COVID-19 BUSINESS RESOURCES FOR DOWNTOWN MEMBERS

https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/news-and-media/2020/march/18/covid-19-state-of-emergency

Have a great weekend and stay safe everyone!

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith

DAILY UPDATES MARCH - APRIL

March 16, 2020

Dear Downtown Regina Family,

I think I speak for everyone when I say this past week has been shocking, unnerving and heartbreaking for all of us – not just for our downtown community, but for Regina, for Saskatchewan and for the rest of the world. Every time I read or watched the news this weekend, I was bracing myself for what is coming next.

Unfortunately, it looks like COVID 19 will keep getting worse, at least for a while longer. I don’t know what or when the recovery will begin, but I do know that eventually it will begin. Now more than ever, we in Downtown Regina need to support one another, to have each other’s backs, to lift each over up when we inevitably stumble.

Today, I had to make the call to close the office until March 30. What should have been an easy decision to make, was actually quite hard. It hurt my heart to give our office a final disinfecting wipe down before locking the doors and setting the alarm. By closing our office, it felt like we were abandoning Downtown Regina, even though I know it’s the right thing to do in order to protect the staff from exposure and to help slow the spread of the virus. I wish I could be there in the trenches with you.

Over the coming weeks, while we are working remotely, the RDBID team will continue to be there for you. Members of the team will be contacting you – we want to know what your operations will be during this crisis. Will you be open? Limited hours? Online ordering? Delivery? Gift Cards? We want to know so we can continue to promote supporting our local businesses through our social media channels.

We are also reaching out to other Business Improvement Districts across North America to learn what they are doing for their downtowns – there is a lot to learn, especially from communities on the east and west coast of the US since they are several days ahead of us in the COVID cycle. We’ll bring those ideas back to Regina and see what we can adapt to fit our community here in the prairies. Our social media communications will not stop during this crisis.

We will also be exploring economic development tools – grants, loans, rebates, deferrals – that can help you weather this storm. As we pull together this information, we will share it with our Downtown family.

The RDBID Team is also looking forward to the recovery, when we can all breathe in the fresh, crisp Saskatchewan air without fear. We are thinking about how we can shout from the rooftops that Downtown Regina is open for business. We are thinking about the post COVID 19 celebration. But for now, our priority is making sure your businesses make it through this crisis and are there to celebrate too.

I am not the most eloquent writer, but I truly hope this letter reassures you that Regina Downtown – the staff and the Board of Directors – are here for you. As we move through this crisis, Regina Downtown will continue to communicate to you through email and/or social media. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions or ideas – just because we are not at our desks, doesn’t mean we aren’t working hard for your interests!

When I see you on the other side of this crisis, I hope we can meet up for a coffee (or gin and tonic or butter chicken or pizza or beef wellington or eggs benedict…you get what I mean) and share our crisis management war stories.

Please stay safe. Wash your hands. Hold your friends and family a little closer (while still maintaining the social distance minimum). Be patient with each other. Be there for one another. Be kind. We are all in this together.

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith Veresuk

Executive Director, Regina Downtown Business Improvement District BID

DAILY COVID-19 UPDATES FROM REGINA DOWNTOWN

March 17, 2020

Hi RDBID Members,

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Thank you to our bars and restaurants who chose to forego this year’s activities, limiting large gatherings. I know that must have been a painful decision to make. I believe the plan is to delay the big party one month to April 17. If we are in a position to gather once again, RDBID will be there front and centre, helping you organize, market and celebrate.

In the interest of keeping the lines of communication open, I will try to issue a quick update email every evening, for the time being. Some of these emails may be long, some may be really short – the important thing is to ensure you are all aware of the efforts we are making on your behalf and the outcomes of our efforts. We welcome your input and comments, which help us do a better job on your behalf.

Today’s update…

My fellow BID Executive Director in Ottawa was (virtually) meeting with Minister Catherine McKenna (Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, MP for Ottawa Centre) today. Representing the interests of all of Canada’s downtowns and commercial centres, the intent of his meeting with her was to convey the need for a two-pronged approach to the crisis – human and economic – with priorities being public health, economic relief, information sharing and recovery. Some of the ideas that were brought to the meeting include:
- Time to pay agreements for businesses to allow them to suspend or delay tax payments.
- Tax relief for commercial properties, especially those in the retail, leisure and hospitality sectors such as restaurants for example. Discounts could be given to smaller properties. Federal government could help municipalities make up for the shortfall in some manner.
- Grants for our smallest businesses to help meet their fixed costs, cover a few months of typical expenses – need to be easy to apply for and obtain.
- Government could underwrite loans to businesses and encourage lenders to help companies that would otherwise be deemed too risky.
- Sick pay coverage.

I will be on a video conference with BID colleagues across Canada tomorrow to discuss the results of the meeting with Minister McKenna and (hopefully) the economic stimulus package the Federal Government is set to announce on Wednesday. I will share the outcomes of the video conference with you in my next update.

Facebook announced some grant funding for small businesses experiencing disruption from the COVID 19 outbreak. They will begin accepting applications in the coming weeks. Please go to this website https://www.facebook.com/business/grants to sign up for updates.
RDBID staff may have reached out to you today to find out more about your operations during this crisis. Thank you for responding and helping us pull together a list of who is doing what. As we develop our social media campaign, I want to be clear that the messaging we will be using will be along the lines of “shop local”, “eat local” and “support local” through online purchasing, gift card purchases, delivery, take out. Social media pushes should begin on March 18 and continue as long as necessary. If you will be changing your hours or services, please let us know at info@reginadowntown.ca or tag us in your social media post. That will allow us to update our records.
I will be sending out a quick membership survey through this daily update tomorrow. Please answer the survey. I think the results will be sobering and hard to read, but we NEED this feedback to give our advocacy efforts regarding small business economic support some traction. Note that all the results will be held confidential, unless you allow us permission to quote you.

I think that’s it for now. If you don’t want to receive these emails, please let me know (No “unsubscribe” for now, I’m kicking it old school). If you think someone else in your businesses should be included, just shoot me their email and I’ll get them on the list.

Lastly, thank you for all the wonderful responses to the email I sent out yesterday. Your continued support during this crisis means so much more to me than you will ever know.

Stay safe!

Judith

March 18, 2020

Hi RDBID Members,

Well, it’s here. The province has declared a provincial state of emergency. Lots has happened in the past six hours, so let’s get this update going…

Saskatchewan State of Emergency

The implications for each RDBID member will be different, but some of the important points include:

All restaurants, bars and event venues must limit their seating to 50 per cent of capacity or up to a maximum of fifty people, whichever is lesser. All must be able to ensure social distance of one to two metres between customers. Retail spaces including grocery stores, pharmacies and gas stations are exempted from this policy but must have processes to maintain a one to two metre separation.
All gyms, fitness centres, casinos and bingo halls are ordered to close until further notice.
Any licensed restaurants and taverns in Saskatchewan will be permitted to sell alcohol as an offsale according to SLGA regulations indefinitely
All crown utilities will implement bill-deferral programs allowing a zero-interest bill deferral for up to six months for Saskatchewan residents whose ability to make bill payments may be impacted by the COVID-19 restrictions.

For continuing updates, go to http://www.saskatchewan.ca/COVID19

Federal COVID 19 Economic Response Plan

https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2020/03/canadas-covid-19-economic-response-plan-support-for-canadians-and-businesses.html

Prime Minister Trudeau announced economic measures to help stabilize the economiy during this challenging period. Important points for small business and their employees, include:

Introducing the Emergency Care Benefit providing up to $900 bi-weekly, for up to 15 weeks. This flat-payment Benefit would be administered through the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and provide income support to:
Workers, including the self-employed, who are quarantined or sick with COVID-19 but do not qualify for EI sickness benefits.
Workers, including the self-employed, who are taking care of a family member who is sick with COVID-19, such as an elderly parent, but do not quality for EI sickness benefits.
Parents with children who require care or supervision due to school closures, and are unable to earn employment income, irrespective of whether they qualify for EI or not.
Increases to GST credit payments and Canada Child Benefit payments.
Placing a six-month interest-free moratorium on the repayment of Canada Student Loans for all individuals currently in the process of repaying these loans.
Providing the Reaching Home initiative with $157.5 million to continue to support people experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 outbreak. The funding could be used for a range of needs such as purchasing beds and physical barriers for social distancing and securing accommodation to reduce overcrowding in shelters.
To support businesses that are facing revenue losses and to help prevent lay-offs, the government is proposing to provide eligible small employers a temporary wage subsidy for a period of three months. The subsidy will be equal to 10% of remuneration paid during that period, up to a maximum subsidy of $1,375 per employee and $25,000 per employer. Businesses will be able to benefit immediately from this support by reducing their remittances of income tax withheld on their employees’ remuneration. Employers benefiting from this measure will include corporations eligible for the small business deduction, as well as non-profit organizations and charities.
The Canada Revenue Agency will allow all businesses to defer, until after August 31, 2020, the payment of any income tax amounts that become owing on or after today and before September 2020.
The Canada Revenue Agency will not contact any small or medium (SME) businesses to initiate any post assessment GST/HST or Income Tax audits for the next four weeks.
The Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP) will allow the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) and Export Development Canada (EDC) to provide more than $10 billion of additional support, largely targeted to small and medium-sized businesses.

For detailed information, go to the website listed above.

Big Bank Mortgage Announcement

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/mortgage-covid19-coronavirus-cmhc-stimulus-1.5501125

In a new release late Tuesday, TD Bank announced that the country’s six largest financial institutions will “provide financial relief to Canadians impacted by the economic consequences of COVID-19.

“Effective immediately, Bank of Montreal, CIBC, National Bank of Canada, RBC Royal Bank, Scotiabank and TD Bank have made a commitment to work with personal and small business banking customers on a case-by-case basis to provide flexible solutions to help them manage through challenges such as pay disruption due to COVID-19; childcare disruption due to school closures; or those facing illness from COVID-19,” the statement reads.

“This support will include up to a six-month payment deferral for mortgages, and the opportunity for relief on other credit products.”

For more information, contact your financial institution.

Canadian Heritage Grants and Contributions Announcements

https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/funding/information-covid-19.html

If your organization receives funding through Canadian Heritage, please be aware of changes to the funding model on events and festivals impacted by COVID 19. See link above.

Business Support Webinars/Podcasts

RDBID is working closely with the Warehouse District on developing an ongoing webinar or podcast aimed at supporting our member businesses throughout this crisis. We will be lining up speakers and a schedule over the coming days. Some topics we think would be good include: business efficiencies, online marketing, social media communications, and self-care. If you would like a specific topic included, please shoot me an email. Or if you would like to be a presenter or speaker, also shoot me an email! Hopefully, we can get this up and running next week.

Until tomorrow, hang in there, support your neighbours, share this information with your staff, be kind. We are all in this together.

March 19, 2020

Hi RDBID Members,

Every day gets more and more surreal. I know we are all doing our best to hang in there. These are unprecedented times with nowhere to escape to (unless you count Netflix or Disney+). We just need to keep being there for one another, we need to keep picking each other up, we just need to keep doing the best we can. RDBID is always here to lend an ear, to help you vent, to talk you through ideas you may have to get through the crisis. Call, email, direct message (don’t fax, we need to go into the office to pick those up) – we are here for you.

Day 1 into the provincial State of Emergency…here is the latest RDBID update.

City of Regina – Special City Council Meeting – Friday, March 20 at 10 a.m.

https://www.regina.ca/news/Special-City-Council-Meeting-on-Friday-March-20-at-10-a.m.-Stream-Live-on-Regina.ca/

In light of regularly scheduled council meetings having to be disrupted by COVID-19, City Council will hold a special meeting Friday, March 20 at 10 a.m. While City Hall is currently closed to the public to help contain the virus, this meeting will be streamed live on our Meeting Portal and on TV on Access 7. The agenda is posted on Regina.ca .

This meeting agenda is dedicated solely to the municipal COVID 19 response. Please livestream or watch if you have time.

How to apply for EI and COVID 19 emergency benefits

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/apply-emergency-benefits-1.5501977

The recent Federal announcement regarding EI and Emergency benefits will provide support for many of your businesses and employees.

Click on the link above to learn how to apply for the benefits.

BDC – Additional Relief Measures

https://www.bdc.ca/en/about/mediaroom/news_releases/pages/bdc-announces-additional-measures-provide-relief-canadian-entrepreneurs.aspx

The Business Development Bank of Canada has announced additional relief measures for qualified businesses, effective immediately. These measures include:

Working capital loans of up to $2 million with flexible terms and payment postponements for up to 6 months for qualifying businesses;
Postponement of payments for up to six months, free of charge, for existing BDC clients with total BDC loan commitment of $1 million or less
Reduced rates on new eligible loans
Additional details regarding Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP) measures, including industry specific support, to be announced in the coming days.

Click link above for more details.

Managing your mental health through COVID-19: Tools to help you cope

Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board has some tips to help folks manage their mental health during this crisis. We should continue to make time for self-care – now more than ever.

Staff Working Remotely – Communication Tips on How to use Zoom

Our staff has daily meetings on Zoom. And over the past three days, I’ve probably been on Zoom for 15 hours. If you are new to Zoom, this is a great introduction.

COVID 19 Impact Member Survey Update

I was hoping to distribute an impact survey earlier for your input, but the State of Emergency announcement rendered a few questions moot. We are revising the survey and hope to get that out early next week. Thanks for your patience.

Facebook Groups

Here are three links to information about supporting local businesses during the COVID 19 crisis. Check them all out – great place to share information about what you are doing and learn more about what your fellow entrepreneurs are doing.

I Support Local Business Regina

Food Take-Out and Delivery in SK During COVID 19

Downtown Regina Businesses During COVID 19

And to think the biggest project on my plate one year ago was the regulation of body rub parlours. Times sure have changed! Who would have thunk?!

March 20, 2020

Hi RDBID Members,

I hope you are all doing ok – staying healthy, both physically and mentally. I’ll begin sharing more self-care resources next week since there have been some important developments at City Hall.

City of Regina Special Council Meeting Update – Local State of Emergency Declared

As mentioned in yesterday’s RDBID Update, Regina City Council held a special meeting today to discuss measures in response to COVID 19. These are some of the highlights pertaining to our downtown businesses.

Property Tax, for both residents and businesses, payment deadline will be changed from June 30, 2020 to September 30, 2020.
Suspension of late payment charges on all utility accounts from March 20, 2020 until September 30, 2020.
Suspension of collection activities for utility accounts.
Change Monday to Friday transit service to a Saturday service model.
Waiver of transit fees.
Transit Information Centre on 11th Avenue will remain open.
City is not enforcing the 24-hour limit parking in residential areas (including DOWNTOWN) and are only focusing on safety issues (ie. Parking in front of fire hydrants, too close to intersections, etc.).

Additionally, the City of Regina approved an Amendment to declare a local state of emergency for Regina. This will require all restaurants, bars and nightclubs to close to public immediately, with for drive thru, take-out and delivery being permitted until further notice from the Province of Saskatchewan. Council has also requested that City Administration bring forward an implementation plan immediately.

City Council will reconvene this evening to discuss additional restrictions and clarifications. Please continue to check back on the City website www.regina.ca for updates and details.

Safety Checklist for Businesses

This checklist was developed by the Ottawa Police for businesses whose operations are closed during this time, to ensure shops or restaurants remain secure. Police recommend the following guidelines:

Keep the lights on
Remove ALL cash and receipts
Do not leave any valuables clearly visible or accessible
All safes and tills should be emptied and moved off-site for safe storage
Keep all cash drawers open to show that nothing is in the drawers
All ATM’s should be emptied and moved off-site for safe storage
All alcohol products removed from bar and put in secured storage areas (no alcohol left visible from outside)
Consider posting “NO CASH or Valuables on Premises” signage
Deactivate all scheduled FOB door openings (ie. Cleaners, deliveries, etc)
Disconnect all kitchen gas lines from their gas source
Make regular site visits to monitor your shop/business and to manage inventory and storage conditions (consider scattering the times this is done to not establish a pattern)

Even though this was created for Ottawa, these principles still hold true for us here in the Queen City.

I am going to sign off for now. There is so much to process and quite honestly, I need 48 hours to decompress. And so do you – go out for a walk, watch a movie with your family, read a book, breathe in the Saskatchewan air. Take some time away from the situation we are all in to reset your mind for next week.

