovery Webpage to provide single window access to small business supports.

“Small businesses are the backbone of Ontario’s economy, and our government will always be in their corner. Through more than 100 virtual roundtables and discussions with small business owners, their employees, local leaders, and economists from all over Ontario, I’ve heard directly about the extraordinary sacrifices small businesses have made to keep their employees safe, their customers confident, and their communities strong,” said Minister Sarkaria. “Our government is standing with main street businesses, and we remain committed to their recovery and renewed success. We are determined to support them through this pandemic and beyond.”

The plan’s regulatory and legislative changes, if passed, will:

·         Commit to exploring options to permanently allow licensed restaurants and bars to include alcohol with food as part of a takeout or delivery order before the existing regulation expires;

·         Permanently allow 24/7 deliveries to businesses that include retail stores, restaurants, and distribution facilities;

·         Support the distribution of local food and food products by increasing the range of products sold at the Ontario Food Terminal;

·         Enable Community Net Metering demonstration projects to help support local communities to develop innovative community projects like net-zero or community micro-grids;

·         Modernize the Assistive Devices Program;

·         Support Ontario’s Taxi and Limousine Industry by increasing fines for illegal operators.

“Small businesses owners and entrepreneurs have overcome significant challenges and made extraordinary sacrifices to continue contributing to our communities through these unprecedented times,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, President of the Treasury Board and Minister Responsible for Digital and Data Transformation. “Providing new, easy-to-use and innovative tools, like our Small Business Recovery Webpage, will give them the information they need to reopen safely and rebuild better in one central location. It’s another way we’re building a smarter government that’s working for you.”

“Ontario’s small businesses were hit hard by COVID-19, but they were the among the first to step up and demonstrate the best of the Ontario Spirit by bringing forward their innovative ideas and solutions in our time of need,” said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. “Building on the steps we took at the outset of the pandemic to provide urgent economic relief to struggling small businesses, Ontario’s Main Street Recovery Plan will help get more and more small businesses back on their feet as we continue down the path to economic recovery together.”

QUICK FACTS

• The Workplace PPE Supplier Directory provides businesses with information on personal protective equipment (PPE) suppliers.

• Ontario is helping businesses overcome the unique challenges created by this pandemic with 50 temporary regulatory changes made to help them adapt and about 400 more roadblocks being explored.

• The $50-million Ontario Together Fund is helping businesses retool their operations to produce PPE and develop technology-driven solutions and services for businesses to reopen safely.

• The Ontario government reduced the small business Corporate Income Tax rate by 8.7%, starting on January 1, 2020. This will deliver up to $1,500 in annual savings to more than 275,000 businesses.

• Ontario’s new COVID-19 Economic Recovery Act is laying the foundation to restart jobs and development, strengthen communities, and create opportunity for people in every region of the province.

This new release was originally published by the Ontario Government, and the release can be read in its entirety at www.ontario.ca/news 

LEAMINGTON - The Ontario government is committing nearly $1 million in cost-share funding to help rural communities diversify their economies, retain skilled workers and create jobs.

Today, details about the funding were released by Ernie Hardeman, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, which is being provided through a new targeted intake of the Rural Economic Development program (RED).

"This funding will focus on diversifying regional economies and improving the competitiveness of rural businesses across the province," said Minister Hardeman. "Due to the COVID-19 crisis many people are struggling, and this funding will support job creation and investment to help lift up individuals, families and businesses."

The intake is directed at not-for-profit organizations with a mandate towards regional economic development and eligible projects would be eligible for up to 70 per cent of total costs to a maximum of $75,000 in provincial funding. Minister Hardeman also announced more than $3 million in funding cost-shared with applicants to be invested in 65 projects through a previous RED intake.

This funding will support economic development efforts such as:

·         Capital improvements to enhance an uptown arts and cultural hub to increase tourism;

·         Implementing new and accessible streetscaping to develop a more inviting downtown;

·         Waterfront development to expand and revitalize local trails.

"I am very pleased to see our government stepping up to the plate, now more than ever, to help rural Ontario," said Rick Nicholls, MPP for Chatham-Kent-Leamington. "Assisting in the revitalization of downtown Leamington and supporting not-for-profit organizations are key to helping the region on its road to economic recovery."

"The John Street Centennial Park and Shotton Parkette upgrades are just two projects in a series of initiatives we are undertaking to reinvent public spaces and attract renewed interest and investment into Leamington's uptown core," said Leamington Mayor Hilda MacDonald. "We are very thankful to the Province of Ontario for support through the Rural Economic Development program to help complete these key infrastructure projects."

Quick Facts

• Applications will be accepted from September 21 – October 9, 2020.
• All costs must be incurred on or before March 31, 2021. Projects will not be extended beyond that date.

Projects need to meet the following criteria:

• benefit rural Ontario
•  have tangible outcomes
•  reach beyond one county, region, or district
• The next regular intake of the RED program is scheduled to open in December 2020.