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TORONTO — The Ontario government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health and other health experts, is immediately declaring a third provincial emergency under s 7.0.1 (1) of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMPCA). These measures are being taken in response to the rapid increase in COVID-19 transmission, the threat on the province's hospital system capacity, and the increasing risks posed to the public by COVID-19 variants.

Details were provided today by Premier Doug Ford, Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, Solicitor General Sylvia Jones, and Dr. David Williams, Chief Medical Officer of Health.

"The Covid-19 situation is at a critical stage and we must act quickly and decisively to stay ahead of these deadly new variants," said Premier Ford. "By imposing these strict new measures we will keep people safe while allowing our vaccination program to reach more people, starting with our high risk population and identified hot spots. Although this is difficult, I urge everyone to follow these public health measures and together we will defeat this deadly virus."

Case rates, hospitalizations, and ICU occupancy are increasing rapidly, threatening to overwhelm the health care system. The number of COVID-19 hospitalizations in the province have increased by 28.2 per cent between the period of March 28 and April 5, 2021. In addition, between March 28 and April 5, 2021, Ontario has seen the number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care escalate by 25 per cent. While every action possible is being taken to increase capacity and continue daily surgeries and procedures, the province is reaching a tipping point.

Effective Thursday, April 8, 2021 at 12:01 a.m., the government is issuing a province-wide Stay-at-Home order requiring everyone to remain at home except for essential purposes, such as going to the grocery store or pharmacy, accessing health care services (including getting vaccinated), for outdoor exercise , or for work that cannot be done remotely. As Ontario's health care capacity is threatened, the Stay-at-Home order, and other new and existing public health and workplace safety measures will work to preserve public health system capacity, safeguard vulnerable populations, allow for progress to be made with vaccinations and save lives.

Retail

In addition, the province is also strengthening public health and workplace safety measures for non-essential retail under the provincewide emergency brake. Measures include, but are not limited to:

• Limiting the majority of non-essential retailers to only operate for curbside pick-up and delivery, via appointment, between the hours of 7 a.m. and 8 p.m., with delivery of goods to patrons permitted between 6:00 am and 9:00 pm, and other restrictions;
• Restricting access to shopping malls to limited specified purposes, including access for curbside pick-up and delivery, via appointment, with one single designated location inside the shopping mall, and any number of designated locations outside the shopping mall, along with other restrictions;
• Restricting discount and big box stores in-person retail sales to grocery items, pet care supplies, household cleaning supplies, pharmaceutical items, health care items, and personal care items only;
• Permitting the following stores to operate for in-person retail by appointment only and subject to a 25 per cent capacity limit and restricting allowable hours of operation to between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. with the delivery of goods to patrons permitted between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m.:
  • Safety supply stores;
  • Businesses that primarily sell, rent or repair assistive devices, aids or supplies, mobility devices, aids or supplies or medical devices, aids or supplies;
  • Rental and leasing services including automobile, commercial and light industrial machinery and equipment rental;
  • Optical stores that sell prescription eyewear to the public;
  • Businesses that sell motor vehicles, boats and other watercraft;
  • Vehicle and equipment repair and essential maintenance and vehicle and equipment rental services; and
  • Retail stores operated by a telecommunications provider or service, which may only permit members of the public to enter the premises to purchase a cellphone or for repairs or technical support.
• Permitting outdoor garden centres and plant nurseries, and indoor greenhouses that engage in sales to the public, to operate with a 25 per cent capacity limit and a restriction on hours of operation to between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.

These additional and strengthened public health and workplace safety measures will be in effect as of Thursday, April 8, 2021 at 12:01 a.m. 

Education

Keeping schools and child care open is critical to the mental health and well-being of Ontario children and youth. Schools and child care will remain open for in-person care and learning in public health regions where it is permitted, with strict safety measures in place.

In addition, beginning next week, education workers who provide direct support to students with special education needs across the province, and all education workers in select hot spot areas, will be eligible to register for vaccination. Vaccinations will commence during the April break starting with priority neighborhoods in Toronto and Peel, then rolling out to priority neighborhoods in other hot spot regions, including York, Ottawa, Hamilton, Halton and Durham. This will be followed by a rollout across the province as supply allows.