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith

Daily Update from Regina Downtown – PART 2

Hi RDBID Members,

You know it’s a busy news day when you get TWO daily updates from me!

Province of Saskatchewan Financial Support Plan

The Government of Saskatchewan announced the following support plan for Saskatchewan Employers and Employees. Highlights include:

Self-Isolation Support Program
Three month PST Remittance Deferral and Audit Suspension
Crown Utility Interest Deferral Program
Student Loan Repayment Moratorium

For more details, click on the link above.

Province of Saskatchewan Additional COVID 19 Measures

The Province of Saskatchewan announced additional measures to address the spread of COVID 19. Important to downtown businesses:

The following measures are effective immediately:

Public gatherings of more than 25 people in one room are prohibited except where two metre distancing between people can be maintained; workplace and meeting settings where people are distributed into multiple rooms or buildings; and retail locations (ie. grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations).

The closure of all nightclubs, bars, lounges and similar facilities. Take out of alcohol or food products so permitted with two metre distancing between customers and the delivery of alcohol or food products.

The following measures are effective March 23, 2020

The closure of restaurants, food courts, cafeterias, cafes, bistros and similar facilities. Exceptions are take out with two metre distancing between customers during pick-up; drive through food services; delivery of food products; soup kitchens, not-for-profit community and religious kitchens with two metre distancing between tables.

The closure of all recreational and entertainment facilities including fitness centers, casinos, bingo halls, arenas, curling rinks, swimming pools, galleries, theatres, museums and similar facilities.

The closure of all personal service facilities including tattooists, hairdressers, barbers, acupuncturists, acupressurists, cosmetologists, electrologists, estheticians, manicurists, pedicurists, suntanning parlours, relaxation masseuses, facilities in which body piercing, bone grafting or scarification services.

The closure of dental, optometrist, chiropractic, registered massage therapy and podiatry clinics except for non-elective procedures.

All daycare facilities are limited to maximum of eight children unless they can configure the facility so that a maximum of eight children are kept in room and be in accordance with the Saskatchewan child care guidelines for care.

For more details, please click on the link above.

Safety Checklist for Businesses

This checklist was developed by the Ottawa Police for businesses whose operations are closed during this time, to ensure shops or restaurants remain secure. Police recommend the following guidelines:

Keep the lights on
Remove ALL cash and receipts
Do not leave any valuables clearly visible or accessible
All safes and tills should be emptied and moved off-site for safe storage
Keep all cash drawers open to show that nothing is in the drawers
All ATM’s should be emptied and moved off-site for safe storage
All alcohol products removed from bar and put in secured storage areas (no alcohol left visible from outside)
Consider posting “NO CASH or Valuables on Premises” signage
Deactivate all scheduled FOB door openings (ie. Cleaners, deliveries, etc)
Disconnect all kitchen gas lines from their gas source
Make regular site visits to monitor your shop/business and to manage inventory and storage conditions (consider scattering the times this is done to not establish a pattern)

Even though this was created for Ottawa, these principles still hold true for us here in the Queen City.

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith

March 23, 2020

Hi RDBID Members,

I hope you all had as restful of a weekend as possible given the circumstances. Last week was extraordinary in terms of how quickly things changed. Many of you are experiencing tremendous challenges in your businesses. Please know you are not alone in your struggles. Over the next few days, we will be unveiling a web portal that will consolidate all the resources announced by federal, provincial and local government to help small businesses. The portal will also include information regarding self- care and stress management which is something we should all be paying attention to these days.

Government of Saskatchewan Business Response Team

https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/health-care-administration-and-provider-resources/treatment-procedures-and-guidelines/emerging-public-health-issues/2019-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-information-for-businesses-and-workers/support-for-businesses

The provincial government announced the establishment of a Business Response Team which will be available to assist any businesses affected by COVID 19. The BRT will be available to assist you between 8:00am – 8:00pm, Monday through Friday. Please click on the link above to learn more about the Business Response Team and other business supports through the Province of Saskatchewan.

Ward 3 Community Discussion – Facebook Live Hosted by Councillor Andrew Stevens

https://www.facebook.com/events/2593718167565864/

Wednesday, March 25 7pm – 8pm

Andrew Stevens, Council Representative for our Downtown Neighbourhood will be hosting a Facebook Live chat to talk to constituents about the COVID crisis.

No agenda. Just questions, comments, criticism, and discussion amongst residents about developments at the City through Facebook Live. I won’t have all the answers but I want to hear from people about their thoughts and concerns in the midst of the COVID crisis. From there we can talk about policy.

Regina Downtown COVID 19 Recovery Task Force

In the coming weeks, Regina Downtown will be convening (virtually) a COVID 19 Recovery Task Force that will provide direction and guidance to our organization as we all adapt to a post COVID 19 business landscape. We are still working on the details. If you are interested in participating, please let me know and we will be in touch once we have some details figured out.

Resources from the Conference Board of Canada

6 Tips to respond to employee anxiety about COVID 19

Take some time to enjoy the rest of this sunny day. Get some rest and we’ll get back at it tomorrow!

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith

March 24, 2020

Hi RDBID Members,

I hope today has treated you well and that the sun will continue to shine and brighten our days. It’s always hard to see the bright side when we are in total darkness, but know that the sun will shine again on all of us in Downtown Regina.

Here is your daily update…

Penalty and Interest Relief on PST Returns – Government of Saskatchewan

Penalty and interest waiver requests can be submitted electronically through the Saskatchewan eTax Service (SETS) located at sets.saskatchewan.ca, by email (sasktaxinfo@gov.sk.ca).

Employer Information regarding COVID-19 – Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board

This website assists employers in determining their responsibilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. We understand that you have many questions surrounding coverage, reporting responsibilities and process.

Please click above link for details.

Ward 3 Community Discussion – Facebook Live Hosted by Councillor Andrew Stevens

https://www.facebook.com/events/2593718167565864/

Wednesday, March 25 7pm – 8pm

Andrew Stevens, Council Representative for our Downtown Neighbourhood will be hosting a Facebook Live chat to talk to constituents about the COVID crisis.

Regina Downtown COVID 19 Recovery Task Force

March 26, 2020 – 12:00pm SK Time

Managing Stress and Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic

For those members in the food and beverage industry, Restaurants Canada is hosting a free webinar dedicated to managing stress and mental health during the COVID-a9 pandemic. Please forward to your staff. Click above link to sign up.

Thanks for your continuing feedback on what’s happening in your businesses and in Downtown Regina. I truly appreciate hearing from all of you and I do my best to respond to everyone who reaches out.

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith

March 25, 2020

Hi RDBID Members,

It’s been a week into working from home and being away from the office. The RDBID team is settling into a “new normal” that hopefully will not last too long. We are continuing to work in response to the COVID 19 pandemic but at the same time we are also working on a few projects that have not been put on hold. It’s been refreshing to have a few conversations that aren’t COVID 19 related!

Here is your daily update…

Downtown Regina Security Patrols

Beginning this evening, RDBID will be providing additional security patrols throughout Downtown Regina. The Commissionaires will be working from their vehicles seven days a week, taking care to observe all social distancing protocols. Should they identify any issues, calls will be made directly to the Regina Police Service. If you have further questions about this program, please contact Nelson Mitchell, Operations Manager atnmitchell@reginadowntown.ca.

Urban Canvas – Alley Door Art Project

Janell, our summer research coordinator is hard at work pulling together the 2020 Alley Door Art project. Our target is to send out our call for artists in the coming weeks. We have already selected doors for art installations this summer, but may have opportunity to install art on a few more doors. If you have a door you would like to suggest for the program, please reach out to Janell at research@reginadowntown.ca. We will be in contact to see if we can include your door in this year’s program.

International Downtown Association Canada – Response to COVID 19

As mentioned in earlier updates, Regina Downtown has been participating in discussions with our community counterparts across Canada. Advocacy efforts are being shared across provinces and communications to our leaders at the provincial and federal levels have been consistent. I have attached letters that have been sent to the Province of Saskatchewan and to the Prime Minister’s office communicating the devastation COVID 19 has wreaked on our local business community, along with potential solutions that may alleviate the impact on property owners, business owners and employees in downtowns across the province and the country. These recommendations are by no means all encompassing. If you have additional suggestions, please let me know so I can incorporate them into future discussions I have with higher levels of government.

The Federal Government announces the new Canada Emergency Response Benefit

The Government of Canada will provide a taxable benefit of $2,000 a month for up to 4 months to:

workers who must stop working due to COVID19 and do not have access to paid leave or other income support.
workers who are sick, quarantined, or taking care of someone who is sick with COVID-19.
working parents who must stay home without pay to care for children that are sick or need additional care because of school and daycare closures.
workers who still have their employment but are not being paid because there is currently not sufficient work and their employer has asked them not to come to work.
wage earners and self-employed individuals, including contract workers, who would not otherwise be eligible for Employment Insurance.

Application details will be available through My CRA and My Service Canada, beginning the first week of April.

This benefit replaces the previously announced Emergency Care Benefit and the Emergency Support Benefit.

TONIGHT – Ward 3 Community Discussion – Facebook Live Hosted by Councillor Andrew Stevens

https://www.facebook.com/events/2593718167565864/

Wednesday, March 25 7pm – 8pm

Andrew Stevens, Council Representative for our Downtown Neighbourhood will be hosting a Facebook Live chat to talk to constituents about the COVID crisis.

Please stay safe out there! If you are able to, I encourage you to order take out or delivery from our downtown restaurants and shop online at our downtown retailers. Now more than ever, they need our support.

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith

March 26, 2020

Hi RDBID Members,

I hope you are all safe, healthy and keeping busy. Whether it’s continuing to do your job from the comfort of your home office, homeschooling your children, watching Netflix or making plans for post-COVID 19, I truly hope that you are doing your part to help flatten the curve. And if you are still heading downtown to work, please stay safe, observe social distancing and wash your hands often.

Here is your daily update…

SaveSmallBusiness.ca Petition

https://savesmallbusiness.ca/

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-unemployment-claims-reach-nearly-one-million-as-businesses-battered-by/

A group called Save Small Business is using its website to track entrepreneurs’ struggles to collect revenue and pay workers and bills – with 8,000 of them asking for significant changes to aid. The group has sent a letter to Finance Minister Bill Morneau and Small Business Minister Mary Ng asking them to enact a program similar to assistance plans in Denmark and Britain by boosting wage subsidies to 80 per cent; waiving utility bills and the first $10,000 of commercial leases for the next three months; delaying sales-tax collection and provincial employer-health tax; and pushing credit-card companies to waive some interest.

Click on the link above to sign the petition.

Government of Saskatchewan – Allowable Business Services

https://publications.saskatchewan.ca/api/v1/products/104570/formats/116449/download

A list of critical public services and allowable business services has been created to inform the business community of which businesses can continue to operate in accordance with social distancing practices. All changes are effective March 26, 2020. If you have questions on the status of your business on the list of allowable business services, please contact the Business Response Team at 1-844-800-8688.

Government of Saskatchewan – Employment Standards Public Emergency Provisions

Employment Standards will be hosting webinars to provide Saskatchewan businesses with information about newly introduced Public Health Emergency Leave and Public EmergencyLayoffs provisions

The webinars are offered through GoToWebinar, an online software service that uses your computer’s internet browser. GoToWebinar will automatically download the required software onto your device when you register.

You have two options to listen to the webinar audio:

Use your computer’s audio – When the webinar begins, you will be connected to audio using your computer’s speakers or headset (VOIP).
Use your telephone – Your confirmation email will contain more information about using your telephone, including the call-in numbers.

Friday, March 27 @ 10:00 a.m. Register Here

Monday, March 30 @ 1:30 p.m. Register Here

Wednesday, April 1 @ 1:30 p.m. Register Here

Friday, April 3 @ 1:30 p.m. Register Here

Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) Petition

Restaurants Canada, the Hotel Association of Canada, and the Tourism Industry Association of Canada have joined forces in their lobbying effort to secure tax relief and a credit facility for the sector as a whole.

Collectively the foodservice, tourism and hospitality sectors represent $139 billion in direct economic activity and support 1.8 million employees in Canada – nearly 1 in 10 Canadians in the workforce. Without immediate access to liquidity, our industry is at risk of permanent damage. Many businesses that are shuttered will not reopen, and the duration of unemployment for hundreds of thousands of Canadian workers will last much longer than necessary. The speed and strength of our recovery will depend on the Government’s decision to support us.

Our joint proposal is under consideration by Finance as we speak, but we need your support to get it across the finish line.

Can you please:

1) Put your signature on our joint proposal by clicking here.

2) Send a letter to your Member of Parliament urging him/her to support this proposal. The letter is already pre-written for you, you just need to input your name and address. Click here to send a letter.

Before I sign off, please join me in thanking those folks who are working to keep us safe during these crazy times. To our doctors, nurses, janitors, health care workers, grocery store workers and anyone else working an essential service – thank you!

As always, if you don’t want to receive these emails, please let me know (No “unsubscribe” for now, I’m kicking it old school). If you think someone else in your businesses should be included, just shoot me their email and I’ll get them on the list.

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith

March 27, 2020

Hi RDBID Members,

We’ve made it to the end of the week. It looks like the weather will be lovely this weekend. I hope all of you will be able to take the time to enjoy the sun and the fresh air. It’s been a long winter that seems even longer due to COVID-19. Let’s revel in this warm weather while we can!

Here is your daily update…

Government of Canada Announcement

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-covid19-mar27-business-1.5512151

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today announced more help for small and medium-sized businesses to keep employees on the payroll during the COVID-19 crisis, including a 75 per cent wage subsidy and guaranteed interest-free loans, backdated to March 15, 2020.

The government will also guarantee bank loans of up to $40,000 for small businesses which will be interest-free for the first year. Trudeau said the program will help businesses “bridge to better times.” Under certain conditions, up to $10,000 of the loans could be non-repayable.

Trudeau also announced that GST and HST payments, as well as duties and taxes owed on imports, will be deferred until June.

Trudeau said details of the programs are still being worked out and that more information will be coming out between now and Monday.

Click link above for full article. Click here for additional details regarding the above programs.

Governing a Not For Profit during the COVID-19 Crisis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUW1G_WdGdo&feature=youtu.be

The Institute of Corporate Directors has put together some webinars for boards and how the COVID 19 crisis might affect them.

Regina Downtown Shop Local Campaign

RDBID is working with Rawlco Radio to promote our local businesses, with messaging along the lines of shopping local, eating local through take out and delivery and online shopping for our retailers. Ads will be aired throughout the next two weeks.

Regina Downtown Online Initiative

RDBID will be launching a Regina Downtown Webcast Series, as of April 1st. Discussions will include business resilience and support, mental health & wellness, “Local Love” – business spotlights, and COVID-19 awareness.

Webcast guests will include a variety of mental health and wellness professionals, business support professionals, local business owners, artists, musicians – offering firsthand experience, knowledge and resources.

If you have interest in being a guest, please contact Dominika Deneve, Manager of Marketing and Communications ddeneve@reginadowntown.ca.

Before I sign off, I wanted to share this picture of our beloved Hotel Saskatchewan. It’s always heartening to see the love for our community in unexpected places. I’ll sign off with the Hotel Saskatchewan’s post – “In difficult times, be the light in someone’s day. We are all in this together.”

Have a restful weekend! And stay safe!

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith

March 30, 2020

Hi RDBID Members,

I hope this email finds you safe and healthy. We had wonderful weather this weekend and I hope you all had time to get some fresh air and indulge in some self-care.

Here is your daily update…

Government of Canada Announcement

Businesses and non-profit organizations seeing a drop of at least 30 per cent in revenue due to COVID-19 will qualify for the government’s 75 per cent wage subsidy program, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced today — adding that “serious consequences” await those who abuse the system.

During the daily media briefing outside his residence at Rideau Cottage, Trudeau said the number of people a business employs will not determine its eligibility. Charities and companies big and small will qualify, he said.

For those companies experiencing a decrease in revenues of at least 30 per cent, the government will cover up to 75 per cent of a salary on the first $58,700, which could mean payments of up to $847 a week. The prime minister also encouraged businesses to top up their employees wages with the remaining 25 per cent of their salaries.

