WINTER 2020, VOL. 17
PANDEMIC PIVOTS Adapting to 2020 challenges P5
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Featured in this issue:
NORMAN: Churchill Chamber of Commerce Flin Flon & District Chamber of Commerce Gillam Chamber of Commerce Lynn Lake Chamber of Commerce Snow Lake Chamber of Commerce The Pas & District Chamber of Commerce Thompson Chamber of Commerce PARKLAND: Dauphin & District Chamber of Commerce Roblin & District Chamber of Commerce Rossburn & District Chamber of Commerce Russell & District Chamber of Commerce Swan Valley Chamber of Commerce CENTRAL: Carman & Community Chamber of Commerce Chambre de commerce Notre-Dame-De-Lourdes Gladstone Chamber of Commerce MacGregor & District Chamber of Commerce Oakville & District Chamber of Commerce Portage la Prairie & District Chamber of Commerce Treherne & District Chamber of Commerce CAPITAL: Headingley Regional Chamber of Commerce La Salle & District Chamber of Commerce Niverville Chamber of Commerce Manitoba Southeast Commerce Group Selkirk Biz Stonewall & District Chamber of Commerce The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce PEMBINA VALLEY: Altona & District Chamber of Commerce Crystal City & District Chamber of Commerce Morden & District Chamber of Commerce Morris & District Chamber of Commerce Plum Coulee & District Chamber of Commerce Rosenort & District Chamber of Commerce Winkler & District Chamber of Commerce Aboriginal Chamber of Commerce Assiniboia Chamber of Commerce Chambre de commerce francophone de Saint-Boniface
EASTERN: Beausejour & District Chamber of Commerce Chambre de commerce Saint-Pierre-Jolys Chambre de commerce de St. Malo & du District Falcon/West Hawk Chamber of Commerce Grunthal & District Chamber of Commerce Lac Du Bonnet & District Chamber of Commerce Landmark & Area Chamber of Commerce Pinawa Chamber of Commerce Piney Regional Chamber of Commerce Reynolds & Whitemouth District Chamber of Commerce
Manitoba Business Outlook Survey. 6
Chamber members weigh in on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in our 2020
Springfield Chamber of Commerce Steinbach Chamber of Commerce WESTERN: Boissevain & District Chamber of Commerce Brandon Chamber of Commerce
open for online business. 18
Manitoba makers and retailers are
Carberry & District Chamber of Commerce Deloraine & District Chamber of Commerce Elkhorn District Chamber of Commerce Melita & District Chamber of Commerce Rapid City & District Chamber of Commerce Souris & Glenwood Chamber of Commerce Virden Community Chamber of Commerce Waskada & Area Chamber of Commerce INTERLAKE: Central Interlake Chamber of Commerce Eriksdale & District Chamber of Commerce Fisher Branch Chamber of Commerce Gimli Chamber of Commerce Teulon & District Chamber of Commerce MIDWEST:
Invented 30 years ago, the Winnipeg Ventilator is in demand across Canada. 36
Hamiota Chamber of Commerce Minnedosa Chamber of Commerce
Neepawa & District Chamber of Commerce Rivers & District Chamber of Commerce Shoal Lake and District Chamber of Commerce Wasagaming Chamber of Commerce
are driving up automobile sales. 42
Physical distancing and other factors
We believe in your business as much as you. Our Business Banking team can help you make your business dreams come true.
A MESSAGE FROM MCC PRESIDENT & CEO CHUCK DAVIDSON
NETWORK SUPPORT: DOING OUR BEST IN THE WORST OF TIMES THIS IS A TOUGH LETTER FOR ME TO WRITE.
WINTER 2020, VOL. 17
MANITOBA CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE jointhechamber.ca PRESIDENT & CEO Chuck Davidson DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS & POLICY Karen Viveiros WINNIPEG FREE PRESS winnipegfreepress.com PUBLISHER Bob Cox MANAGER OF NICHE PRODUCTS Brandi Johnson brandi.johnson@freepress.mb.ca EDITOR Pat St. Germain pdstgermain@gmail.com
It has been more than nine months since the dawn of the pandemic; a period in the collective experience of global citizens that has been strangely numbing and monumentally stressful. In some ways, it feels as though time has flown by, yet in other ways, it feels like it’s standing still. For health-care professionals and other critical services workers, as well as community agencies and charitable organizations, there have been overwhelming demands, and long days darkened by sadness, frustration, and exhaustion. We are deeply thankful to all of you as you continue to fight for Manitobans’ health and well-being. For those of us outside the realm of essential work, COVID-19 has also been difficult — different, but still difficult. We move through each day preparing for the worst and hoping for the best, listening intently to government and public health announcements, trying to interpret how best to help, and desperate to figure out how we can make it through this together. Business owners across the province have stepped up in many ways to support their communities. They’ve implemented health and safety practices to reduce virus transmission risks, they’ve delivered groceries and other essential goods when we’ve been told to stay home, and they’ve shifted operations many times over just to stay in the game. And business will never be the same. At the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, we are working hard to provide advocacy, information, and
resources, and we are beyond proud of our province’s local Chamber of Commerce leaders and business community members. We’ve regularly asked them how they’re faring, and we are determined to support Manitoba’s Chamber network and businesses through to the other side. It has been one year since we published an issue of MBiz Magazine. It just didn’t feel right in the spring to be celebrating success and entrepreneurial spirit when children were out of school, businesses were shuttered, the streets were quiet, and we were all trying to make sense of our so-called “new normal.” Thankfully, there are some very bright spots and inspiring stories to tell. We hope you enjoy the profiles we’ve shared
WRITERS Jim Bender Trina Rehberg Boyko Carolynne Jansen Sherry Kaniuga Wendy King Judy Owen Pat St. Germain Jim Timlick
Karen Viveiros Lindsey Ward PHOTOGRAPHY Darcy Finley Numerous organizations supplied DESIGN Jane Chartrand
in this edition of the magazine. Working on behalf of business, CHUCK DAVIDSON President and CEO Manitoba Chambers of Commerce
View online at: winnipegfreepress.com/publications
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2020 MANITOBA BUSINESS OUTLOOK SURVEY
Perspectives from the 2020 Manitoba Business Outlook Survey COVID-19: CREATING AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE FOR BUSINESS T o say the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on Manitoba’s economy and business community would be an understatement.