 "While our government took decisive action by implementing the provincewide emergency brake, more needs to be done to protect against the threats to our health system resources and the continued health and safety of individuals and families across the province," said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. "By further strengthening public health and workplace safety measures, we can work to reduce transmission of the virus while we work to rollout Phase 2 of our vaccine distribution plan, and put more needles in the arms of Ontarians."

"The rapid and increasing spread of COVID-19 and the variants of concern pose significant threats to our health care system and the well-being of Ontarians, requiring immediate and decisive action," said Solicitor General Sylvia Jones. "The declaration of a third provincial emergency is necessary to provide the government with the tools needed to help protect the public, reduce the spread of the virus and save lives."

Vaccinations

As part of Phase Two of its COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan, people living in regions with the highest rates of transmission will be prioritized to receive a vaccine, starting with the most at-risk in the Peel and Toronto public health regions. This initiative will be expanded to additional "hot spot" regions based on established patterns of transmission, severe illness, and mortality.

To support this expanded vaccination effort, mobile teams are being organized to administer vaccines in high-risk congregate settings, residential buildings, faith-based locations, and locations occupied by large employers in hot spot neighbourhoods to individuals aged 18 or over. Pop-up clinics will also be set-up in highly impacted neighborhoods, including at faith-based locations and community centres in those hot spots, in collaboration with public health units and community organizations within those communities. The province will provide additional resources to support these mobile and pop-up clinics in the hardest-hit neighbourhoods.

The government will also extend booking for COVID-19 vaccination appointments to more age groups through its provincial booking system, for public health regions with highly impacted neighbourhoods, on Friday, April 9, 2021. Booking eligibility will be extended to include individuals aged 50 and over for COVID-19 vaccination appointments at mass immunization clinics in high-risk areas as identified by postal code, using the provincial booking system.

Workplace Inspections

Health and safety inspectors and provincial offenses officers will increase inspections and enforcement at essential businesses in regional hot zones to continue protecting essential workers while on the job. There have been 19,500 COVID-related workplace inspections and investigations across the province since the beginning of 2021. During those visits, over 450 COVID-19 related tickets have been issued and OHS inspectors have issued over 14,446 OHS orders and stopped unsafe work related to COVID-19 a total of 24 times.

Rapid Testing

Rapid testing continues to be deployed in workplaces for asymptomatic staff in key sectors such as manufacturing, warehousing, supply chain, mining, construction and food processing. Approximately 5.4 million rapid antigen tests have been sent to over 1,150 workplaces, including 100 essential industry sites, under the Provincial Antigen Screening Program. To encourage the use of these tests under the program, additional outreach will occur to employers in regions with highest rates of transmission to increase access to testing, and the process for enrollment in the screening program will be streamlined to allow for quick access to these supports.

"As we continue to see COVID-19 variants of concern drive this third wave of COVID-19, it is evident stronger public health and workplace measures are needed to help interrupt the spread of the virus," said Dr. David Williams, Chief Medical Officer of Health. "By all of us staying at home, while still taking some time to enjoy the outdoors with the people we live with in our local neighbourhoods and maintaining two metres physical distance from others, we can reduce our mobility, minimize transmission, protect our loved ones and our communities, safeguard health system capacity, and save lives."