Click link above for full article. More details will be released tomorrow.

Navigating the business support maze

All the government announcements over the past two weeks can be daunting and confusing, especially when you are already under tremendous stress. I’ve attached a PDF that tries to simplify the maze of subsidies, deferrals, loans and grants.

COVID 19 Resources – Regina Downtown Website

At Regina Downtown, we are continually updating our website with the information and resources that respond to your needs. You can find past issues of the daily updates (https://reginadowntown.ca/covid19updates), important links for businesses including support programs, resources and mental health (https://reginadowntown.ca/covid19importantlinks) and open source COVID 19 infographics to use in your business or on social media (https://reginadowntown.ca/covid19infographics).

Self Care – Live Cams

https://explore.org/livecams/warrior-canine-connection/service-puppy-cam-3

With all the COVID 19 information consuming our time and space these days (this email included), it’s important to have a respite where you can focus on something relaxing that has nothing to do with COVID 19. The live cam link above connects you to multiple live cameras throughout the world and beyond (there is a NASA cam with a link to the International Space Station!). I put on the sleeping puppy cam when I need to decompress. The chances of me adopting another dog before this pandemic is over = high! Enjoy!

I’ll leave you with the Saskatchewan Health Authority’s message for the 13^th Man. We are all in this together. Let’s all do our part to #flattenthecurve.

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith

March 31, 2020

Hi RDBID Members,

We finally made it to the end of March. Doesn’t it seem like this past month was 12 months long? Who could have predicted the massive upheaval in our world between March 1 and March 31? And if you did predict all this happening, you need to let me know what your Lotto 649 numbers are. Hopefully, April will bring sunnier days.

Here is your daily update…

COVID 19 Resource Web Portal

Regina Downtown BID partnered with Ayden Creative to join a centralized hub where the Regina community can access a variety of information on the current health crisis. This website features resources on business relief, health and wellness, supporting local, virus information, and good news stories. This information hub was built to be co-created with our community, so please fill in the form on the site if you have additional information that should be featured.

CFIB Policy Recommendations regarding commercial rent

https://www.cfib-fcei.ca/en/media/quarter-small-businesses-cannot-pay-their-april-rentmortgage

https://www.cfib-fcei.ca/sites/default/files/2020-03/Recommendations-to-Help-Small-Businesses-with-Lease-Payments-Other-Fixed-Costs.pdf

The Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses (CFIB) has released policy recommendations regarding the commercial rent and mortgage payments in the face of COVID 19. In addition to the recommendations, CFIB has identified tools and advice for small business concerned about rent payments (see PDF link above). These recommendations are consistent with what we have been hearing from our stakeholders and as such, RDBID will continue to advocate for these supports for commercial landlords and tenants.

BDC Entrepreneur Toolkit

Here is a link to a BDC page dealing with business guides and templates that assists with business continuity planning:

https://www.bdc.ca/en/articles-tools/entrepreneur-toolkit/templates-business-guides/pages/business-continuity-guide-templates-entrepreneurs.aspx

Thinking Ahead – How our cities can reopen after the COVID 19 pandemic

https://www-brookings-edu.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.brookings.edu/blog/the-avenue/2020/03/24/how-our-cities-can-reopen-after-the-covid-19-pandemic/amp/

Since mid-March, our downtown has completely changed. The robust vibrancy that was beginning to come out of hiding from the winter months, was stopped in its tracks by COVID 19. Many of our businesses have closed temporarily, while others are continuing to operate, albeit in a different way. We will recover eventually, but cities and downtowns in particular will need special attention. I thought this article points us in the right direction as we look with hope towards a post-COVID environment.

Work from Home – Small Business Tips

I’ll leave you with a little bit of levity. Anyone who knows me, knows I am The Cure’s biggest fan (the band…and the restaurant too {hi Morgan!}). Stay safe everyone! And keep washing your hands!

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith

April 1, 2020

Hi RDBID Members,

Welcome to April! And it wouldn’t be Saskatchewan without a last blast of winter weather before spring officially arrives! I hope you didn’t pack away all your winter coats yet.

Here is your daily update…

Government of Canada – The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy

Last week Prime Minister Trudeau announced the new Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, which would provide a 75% wage subsidy to eligible employers for up to 12 weeks, retroactive to March 15, 2020. Click the link above for more details.

Help For My Restaurant – Task Force Survival Kit

Help us keep up to date with how things are going for you, please take 10 minutes and complete our latest survey. Your responses will be used to support our advocacy efforts on your behalf.

Produced by the All Pro Restaurant Coaches, a task-force of volunteers has collaborated and put together a resource package for restaurant, bar, and hospitality venues to help them through the toughest of times; whether that is a pandemic, natural disaster, or act of terrorism. Please use this available road map and check-list to help provide guidance to you, your business, and your community.

Thinking Ahead – Supporting small businesses and local entrepreneurs post-COVID 19

This is an interesting article that identifies policy changes that could be introduced to better support our small business community and lower the bar to entry for new business start-ups. It is written from an American perspective, however, there are lessons that can be applied to the Canadian environment.

Last thought for the day…is it just me that thinks it’s now odd to see folks in such close quarters when watching TV? I’ve been watching reruns of the Toronto Raptors Championship run and it’s strange to see so many people in such close proximity. Also, when is TSN going to replay the 2013 Grey Cup game?

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith

All resources and updates are also saved to www.reginadowntown.ca.

April 2, 2020

Hi RDBID Members,

A Message from the Chair of Regina Downtown

COVID 19 has hit our community very hard. Downtown, as the centre for retail, tourism, commercial, entertainment, hospitality, and financial activity for Regina has been particularly impacted. Many of our high traffic downtown businesses took brave steps to voluntarily shut down, ahead of government regulations, putting many members in even greater financial difficulties. However, when we see the numbers of new COVID 19 cases drop in Saskatchewan, we will take pride in knowing that the selfless actions of our members have contributed to the decline.

The business members I have spoken with are supportive of the drastic actions taken by all three levels of government and are working to support our community to fight this battle in any way they can. And we will win this battle more quickly because of the efforts of our members.

Looking ahead, Regina residents will need the entertainment, hospitality, and retail services provided by Downtown more than ever. And we intend to be there, providing residents with the quality excursions they will desperately need when this cloud has lifted. We are currently in discussions with stakeholders to plan for post-COVID celebrations in the downtown.

Stay well colleagues,

Aaron Murray

RDBID Chair

And now for your daily update…

Government Announces Details of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy to Help Businesses Keep Canadians in their jobs

To help Canadians and businesses get through these tough economic times, the Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, announced that the Government is proposing to introduce a wage subsidy of 75 per cent for qualifying businesses, for up to 3 months, retroactive to March 15, 2020.

Economic Development Regina Recovery Strategy

EDR is pleased to announce that we have embarked on a strategy to help the Greater Regina Area’s business community survive and recover from the pandemic. The strategy will include three initial areas of focus:

Providing Business leaders access to information critical to their ability to cope with the economic downturn.
Delivering coaching and Mentoring support to assist businesses looking for experienced help in making decisions on survival and recovery best practices.
Preparing an action plan to support the most rapid recovery possible for GRA businesses. As part of this process, EDR will seek the advice and assistance of other organizations and business leaders to create the most effective, collaborative plan possible.

Click link above for more details.

I Lost My Gig COVID 19 Survey

If you haven’t responded yet, please take 10 minutes and complete our latest survey. Help us keep up to date with how things are going for you. Your responses will be used to support our advocacy efforts on your behalf.

I Lost My Gig Canada’s first COVID-19 Impact Survey for individual workers from the arts, culture, heritage, tourism, and creative industries is now live! Share stories of hope or personal, professional and economic impacts including number of lost gigs and income.

Brene Brown – Short video from a thought leader on vulnerability and leadership

Self-help expert Brené Brown joins TODAY to talk about how we can choose courage over comfort as we adjust to a new normal during the coronavirus pandemic. She suggests doing family check-ins, telling people “where you are” emotionally, and finding ways to fill the gaps as a family.

Thanks again for hanging in there everyone.

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith

April 3, 2020

Hi RDBID Members,

Today marks the end of our third week since the COVID 19 pandemic hit our province. While Downtown Regina is much quieter these days, our entrepreneurial spirit and sense of community is stronger than ever. The RDBID team has spoken to many of you this past week and have been inspired by your resilience in the face of this crisis. From quickly launching an online store to accommodating curbside delivery to pivoting to offer take-out, there are so many examples of Downtown businesses finding ways to keep staff employed, to keep their business going and to support our frontline workers. I am so proud to work with and for all of you.

And now for your daily update…

Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy and Business Resilience Webinar Series

http://ascentmanagement.ca/a-glimmer-of-hope-on-the-distant-horizon

https://www.facebook.com/ascentmanagement/

Our friends at Ascent Management have put together an assessment of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy. To learn more about government programs and how they can assist your business, follow Ascent Management on Facebook.

We will also be working with Ascent to produce a Business Resilience Webinar Series, with the first webinar launching on Wednesday, April 8 from 9:00am to 11:00am. Check our Monday’s update for more information.

HeartsYQR – Regina Downtown Podcast Series

On Monday we kick-off our Regina Downtown Podcast Series “Heart of the City” with Regina resident, Heather Getz, creator of @HeartsYQR Facebook Page. Audio will be available on Spotify. And the full video podcast will be available on our Regina Downtown BID YouTube channel. Click the link above to subscribe today.

Save Hospitality Campaign

https://www.savehospitality.ca/

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5e7a57bf83756d180929d0ad/t/5e8655198acfdf0071279f0f/1585861935677/2020.04.02_RestaurantsCoalition_Covid19_V01.1.pdf

Our food and beverage industry has been hit hard by the COVID 19 pandemic. The hospitality industry is in a state of crisis and is in need of support from all levels of government. Across Canada, independent restaurants have mobilized to create a unified voice.

Click the link above to learn more about the coalition and the recommendations for governmental support for the hospitality industry.

Restaurants Canada

https://www.restaurantscanada.org/industry-news/covid-19-resources-restaurant-operators-foodservice-employees/

http://www.restaurantscanada.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Restaurants-Canada-Handbook-April-1-2020-3.pdf

With restaurants now struggling to pay rent and other bills due in April, Restaurants Canada has conducted a survey and released a statement on its findings. In addition to shedding light on the state of the industry, the statement reinforces the need for government to build on actions already taken to provide foodservice businesses with more immediate protection and relief, as well as help to reopen and rehire.

Click the link above to review the Federal and Provincial response plans and industry specific resources for the food service industry.

RDBID in the News – Support for Small Businesses

RDBID continues to advocate for additional support for our businesses who are unable to access the subsidies and loans provided by the Federal and Provincial government.

RDBID in the News – Harvard Developments

Harvard Developments supports our frontline workers with a donation of much-needed N-95 masks that were found in the basement of Tower 1. Thank you to our former chair, Steve Enns and Harvard for doing their part to keep our health care workers safe.

RDBID in the News – Dean Renwick

https://www.facebook.com/dean.renwick

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hqeKx2XYvM&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR2p1EJku1Cwga0VXZ5FDMYqCXH78WaesffQTEDcXMViX7Y_C9Hy0MXsy-s

Downtown Regina local business owner and entrepreneur Dean Renwick and his team seek donations and volunteers to make masks for the senior housing community.

“Due to shortages of supplies we are making masks for the senior housing community. We are asking for donations of 100% tightly woven cotton and 1/4” elastic. Any amount helps! As well as any sewers that would like to volunteer their time to help make masks. Just shoot us a message or give us a call! Cash donations can be made as etransfers to designstudio@sasktel.net. The security question will be: What are you making. The answer is: Masks2020. Thank you in advance”

http://ascentmanagement.ca/business-resilience-series/

RDBID Team Shout Out – Janell

The RDBID Team has been working like crazy. Whether it’s advocacy on your behalf or reaching out to our members or continuing to work on our regular projects, everyone is busting their hump these days. In particular, I’d like to acknowledge our team member Janell. Janell joined RDBID through the Sask Polytechnic Work Placement Program. Her first day was March 10, exactly one week before we started working from home. Even working from home, Janell has been an integral member of our team. She continues to support our COVID 19 response, reach out to members and develop our 2020 Alley Door program. Downtown Regina is lucky to have her. Thanks for all your hard work Janell!

As we head into the weekend, please remember to continue practice physical distancing. If you are headed to Wascana Park, make sure you are observing their new one way system on the pathway. Let’s keep doing our part to #flattenthecurve.

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith

Ps. Am I late to the Tiger King party? Let’s chat about it next week!

April 6, 2020

Hi RDBID Members,

Hey all you cool cats and kittens… Yup, I finished the Tiger King series this weekend. What a train wreck that was!

Welcome to a new week everyone. I hope everyone is continuing to observe physical distancing protocols and continuing to do their part to flatten the curve. As we move in to these critical weeks, it is so important to limit interaction with other people to help slow the spread of the virus.

And now for your daily update…

Business Resilience Webinar Series – Wednesday, April 8, 2020 at 9:00am

We’re excited to launch the Business Resilience Series – a community initiative geared to help business owners persevere through the COVID-19 challenge. Join us for free weekly panel discussions featuring experts in the business management, legal, insurance, commercial property, and insolvency fields.

We highly recommend RDBID members sign up for this session.

First weekly session takes place April 8th @ 9:00 AM.

Downtown Regina Security Patrols

Since March 25, RDBID has been providing additional security patrols throughout Downtown Regina. The Commissionaires have been working from their vehicles seven days a week, taking care to observe all social distancing protocols. I am happy to report that they have not encountered any issues while on patrol. If you have further questions about this program or want to report an incident that the patrol may have missed, please contact Nelson Mitchell, Operations Manager at nmitchell@reginadowntown.ca.

HeartsYQR – Regina Downtown Podcast Series

Today we kick-off our Regina Downtown Podcast Series “Heart of the City” with Regina resident, Heather Getz, creator of @HeartsYQR Facebook Page.

On Wednesday, April 8th we kick-off Wellness Wednesday’s on our Regina Downtown Podcast Series “Heart of the City”. This episode will feature downtown member Mandy Bishop, Massage Therapist and owner of Mandala Massage.

Listen on Spotify, Google Podcasts, YouTube + Anchor App.

Click the link above to subscribe to the Regina Downtown BID YouTube channel today!

Canada Emergency Response Benefit

You can now apply for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit if you have lost, or will lose income due to COVID-19.

Apply based on your birth month at Canada.ca/coronavirus-cerb

January, February or March: April 6 or Mondays
April, May or June: April 7 or Tuesdays
July, August or September: April 8 or Wednesdays
October, November or December: April 9 or Thursdays
Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays are open to all, regardless of birth month

Credit Card Interest Rates

Five Canadian banks are offering lower interest rates for credit card balances, if payment deferral is required. Please contact your credit card provider for more details.

Ward 3 Community Discussion – Facebook Live Hosted by Councillor Andrew Stevens

Wednesday, April 8 7pm – 8pm

Andrew Stevens, our downtown councilor is hosting another Facebook Live session. Let’s talk… about whatever. Join Andrew for another Facebook Live event on Wednesday, April 8, 7PM-8PM, on his main Facebook page (link above).

RDBID in the News – Support for Small Businesses

https://thestarphoenix.com/news/local-news/saskatchewan-residents-promised-pandemic-scenarios-next-week/

RDBID continues to advocate for additional support for our businesses who are unable to access the subsidies and loans provided by the Federal and Provincial government.

https://mashable.com/video/lin-manuel-miranda-john-krasinski-some-good-news-hamilton-surprise/

I’ll sign off today with Some Good News with John Krasinski. In a video that is going viral, the original cast of Hamilton surprised Aubrey, a 9 year old fan, with a Zoom performance. This is a nice change from all that Tiger King I’ve been watching. Enjoy!

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith

All resources and updates are also saved to www.reginadowntown.ca.

April 7, 2020

Hi RDBID Members,

It looks like the Saskatchewan weather is doing what it usually does – bright and sunny at 10:00am and then cold and windy by 11:30am. Some things never change.

One thing that has changed is the start of the CFL season. It looks like July will be the earliest start date for our beloved Riders. Let’s keep doing our part to flatten the curve so we can, again, gather as a community 30,000+ strong to cheer on our home team!