• Most leaders say they’ve restricted spending given the uncertainty (60% of respondents), and more than half (54%) say they’ve experienced a decrease in sales. • There are gaps in information related to government emergency relief and support programs, and there are opportunities to enhance overall communication. • Employees are experiencing high levels of stress. (18% of respondents said employee well-being/mental health was their top concern). “This survey, our third annual, is a key barometer for us, and we use it to assess economic confidence levels, identify challenges and barriers to growth, and shape our advocacy efforts,” says Chuck Davidson, MCC President & CEO. “This year’s results paint a fairly dark picture, as confidence is clearly shaken and Manitoba’s business leaders are operating in a fairly precarious position.” Roughly one in five survey respondents (18%) reported that COVID-19 has had
an “extremely negative impact on their operations” and just under half (48%) say it has had a “medium impact.” Unfortunately, Manitoba’s small businesses and the tourism/restaurant/hospitality industries were more likely to report an “extremely negative impact,” just as they did in MCC’s March 2020 survey at the outset of the pandemic. “In the spring, diligent Manitobans did an incredible job of bending the COVID-19 curve, the stay-at-home order was a sharp event, and there was a light at the end of the tunnel,” says Andrew Enns, Executive VP – Winnipeg, Leger. “The harsh reality is that COVID-19 has been with us a long time, we’re exhausted from the extra operational demands it has created, physical distancing is mentally tough, health order restrictions are tightening, case numbers are trending in the wrong direction, and we’re not able to look forward to 2021 with much anticipation or positivity.” The survey revealed that one-quarter of businesses (25%) have accumulated debt because of the pandemic, 45% say they’re CONTINUED ON PAGE 9>>
The 2020 Manitoba Business Outlook Survey, conducted between Oct. 30 and Nov. 16, 2020, re-affirmed what the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce (MCC) has heard from members and the broader business community since the declaration of the pandemic: COVID-19 is the defining force for all decision-making, flowing as a dark undercurrent in some sectors while decimating others. Commissioned by the MCC and delivered in conjunction with partners Leger, CPHR Manitoba, World Trade Centre Winnipeg, Red River College, the Rural Manitoba Economic Development Organization, and Manitoba Business Matters, the survey revealed: • Cash flow is the single greatest concern for Manitoba businesses (29% of survey respondents say it’s their chief concern).
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KEY THEMES FROM THE SURVEY
IMPACT OF PANDEMIC
2020 has delivered unprecedented challenges, and MCC would be remiss if we didn’t measure COVID-19’s impact on your 2020 business performance. How would you describe the impact of the pandemic on your business operations? Base: All respondents (n=397)
EXTREMELY NEGATIVE IMPACT
18%
MEDIUM IMPACT
48%
LOW IMPACT
In a June 2020 survey, this question was phrased to ask the state of operations as compared to summer 2019: • ‘Shut down’ operations temporarily: 11% • Lower than last year: 64% • Same to minimally changed: 17% • Noticed growth (Positive impact) as compared to Summer 2019: 6%
17%
MINIMAL TO NONE
9%
8%
POSITIVE IMPACT
BUSINESS CONCERNS
Please rank/sort the items below in terms of what you are most worried about right now as it relates to the internal operations of your business? [TOP CONCERN] Base: All respondents (n=397)
29%
Cash Flow (rent, payroll, etc.) Employee well-being/mental health Maintaining operations well enough to service customers Loss of market share/Access to markets Inventory depletion/Supply Chain Accounts receivable/Customers not paying/Cancelled orders Retaining staff (workforce) Attracting staff with required skills to fill new roles
18%
15%
11%
6%
4% 4%
69% of business affected ‘extremely negatively’ mentioned cash flow as their top concern, while 10% of them mentioned loss of market share as their top concern.