Quick Facts

• Over the past week, the province’s positivity rate is 5.1 per cent, well above the high-alert threshold of 2.5 per cent, and as of April 6, 2021, there has been a total of 2,483 cases with one of the three variants of concern (VoC). The percent of cases in the last week that tested positive for a mutation or VOC was 63.1 per cent.
• On Saturday April 3, 2021, in response to an alarming surge in case numbers and COVID-19 hospitalizations across the province and in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, the government imposed a provincewide emergency brake, implementing additional time-limited public health and workplace safety measures, including encouraging remote work in all industries to the greatest extent possible and the closure of additional workplaces, further capacity limits on some essential businesses which are able to remain open, and strengthened advice on limiting trips outside of the home for essential reasons.
• On the advice of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, all Ontarians are asked to limit trips outside the home to necessities such as food, medication, medical appointments, supporting vulnerable community members, or exercising outdoors with members of their household in our their communities. Individuals should remain in their local communities and avoid all non-essential travel – even within the province – and to stay home when ill even with mild symptoms. Employers in all industries should make every effort to allow employees to work from home.
• To ensure that every person who requires care in a hospital can access a bed, the government has invested more than $5.1 billion to support hospitals since the start of the pandemic, creating more than 3,100 additional hospital beds and 500 critical care and high intensity medicine beds. This includes $1.8 billion in 2021–22 to continue providing care for COVID-19 patients, addressing surgical backlogs and keeping pace with patient needs through its Ontario's Action Plan: Protecting People's Health and Our Economy.
• The Ontario government continues to implement its High Priority Communities Strategy to provide targeted supports to communities hardest hit by COVID-19. In these communities 1,000 Community Ambassadors have been mobilized, 30 community testing sites have been opened and nearly 36,000 PPE kits have been distributed to community members.
• Get tested if you have COVID-19 symptoms, or if you have been advised of exposure by your local public health unit or through the COVID Alert App. Visit Ontario.ca/covidtest to find the nearest testing location.

Information provided via Ontario.ca

Does your business have an effective energy strategy? To meet its sustainability targets by 2030, Canada has set a bold climate action plan, including a carbon tax that puts a price on pollution. For businesses, this requires ambitious emission reduction goals and effective sustainability plans. 

As Canada's energy transition happens before our eyes, having a cost-effective renewable energy strategy is rapidly becoming a must for organizations, both small and large. 

With the addition of Anova Energy to the Canadian Chamber’s Chamber Business Services offerings, you can now access exclusive green energy rates that are only available to members. Anova Energy is a leading Canadian energy brokerage that advises organizations in developing and implementing energy strategies. That includes Renewable Energy Credits (RECs), Carbon Offsets, and other strategic energy solutions. 

How Anova Energy can help you reduce your carbon emissions 

• Review REC quotes — Renewable energy certificates enable you to offset your carbon footprint and support renewable energy generation. Purchasing RECs means you're buying your electricity from renewable sources and thus reducing your carbon emissions.  
• Review Carbon Offset quotes — Carbon offsets are ideal to compensate for your business' carbon footprint. When you buy these credits, you're directly investing in projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Both RECs and offsets can be used for CO2 compliance purposes.

Why Anova Energy?

• Get tailored, unbiased advice — Anova Energy works as an independent broker and ensures our clients are provided with unbiased information allowing our partners to make a fully informed decision on their long-term energy strategy. 
• Get the best rates — With extensive experience and long-term relationships in the Canadian energy market, we offer incomparable market intelligence and depth of knowledge in strategic energy solutions. 

To review the comprehensive energy solutions Anova can offer your business, contact the Bobcaygeon Chamber of Commerce's Anova contact at siddha.mahajan@anovaenergy.ca or by calling (780) 628 1857, remember to say how you heard about them!  