And now for your daily update…

Business Resilience Webinar Series – Wednesday, April 8, 2020 at 9:00am

We highly recommend RDBID members sign up for this session.

First weekly session takes place April 8th @ 9:00 AM.

Regina Farmers’ Market Online Ordering Platform

Usually at this time, we are all gearing up for the return of the Regina Farmers’ Market to City Square Plaza. Physical distancing recommendations have required the Farmers’ Market to cancel their indoor markets and postpone their outdoor markets. In order to continue serving and feeding the Regina community, the RFM has just launched an Online Ordering Platform (see link above). While we will miss interacting with our favorite vendors, we can still support them by ordering online.

Ward 3 Community Discussion – Facebook Live Hosted by Councillor Andrew Stevens

https://www.facebook.com/AndrewStevensWard3/

Wednesday, April 8 7pm – 8pm

Anti Fraud Centre Canada

Unfortunately, there will always be folks out there who prey on others during times of stress and crisis. Please be aware that there are a number of frauds and scams circulating right now, taking advantage of businesses and individuals. Click the link above to learn more about recent scams that are making their rounds on the internet.

Canadian Business Resilience Network

In partnership with the Government of Canada, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce established the Canadian Business Resilience Network to help Canadian businesses navigate the COVID-19 reality and prepare for recovery.

Thinking Ahead – How can we increase the resiliency of our cities after the COVID 19 pandemic

Excellent article on the opportunity to transform our community and ourselves after the pandemic has passed. Now is the time to think strategically about the community we want to be in the future.

I’ll leave you with this little bit of humor. If you’ve ever spent any time on a conference call (and I know you have!), you’ll get it…BINGO!

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith

April 8, 2020

Hi RDBID Members,

Happy hump day everyone…or as I’ve been calling it…Day. Aren’t all the days, just blurring together? Is it just me, or am I the only one that looks at the calendar every half hour to check what day it is? Ok…maybe it’s just me…

Today brought some significant announcements from both the Federal and Provincial governments. I know the government program announcements, amendments, clarifications and additions have been coming fast and furious over the past several weeks. Who knew government could work that fast? Please be assured that we are doing our best to raise awareness regarding your concerns about the “gaps” in the programs. RDBID continues to meet with all levels of government regarding economic support programs for our downtown businesses. If you have ideas or know of other economic support programs that have been introduced elsewhere, please let me know so I can share them with our colleagues. Remember, we are all in this together!

And now for your daily update…

Government of Canada provides details regarding the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy

In response to feedback regarding the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy announcement, the Government of Canada announced more flexibility in the program to support employers hardest hit by the COVID pandemic. Click link above for more details.

Government of Canada announces changes to the Canada Summer Jobs program

Many downtown businesses employ students throughout the summer through the Canada Summer Jobs program. Today, the Government of Canada announced temporary changes to the program to help employers hire students throughout the summer and beyond.

The temporary changes to the program for this year include:

an increase to the wage subsidy, so that private and public sector employers can also receive up to 100 per cent of the provincial or territorial minimum hourly wage for each employee
an extension to the end date for employment to February 28, 2021
allowing employers to adapt their projects and job activities to support essential services
allowing employers to hire staff on a part-time basis

International Downtown Association Canada – Response to COVID 19

As mentioned in earlier updates, Regina Downtown has been participating in discussions with our community counterparts across Canada. Advocacy efforts are being shared across provinces and communications to our leaders at the provincial and federal levels have been consistent. I have attached letters that have been sent to the Prime Minister’s office communicating the devastation COVID 19 has wreaked on our local business community, along with potential solutions that may alleviate the impact on property owners, business owners and employees in downtown’s across the province and the country. These recommendations are by no means all encompassing. If you have additional suggestions, please let me know so I can incorporate them into future discussions I have with higher levels of government.

RDBID in the News – Support for Small Business

https://leaderpost.com/news/saskatchewan/saskatchewan-ponders-50m-aid-package-for-small-business/wcm/6d6f1d4b-1b8e-4dc8-950d-d1214e5d330c/

RDBID continues to advocate for additional support for our businesses who are unable to access the subsidies and loans provided by the Federal and Provincial government. It is expected that announcements will be made on Thursday regarding Provincial grants to support small business. Stay tuned!

EPISODE 2 – Regina Downtown Podcast Series

Today we kick-off Wellness Wednesday’s on our Regina Downtown Podcast Series “Heart of the City”. This episode will feature downtown member Mandy Bishop, Massage Therapist and owner of Mandala Massage.

Listen on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Breaker, YouTube + Anchor App.

Click the link above to subscribe to the Regina Downtown BID YouTube channel today!

Business Resilience Webinar Series – Next session Tuesday, April 14, 2020 at 9:00am

http://ascentmanagement.ca/business-resilience-series/

The Business Resilience Series – a community initiative geared to help business owners persevere through the COVID-19 challenge – will continue next Tuesday. Join us for free weekly panel discussions featuring experts in the business management, legal, insurance, commercial property, and insolvency fields. Thank you to our partners at Ascent Management for pulling these webinars together. If you missed today’s webinar, a recording will be available in the coming days.

TONIGHT – Ward 3 Community Discussion – Facebook Live Hosted by Councillor Andrew Stevens

https://www.facebook.com/AndrewStevensWard3/

Wednesday, April 8 7pm – 8pm

Government of Saskatchewan – Health System Readiness

Modeling data released today by the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) indicates that the key variable for saving lives and protecting health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic is public compliance with prescribed isolation measures, physical distancing, effective hand washing and staying home, whenever and wherever possible.

It also indicates that current interventions are making a difference.

Thanks for helping to flatten the curve everyone. But make mistake, there is still work to be done. Please continue to stay home and stay safe!

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith

April 9, 2020

Hi RDBID Members,

And just like that…it’s Easter. It feels like St. Patrick’s Day was just cancelled yesterday!

I am sure many of you have had to cancel Easter break plans or are now spending Easter alone rather than with your extended family. It’s ok to be disappointed when something you were looking forward to goes away. Acknowledge your disappointment, but also find things to be grateful for – like your health, your family, your dog, your friends. We are all in this together – it’s ok lean on your tribe when you are feeling down.

We as a community need to keep up the physical distancing even when the going gets tough (like it will this holiday weekend). Just keep remembering that our sacrifices today will bring us back together sooner. And to inject a little bit of fun into your virtual Easter dinner with your family, you can use some fun virtual backgrounds on Zoom… like these Tiger King backgrounds (https://stylecaster.com/tiger-king-photos-zoom-backgrounds/).

And now for your daily update…

Saskatchewan Small Business Emergency Payment (SSBEP) Announcement

The SSBEP provides a one-time grant for small and medium-sized enterprises directly affected by government public health orders related to COVID-19. Grants will be paid based on 15 per cent of a business’ monthly sales revenue, to a maximum of $5,000.

Many of our restaurants, fitness centres, personal services and retailers will qualify for this grant! Make sure you apply when it goes live next week!

Further details and applications will be available on April 13. For more information, businesses can go here

Business Resilience Webinar Series – Next session Tuesday, April 14, 2020 at 9:00am

http://ascentmanagement.ca/business-resilience-series/

The Business Resilience Series – a community initiative geared to help business owners persevere through the COVID-19 challenge – will continue next Tuesday. Join us for free weekly panel discussions featuring experts in the business management, legal, insurance, commercial property, and insolvency fields. Thank you to our partners at Ascent Management for pulling these webinars together. If you missed yesterday’s webinar, a recording of the webinar will be made available next week.

Chamber of Commerce – Q&A Session on Federal and Provincial Support Programs for Businesses – Thursday April 16, 2020, 10:00am – 11:30am; Via Zoom

The Regina & District Chamber of Commerce is pleased to present a Zoom Question and Answer Session with federal and provincial officials on programs related to the COVID-19 crisis. Please click here for your complimentary registration and we will send you the coordinates. If you have not received your coordinates by 4pm Wednesday April 15, please email Kali at kmcdonald@reginachamber.com or call (306)757-4645.

Feel Good Friday – Coffee Break Discussion on Instagram LIVE!

Tomorrow we kick-off our first Feel Good Friday – Coffee Break Discussion on Instagram LIVE at 1PM. Find us on Instagram @ReginaDowntownBID.

Grab a cup of coffee and join Dominika and special guest Mandy Bishop, Massage Therapist and owner of Mandala Massage for a short discussion on Mindfulness.

If you have interest in being a guest, please contact Dominika Deneve, Manager of Marketing and Communications ddeneve@reginadowntown.ca.

Saskatchewan Business Response Team FAQ

The Frequently Asked Questions PDF provides direction and guidance to businesses trying to navigate the changing grants, subsidy and support environment. There is a link called Business Response Team FAQs that will take you to the pdf with all the information. The document will be updated regularly – almost daily.

Have a wonderful Easter (or long weekend if you don’t observe Easter)! Take the weekend to relax, spend time with your loved ones while physical distancing, eat lots of food and recharge. Remember this is a marathon, not a sprint, and we still have a long way to go! See you next Tuesday!

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith

April 13, 2020

Hi RDBID Members,

Since the Easter Bunny is considered an essential service, I hope everyone had their fill of chocolate eggs this weekend. Myself, I’ve been filling up leftover Easter ham. If anyone has recipes that use ham, please let me know. There are only so many eggs benedicts that I can eat. Man, I really need to get to a gym when this is all over.

And now for your daily update…

Saskatchewan Small Business Emergency Payment (SSBEP) Application

Many of our restaurants, fitness centres, personal services and retailers will qualify for this grant! Application form is in the link above.

Business Resilience Webinar Series – Next session Tuesday, April 14, 2020 at 9:00am

http://ascentmanagement.ca/business-resilience-series/

The Business Resilience Series – a community initiative geared to help business owners persevere through the COVID-19 challenge – will continue next Tuesday. Join us for free weekly panel discussions featuring experts in the business management, legal, insurance, commercial property, and insolvency fields. Thank you to our partners at Ascent Management for pulling these webinars together. If you missed the April 8 webinar, a recording of the webinar is here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnEfQxlWMIs

Rent Relief Tips from Colliers International

Many of you have concerns regarding rent payment. Above are some tips from Colliers International on how to best approach and present your case, so you can achieve some rent relief while also maintaining your relationship with your landlord.

Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy – Additional Details

The Government of Canada released additional details regarding the Wage Subsidy last Friday. Details are included in the link above. This will also be covered in our Business Resilience Webinar (see above) on Tuesday, so if you have further questions, sign up for the webinar!

Mental Health Commission of Canada Resource Hub

At the Mental Health Commission of Canada, our commitment is to share credible information and resources about maintaining mental health during this time of crisis, and supporting people managing a mental illness in this new context.

The Rush to Complete Road Construction Projects During the COVID 19 Pandemic

One of the initiatives planned for Downtown Regina in 2020 is the completion of Phase 2 of the Victoria Avenue construction project. We should hear on Wednesday whether or not this project will continue given the economic impact of COVID 19 on the municipal budget.

While this is an American perspective, I found Reno’s experience is worth exploring for Regina.

Shutting down the street all at once, rather than in segments over time, should mean construction on the midtown segment will wrap up about six weeks earlier than planned, says Jeff Wilbrecht, a project manager at the Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County. His back-of-the-envelope estimate is that the time savings could reduce 25% to 30% of the cost of this phase of the project.

Chamber of Commerce – Q&A Session on Federal and Provincial Support Programs for Businesses – Thursday April 16, 2020, 10:00am – 11:30am; Via Zoom

Enjoy the rest of your Monday! Keep washing your hands and observe the physical distance protocol. Let’s keep flattening the curve to support our health care workers!

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith

April 14, 2020

Hi RDBID Members,

There was some good news from the Government of Saskatchewan yesterday – only two new cases of the COVID 19 in Saskatchewan yesterday. Let’s ensure that the flattening of the curve continues. Everyone, me included, want to begin the recovery, but if we reopen too soon, we risk another outbreak and setting our community back behind the eight ball again. Let’s continue to support one another by continuing to #stayhomeandstaysafe. When we are able to (slowly) reopen downtown, that decision should be based on science and not be rushed. We will continue to work on what recovery looks like for Downtown Regina and how RDBID can help you find your way in the post COVID landscape.

And now for your daily update…

Canada’s Great Kitchen Party – Home Edition

Let’s support our Downtown Regina Restaurants! Join us for Canada’s Great Kitchen Party – Home Edition every Wednesday in April starting April 15th! #TakeOutDay

Invite 4-5 friends to create your own “virtual table” for this epic variety show!
Your “reservation”: order takeout from your favourite local restaurant—Let’s dine together to support Canadian restaurants & Canada Takeout!
Thanks #FoodiesUnitefor supporting the production of Canada’s Great Kitchen Party – Home Edition! www.foodiesunite.com

How to watch: The LIVE feed will be posted on the Facebook page HERE on Wednesday just before 6:00pm SK time. Sit back, relax and make sure to share which restaurants you are supporting for #TakeOutDay! #FoodiesUnite #Canada Takeout

Downtown Regina Security Patrols

Financial institutions accepting applications for Canada Emergency Business Account

The Canada Emergency Business Account will provide interest-free loans of up to $40,000 to small businesses and not-for-profits. The loans are to help cover operating costs while revenues have been temporarily reduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Businesses that had total payrolls of $50,000-$1 million in 2019 are eligible to apply. Interested businesses should work with their current financial institutions.

Tourism HR Canada – Free Online Tourism Training

Tourism HR Canada is offering a variety of frontline, supervisory, and managerial online training modules free of charge. These modules can assist with ongoing training needs, as well as giving those whose jobs have been adversely affected by COVID-19 the opportunity to upskill or cross-train. Click link above for more information.

RDBID in the News – Sleek Signs

Sleek Signs, one of our local printing companies has moved from fabricating signage to fabricating face shields for our frontline workers. RDBID has worked with Sleek Signs on many projects, including our Alley Door Art Project, our traffic control box wraps and the hallway mural outside the RDBID office. Sleek also worked on some large scale projects like the Saskatchewan Rough Riders 100 Anniversary and the Canada 150 signage on the two Hill Towers and the downtown pageantry during Grey Cup 101.

Regina Downtown Podcast Series “Heart of the City”

EPISODE 3 – Wednesday, April 15^th

Special guest: Mandy Bishop, Massage Therapist and owner of Mandala Massage.

Discussion: Self-Care Strategies – Leading by example with grace, gratitude and calm.

EPISODE 4 – Thursday, April 16th

Special guest: Morgan Shoquer, managing partner of The Cure Kitchen + Bar

Discussion: Learn firsthand how COVID-19 has affected their business.

Listen on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Breaker, YouTube + Anchor App.

Click the link above to subscribe to the Regina Downtown BID YouTube channel today!

Thinking Ahead – Public space and public life are more important than ever

Since mid-March, many of us are trying to find more ways to get some sunlight, fresh air and nature. I am seeing more children playing outside, more people walking the pathway system, more people getting on their bikes. These are all activities that we should continue to celebrate and promote post-COVID 19. I thought this article succinctly highlights the importance of public space and how we develop our communities in the future should keep in mind how important public life actually is.

Chamber of Commerce – Q&A Session on Federal and Provincial Support Programs for Businesses – Thursday April 16, 2020, 10:00am – 11:30am; Via Zoom

So that’s it for today. I’ll leave you with some classic 80’s music. Personally, I am more partial to Every Little Thing She Does is Magic, but I guess Don’t Stand So Close to Me is more appropriate these days… Thanks Jimmy Fallon, the Roots and Sting!

Stay safe everyone!

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith

April 15, 2020

Hi RDBID Members,

I hope you all have big appetites tonight! Just a reminder that today is Canada Take Out Day. Let’s keep supporting our Downtown businesses. My only regret is that I don’t have five stomachs to eat all the yummy meals Downtown Regina has to offer! And like I said earlier this week … I really need to get to a gym when all this is over. Click link to check out the downtown restaurants offering delivery and take out – https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1tK8_vamLgZ6hREbWG4TYx2HkfVWmRUea_3SIpRBgwkE/edit#gid=113898860. Bon Appetit!