3% 3%
Messaging/Communications Contractual/Legal concerns Child care for employees HR benefits - cost and depletion None apply 0
2% 4
2
6
8
10
1%
0%
6%
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2020 MANITOBA BUSINESS OUTLOOK SURVEY
ADDITIONAL EXPECTATIONS FROM GOVERNMENT Beyond specific pandemic relief measures, if you had the opportunity, what would you tell the provincial government it should do to support the Manitoba business community? (TOTAL MENTIONS) Base: All respondents (n=397)
42%
Reduce/Eliminate business and payroll taxes
37%
Provide more financial supports to businesses
26%
Reduce the volume of regulations/red tape burden
21%
Provide incentives for capital investment
14% 14%
Deliver government-funded training to increase skilled workforce
Provide a grant to defray PPE costs
13%
Lower taxes for consumers
8%
Implement a commercial rent moratorium
Reform labour legislation
4%
Other
11%
Don't know
3%
OPINIONS ON MANITOBA’S FUTURE In spite of the pandemic, in your opinion as a business person, do you feel things overall in the province are still heading in the right direction or is Manitoba on the wrong track? Base: All respondents (n=397)
7%
5%
Total WRONG TRACK: 48% Total RIGHT DIRECTION: 47%
18%
STRONGLY IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION SOMEWHAT IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION SOMEWHAT ON THE WRONG TRACK STRONGLY ON THE WRONG TRACK DON'T KNOW
41%
29%
In our 2019 survey:
• Strongly Right Direction 7% • Somewhat Right Direction 65% • Somewhat Wrong Track 16%
• Strongly Wrong Track 8% • Don’t Know 4%
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<< CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 operating at reduced levels due to health orders, 35% have laid off employees, and just 8% reported an increase in online sales. “Business performance is not what it was in 2019, we know that liquidity is a big issue, and COVID-19 emergency relief funds just don’t make up for what has been lost,” says Davidson. “However, on a positive note, there is a fairly high level of awareness of government relief programs — more so federal than provincial. In fact, more than one-third of business leaders (39%) say what they need most right now is information about evolving provincial programs.” The MCC is pleased that 40% of respondents had applied for and were receiving the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS), designed to enable employers to keep staff on payroll by defraying a portion of wages (approved for extension until June 2021). Also, 37% had applied for and received the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA), a loan designed to fund operations amid decreasing revenues, with a portion to be forgiven if the balance is paid off by a specified date. When we examine the provincial relief program statistics, just 6% of respondents say they’ve applied for and received the Manitoba Back to Work Wage Subsidy, which defrays 50% of wages (up to $7/hr) for up to 20 employees until Dec. 31, 2020. Only 8% say they had applied for and received funds through the Manitoba Gap Protection Program, intended for businesses falling through the cracks of federal programs. Both federal and provincial governments have taken steps to address business liquidity, but more needs to be done to help businesses and workers through this crisis. Even still, the majority of respondents (69%) remain optimistic about their business, with more than 60% predicting their staff complement to be about the same at this time next year, and 14% saying it may be even larger. “Given the conditions we’re operating in, that level of positivity is not too bad at all,” says Davidson. ■ “COVID-19 has created for all of us moments of frustration, whether related to operating restrictions, complying with health orders, incurring additional costs to protect workers and customers, decreased revenues, you name it...It has been a slog, and there is no magic bullet, so we have to keep pushing to mitigate the health impacts, adjust our business models, and advocate for enhancements to COVID-19 financial relief.” - Chuck Davidson Methodology The 2020 Manitoba Business Outlook Survey was conducted between Oct. 30 and Nov. 16, 2020. In total, 397 Manitoba business decision-makers completed the survey. Since much of the research was conducted from a list database, the sample is considered to be non-probability and therefore, margins of error are not applicable. For contextual purposes, a probability sample of a survey size of 397 cases with this sample frame theoretically carries a confidence interval of approximately +/- 4.7 percent, 19 times out of 20.
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WINTER 2020
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CONSTRUCTION SAFETY ASSOCIATION OF MANITOBA (CSAM)
pandemic. We have created and compiled quality resources to help our clients work safely amid the pandemic.” CSAM has created many detailed guidance documents that outline COVID-19 prevention best practices. Notably, CSAM has developed an employer step-by-step best practice guide in the event an employee tests positive for COVID-19. “Practical Solutions for a Safer Workplace” remains a cornerstone and guiding principle for the implementation of CSAM’s objectives: • To provide information regarding accident prevention methods and changes to health and safety regulations. • To develop information, resources, tools, and training programs to enable contractors to meet their legislated responsibilities. • To provide guidance with respect to establishing comprehensive safety programs tailored to meet the needs of individual companies both large and small. • To act as the Authority Having Jurisdiction to grant COR™ Certification and SECOR™ Certification. “Whatever you need in terms of workplace safety, we are here to help you — that’s who we are and what we do — and we always provide exceptional customer service, quality, and value,” says CSAM Director of Operations Derek Pott. “One of the best things an employer can do is achieve COR™ Certification. An effective safety and health management system will provide you with a roadmap to meeting your legislative responsibilities, prevent incidents and ultimately, it should save you time and money by improving efficiency, earning a 15% rebate on your WCB premiums, and also creating a positive safety culture within your company and having your employees feel valued.”
Executive Director Sean Scott (left) and Director of Operations Derek Pott.
CSAM: PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS FOR A SAFER WORKPLACE T he COVID-19 pandemic has brought workplace health to the front of mind for many companies, but the reality is workers face a multitude of safety and health hazards on a daily basis, no matter where they work.
exceptional customer service, quality, and value for its clients. The focus on servicing clients’ needs enables CSAM to adapt and innovate to best fit YOUR business, so you can work toward a safer workplace in a way that best suits your company.
