Hi Folks, This is our week to be in the Toronto Star - front page this past Sunday and today, front page of the Business section. Today's article includes our BIA business owners for Fermentations, Off The Hook and The Edmund Burke; and, one of our neighbour businesses Treasure Island Toys. The article is attached. This article was originally posted by the Canadian Press and was picked up and circulated across the country. Thank you to all of our BIA…

Hi everyone, A couple of you have emailed asking about an extension and possible change to the CEBA program (this is the Federal loan program) but couldn't find any updates. Below is a link that will provide information about the announcement made yesterday and it contains some additional links. CEBA will be extended to Oct. 31/20 and it seems that the Feds will announce some changes to this program in the coming days. https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2020/08/government-announces-greater-flexibility-and-extension-of-canada-emergency-business-account.html Thanks, Susan

Good Morning All, We've received information about the RBC Canada United Relief fund. Small businesses can apply to the fund and the information and link is below. RBC and partners have contributed 5 cents up to a maximum contribution amount of $2 million to the Canada United Small Business Relief Fund. The Fund will provide small businesses with grants of up to $5,000 to cover expenses related to personal protective equipment (PPE) renovations to accommodate re-opening guidelines and developing or…

Good Morning All, Please note I've included our MP Julie Dabrusin, our MPP Peter Tabuns and our City Councillor Paula Fletcher in the email version of this message. I have a few things for you today: 1. CECRA Extension Next Monday is August 31 and the CECRA program is scheduled to end. The hope is that the Federal and Provincial governments will extend it again for the month of September. Many of you have reached out to me to see…

Good Afternoon All, I have a few things for you today as follows: 1. De-escalation Seminars Attached please find information from the City regarding de-escalation seminars that will be hosted between Sept. 1 and Oct. 8. Over the past months we have seen an increase throughout the City in incidents with the public that put our business owners in difficult situations - whether it be push-backs on wearing a mask in a store, giving names and contact info at restaurants,…

Good Afternoon All, Please see the newsletter below from the City of Toronto. The application for increasing indoor capacity may be of interest to some of you; there's also some other good information resources that you all may find to be helpful. Thanks, Susan View this email in your browser BusinessTO Newsletter August 18, 2020 BusinessTO News is a weekly newsletter that focuses on available resources and supports to help mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on Toronto businesses. Learn about…