And now for your daily update…

Eligibility changes to the Canada Emergency Response Benefit

On April 15, the Government of Canada announced changes to the eligibility rules for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) to:

Allow people to earn up to $1,000 per month while collecting the CERB.
Extend the CERB to seasonal workers who have exhausted their EI regular benefits and are unable to undertake their regular seasonal work because of COVID-19.
Extend the CERB to workers who have recently exhausted their EI regular benefits and are unable to find a job because of COVID-19.

Business Resilience Webinar Series – Next session Tuesday, April 21, 2020 at 9:00am

The Business Resilience Series – a community initiative geared to help business owners persevere through the COVID-19 challenge – will continue next Tuesday. Join us for free weekly panel discussions featuring experts in the business management, legal, insurance, commercial property, and insolvency fields. Thank you to our partners at Ascent Management for pulling these webinars together. If you missed the April 14 webinar, a recording of the webinar is here.

Canada’s Great Kitchen Party – Home Edition Facebook Link

Let’s support our Downtown Regina Restaurants! Join us for Canada’s Great Kitchen Party – Home Edition every Wednesday in April starting April 15th! #TakeOutDay

Invite 4-5 friends to create your own “virtual table” for this epic variety show!
Your “reservation”: order takeout from your favourite local restaurant—Let’s dine together to support Canadian restaurants & Canada Takeout!
Thanks #FoodiesUnitefor supporting the production of Canada’s Great Kitchen Party – Home Edition! www.foodiesunite.com

How to watch: The LIVE feed will be posted on the Facebook page (above) on Wednesday just before 6:00pm SK time. Sit back, relax and make sure to share which restaurants you are supporting for #TakeOutDay! #FoodiesUnite Canada Takeout

Wellness Together Canada: Mental Health and Substance Use Support

Wellness Together Canada provides free online resources, tools, apps and connections to trained volunteers and qualified mental health professionals when needed. Click the ‘Get Started’ button below to create an account and answer a series of questions to guide you in choosing from a variety of tools and resources to get you back on track.

Regina Downtown Podcast Series “Heart of the City”

EPISODE 4 – Thursday, April 16th

Special guest: Morgan Shoquer, managing partner of The Cure Kitchen + Bar

Discussion: Learn firsthand how COVID-19 has affected their business.

Listen on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Breaker, YouTube + Anchor App.

Click the link above to subscribe to the Regina Downtown BID YouTube channel today!

Chamber of Commerce – Q&A Session on Federal and Provincial Support Programs for Businesses – Thursday April 16, 2020, 10:00am – 11:30am; Via Zoom

Have a great night everyone! Enjoy Canada Take Out Day!

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith

April 16, 2020

Hi RDBID Members,

Well it’s been one month since we started working from home and with Premier Moe’s extension of the State of Emergency, we have at least One Day More in our homes. This month and a half of working home has actually felt like five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes…Yup, I’ve been listening to a lot of musical theatre lately. All I ask of you, is to continue to physically distance so we can keep flattening the curve and eventually, we can hear the people sing in Downtown Regina once again!

And now for your daily update…

Canada Emergency Rent Assistance Announcement

Big news from the Federal Government today! Members have been consistent in stating the biggest challenge before them today is being able to make the rent/lease payment.

Speaking to the challenges faced by businesses and commercial property owners due to COVID-19, Trudeau said the new Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance program will help small businesses cover their rents for April, May, and June. The assistance is being rolled out in collaboration with the provinces and territories as rent policy is largely provinces and municipalities’ responsibility.

The program will provide loans, including some forgivable loans, to commercial property owners who are then to either lower or forgo the rent for small businesses during these months, with a promise of more details to come.

Eligibility changes to the Canada Emergency Business Account

The federal government is also opening up the eligibility criteria the Canada Emergency Business Account. The program, targeted at small- and medium-sized businesses, offers government-guaranteed loans of up to $40,000 to cover the costs of keeping their enterprise afloat during the COVID-19 crisis.

If the company can repay the balance of the loan by the end of 2022, up to $10,000 will be forgiven.

The current eligibility requires applicants to prove that they paid between $50,000 and $1 million in payroll in 2019, leaving out some businesses on either side of these figures.

Now, companies who paid between $20,000 and $1.5 million in total payroll in 2019 will be eligible to receive a loan.

Business Resilience Webinar Series – Next session Tuesday, April 21, 2020 at 9:00am

The Business Resilience Series – a community initiative geared to help business owners persevere through the COVID-19 challenge – will continue next Tuesday. Join us for free weekly panel discussions featuring experts in the business management, legal, insurance, commercial property, and insolvency fields. Thank you to our partners at Ascent Management for pulling these webinars together. If you missed the April 14 webinar, a recording of the webinar is here.

Regina Downtown Podcast Series “Heart of the City”

EPISODE 4 – Thursday, April 16th

Special guest: Morgan Shoquer, managing partner of The Cure Kitchen + Bar

Discussion: Learn firsthand how COVID-19 has affected their business.

Listen on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Breaker, YouTube + Anchor App.

Click the link above to subscribe to the Regina Downtown BID YouTube channel today!

Feel Good Friday – Friday, April 17^th

Coffee Break Discussion on Instagram LIVE at 1PM.

Grab a cup of coffee and join Dominika and special guest Mandy Bishop, Massage Therapist and owner of Mandala Massage for a short discussion on The Importance of Routines.

If you have interest in being a guest, please contact Dominika Deneve, Manager of Marketing and Communications ddeneve@reginadowntown.ca.

Find us on Instagram @reginadowntownbid

Thinking Ahead – What are the impacts of COVID 19 on our local economies?

For this conversation — What are the impacts on local economies? — The Canadian Urban Institute were joined by Mark Garner, CEO and Executive Director, Downtown Yonge BIA; Bruce Katz, Director, Nowak Metro Finance Lab, Drexel University; Mary Moran, President & CEO, Calgary Economic Development; Patrick Sullivan, President & CEO, Halifax Chamber of Commerce; and Karen Wong, Co-founder & CEO, TakuLabs.

Finally, check out my mad skills with the hyperlinks. Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? I guess figuring out how to embed hyperlinks into a text document will be my newly discovered COVID 19 skill.

Well, that’s another Sun and Moon in quarantine. If only I had as much musical talent as the Marsh Family. Think of how much more amazing these updates would be. Stay safe everyone!

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith

April 17, 2020

Hi RDBID Members,

Hello Friday! It’s Friday! Friday I’m in Love! We made it through another week of COVID 19. Keep being resilient folks. We’ve been able to slow the spread of COVID in our province and the number of recoveries is outpacing new cases. Let’s keep our physical distancing efforts up so we can begin life in the new normal. RDBID is seeing a faint light at the end of the tunnel. We are beginning to think about our recovery plan for Downtown. We will be reaching out to all of you to talk about what recovery looks like for your businesses and how RDBID can support your efforts. While the “reopening” of Saskatchewan will most likely be in phases, know that RDBID will be here for you every step of the way.

And now for your daily update…

Government of Canada announces $1.7B in support of rural, arts and culture sectors

The new supports for these sectors follow several updates and expansions to direct aid for Canadians as well as fiscal supports for companies. Prime Minister Trudeau said that his government heard from some in the arts and culture communities that the measures so far didn’t cover them.

In response, the federal government is offering an additional $1.7 billion for targeted measures, including:

Providing $962 million to help smaller firms with funds through their regional development agencies and to help small businesses in rural areas access aid;
Spending $250 million to support innovators and other early stage development firms that don’t qualify for the wage subsidy, which will assist 1,000 firms and maintain 10,000 jobs;
Offering $20 million to support young entrepreneurs across Canada, allowing Futurpreneur Canada to provide payment relief for its clients for up to 12 months; and
Providing $500 million to Heritage Canada to aid workers in the arts, culture, and sports sectors.

More details to come.

Business Resilience Webinar Series – Next session Tuesday, April 21, 2020 at 9:00am

As relief program details fall into place, join our expert panel as they shift their focus to an examination of the strategies and tactics businesses can employ to position themselves to restart operations successfully and succeed in the wake of COVID-19. Sign up at ResilienceSeries.com. Thank you to our partners at Ascent Management for pulling these webinars together. If you missed the April 14 webinar, a recording of the webinar is here.

Chamber of Commerce – Q&A Session on Financial Support Programs for Businesses

Friday, April 24, 2020, 8:00am – 9:00am; Via Zoom

The Regina & District Chamber of Commerce is pleased to present a Zoom Question and Answer Session with The Honourable Mona Fortier, Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance and Maggie Sinclair, Executive Vice President, Conexus Credit Union on financial support programs related to the COVID-19 crisis. Please click here for your complimentary registration and we will send you the coordinates. If you have not received your coordinates by 4pm Thursday April 23, please email Kali at kmcdonald@reginachamber.com or call (306)757-4645.

GetintheLoop Launches Free Program to Support Local Businesses

RDBID is proud to announce an exciting new partnership with mobile technology company GetintheLoop to assist Regina businesses with promoting their available products and services during these unprecedented times.

RDBID and GetintheLoop have established a ‘Community Connections Program’ which has been established to provide free access to GetintheLoop’s mobile marketing platform for all Regina businesses to reach local residents on their smartphones, over email and web during these challenging business conditions.

When your business ops into this program it will provide you with free promotion, and awareness as well as the ability to create dynamic offers such as delivery or curb-side pick-up options, gift card programs, online classes, seniors hours, and most importantly the ability to add incentives and offers for local residents to support your business now, when you need it the most. Click link above for more details.

Regina Downtown Podcast Series “Heart of the City”

EPISODE 5 – Monday, April 20th

Special guest: Wendy Turner Larsen, Psychologist, Professional Speaker, Author, Leadership & Wellness Coach for INTERSECT Turner Larsen Consulting

Discussion: Managing Emotions During Turbulent Times

EPISODE 6 – Wednesday, April 22^nd

Special guest: Mandy Bishop, Massage Therapist and owner of Mandala Massage.

Discussion: Self-Care Strategies – Connection to self and staying resilient in self-isolation.

EPISODE 7 – Thursday, April 23^rd

Special guest: Christina Carlson, business management consultant and owner of Carlson Consulting Services and the community coworking space Queen City Collective

Discussion: Navigating complex decisions when you feel like you are in the fog. The importance of having clarified direction and focusing our energy collectively towards our desired outcomes.

Listen on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Breaker, YouTube + Anchor App.

Click the link above to subscribe to the Regina Downtown BID YouTube channel today!

Regina Downtown Business Improvement District (RDBID) Seeks Artwork for the 2020 Urban Canvas Alley Door Project — Artist Submission Deadline: May 15, 2020

We may not be able to draw a crowd right now, but we can still tap into the power of art to transform our downtown, and support our local artists and businesses through a challenging time.

For Phase 3 of its Urban Canvas Art Program, RDBID is currently looking for vibrant and diverse artwork by local Saskatchewan artists, to be featured on doors in the alley between Scarth and Hamilton Streets, from 12^th to Victoria Avenues (between Copper Kettle and Siam restaurants), as well as on the RDBID website.

Artists: Please submit your application via www.reginadowntown.ca/callforartists.

Submissions must include:

artist bio
concept description(s) and design sketches (max. 3)
3 images of your past work

Please circulate this Call for Artists throughout your networks and help us keep downtown vibrant as we continue to stay safe and plan for future gatherings in everyone’s neighbourhood!

Digital Main Street – Instagram 101: A Beginner’s Guide for Small Business

Digital Main Street is a program and service that helps main street businesses achieve digital transformation. Learn more about building your business on the Instagram platform.

That’s it for the week guys. Stay safe!

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith

April 20, 2020

Hi RDBID Members,

It’s finally that time of year folks. Yup, you guessed it…it’s construction time! We are so pleased that the Victoria Avenue Beautification project is now underway. RDBID will be working with the City of Regina on regular updates regarding construction and how it impacts your business. We had a more extensive communications campaign in mind (back before the pandemic hit!) which we are now adjusting to ensure our messaging respects the restrictions currently in place due to COVID 19. Stay tuned as we continue to build the car while it’s rolling downhill.

And now for your daily update…

Victoria Avenue Infrastructure and Beautification Project

The second year of a $6 million, multi-year infrastructure improvement and beautification project kicks off on Sunday, April 19. This construction season will focus new work between Cornwall Street and Broad Street, as well as finishing work from the 2019 season between Albert Street to Cornwall Street.

The project will see:

A contemporary palette of paving, lighting and furnishings distinctive to Regina’s downtown.
New modern black powder coated traffic signal poles and enhanced street lighting.
Five intersection improvements with larger curbs for pedestrian safety.
Streetscape improvements with new boulevards and wider sidewalks on the north side.
Repairs to catch basins and sewer accesses.
A combined 80 new trees replanted in the boulevards and in Victoria Park.

Business Resilience Webinar Series – Next session Tuesday, April 28, 2020 at 9:00am

Chamber of Commerce – Q&A Session on Financial Support Programs for Businesses

Friday, April 24, 2020, 8:00am – 9:00am; Via Zoom

Spring Sweep Program Begins

Starting Sunday, April 19 crews will begin sweeping medians, downtown streets and main arterial roads such as Albert Street and Lewvan Drive.

Downtown Regina Security Patrols

Downtown Maintenance

Since March 16, we have had to put our Clean Team initiative on hiatus for employee safety. We are slowly reintroducing litter pick up using a skeleton crew during non-peak hours to ensure physical distancing measures are observed. It may take a little longer to cover all of downtown, but we are doing our best to ensure the RDBID staff is as safe as possible. Since last week, we’ve been able to collect six bags of litter and removed three graffiti tags. Should you see a graffiti or litter hot spot, please reach out to Nelson atnmitchell@reginadowntown.ca so we can deploy resources to address it in a timely manner.

Regina Downtown Podcast Series “Heart of the City”

EPISODE 5 – Monday, April 20th

Special guest: Wendy Turner Larsen, Psychologist, Professional Speaker, Author, Leadership & Wellness Coach for INTERSECT Turner Larsen Consulting

Discussion: Managing Emotions During Turbulent Times

EPISODE 6 – Wednesday, April 22^nd

Special guest: Mandy Bishop, Massage Therapist and owner of Mandala Massage.

Discussion: Self-Care Strategies – Connection to self and staying resilient in self-isolation.

EPISODE 7 – Thursday, April 23^rd

Special guest: Christina Carlson, business management consultant and owner of Carlson Consulting Services and the community coworking space Queen City Collective

Discussion: Navigating complex decisions when you feel like you are in the fog. The importance of having clarified direction and focusing our energy collectively towards our desired outcomes.

Listen on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Breaker, YouTube + Anchor App.

Click the link above to subscribe to the Regina Downtown BID YouTube channel today!

Before I close out this update, I would like to send our prayers to our fellow Canadians in Nova Scotia. As the horrific details are coming to light, it seems that our world is quickly becoming unrecognizable. Regina’s affinity with the RCMP make this tragedy hit close to home. I hope that our friends and families in Nova Scotia know that they have support and love from all Canadians. We are all in this together – now more than ever.

Stay safe everyone.

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith

April 21, 2020

Hi RDBID Members,

Help! I am now four weeks past my haircut due date. I was just about to make my appointment with Greg at Salon Snax when everything was shut down. I am looking kind of shaggy and grey right now so (1) if you have any tips for home haircuts, pass them on and (2) please don’t request any video conference calls with me for a while (audio only!). Seriously, I am missing our friends at all our downtown personal service establishments. Not only do they keep our eyebrows perfectly shaped and our hair perfectly coloured, they also act as our pseudo therapists. When they are able to open their doors once again, we will be here to welcome them back with open arms (and overgrown heads of hair). I’ll be here, first in line, for my cut and colour.

And now for your daily update…

Government of Canada launches Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy Calculator for Employers

The CEWS calculator can be found on CRA’s Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy Web page. This Web page incorporates feedback received during user testing with stakeholders, including the Canadian Federation of Independent Business and the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada. It includes detailed information and instructions about who can apply for the subsidy, how eligibility is assessed, and how the subsidy is calculated. The calculator also includes a printable statement feature that employers can use to view their claim at a glance and, as of April 27, enter required information into the CEWS application form quickly and easily.

Staff Supper Program – Thursday, April 23

Regina Downtown and the Warehouse District are hosting a virtual supper for food and beverage workers in our districts who have been impacted by Covid-19.