Workplace safety and health is an integral part of EVERY job, but just as construction projects require specific trades and building materials, each workplace requires specific safety practices, procedures, and equipment to control site-specific hazards. After 30 years of serving Manitobans in industrial, commercial, institutional, and residential construction, the Construction Safety Association of Manitoba (CSAM) has earned the reputation as a leader in the safety landscape of Manitoba, as well as within the Canadian Federation of Construction Safety Associations. This reputation has been fuelled by the association’s focus on providing
“We’re here to make safety work for you, whether that’s through consultations, education, resources, or COR™ Certification. Right now, that includes helping companies navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. ”
“Our focus is on our clients,” says CSAM Executive Director Sean Scott. “We’re here to make safety work for you, whether that’s through consultations, education, resources, or COR™ Certification. Right now, that includes helping companies navigate the COVID-19
Learn more about the Construction Safety Association of Manitoba at constructionsafety.ca, or call us at 204-775-3171 in Winnipeg or 204-728-3456 in Brandon if you have questions. ■
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MANITOBA’S HOG SECTOR CONTINUES TO INVIGORATE RURAL COMMUNITIES
The global economy has taken a severe hit from the pandemic. As Manitoba starts to recover, it is reassuring to note that the hog sector continues to enhance economic strength province-wide by creating jobs and growth opportunities in rural communities, while producing high-quality and affordable protein. The Manitoba hog sector employs 14,000 Manitobans and contributes $1.7 billion to the provincial economy annually. Thanks to the hog sector, rural areas like Neepawa, Roblin, Killarney, and Notre Dame de Lourdes are being revitalized with new jobs in construction and other local trades. Schools, daycares, churches, and recreational centres are welcoming new members and communities are thriving. “Myself and other Manitoba hog farmers continue to invest in new or expanded operations to meet the higher demand and standards that the marketplace requires,” says Rick Préjet, a hog farmer from Notre Dame de Lourdes. Since 2017, there have been over 20 new barn sites or barn expansions developed in Manitoba, with several others currently in the planning or approval stage.
This represents over $100 million in private investment in rural Manitoba. As well, more than $200 million has been invested by Manitoba processing facilities. All told, in the coming years provincial pork producers will be investing about $2 billion, creating jobs and raising the economic wealth of all Manitobans. Ongoing investments like these will be bolstered by the provincial government’s sustainable protein strategy, which seeks to ensure that Manitoba remains a leader in animal protein production as global demand increases.
Manitoba’s share of the Canadian hog market
“The world will eventually recover and move on from the destruction brought by COVID-19,” Préjet notes. “And Manitoba hog farmers will do our part by continuing to contribute to a thriving and progressive lifestyle for everyone.”
To learn more, visit manitobapork.com/rural Sponsored Content by Manitoba Pork
Image: A modern Manitoba barn build
CONTRIBUTING 14,000 JOBS AND 1.7 BILLION ANNUALLY The hog sector is a key contributor to Manitoba’s economy.
HyLife Foods Manitoba Pork Producer Neepawa, MB
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MANITOBA BUSINESS MATTERS
BUSINESS IS UNUSUAL The next wave of change will be strategic. Help is on the way. BY CAROLYNNE JANSEN
T he outbreak of COVID-19 continues to cause disruptions for many small to medium businesses, while fundamentally changing the way the world conducts business, now, and in the future. As the backbone of Manitoba’s economy, our small businesses must adjust to recover and be set up for success in the “new normal.” Every decision made today could have an impact on a business’ ability to thrive in a post-pandemic world. Communities across the country are eager to reopen and rebuild the tattered economy, but the approach to the restart varies greatly by province, territory, and sector. And, as we learn more about the virus amid surging cases and second waves, restrictions and restart processes evolve. As a result, business leaders are left with more questions than answers as they struggle to move forward and get back to work in a confusing environment. “Since the onset of the pandemic, our primary focus has been to mitigate COVID-19's impact by making sense of an
our partners who will help us bring Business is Unusual to life.” With the release of the guide, MCC will embark on a phased, business-led information delivery campaign that will position Manitoba’s businesses to thrive and fuel our economic recovery. In early November 2020, Terry Duguid, Parliamentary Secretary to the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages, and Minister responsible for Western Economic Diversification Canada, announced more than $2.8 million for a robust series of initiatives to help local businesses survive and thrive. The MCC is one of 23 non-profit business support organizations on the ground to receive critical project funding from the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund. With the federal government’s support, MCC and our partners will continue helping businesses prepare for the road ahead through a coordinated, longer-term initiative called Manitoba Business Matters . MCC is honoured to have received commitments from
overwhelming volume of information and communicating about public health orders, workplace health and safety protocols, and emergency relief programs,” says Manitoba Chambers of Commerce (MCC) President & CEO Chuck Davidson. “As we navigate this unprecedented challenge, we are committed to supporting Manitoba’s Chamber network and business community, and to advocating for measures to ensure their survival.” Up next, the MCC will launch a new initiative to provide businesses with the expert resources they need to persevere. Business Is Unusual – A Coronavirus Survival Guide for Manitoba Business will be available in early 2021 to nearly 45,000 small businesses across the province, and will feature comprehensive COVID-19 information, business resources, and tools. “While the pandemic has undoubtedly challenged us in many ways, it has highlighted Manitobans’ unwavering commitment to support one another during difficult times. We are incredibly grateful to Manitobans who have supported their local businesses, and to