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

About Bobcaygeon & Area Chamber of Commerce

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

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Lindsay, ON) April 6, 2020 - Businesses across Kawartha Lakes are showing tremendous leadership by pledging over $70,000 since the fund announcement last week to help with the urgent needs of those impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. “We’re so grateful that those who can in the community have stepped up and come together to help support the patients, loved ones, and healthcare workers dealing with the devastation of the virus. I want to personally thank the companies and individuals who have already donated,” said Marlene Morrison Nicholls, Stewart Morrison Insurance president and founding director of the Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes. Local businesses, including Kawartha Dairy, Whitney Plastics Limited, British Empire Fuels and Bigley Shoes and Clothing, are opening their hearts and wallets to the Bobcaygeon and Area COVID-19 Relief Fund.  “This is a very tragic time at Pinecrest Nursing Home and for our community of Bobcaygeon. It is very sad and our hearts go out to all the Pinecrest residents, employees and family members associated with this unfortunate situation. This is a small town and many of us have relatives, friends and neighbours who have been impacted. Our prayers are with them. In an effort to help, Kawartha Dairy is making a $10,000 donation to the Bobcaygeon and Area COVID-19 Relief Fund aimed at helping those affected by the outbreak," said Allison Shaw, Kawartha Dairy Donations Committee Coordinator. Morrison Nicholls and the Community Foundation are appealing once again to companies and individuals for much-needed donations as the Pinecrest Nursing Home continues to be the site of one of the worst known outbreaks in the province. “This is truly a great start and these generous donations show we are stronger together. Today, I hope others will join in and give what they can to help our neighbours, friends, and families through this crisis,” added Morrison Nicholls. The Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes will oversee the fund. The new fund was started to champion inclusion, innovation, and prosperity by connecting people, partnerships, projects, and philanthropy. The Bobcaygeon and Area COVID-19 Relief Fund will provide immediate support including food, transportation, technology, and metal wellness counselling. To donate, contact Foundation Coordinator Margaret Cunningham at 705-731-9775 or by email info@kawarthafoundation.ca. We are encouraging the use of e-transfer to the email - info@kawarthafoundation.ca. In a separate email, please provide your full name, address and date of deposit for the benefit of a tax receipt, as well as the answer to security question. Otherwise cheques can be mailed to: Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes, c/o Stewart Morrison Insurance, 158 Lindsay Street South, Lindsay ON K9V 4S1 For more information about the relief fund and to set up an interview via phone or video conference, contact:

On behalf of Marlene Morrison Nicholls Sophie Wotten, Marketing and Events Coordinator Stewart Morrison Insurance sophie@stewartmorrison.ca 705-324-6681 stewartmorrison.ca

Margaret Cunningham, Foundation Coordinator, Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes margaret@jacksgroup.ca 705-879-2719 kawarthafoundation.ca

PURPOSE OF THE BOBCAYGEON COVID-19 RELIEF FUND

This new relief fund will provide immediate assistance for people affected by COVID-19 in the Bobcaygeon area.

All donations go toward providing immediate support to Bobcaygeon and area patients, families, or health care workers in need of financial assistance, and may also include food supplies, transportation, technology, and mental wellness counselling.

HOW TO APPLY FOR FUNDS

If you are a Bobcaygeon and area patient, family, or health care worker in need of financial assistance, contact Councillor Seymour-Fagan at kseymourfagan@kawarthalakes.ca

HOW IT IS ORGANIZED

The Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes is an existing umbrella organization who will administer this fund, led by its president Mike Perry. Read  more at:  
http://www.kawarthafoundation.ca/

HOW DECISIONS ARE MADE

Decisions on distribution of the funds will be made by a group of Bobcaygeon volunteer residents, led by Councillor Kathleen Seymour-Fagan, working together with the Foundation. The following Bobcaygeon Advisors are volunteers who will respond directly to the inquiries for support and provide local advice to the Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes regarding the needs of the community: Dianne Lister (Committee Chair), Ann Adare, Elizabeth Byrnes, Jelle Visser, Kathy Dufton (administrative support).  For more information on the committee click here. 

HOW TO DONATE AND RECEIVE TAX RECEIPTS

To donate funds to the BOBCAYGEON AND AREA COVID-19 RELIEF FUND:

1. Simply go to our website at www.kawarthafoundation.ca and click on the link “Donate to the Bobcaygeon Covid-19 Relief Fund: and follow the instructions.
2. Donations can also be made using e-transfer to the email - info@kawarthafoundation.ca.  In a separate email, please provide your full name, address and date of deposit for the benefit of a tax receipt, as well as the answer to security question.
3. Alternately, cheques can be mailed to:

Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes
c/o Stewart Morrison Insurance
158 Lindsay Street South
Lindsay, Ontario   K9V 4S1

Local Citizens Create Bobcaygeon and Area COVID-19 Relief Fund

Immediate Assistance Needed

COVID-19 has hit close to home and the community is rising to assist in this tremendous time of need. A group of concerned citizens has taken the lead to create a fund to help patients, families and health-care workers affected by COVID-19 in Bobcaygeon, Ontario and surrounding area; a community among the hardest hit by the virus in the province.