Our sponsors this week include: Prairie Smoke and Rebellion Brewing

We have a special meal price with Prairie Smoke for $5. That gets you delicious food and a free beer!
Or you can make your own food and join us for the zoom call at 6:30pm on Thursday, April 23rd.

The point is, we miss you! We’ll break the zoom out into different rooms so you can still chat without competing with 30 other people.

A big thank you to Rebellion for supplying the beer and Rob at Prairie Smoke for helping us out with this week’s meal.

Audacity Mentorship Program

This program connects Regina businesses with local, purpose-driven leaders to help solve problems, build and grow businesses together. Entrepreneurs in Regina are encouraged to visit the Audacity YQR website, where they will have the opportunity to request a mentor.

Mentoring relationships create opportunities to exchange knowledge and experience that help local businesses survive, grow and thrive. Mentors can help motivate and reassure you, enhance your community connections, and keep you focused on your short- and long-term goals.

Our first mentors will come from our own ranks, as some members of the Council for Entrepreneurship Growth have agreed to come on board. They are joined by Board members of Economic Development Regina and other business leaders in the community. Together, they form a diverse group of high-energy, committed entrepreneurs from multiple sectors of Regina’s economy.

If you or someone you know is interested in finding a mentor, please direct them to the Audacity YQR website to start the process.

Ward 3 Community Discussion – Facebook Live Hosted by Councillor Andrew Stevens

Wednesday, April 22 7pm – 8pm

Andrew Stevens, our downtown councilor is hosting another Facebook Live session. Let’s talk… about whatever. Join Andrew for another Facebook Live event on Wednesday, April 22, 7PM-8PM, on his main Facebook page (link above).

Canada’s Great Kitchen Party – Home Edition – Wednesday, April 22

Let’s support our Downtown Regina Restaurants! Join us for Canada’s Great Kitchen Party – Home Edition every Wednesday in April starting April 15th! #TakeOutDay

Invite 4-5 friends to create your own “virtual table” for this epic variety show!
Your “reservation”: order takeout from your favourite local restaurant—Let’s dine together to support Canadian restaurants & Canada Takeout!
Thanks #FoodiesUnitefor supporting the production of Canada’s Great Kitchen Party – Home Edition! www.foodiesunite.com

Chamber of Commerce – Q&A Session on Financial Support Programs for Businesses

Friday, April 24, 2020, 8:00am – 9:00am; Via Zoom

The Regina & District Chamber of Commerce is pleased to present a Zoom Question and Answer Session with The Honourable Mona Fortier, Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance and Maggie Sinclair, Executive Vice President, Conexus Credit Union on financial support programs related to the COVID-19 crisis. Please click here for your complimentary registration and we will send you the coordinates. If you have not received your coordinates by 4pm Thursday April 23, please email Kali at kmcdonald@reginachamber.com or call (306)757-4645.

Regina Downtown Podcast Series “Heart of the City”

EPISODE 6 – Wednesday, April 22^nd

Special guest: Mandy Bishop, Massage Therapist and owner of Mandala Massage.

Discussion: Self-Care Strategies – Connection to self and staying resilient in self-isolation.

EPISODE 7 – Thursday, April 23^rd

Special guest: Christina Carlson, business management consultant and owner of Carlson Consulting Services and the community coworking space Queen City Collective

Discussion: Navigating complex decisions when you feel like you are in the fog. The importance of having clarified direction and focusing our energy collectively towards our desired outcomes.

Listen on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Breaker, YouTube + Anchor App.

Click the link above to subscribe to the Regina Downtown BID YouTube channel today!

Business Resilience Webinar Series – Next session Tuesday, April 28, 2020 at 9:00am

Stay safe everyone. And don’t make any rash haircut decisions…

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith

April 22, 2020

Hi RDBID Members,

Who remembers Must See TV back in the 90’s? Mad About You, Seinfeld, Friends…step aside. We have our own Saskatchewan version of Must See TV tonight. At 6:00pm tonight, Premier Moe will address Saskatchewan’s progress through the COVID-19 pandemic, including the vigilance that has been displayed and must be maintained as we look toward the next chapter of reopening Saskatchewan. Must See TV continues on Thursday.

Premier To Make Provincial Address April 22, Announce Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan April 23

On April 23, at 10:30 a.m., Premier Moe will be joined by Saskatchewan’s Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab to announce the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan. The Re-Open Saskatchewan plan will set the framework of how Saskatchewan’s economy will be gradually, methodically and cautiously re-opened so that more Saskatchewan people can safely return to work

We at RDBID are looking forward to reviewing the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan. We will use it as a framework to build support initiatives for our members as doors are re-opened and folks are welcomed back to our Downtown.

And now for your daily update…

Shopify Capital Program

Shopify Inc. will begin providing cash advances directly to online merchants in Canada, as the Ottawa-based ecommerce giant rushes out products to support small businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chief operating officer Harley Finkelstein said that merchants on their platform will qualify for funds ranging from $200 all the way up to $500,000, depending on the nature of their business. Shopify is also offering an extended 90 day free trial.

Digital Main Street – Five Tactics to Stay Top of Mind During COVID 19

Digital Main St. is “a program and service that helps main street businesses achieve digital transformation.” (https://digitalmainstreet.ca/faq/) – for FREE (unless you choose to purchase from one of their vetted third-party vendors). Based in Toronto and usually only serving businesses in Ontario, they have given us permission to share their resources with you – one more example of how this pandemic is strengthening community, info- and resource-sharing, even across our vast country!

Keeping the attention (and business) of your customers and clients in the middle of a global pandemic is a challenge, without question, but there are ways you can stay top of mind, even now, and even if you’re a small business. Drawing on the wisdom of Karen O’Brien, global marketing expert and original seed investor of Trufan, this article gives the Top 5 tactics that are key to keeping their thoughts – and their dollars – coming your way!

Ward 3 Community Discussion – Facebook Live Hosted by Councillor Andrew Stevens

Wednesday, April 22 7pm – 8pm

Canada’s Great Kitchen Party – Home Edition – Wednesday, April 22

Let’s support our Downtown Regina Restaurants! Join us for Canada’s Great Kitchen Party – Home Edition every Wednesday in April starting April 15th! #TakeOutDay

Invite 4-5 friends to create your own “virtual table” for this epic variety show!
Your “reservation”: order takeout from your favourite local restaurant—Let’s dine together to support Canadian restaurants & Canada Takeout!
Thanks #FoodiesUnitefor supporting the production of Canada’s Great Kitchen Party – Home Edition! www.foodiesunite.com

Chamber of Commerce – Q&A Session on Financial Support Programs for Businesses

Friday, April 24, 2020, 8:00am – 9:00am; Via Zoom

The Regina & District Chamber of Commerce is pleased to present a Zoom Question and Answer Session with The Honourable Mona Fortier, Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance and Maggie Sinclair, Executive Vice President, Conexus Credit Union on financial support programs related to the COVID-19 crisis. Please click here for your complimentaryregistration and we will send you the coordinates. If you have not received your coordinates by 4pm Thursday April 23, please email Kali at kmcdonald@reginachamber.com or call (306)757-4645.

Staff Supper Program – Thursday, April 23

Regina Downtown and the Warehouse District are hosting a virtual supper for food and beverage workers in our districts who have been impacted by Covid-19.

Our sponsors this week include: Prairie Smoke and Rebellion Brewing

We have a special meal price with Prairie Smoke for $5. That gets you delicious food and a free beer!
Or you can make your own food and join us for the zoom call at 6:30pm on Thursday, April 23rd.

The point is, we miss you! We’ll break the zoom out into different rooms so you can still chat without competing with 30 other people.

A big thank you to Rebellion for supplying the beer and Rob at Prairie Smoke for helping us out with this weeks meal.

Regina Downtown Podcast Series “Heart of the City”

EPISODE 6 – Wednesday, April 22^nd

Special guest: Mandy Bishop, Massage Therapist and owner of Mandala Massage.

Discussion: Self-Care Strategies – Connection to self and staying resilient in self-isolation.

EPISODE 7 – Thursday, April 23^rd

Special guest: Christina Carlson, business management consultant and owner of Carlson Consulting Services and the community coworking space Queen City Collective

Discussion: Navigating complex decisions when you feel like you are in the fog. The importance of having clarified direction and focusing our energy collectively towards our desired outcomes.

Listen on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Breaker, YouTube + Anchor App.

Click the link above to subscribe to the Regina Downtown BID YouTube channel today!

Before I sign off, I just wanted to say thank you for the shout outs we’ve been seeing for RDBID. They really make my day! Chad, Jiwan and Darcie – we miss you too! We are looking forward to seeing your smiling faces (in person!) once again.

Don’t forget to tune in to Premier Moe’s address tonight and tomorrow folks! But if you can’t, don’t worry…we’ll share all the important stuff with you in the update tomorrow.

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith

April 23, 2020

Hi RDBID Members,

Well we have a plan! Here at RDBID, we are still reviewing the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan to understand the implications for our Downtown Regina businesses. In the coming weeks, we’ll have more information about how RDBID can support you as we slowly begin to re-open Downtown Regina.

And now for your daily update…

Re-Open Saskatchewan

There’s a lot of information in this plan, but the key highlights that affect Downtown Regina Businesses are listed below. Please note that additional safety measures will be required as safety is always our first priority. The Province has identified dates for Phase 1 and 2, however future Phases will be identified as COVID 19 cases are monitored. Click on link above for PDF of the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan.

Phase 1 (May 4):

Re-opening medical services (May 4, 2020)

Allow public access to the following previously restricted medical services: dentistry, optometry, physical therapy, optician services, podiatry, occupational therapy and chiropractic treatment.

Phase 2 (May 19):

Re-Opening Retail (May 19, 2020)

Retail businesses that were previously not allowed can begin providing services to the public, including:

clothing stores
shoe stores
flower shops
sporting good/adventure stores
vaping supply shops
boats, ATV and snowmobile dealers
gift, book and stationery stores
jewelry and accessory stores
toy stores
music, electronic and entertainment stores
pawn shops
travel agencies

Re-Opening Select Personal Services (May 19, 2020)

Some personal service businesses can begin providing services to the public, including:

hairdresser/barber;
registered massage therapist;
acupuncturist; and
acupressurist.

Phase 3 (TBD):

Re-Opening Remaining Personal Services (TBD)

Other personal service businesses can begin providing services to the public, including:

esthetician;
tattoo artist;
cosmetologist;
electrologist;
manicurist;
pedicurist;
sun tanning parlour;
facilities in which body piercing, bone grafting or scarification services are provided; and
other personal service facilities.

Re-Opening Restaurant & Food Services – 50 per cent capacity (TBD)

Re-Opening Gyms and Fitness Facilities (TBD)

Re-Opening Licensed Establishments (TBD)

Phase 4 (TBD):

Re-Opening Indoor and Outdoor Recreation and Entertainment Facilities (TBD)

Increasing the Size of Public and Private Gatherings to 30 People (TBD)

Phase 5:

Consider Lifting Some Long-Term Restrictions (TBD)

Options include limits on the size of public gatherings

Lots to digest so I’ll conclude my update here. Thanks for all your work and sacrifice to flatten the curve here in Saskatchewan.

Oh, and Greg…I’ll need that cut and colour appointment scheduled for May 19.

Stay safe everyone.

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith

April 24, 2020

Hi RDBID Members,

Now that Premier Scott Moe has released the Re-open Saskatchewan plan and we’ve had some time to look it over and come together as an office to discuss it, we would like to (virtually) meet with our members to talk a bit about how we plan to move forward in the coming months.

To make the meetings more concise we have broken it into two separate meetings one for retail and one for food and beverage businesses. Please respond to the following Doodle poll for a date the works best for you.

Retail Meeting Doodle Poll https://doodle.com/poll/8dvtwtk8xxqagmd4

Food and Bev Meeting Doodle Poll https://doodle.com/poll/tn9xrmbpu8zf8mwb

An agenda will be provided to you prior to the meeting. If you have any questions or topics you would like to be added to the agenda please send them our way. Meeting minutes will be circulated following the meeting for those unable to attend.

We want to hear from you! Your input will help us plan for the collective recovery of Downtown Regina. Plus I am looking forward to seeing all of your beautiful faces (albeit through Zoom).

And now for your daily update…

Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced that the federal government has reached an agreement in principle with all provinces and territories to implement the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) for small businesses. This program will lower rent by 75 per cent for small businesses that have been affected by COVID-19.

The government is also providing further details on the program:

The program will provide forgivable loans to qualifying commercial property owners to cover 50 per cent of three monthly rent payments that are payable by eligible small business tenants who are experiencing financial hardship during April, May, and June.
The loans will be forgiven if the mortgaged property owner agrees to reduce the eligible small business tenants’ rent by at least 75 per cent for the three corresponding months under a rent forgiveness agreement, which will include a term not to evict the tenant while the agreement is in place. The small business tenant would cover the remainder, up to 25 per cent of the rent.
Impacted small business tenants are businesses paying less than $50,000 per month in rent and who have temporarily ceased operations or have experienced at least a 70 per cent drop in pre-COVID-19 revenues. This support will also be available to non-profit and charitable organizations.

More details will be available in the coming days.

Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy – Applications Open April 27

The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) provides eligible businesses with a 75 per cent wage subsidy (to a maximum of $847 per week) for up to 12 weeks. The subsidy encourages employers to re-hire workers previously laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Applications open on April 27. The program is retroactive to March 15 and will be in place until June 6, 2020. Recent CEWS legislation that was passed enables the federal government to extend the program until September 30, 2020 and change the Required Revenue Reduction criteria and subsidy amount.

Eligible employers include individuals, taxable corporations, employer partnerships, non-profit organizations and registered charities experiencing a decrease of at least 15 per cent of revenue in March and 30 per cent in the following months.

Recovery Readiness: A How-to Guide for Reopening your Workplace – Cushman Wakefield

As areas stabilize from the COVID-19 pandemic and stay-at-home restrictions are lifted, organizations will begin to bring workers back into the physical workplace. It’s already begun in some parts of the world. In fact, as of April 2020, we have helped move our own employees, and those of our clients, back into more than 800 million square feet of properties globally.

The “Recovery Readiness: A How-to Guide for Reopening your Workplace,” (link above) outlines some of the best thinking and practices that our more than 53,000 professionals have compiled across the globe and also includes insights from key partners. The recommended practices and protocols already have been implemented at locations across the globe with tremendous success.

Business Resilience Webinar – Tuesday, April 28 at 9:00 am

Join us for our next virtual session on Tuesday, April 28th at 9:00 AM where our panel of experts and local business owners discuss strategies and tactics businesses can employ to position themselves to restart successfully in the wake of COVID-19. Sign up at Resilienceseries.com.

The Business Resilience Series is a Regina-based community initiative geared to help business owners persevere through the COVID-19 challenge.

Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan – Free membership sign up ends April 30

Since 1995, WESK has helped thousands of women start, purchase and expand their businesses. Now, we’re taking an even bolder approach focused on innovation and excellence. We’re stepping up our training, engaging with great partners, and bringing you even more resources to generate success.

As a non-profit, membership-based organization, we keep our services affordable — and many are FREE! The return, however, is priceless. Join us!

For the month of April, we would like to offer you a complimentary one-year membership to WESK. In response to the COVID-19 situation we want to offer our business community support in any way we can. This initiative is not retro-active and does not apply for renewals of memberships that expire after April 30.

Mapping our at-risk businesses – Smallbusinessincrisis.ca

We need to show Canadians what they’re losing if small businesses don’t receive the support they need to survive COVID-19. That’s why a coalition of advocates are tracking the status of threatened businesses.

We’re asking small business owners to keep us updated on the status of their businesses. We’ll use the information you provide through this survey to create a map of businesses that have already permanently closed, or are likely to permanently close without more support. The map will be available on https://smallbusinessincrisis.ca and we’ll make it available to other business groups to use on their websites too. You’ll have the opportunity to update your information every two weeks.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone! And don’t forget to respond to the Member Meeting Doodle poll.

Retail Meeting Doodle Poll https://doodle.com/poll/8dvtwtk8xxqagmd4

Food and Bev Meeting Doodle Poll https://doodle.com/poll/tn9xrmbpu8zf8mwb

Stay safe everyone.