"Businesses all across Canada have been hit hard by COVID-19. That's why, through Regional Development Agencies like Western Economic Diversification Canada, the federal government is providing businesses vital support and saving thousands of jobs. Our government committed to create one million jobs, and I want to assure Manitoba business owners and workers that while we manage this health crisis, we will be there to support you for as long as it takes, with whatever it takes, and we will get through this together." - The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages, and Minister responsible for Western Economic Diversification Canada
Matters initiative will be instrumental in our province’s recovery efforts from COVID-19,” says Davidson. “We will forge a path together because we are undoubtedly #StrongerTogether.” As the COVID-19 situation evolves, so will the MCC. “We have always advocated on behalf of businesses, regardless of size and sector, but how we fulfill our mission seems to evolve by the hour. We are determined to meet the needs of Manitoba businesses in the days, weeks, and months ahead, and to lead where our members need us the most -- at
pillars of the Manitoba business community to provide operational guidance and expert advice over the course of 2021 related to:
the intersection of business, government, and community.” The Manitoba Chambers of Commerce and local Chamber network are here to support Manitoba businesses. Do not hesitate to contact us if you need us, or visit us online at jointhechamber.ca. ■
• tax and assurance • workplace safety
• human resource management • insurance and benefits planning • labour relations and employment law • workforce development
• technology and cybersecurity • marketing and social media • and more
“The coalition of government and industry that forms the Manitoba Business
TRAVEL MANITOBA
TRAVELLING THE ROAD TO RECOVERY Rebuilding Manitoba’s tourism industry
was one of the first sectors to be impacted by the pandemic and will likely be one of the last to fully recover. The tourism industry has been devastated by COVID-19. Forecasts by the World Tourism
As the provincial destination marketing organization, Travel Manitoba has a dual role in supporting the local tourism industry: marketing and advocacy. A summer marketing campaign, in partnership with Destination Canada, urged locals to “show Manitoba some love” by reminding them that “ home is where the heart is ”. This campaign balanced public health orders with the promotion of safe travel experiences within the province in order to stimulate the economy and mitigate the anticipated losses in visitor spending. While marketing tourism during a pandemic has its challenges, Travel Manitoba aligned its messaging with that of government public health. And throughout, advocating for the tourism industry has remained a top priority. Since the outset of the pandemic, Travel Manitoba used its seat at Manitoba’s Economic Growth Plan committee to advocate for the needs of Manitoba’s tourism industry — the majority of which are small - and medium-sized businesses. The organization continues to collaborate with the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce and other organizations such as Tourism Winnipeg, the Manitoba Tourism Education Council, the Manitoba Hotel Association, the Manitoba Lodges and Outfitters Association and the Manitoba Restaurant and Foodservices Association to amplify the voices of their members. As a member of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada, Travel Manitoba is part of a broader, larger advocacy network working for all tourism businesses across the country.
Organization indicate that international tourism could decrease by 60 to 80% in 2020 as public health rightly remains a priority over leisure and business travel. In Canada, if borders remain closed until 2021, a forecast from Destination Canada indicates a 61% decrease in tourism revenues in 2020. This would equate to Canada losing more than half its tourism jobs. In April, at the outset of the crisis, Travel Manitoba announced an anticipated decline in tourism revenues between 25 and 65%. Over the course of July and August, some factors appeared to have insulated the province’s tourism industry: Manitoba relies less on international visitors than other Canadian destinations and we had a relatively low COVID caseload over the summer — high season for tourism. Despite some bright spots, with a few rural destinations reporting all time high numbers of visitation, that initial forecast was revised. Manitoba is now expected to see a drop between 45 and 60% in overall visitor spending. This is equal to $800 million to $1 billion in revenues and could lead to the loss of up to 10,000 jobs in the tourism industry. Some sectors, including Winnipeg’s hotels, attractions and meetings and events, along with fly-in hunting and fishing lodges and Churchill operators have been particularly hard hit.
“Tourism creates jobs and provides tax revenues to government. But it also means exciting attractions, great events and accessible wilderness that improve our quality of life as residents of Manitoba. The need to support tourism isn’t just for the sake of visitors–it’s for all Manitobans.” —Colin Ferguson, Travel Manitoba President & CEO
Kayaking with beluga whales in Churchill.
Central to Travel Manitoba’s advocacy efforts is listening to its industry. A survey to industry partners in April provided insight into the issues that were immediately important. Among those, lobbying for financial support. With this top of mind, Travel Manitoba’s advocacy work helped frame some of the federal and provincial pandemic relief programs that helped many tourism businesses survive this far. This advocacy work will continue as a key priority as the industry continues to struggle. Travel Manitoba also returned to industry to ask for input in rebuilding the tourism industry. Travel Manitoba, the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce and the Government of Manitoba were proud to collaborate on the Provincial Tourism Strategy for Manitoba, launched in April 2019. While many of the priorities identified in that strategy will be important to advance going forward, the context for growth has certainly changed. Consultations with the tourism industry are central to a new revised Provincial Tourism Strategy. Set to launch by the end of 2020, this revised strategy will have a new realistic long-term goal — along with a plan for sustainable growth of Manitoba’s tourism industry to 2030. A new strategy with a new goal will reflect the current reality as well as the voices and the vision of the people behind Manitoba’s tourism industry as we continue down the road to recovery.