“The stories I have heard about what’s happening are horrible,” admits City of Kawartha Lakes Councillor Kathleen Seymour-Fagan whose Ward includes Bobcaygeon and area. “Our hearts go out to the victims and their families. We have to do something and I know people want to help. We’re in this together.”

The urgency is real. Bobcaygeon is one of Ontario’s communities hardest hit by the pandemic. Seymour-Fagan and a few concerned local citizens have created the Bobcaygeon and Area COVID-19 Relief Fund to provide immediate assistance for eligible COVID-19 affected patients, families and health-care workers in the Bobcaygeon area with immediate support including: food supplies; transportation; technology; hiring and overtime costs; and mental wellness counselling.

The Fund will be administered by the Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes, advised by members of the Bobcaygeon community lead by Councillor Seymour-Fagan.

“I am honoured that the Foundation was tapped to help take action to address this challenge in our community,” stated Foundation President Mike Perry. “This is what community foundations do: rapid, professional response to helping each other here locally.” Perry added that he was very pleased that it took less than 24 hours from the time he got the call to when the fund was established, was in a position to issue tax receipts to donors and received its first donation. “There were calls, emails and procedural issues back and forth of course. But this is a health and economic crisis here at home so it’s all hands on deck,” Perry added.

The eligibility of each recipient to receive funds will be determined collaboratively by the Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes and the Bobcaygeon advisors, using best efforts. The approach to determine the eligibility of the recipients of the fund will be accountable as well as generous and inclusive.

The Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes will supply the funds to local businesses, charities and municipal bodies to deliver the funded goods and services to those identified in need. All activities undertaken will align with the objects of the Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes and charitable purposes as defined by the Canadian Revenue Agency. The Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes stands ready to help create additional funds to help the communities of Kawartha Lakes.

To make a donation to the Bobcaygeon and Area COVID-19 Relief Fund, contact Foundation Coordinator Margaret Cunningham at: 705.731.9775 or by email: info@kawarthafoundation.ca

Bobcaygeon and area patients, families and health care workers in need should contact Councillor Seymour-Fagan by email at kseymourfagan@kawarthalakes.ca

This story continues to develop.

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Contact: Margaret Cunningham, Foundation Coordinator margaret@jacksgroup.ca 705-879-2719

Kawartha Lakes - The City of Kawartha Lakes Economic Development, including the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Centre (KLSBEC), remains available to support our business community. Although municipal facilities are closed, Economic Development and KLSBEC services are available by phone and electronically.

“The health and well-being of residents and staff remains our primary focus, but we recognize this pandemic has also created many challenges for businesses in Kawartha Lakes,” commented Andy Letham, Mayor, City of Kawartha Lakes. “I applaud the work our Economic Development team is doing during these unprecedented times and hope their resources help support our business community.”

Kawartha Lakes Economic Development and partnering agencies are committed to supporting you and your business during COVID-19. Economic Development is part of Team Kawartha Lakes, which includes KLSBEC, Lindsay and District Chamber of Commerce, Lindsay Downtown BIA, Coboconk, Norland and Area Chamber of Commerce, Fenelon Falls and District Chamber of Commerce, Bobcaygeon and Area Chamber of Commerce, Impact 32, the Innovation Cluster, Kawartha Lakes CFDC, VCCS Employment and OMAFRA Regional Staff.

The Team is working collaboratively to ensure that local businesses receive up to date and accurate information. To stay informed and prepared, we encourage you to:

• Check out COVID-19 Business Resources for self-help and ways to connect
• Subscribe to the Economic Development Newsletter to stay informed
• Subscribe to the Business Events Calendar for upcoming webinars

“COVID-19 is not only a threat to our health, but to our local economy and businesses as well,” Rebecca Mustard, Manager, Economic Development, City of Kawartha Lakes. “In Kawartha Lakes we’re fortunate to have a unique, diverse and thriving business community. We know these are tough times for business and we’re here to help our business community. We hope our tools provide some support and relief.”