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith

April 27, 2020

Hi RDBID Members,

Welcome to another week in the COVID 19 pandemic. I know this is an extremely stressful time – many of you have been able to adapt your businesses to the changing regulations beautifully, while others had more of a struggle getting there.

Many of you have reached out with questions regarding the reopening of business in Saskatchewan. We have those same questions and concerns. One of the biggest questions is when are things going to be “normal”? I am not a medical professional, but I would say that it will be quite a while before we find our “new normal”.

We know non-essential offices are being encouraged to continue working from home. We know that there is some trepidation about being out in the public or in enclosed spaces like retail stores. Even though some industries are able to open in May, not all of them will. So while the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan indicates May 4 and May 19 as the first dates for some industries to re-open, we need to temper our expectations in terms of what business will actually look like.

Downtown Regina not out of the woods yet. We are still deep in the weeds. But with your input and support, we will figure our way out of this together. That’s why our Regina Downtown COVID 19 Conversations are more important than ever! Cue segue…

And now for your daily update…

Regina Downtown COVID 19 Conversations

As the province gears up for reopening select businesses, RDBID want to hear from you. Your input will help us plan the collective recovery of Downtown Regina and advocate for programs (Federal, Provincial and Local) to support your business. What programs were you able to access, what programs didn’t work for you, what can RDBID do to support you as you reopen?

Please let us know of your availability for a zoom call by responding to the doodle polls below. If we missed your industry, let us know. We can always schedule additional calls. Wine is optional for these calls!

Retail Meeting Doodle Poll https://doodle.com/poll/8dvtwtk8xxqagmd4

Food and Bev Meeting Doodle Poll https://doodle.com/poll/tn9xrmbpu8zf8mwb

Personal Services Meeting Doodle Poll https://doodle.com/poll/3cpi6xfbu6n45px9

Once we have dates that work for most, we will send out a meeting confirmation and agenda. Looking forward to speaking to all of you!

Staff Supper Program – Thursday, April 30

Regina Downtown and the Warehouse District are hosting a virtual supper for food and beverage workers in our districts who have been impacted by Covid-19.

Our sponsors this week include: Copper Kettle and Rebellion Brewing/Pile of Bones

We have a special meal price with Copper Kettle for $5. That gets you delicious food and a free beer!
Or you can make your own food and join us for the zoom call at 6:30pm on Thursday, April 30.

The point is, we miss you! We’ll break the zoom out into different rooms so you can still chat without competing with 30 other people.

A big thank you to Anna at Copper Kettle and the folks at Rebellion and Pile of Bones for helping us out with this week’s meal.

Federal Tax Response to COVID 19 – MNP – April 24

MNP has shared a summary of Federal COVID 19 Programs along with some FAQ’s. For further information, you can access the MNP COVID-19 Business Advice Centre for timely information and practical solutions for navigating COVID-19.

Thinking Ahead – From Response to Recovery: How Our Communities Will Adapt After COVID-19 – Webinar – Tuesday, April 28 at 11:00 am

COVID-19 has disrupted our communities, temporarily reshaping how we move, learn, spend, and connect with one another. This webinar will explore the short and long term impacts of these changes, and how they could fundamentally impact the “new normal” in a post-COVID world. Participating speakers will share their perspectives on what challenges, immediate needs, and “rebuilding tasks” cities face going from response to economic recovery, and how these will shape how we plan for safe, equitable, and economically resilient cities now and in the future. Click link above to sign up for this free webinar.

Business Resilience Webinar – Tuesday, April 28 at 9:00 am

The Business Resilience Series is a Regina-based community initiative geared to help business owners persevere through the COVID-19 challenge.

Downtown Regina Security Patrols

Downtown Maintenance

Since March 16, we have had to put our Clean Team initiative on hiatus for employee safety. We are slowly reintroducing litter pick up using a skeleton crew during non-peak hours to ensure physical distancing measures are observed. It may take a little longer to cover all of downtown, but we are doing our best to ensure the RDBID staff is as safe as possible. Last week, we’ve collected seven bags of litter and removed two graffiti tags. Should you see a graffiti or litter hot spot, please reach out to Nelson at nmitchell@reginadowntown.ca so we can deploy resources to address it in a timely manner.

Finally, as a huge Brad Pitt fan (yes, Ocean’s 11 is in my top five favorite movies – I’ve watched it about eight times since March 16), I’ll leave you with Brad Pitt as Dr. Anthony Fauci. Miracles shouldn’t be Plan A.

Stay safe everyone. Let’s do the best we can to continue practicing physical distancing and washing our hands. The longer we keep the curve flattened, the sooner all of our industries can reopen.

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith

April 28, 2020

Hi RDBID Members,

May 4 is coming fast and furious. Our members in the dentistry, optometry, physical therapy, optician services, podiatry, occupational therapy and chiropractic treatment will soon be able to resume business with precautionary measures as outlined by the Chief Medical Health Officer. Soon after, on May 19, most of our retailers and select personal service providers will be able to open.

While I know many of you are ready to throw your doors open, I also know there may be a few that want to take a more precautionary approach to reopening for other reasons.

The RDBID Team will soon be reaching out to you to learn more about your reopening plan – are you planning on opening on May 4/19? Will you have reduced hours? Will you have reduced services? Or will it be business as usual. All of this information will be key to making sure RDBID is sharing the right information as we promote Downtown Regina as being “kind of” open for business. Also, if you are planning on reopening, there is some great information below about recovery readiness and business reopening planning from Cushman Wakefield.

If you’ve already spoken to an RDBID Team member, great! If not, you should be getting a call or email soon.

And now for your daily update…

Regina Downtown COVID 19 Conversations

Retail Meeting Doodle Poll https://doodle.com/poll/8dvtwtk8xxqagmd4

Food and Bev Meeting Doodle Poll https://doodle.com/poll/tn9xrmbpu8zf8mwb

Personal Services Meeting Doodle Poll https://doodle.com/poll/3cpi6xfbu6n45px9

Once we have dates that work for most, we will send out a meeting confirmation and agenda. Looking forward to speaking to all of you!

Staff Supper Program – Thursday, April 30

Regina Downtown and the Warehouse District are hosting a virtual supper for food and beverage workers in our districts who have been impacted by Covid-19.

Our sponsors this week include: Copper Kettle and Rebellion Brewing/Pile of Bones

We have a special meal price with Copper Kettle for $5. That gets you delicious food and a free beer!
Or you can make your own food and join us for the zoom call at 6:30pm on Thursday, April 30.

The point is, we miss you! We’ll break the zoom out into different rooms so you can still chat without competing with 30 other people.

A big thank you to Anna at Copper Kettle and the folks at Rebellion and Pile of Bones for helping us out with this week’s meal.

Canada’s Great Kitchen Party – Home Edition – Wednesday, April 29

Let’s support our Downtown Regina Restaurants! Join us for Canada’s Great Kitchen Party – Home Edition every Wednesday in April starting April 15th! #TakeOutDay

Invite 4-5 friends to create your own “virtual table” for this epic variety show!
Your “reservation”: order takeout from your favourite local restaurant—Let’s dine together to support Canadian restaurants & Canada Takeout!
Thanks #FoodiesUnite for supporting the production of Canada’s Great Kitchen Party – Home Edition! www.foodiesunite.com

Chamber of Commerce – Q&A Session with the Canada Revenue Agency
Thursday, April 30 – 10:00 am – 11:00 am; Via Zoom

The Regina & District Chamber of Commerce is pleased to present a Zoom Question and Answer Session with Susan Ross, Liaison Officer, Saskatchewan Tax Services Office on how the Canada Revenue Agency can help during the COVID-19 crisis. Please click here for your complimentary registration and we will send you the coordinates. If you have not received your coordinates by 4pm Wednesday April 29, please email Kali at kmcdonald@reginachamber.com or call (306)757-4645.

Recovery Readiness – Four Critical Items You Need to Reopen Your Commercial Building

Cushman & Wakefield is leading the field in their research and guidance to building owners, managers and tenants. Chris Johnson’s short video (click link above) outlining 4 key things every building and business should be working on to get ready to open of the upcoming weeks and months is a must see.

You can email Chris Johnson for assistance in developing a plan to reopen your business safely and successfully, so you can start your new normal.

Regina Downtown Podcast Series “Heart of the City”

EPISODE 9 – Tuesday, April 28th

Special guest: Jonathan Thauberger, Head Chef – Crave Kitchen + Wine Bar

Discussion: Learn firsthand how COVID-19 has affected the restaurant.

Staying fresh, staying focused and staying the course.

EPISODE 10– Thursday, April 30th

Special guest: Andrew Shanks, General Manager – O’hanlon’s Irish Pub

Discussion: Learn firsthand how COVID-19 has affected the restaurant.

It’s the Wild West and now is the time to try something new.

Listen on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Breaker, Overcast, PocketCasts, RadioPublic, YouTube + Anchor App. Click the link above to subscribe to the Regina Downtown BID YouTube channel today!

Feel Good Friday – Coffee Break Discussion on Instagram LIVE – May 1 at 1PM

Grab a cup of coffee and join Dominika and special guest Lynn Armstrong, owner of Zoe for a short discussion on How to Stay Motivated, and the importance of getting dressed.

If you have interest in being a guest, please contact Dominika Deneve, Manager of Marketing and Communications ddeneve@reginadowntown.ca.

Find us on Instagram @reginadowntownbid

Have a wonderful rest of the day everyone! It looks like the clouds have moved on and we are back to a bright blue sky for the rest of the evening. Enjoy your evening walk while maintaining physical distancing. Here is a great guide to what 2 metres actually is. And make sure you stay at least one hockey stick apart from everyone else!

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith

April 29, 2020

Hi RDBID Members,

I’m feeling inspired today. I was able to stop in at Dean Renwick’s Design Studio to drop off some fabric for some Downtown Regina face masks. It was great to check in with Dean and his team. We all knew that they were working hard to sew face masks for seniors in the community. Now they are making protection gowns for dentists and face masks for businesses and the retail showroom in his shop has now been converted to sewing machine space. Way to go, Dean! Thanks for doing your part to keep us all safe!

And now for your daily update…

Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CERCA) – More details announced

Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) for small businesses provides much needed relief for small businesses experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19. It offers forgivable loans to eligible commercial property owners so that they can reduce the rent owed by their impacted small business tenants by at least 75% for the months of April, May and June, 2020.

A few more details have been announced by the Government of Canada (click link above), however, the application process is still being finalized.

The CERCA program was developed with best of intentions, however, we’ve identified a few holes in the program that if plugged, could make the program more responsive to the situation small business is facing. IDA Canada has submitted the attached letter to the Federal government recommending adjustments that can be made to the program more successful.

Regina Downtown COVID 19 Conversations

Retail Meeting Doodle Poll

Food and Bev Meeting Doodle Poll

Personal Services Meeting Doodle Poll

Once we have dates that work for most, we will send out a meeting confirmation and agenda. Looking forward to speaking to all of you!

Staff Supper Program – Thursday, April 30

Regina Downtown and the Warehouse District are hosting a virtual supper for food and beverage workers in our districts who have been impacted by Covid-19.

Our sponsors this week include: Copper Kettle and Rebellion Brewing/Pile of Bones

We have a special meal price with Copper Kettle for $5. That gets you delicious food and a free beer!
Or you can make your own food and join us for the zoom call at 6:30pm on Thursday, April 30.

A big thank you to Anna at Copper Kettle and the folks at Rebellion and Pile of Bones for helping us out with this week’s meal.

Business Resilience Webinar Series – Next session Tuesday, May 5, 2020 at 9:00am

The Business Resilience Series – a community initiative geared to help business owners persevere through the COVID-19 challenge – will continue next Tuesday. Join us for free weekly panel discussions featuring experts in the business management, legal, insurance, commercial property, and insolvency fields. Thank you to our partners at Ascent Management for pulling these webinars together. If you missed the April 28 webinar, a recording of the webinar is here.

Free Microsoft Teams Demonstration – Offered by Microage

Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at noon, MicroAge will be hosting a 30 minute Microsoft Teams demonstration showing various features of the application and how it can help you to Collaborate, Communicate and “Work from Home” more effectively.

Teams has become a vital communication and collaboration tool with so many employees working from home and we want to show the value it offers. We will limit it to 10 attendees as we want to keep the groups small for more participation and conversation.

Audacity Mentorship Program

If you or someone you know is interested in finding a mentor, please direct them to the Audacity YQR website to start the process.

Regina Downtown Podcast Series “Heart of the City”

EPISODE 9 – Tuesday, April 28th

Special guest: Jonathan Thauberger, Head Chef – Crave Kitchen + Wine Bar

Discussion: Learn firsthand how COVID-19 has affected the restaurant.

Staying fresh, staying focused and staying the course.

EPISODE 10– Thursday, April 30th

Special guest: Andrew Shanks, General Manager – O’Hanlon’s Irish Pub

Discussion: Learn firsthand how COVID-19 has affected the restaurant.

It’s the Wild West and now is the time to try something new.

Listen on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Breaker, Overcast, PocketCasts, RadioPublic, YouTube + Anchor App. Click the link above to subscribe to the Regina Downtown BID YouTube channel today!

Feel Good Friday – Coffee Break Discussion on Instagram LIVE – May 1 at 1PM

Grab a cup of coffee and join Dominika and special guest Lynn Armstrong, owner of Zoe for a short discussion on How to Stay Motivated, and the importance of getting dressed.

If you have interest in being a guest, please contact Dominika Deneve, Manager of Marketing and Communications ddeneve@reginadowntown.ca.

Find us on Instagram @reginadowntownbid

Thinking Ahead – What should people do about “Re-Open Saskatchewan”?

Sometimes when we are in the thick of things, we become so focused on our personal perspective or that of our business that we forget to think about the perspective of the customer. I thought this was an interesting article that shares the viewpoint of a portion of the consumer population.

Have a great hump day everyone!

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith

April 30, 2020

Hi RDBID Members,

Hey now…let’s not get ahead of ourselves. With the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan announcement last week, there were some folks getting complacent with the gathering and physical distancing. I know we all want to be with our friends and we all want to be outside enjoying the beautiful SK weather. But we need to be extra vigilant in maintaining physical separation of at least 2m from one another.

With the announcement of outbreaks in other parts of the province, Premier Moe has extended the State of Emergency for two more weeks. In Regina, we are still on track for re-opening of certain sectors on May 4, but know that if our cases continue to climb, we could very well be back a square one. Ok now, I’ll put my “Mom” voice away… but I’ll leave this reminder here…

And now for your daily update…

Changes to taxes and benefits: CRA and COVID 19

The rules around the Federal Programs for COVID 19 support for individuals and businesses change often as the Government tries to adjust the programs based on feedback. Please click the link above to see if any changes to the programs affect you.

Government of Saskatchewan announces a temporary wage supplement for lower income essential workers for vulnerable citizens

The new wage supplement consists of a flat $400 per month benefit for up to 16 weeks (March 15 to July 4) for each eligible worker. The application process for the supplement will be outlined in the coming days.

Workers will be eligible for the new supplement if they earn less than $2,500 per month and are employed at:

senior-care facilities, including private care homes and home care;
licenced childcare facilities;
group homes run by community-based organizations; and
emergency shelters and transition shelters.

Essential workers such as caregivers, cooks and cleaners, both full-time and part-time, at these facilities are eligible.

Regina Downtown COVID 19 Conversations

Retail Meeting Doodle Poll

Food and Bev Meeting Doodle Poll

Personal Services Meeting Doodle Poll

Once we have dates that work for most, we will send out a meeting confirmation and agenda. Looking forward to speaking to all of you!

Business Resilience Webinar Series – Next session Tuesday, April 21, 2020 at 9:00am

The Business Resilience Series – a community initiative geared to help business owners persevere through the COVID-19 challenge – will continue next Tuesday. Join us for free weekly panel discussions featuring experts in the business management, legal, insurance, commercial property, and insolvency fields. Thank you to our partners at Ascent Management for pulling these webinars together. If you missed the April 14 webinar, a recording of the webinar is here.

Microsoft Teams Demo – Collaborate, Communicate and “Work from Home” more effectively

Thursday, May 7 – 10:00 am

The Regina and District Chamber of Commerce in partnership with MicroAge will be hosting a Microsoft Teams demonstration showing various features of the application and how it can help you to Collaborate, Communicate and “Work from Home” more effectively. Teams has become a vital communication and collaboration tool. With so many employees working from home, we want to show the value it offers.