Canadian Museum for Human Rights.
Learn more at travelmanitoba.com
Hargrave St. Market.
MANITOBA MINERAL DEVELOPMENT FUND
MMDF: MOBILIZING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN NORTHERN MANITOBA I n October 2019, the Government of Manitoba announced $20 million in funding to jump-start mineral and economic development initiatives in the North and throughout the province of Manitoba. Administered by the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce (MCC), the Manitoba Mineral Development Fund (MMDF) provides $2M annually to communities and businesses, including Indigenous groups, municipalities, and the not-for-profit sector for strategic economic development projects in northern Manitoba. Under the guidelines, funding can also be provided to projects outside of northern Manitoba that support the mineral development industry.
Since its official launch in July 2020, MMDF has approved more than $1M towards projects that focus on growing and diversifying the provincial economy together with Indigenous communities. Behind the scenes, MMDF’s Application Review Committee and Board of Directors are busy reviewing projects to ensure the Fund has lasting impact. “Over the past six months, our committee members have demonstrated their knowledge and commitment to ensuring the projects we invest in have the potential to benefit communities in the North and strengthen key relationships and partnerships,” says Flin Flon Mayor Cal Huntley, Chair of the MMDF Application Review Committee. “We look forward to reviewing additional new projects in the coming months and we’re excited to see the positive impacts of approved projects as they move forward.” Jessica Ferris, Program Manager for MMDF, says that just as COVID-19 has presented several challenges for communities and businesses across rural and northern Manitoba, it has also affected project proponents working with MMDF. Ferris stresses that being understanding, flexible, and supportive to communities and organizations working on projects is fundamental to the success of MMDF. “In spite of COVID-19’s economic impact, through this fund we have been able to make new and significant financial investments in the North and we look forward to receiving and reviewing proposals through our ongoing application intake process,” says Chuck Davidson, President & CEO of the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce. The MMDF team is looking forward to funding additional projects in 2021 that will build Manitoba’s northern economy and create lasting relationships between communities and industry.
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Pine Bay Project
PROJECT SPOTLIGHTS
MMDF is excited to be supporting Norway House Cree Nation’s project. It involves purchasing a decommissioned mining camp with the intent of contracting out the facilities and equipment to mineral exploration companies working in the area. With established partnerships with Rockcliff Metal Corp., Victory Nickel Inc., and Cyr Drilling International, the project has promising sustainable benefits for the community. Norway House Cree Nation will be selecting a Treaty Land Entitlement selection to provide services for future development for the project. They are pleased to be part of a group of First Nations who
With the support of MMDF, Callinex Mines Inc. is expanding their 2020/2021 drill program for the Pine Bay project. In September 2020, the company announced two high- grade Copper, Gold, Silver and Zinc Lenses at the site. The project site is located 16km from Flin Flon, Manitoba. With its
strategic location and access to key infrastructure, the advancement of the project has significant economic impact for the City of Flin Flon and surrounding area. “Our team is eager to quickly advance the emerging
will benefit from the economics and employment, and ensure the environment is protected. “The support from the MMDF will create the opportunity for Norway House Cree Nation to work with the exploration and mining initiatives within our Traditional Territory, creating much-needed
Rainbow Discovery at our Pine Bay Project in Manitoba. We believe the Rainbow Discovery has the potential to create long- term jobs for the Flin Flon community and be a significant contributor to the Manitoba economy.” - Max Porterfield, President & CEO, Callinex Mines Inc.
jobs and opportunities for the people in the region affected by the development. For far too long, First Nations have been left out of opportunities in this sector. This initiative will provide the incentive for First Nations and companies to begin to work together in a win-win partnership for resource development in the future.” - Chief Larson Anderson, Chief of Norway House Cree Nation
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SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
LOCAL TREASURES Amazing shops and stays are just a click away BY PAT ST. GERMAIN
They say every cloud has a silver lining. During a year of staycations and isolation, many of us found it in our own backyard. BRERETON LAKE RESORT Brereton Lake Resort owners Greg and Kim Ftoma saw more of their fellow Manitobans this summer than they’d seen in any of the 18 years since they bought their little piece of the Whiteshell. The resort’s restaurant is a popular culinary
WILLOW CREEK In Winkler, you might say the Willow Creek home and gift boutique was saved by the URL (willowcreekcurated.com). Proprietor Sonya Shiskoski and her children, Josh Shiskoski and daughter Des Hildebrand, marked the boutique’s second anniversary on Nov. 8. It was not a big celebration, but Sonya says despite restrictions and full-on lockdowns, workdays are busy. Curb-side pickups and local deliveries keep her hopping, and a strong website and social media presence attracted online shoppers from Winnipeg and across Canada before the pandemic hit. However, it is stressful. Transactions are much more complicated due to health and
oasis and even with COVID-19 distancing restrictions, business was booming. “May was patio only. In June, July, August and September at 50% capacity, I was 30% busier than last year,” Greg says. Word of mouth helps, and guests can check out the website (breretonlakeresort.ca) to see a menu, along with photos of the pet- friendly resort’s 12 inviting cabins. They can even book their stay online. Greg says weekends are always busy, but more guests booked weekday stays this summer, and into October, when business was up 60% over last year. Open year-round, the resort makes six of its 12 cabins available for winter recreation enthusiasts.
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An online presence is vital for small retailers. Soak Bath Company (opposite page) and Willow Creek’s Des Hildebrand (above left) and Sonya Shiskoski have strong stand-alone sites, while Good Local provides a one-stop site. Willow Creek photos by Darcy Finley to Hawaiian music and drink mai tais, for example) and made-in-Manitoba goods from businesses such as the Charleston & Harlow Candle Co., The Cozy Prairie Quilt and Smak Dab mustard. GOOD LOCAL In Winnipeg, former Winnipeg Blue Bomber Obby Khan and his fellow entrepreneur Ali Esmail created an online venue, Good Local (goodlocal.ca) to encourage Manitobans to buy from local retailers and makers. It’s a one-stop site with access to goods that run the gamut — honey from Libau’s Faith Apiaries, bath products from Sandy Hook Soap Factory, funky leather bags from Winnipeg’s Earth and Hide, butter from the Notre Dame creamery and multiple vendors of jewelry, farm-fresh meat, knits, candles, art and more. ■
safety protocols. And while Hildebrand has so far been able to show about 80% of the boutique’s stock online, it’s not as easy as taking a photo and posting it. Merchandise must be measured and weighed to provide detailed information to customers. SOAK BATH COMPANY Niverville soap-maker Candace Alarie’s business was going down the drain at the start of the pandemic, but it wasn’t long before she was cleaning up. Thanks to a trade-show display in Toronto in January, her SOAK Bath Company attracted attention from Hudson’s Bay Co. buyers, and she landed coveted display space in some 20 stores. She’s also secured contracts with several shops in the U.S. and she is busy shipping products to individual buyers who are stocking up on gifts and luxury goods from her online store
(cksoakbathco.com) and at retail outlets such as the Niverville Community General Store. THE FABRIC SNOB Riverton’s The Fabric Snob (thefabricsnob. com) has the mask-making supply business all sewn up in the Interlake. The family company has new crafters and veteran sewers covered, with fabulous fabrics, patterns, metal nose pieces, elastic for ear loops, sewing machine parts and more. Extremely well stocked, the shop wins rave reviews online. MCPHAIL TRAVEL Think globally, shop locally could be the mantra at Brandon’s McPhail Travel. The company came up with themed staycation boxes (staycationbox.ca) packed with itineraries, recipes and activities (listen
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FOOD INSECURITY
Businesses, individuals and organizations address food insecurity By Jim Timlick SHARING THE WEALTH
F ood insecurity has been a concern among Canadians for some time, and it has become a hot-button issue during the COVID-19 pandemic. Statistics Canada data shows just how uneasy many Canadians feel about their own food intake. A web survey conducted between May 4 and 10 showed that one in seven respondents (14.6%) lived in a household that had experienced food
insecurity during the previous 30 days. Households with children have a higher rate of insecurity, and the survey revealed that Canadians who were absent from work due to COVID-19 were almost three times more likely to be food insecure compared to those who were working. While those kinds of numbers might cause some folks to become despondent, many more are inspired to take action.
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Downtown Family Foods owners Darcey Schmidt and Kevin Schmidt. Photos by Darcy Finley
“It makes us feel good to know that people are being helped. As nice as it is to make money, you have to help people out too.”
CLASS ACTS Kevin Schmidt and his business partners were already involved in food security programs when the pandemic hit. Schmidt is the co-owner of Downtown Family Foods, an independent grocery store on Donald Street, along with his wife Darcey and brother-in-law Ryan Gingras. Two years ago, they teamed-up with the Walter & Maria Schroeder Foundation (schroederfoundation.org) to provide weekly hampers to help students at St. John’s High School who didn’t have enough food at home. Students receive $30 worth of groceries as part of the program, which has grown from an initial 50 students to 150. Family Foods provides all the items and distribution is handled by outreach workers with the foundation. It also now supplies food items for a cafeteria program the Schroeder’s foundation created to provide 200 free and subsidized meals to students at the school each day. “For those kids it’s been such a blessing,” Schmidt says. “It might be the only thing that kid has had all day. The great thing is not only are those kids more attentive during the day, everyone’s grades have also improved. It’s been a real win-win for the kids.” More recently, Family Foods teamed up with the Manitoba Métis Federation to help members who were struggling during the pandemic, including a large number of elderly people. They
provided more than 500 food hampers at cost to MMF members early on in the pandemic and planned to resume the initiative this winter. “My wife and I have always been the type to try and help people,” Schmidt says. “It makes us feel good to know that people are being helped. As nice as it is to make money, you have to help people out too.” Like most grocers, Family Foods has experienced a huge boom in business during the pandemic, as consumer spending shifted away from restaurants and turned to grocery stores. Schmidt estimates overall business grew by 50% at one point, and online orders have more than quadrupled, since many people are reluctant to shop in-person. Still, the changes were a mixed blessing for the store’s owners. They lost nearly a third of their staff, many of whom are students who worried they might contract the coronavirus and pass it on to vulnerable family members. They also had to reduce their hours of operation at one point just to keep their shelves stocked. And then there’s the added time and expense of sanitizing high-contact surfaces every day, and making sure everyone who enters the store or makes a delivery follows the proper protocols as dictated by provincial health officials. “It wasn’t easy, that’s for sure,” Schmidt says. “We’re always doing our best to make sure everyone follows the rules and keeps everyone around them safe.” CONTINUED >>
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FOOD INSECURITY
“We really try to focus on people who are on the bubble, who are maybe too proud or not humble enough to go to their local food bank.”
Everyone Eats Brandon founder Nicholas Namespetra. Photo courtesy of Everyone Eats Brandon
<< FOOD INSECURITY CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS
EAT, PAY, LOVE Food insecurity was also the inspiration for a new initiative in the Westman region. Everyone Eats Brandon (everyoneeatsbrandon.ca) is a not-for-profit program operated by Brandon University Food Services along with the Brandon Food Council, John Howard Society and Assiniboine Community College. It provides at least 200 nourishing meals three nights a week on a pay-what-you-can model. The suggested price of each meal is $10, which covers the $8 cost as well as a portion of someone else’s meal. Those who can afford to pay more are encouraged to top up their total while those who are struggling can pay as little as zero. Meals are ordered online and paid for with a credit card. They are then either delivered to the client’s home or picked up curbside. The beauty of it is that nobody else knows how much a person paid for the meal, so there’s no stigma attached to the program. To date, Everyone Eats Brandon has served up more than 5,000 meals, with about a fifth of those meals provided free of charge.
Nicholas Namespetra, manager of Brandon University Food Services, says the aim of the program is to provide quality meals at an affordable price, while educating the public about food insecurity in the region. “What we’re trying to do is give information to the public and our clientele while also making sure everybody can have a nutritious meal and get the assistance they need to get through this pandemic,” he says. “We really try to focus on people who are on the bubble, who are maybe too proud or not humble enough to go to their local food bank.” Each meal is exactly the same, prepared by program staff and volunteers. The focus is usually on familiar comfort foods such as macaroni and cheese, meatloaf, shepherd’s pie, curries and cabbage rolls. Namespetra came up with the idea after realizing some of his six-year-old son’s classmates couldn’t access the breakfast program at their school during the pandemic. He approached the Brandon Food Council to ask how he could help and Everyone Eats Brandon was launched this summer as a pilot project. After its initial success, it was tweaked and relaunched in October. ■
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NORTH FORGE TECHNOLOGY EXCHANGE
N orth Forge Technology Exchange CEO Joelle Foster seems to operate in one gear — overdrive. It’s been a pedal-to-the-metal year since Foster took the wheel in February, leading a multi-faceted revitalization to expand North Forge’s reach, increase its impact and redefine its ethos. “I just hate that I have to sleep,” Foster says. “We’ve had tremendous growth in the past six months.” A new four-stage Founders Program, launched on June 1, has transformed North Forge from incubator to hybrid incubator-accelerator, with digital programming to reach entrepreneurs and innovators in every nook and cranny of Manitoba. It's participating in a diversity and inclusion pilot project with Ryerson University and the Women’s Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH). And it's rolling out new programs that focus on advanced manufacturing (AMLab), Women in Technology (WiLab), would-be angel investors and more. “We are the new North Forge — we have evolved to meet the new demands in Manitoba,” Foster says. A founding board member — and the only woman on the original board — Foster was leading the University of Calgary’s Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking when she was asked to take the CEO position. She and her family moved back to Winnipeg in late February, just as the global pandemic was taking hold. “Everything was shutting down, so it was interesting starting a new job with a new team during COVID, when you’re all on Zoom,” she says. DRIVING CHANGE AT NORTH FORGE
North Forge Technology Exchange CEO Joelle Foster. Photo by Shannon Vanraes
Hence, her team spent three months developing the Founders Program, with input on best practices from academics and other incubators around the world. “Since June 1, we have been working with 56 companies, so you know what that tells me — that there was a massive need for something like this.” To address another massive need, Foster’s team is partnering with the National Angel Capital Organization (NACO) to start up the North Forge Angel Network. It will provide free resources, such as webinars, for Manitobans who are interested in investing in a technology- enabled company, but who lack the knowledge and expertise. “We want to enable people and give them the confidence to become an investor. That’s what was missing in Manitoba.” It’s especially important to address gaps in funding for female founders – a challenge that affects the entire tech industry. Female-founded companies are more likely to have women in leadership roles, and women-led companies and those with diverse teams perform better. That certainly seems to be true for North Forge, which now has four female board members — three of whom were brought on during the pandemic — along with its indefatigable CEO. ■ Learn more at northforge.ca
“Coming back, I kind of looked at everything and thought, ‘What was our original mandate? Why was North Forge created and who was it supposed to serve?’ It was getting really back to the grassroots of why were we created.” As the province’s innovation arm, they help entrepreneurs take businesses from the idea stage to prototype and — now, for the first time — commercialization. “We have one of the largest publicly accessible fabrication labs in North America,” Foster says, adding the 16,000-square-foot facility in the Exchange District’s Innovation Alley has been open 24/7 during the pandemic, with strict safety protocols. “People have invented a lot of PPE using our fabrication lab, which is quite exciting. We thought with everything they’re doing that we have to help advanced manufacturing companies or entrepreneurs scale up, as well. So we created AMLab. It helps people who have hardware or a prototype take that to commercialization. We’ve never done that before.” In recent years, North Forge has opened offices in The Pas and Pinawa, but Foster wanted to help entrepreneurs validate and grow their ideas regardless of their location. “We needed to make a bigger impact in the province — the entire province. It was so important to include anybody who had an interesting tech idea or innovative idea.”
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