Please click here to register and we will send you the coordinates. If you have not received your coordinates by 4pm Wednesday May 6, please email Kali at kmcdonald@reginachamber.com or call (306)757-4645.

Charting Your Course – MNP

This is a great article about positioning your business for recovery while still balancing the demands of crisis management. This crisis will eventually end, as all crises do. The key to your organization’s strength and ability to recover will be redefining your normal and taking near-term actions to ensure you achieve it.

Feel Good Friday – Coffee Break Discussion on Instagram LIVE – May 1 at 1PM

Grab a cup of coffee and join Dominika and special guest Lynn Armstrong, owner of Zoe for a short discussion on How to Stay Motivated, and the importance of getting dressed.

If you have interest in being a guest, please contact Dominika Deneve, Manager of Marketing and Communications ddeneve@reginadowntown.ca.

Find us on Instagram @reginadowntownbid

I’ll leave you with a reminder that mass gatherings are NOT allowed, whether or not people are physical distancing. Any gatherings that exceed 10 people are in violation of the public health order!

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith

April 30, 2020

Hi RDBID Members,

Happy May Day everyone!

For those of you planning on opening your business on Monday, I’m sure it will be a busy weekend. Please let RDBID know how your first few days go. What was the customer sentiment? Was it hard to make adjustments to your lobby to adhere to the provincial guidelines? All of this information becomes valuable as more of your fellow businesses gear up to open in subsequent phases. In advance of Monday, best of luck with the opening and stay safe!

And now for your daily update…

Regina Downtown COVID 19 Conversations – Meeting Links

Next week, Regina Downtown will be hosting a Zoom meeting for businesses to discuss the Reopen Plan for Saskatchewan. Please join us as your input will help us plan the collective recovery of Downtown Regina and advocate for programs (Federal, Provincial and Local) to support your business. We will discuss what supports Regina Downtown will offer in the coming months as well as plans and protocols for reopening.

Please find the Zoom meeting invitations below:

Retail Meeting – Monday May 4, 2020 from 9am – 10am

Join Retail Zoom Meeting:

Meeting ID: 397 529 2180

Agenda here

Personal Services Meeting – Tuesday, May 5, 2020 from 9am – 10am

Join Personal Services Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 862 4134 6959

Agenda forthcoming

Food and Beverage Industry Meeting (1 of 2 meetings) – Monday, May 11 from 9am – 10am

Join Food and Beverage Industry (1 of 2) Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 397 529 2180

Food and Beverage Industry Meeting (2 of 2 meetings) – Monday, May 11 from 2pm – 3pm

Join Food and Beverage Industry (2 of2) Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 397 529 2180

Recovery Readiness – Retail

Moving forward and opening store locations will require even more planning and greater detail. Cushman & Wakefield has developed the Safe Eight—eight categories of consideration to prepare for a new consumer experience. As our Downtown Regina retailers begin to plan their reopening, this a great guideline to review to ensure you’re covering all your bases. Click link above.

Recovery Readiness – Restaurants

The attached toolkit, produced by Streetsense (US), is designed to help restaurants understand, plan, and mitigate the impacts of the COVID 19 pandemic. The toolkit contains clear and concise resources for managing capital, planning for relaunch, and also provides recommendations on adjusting operations and increasing guest engagement in the wake of the crisis. Click link above.

Plumbing System Troubleshooting Tips for Reopening Your Business

The City of Regina is offering plumbing system troubleshooting tips for businesses opening in Phase One and Two of Re-Open Saskatchewan. When water is left stagnant in building pipes the water quality can change. Please click on the link above for steps to take as you reopen your business.

Victoria Avenue Infrastructure and Beautification Project

The second year of a $6 million, multi-year infrastructure improvement and beautification project kicked off on Sunday, April 19.

This year, RDBID will be sending out regular updates on the progress and impacts of the construction, via social media and in more targeted email communications when necessary. Follow us on social media, where we will be bringing you all the news on what’s happening, where, when, and how to get around it. Feel free to share our posts with your networks, and encourage your staff, customers, delivery folks, and any other associates to follow and share, too.

Please do let us know if you have any questions or concerns, by contacting:

Nelson Mitchell, Manager of Operations nmitchell@reginadowntown.ca

Regina Farmers’ Market Online Ordering Platform

Usually the first weekend of May we are all gearing up for the return of the Regina Farmers’ Market to City Square Plaza. Physical distancing recommendations have required the Farmers’ Market to cancel their indoor markets and postpone their outdoor markets. In order to continue serving and feeding the Regina community, the RFM has just launched an Online Ordering Platform (see link above). While we will miss interacting with our favorite vendors, we can still support them by ordering online.

Saskatchewan Hotel and Hospitality Association Survey

The Saskatchewan Hotel & Hospitality Association is requesting your input to measure the impacts that COVID-19 is having on your business. The information you provide will support our ongoing discussions with government to ensure the needs of the hospitality industry are addressed as part of developing response plans. Click link above.

Business Resilience Webinar Series – Next session Tuesday, May 5, 2020 at 9:00am

Join us for our next virtual session on Tuesday, May 5th at 9:00 AM where our panel of experts and local business owners discuss strategies and tactics businesses can employ to position themselves to restart successfully in the wake of COVID-19. Sign up at Resilienceseries.com.

The Business Resilience Series is a Regina-based community initiative geared to help business owners persevere through the COVID-19 challenge.

Thank you to our partners at Ascent Management for pulling these webinars together. If you missed the April 28 webinar, a recording of the webinar is here.

Microsoft Teams Demo – Collaborate, Communicate and “Work from Home” more effectively

Thursday, May 7 – 10:00 am

Square One Support Team

The Square One team is dedicated to helping you build your business. We’ve taken our small business expertise online and are available for phone and video conference advising, as well as giving you access to valuable market research reports. Book your appointment today or email your business question.

We also have a great list of online learning opportunities for you to expand your knowledge and skillset from home. We update this list with both live and on-demand webinars regularly, so bookmark the page to stay in the loop.

Regina Downtown Podcast Series “Heart of the City”

EPISODE 11 – Monday, May 4^th

Special guest: Chris Johnson President, and General Manager of Cushman & Wakefield Integrated Property Management Inc.

Discussion: Cushman & Wakefield is leading the field in their research and guidance to building owners, managers and tenants. Chris joins us today to share best thinking and practices when it comes to recovery readiness and reopening plans.

Have a great weekend everyone! It is supposed to be a warm, sunny weekend so be sure to continue physical distancing while you enjoy the sun. As I mentioned in a previous update, please stay at least one hockey stick apart. Or maybe this infographic is more relatable…I think I’m going to begin collecting these infographics. Some of them are amazing.

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith

DAILY UPDATES MAY-JUNE

MAY 1, 2020

Hi RDBID Members,

Happy May Day everyone!

And now for your daily update…

Regina Downtown COVID 19 Conversations – Meeting Links

Please find the Zoom meeting invitations below:

Retail Meeting – Monday May 4, 2020 from 9am – 10am

Join Retail Zoom Meeting:

Meeting ID: 397 529 2180

Agenda here

Personal Services Meeting – Tuesday, May 5, 2020 from 9am – 10am

Join Personal Services Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 862 4134 6959

Agenda forthcoming

Food and Beverage Industry Meeting (1 of 2 meetings) – Monday, May 11 from 9am – 10am

Join Food and Beverage Industry (1 of 2) Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 397 529 2180

Food and Beverage Industry Meeting (2 of 2 meetings) – Monday, May 11 from 2pm – 3pm

Join Food and Beverage Industry (2 of2) Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 397 529 2180

Recovery Readiness – Retail

Recovery Readiness – Restaurants

Plumbing System Troubleshooting Tips for Reopening Your Business

Victoria Avenue Infrastructure and Beautification Project

The second year of a $6 million, multi-year infrastructure improvement and beautification project kicked off on Sunday, April 19.

Please do let us know if you have any questions or concerns, by contacting:

Nelson Mitchell, Manager of Operations nmitchell@reginadowntown.ca

Regina Farmers’ Market Online Ordering Platform

Saskatchewan Hotel and Hospitality Association Survey

Business Resilience Webinar Series – Next session Tuesday, May 5, 2020 at 9:00am

The Business Resilience Series is a Regina-based community initiative geared to help business owners persevere through the COVID-19 challenge.

Thank you to our partners at Ascent Management for pulling these webinars together. If you missed the April 28 webinar, a recording of the webinar is here.

Microsoft Teams Demo – Collaborate, Communicate and “Work from Home” more effectively

Thursday, May 7 – 10:00 am

Square One Support Team

Regina Downtown Podcast Series “Heart of the City”

EPISODE 11 – Monday, May 4^th

Special guest: Chris Johnson President, and General Manager of Cushman & Wakefield Integrated Property Management Inc.

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith

MAY 4, 2020

Hi RDBID Members,

Hand Sanitizer (1 bottle)
Face Mask (limit 2)
Face Shield (limited to sectors that are required to use PPE, limit 1)
Physical Distancing Floor Stickers (5 maximum)
Front Door Decal
Laminated Informational Posters (8.5×11 or 11×17 size)

To reserve your Welcome Back Package, please fill out the reservation form HERE:

And now for your daily update…

Clothing and Retail Store Re-Opening Update

In response to feedback from the retail industry, the Government of Saskatchewan adjusted the rules for clothing and retail businesses. Please click link above for more details.

Shopping Malls will also be allowed to open on May 19.

Shopping malls and their retail tenants may resume business subject to the Retail Guidelines.
Shopping mall operators must implement measures to ensure appropriate social distancing in the common spaces of the mall, and queues must be managed with a minimum of two metres between people.
Washrooms may be open to staff and the public, but increased cleaning and disinfection must take place.
Food court facilities are restricted to pick-up and delivery service only. All seating areas must be closed.
Elevators must allow people to maintain two metres of separation. Escalators must be managed to maintain two metres between users.

Updated Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan Click link for details.

Here you can also find the Government of Saskatchewan re-opening plan FAQ’s

Regina Downtown COVID 19 Conversations – Meeting Links

Please find the Zoom meeting invitations below:

Personal Services Meeting – Tuesday, May 5, 2020 from 9am – 10am

Join Personal Services Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 862 4134 6959

Food and Beverage Industry Meeting (1 of 2 meetings) – Monday, May 11 from 9am – 10am

Join Food and Beverage Industry (1 of 2) Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 397 529 2180

Food and Beverage Industry Meeting (2 of 2 meetings) – Monday, May 11 from 2pm – 3pm

Join Food and Beverage Industry (2 of2) Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 397 529 2180

Staff Supper Program – Thursday, May 7

Regina Downtown and the Warehouse District are hosting a virtual supper for food and beverage workers in our districts who have been impacted by Covid-19.

We have a special meal price of $5.00. That gets you delicious food and a free beer!
Or you can make your own food and join us for the zoom call at 6:30pm on Thursday, May 7.

Business Resilience Webinar Series – Next session Tuesday, May 5, 2020 at 9:00am

The Business Resilience Series is a Regina-based community initiative geared to help business owners persevere through the COVID-19 challenge.

Thank you to our partners at Ascent Management for pulling these webinars together. If you missed the April 28 webinar, a recording of the webinar is HERE.

Microsoft Teams Demo – Collaborate, Communicate and “Work from Home” more effectively

Thursday, May 7 – 10:00 am

Chamber of Commerce – Q&A Session for Retailers

Friday, May 8, 10:00 – 11:00am; Via Zoom

The Regina & District Chamber of Commerce is pleased to present a Zoom Question and Answer Session for retailers. Please register for this complimentary session and we will send you the coordinates. If you have not received your coordinates by 4pm Thursday May 7, please email Kali at kmcdonald@reginachamber.com or call (306)757-4645.

Thanks again for hanging in there. It was great to speak with some of you on our retailer call this morning. Your flexibility and optimism in this time of incredible stress gives me immense hope that we are going to find our way to the other side of this crisis together.

Stay safe everyone.

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith

MAY 5, 2020

Hi RDBID Members,

The sun is shining and it’s relatively warm (for Saskatchewan). I could really use some daiquiris and enchiladas and tacos on a patio right about now. I’m sure you are all thinking the same thing today. Hopefully, we will be able to do just that sometime this summer.

I’ve had the chance to talk to so many of you in the past week – mainly through Zoom or Facetime, some of you on the phone. It was so inspiring to hear your stories of how you’ve changed how you run your businesses in the face of COVID 19 and how you plan to change once again now that new guidelines have been announced for businesses as we reopen. Please keep sharing your experiences with us and with your fellow businesses. By doing this, you are helping ALL of Downtown Regina make it to the COVID 19 finish line. Your resiliency is contagious!

And now for your daily update…

Business Resilience Series: Information for the Restaurant Industry

Thursday, May 7 10:00 – 11:00am

Join us for our next session with a focus on Information for the Restaurant Industry. Our expert panel will discuss specific issues restaurant owners face as they consider re-opening as well as guidelines in the Province’s Re-open Saskatchewan plan. Panelist’s will share knowledge on industry best practices and answer direct questions from attendees. Click link above to register.

Panelist’s include:

Jeffrey Boutilier, President, Ascent Strategy (also moderating)
Mark von Schellwitz, Vice President Western Canada, Restaurants Canada
Aimee Schulhauser, Owner/Founder, Schoolhaus Culinary
Matt Pinch, Co-founder, President and CEO, Leo’s Hospitality Group
Jim Bence, President and CEO, Saskatchewan Hotel and Hospitality Association

Victoria Avenue Infrastructure and Beautification Project

TO ACCESS SCARTH STREET DURING CONSTRUCTION

You can only access 1900 block Scarth Street from Victoria Avenue and Scarth Street intersection, if you’re travelling westbound. Folks travelling eastbound on Victoria Avenue will have to loop around Rose and Hamilton.

For detailed instructions please click here:

Follow us on social media, where we will be bringing you all the news regarding the Victoria Avenue Beautification Project. Feel free to share our posts with your networks, and encourage your staff, customers, delivery folks, and any other associates to follow and share, too.

Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns, by contacting:

Nelson Mitchell, Manager of Operations nmitchell@reginadowntown.ca

Regina Downtown COVID 19 Conversations – Meeting Links

Please find the Zoom meeting invitations below:

Food and Beverage Industry Meeting (1 of 2 meetings) – Monday, May 11 from 9am – 10am

Join Food and Beverage Industry (1 of 2) Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 397 529 2180

Food and Beverage Industry Meeting (2 of 2 meetings) – Monday, May 11 from 2pm – 3pm

Join Food and Beverage Industry (2 of2) Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 397 529 2180

Staff Supper Program – Thursday, May 7

Regina Downtown and the Warehouse District are hosting a virtual supper for food and beverage workers in our districts who have been impacted by Covid-19.

Our sponsors this week include: Legacy Catering and Rebellion Brewing
We have a special meal price of $5.00. That gets you delicious food and a free beer!
Or you can make your own food and join us for the zoom call at 6:30pm on Thursday, May 7.

Chamber of Commerce – Q&A Session for Retailers

Friday, May 8, 10:00 – 11:00am; Via Zoom

Regina Downtown Podcast Series “Heart of the City”

EPISODE 11 – Tuesday, May 6^th

Special guest: Lynn Armstrong, entrepreneur and owner of Zoe

Discussion: Learn firsthand how COVID-19 has affected the retail industry, including how Lynn continues to stay resilient and share her brand’s story.

EPISODE 12– Thursday, May 7^th

Special guest: Chad Boudreau, Comic Readers Downtown

Discussion: Learn firsthand how COVID-19 has affected the comic industry. Chad shares new protocols and routines he has put in place to stay safe and connected to the community.

EPISODE 13– Friday, May 8^th

Special guest: Crystal Thorburn, 2019 Urban Canvas Downtown Regina Alley Door Artist

Discussion: The importance of art within a community.

Listen on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Breaker, Overcast, PocketCasts, RadioPublic, YouTube + Anchor App.

And subscribe to the Regina Downtown BID YouTube channel today!

**If you have interest in being a guest, please contact Dominika Deneve, Manager of Marketing and Communications ddeneve@reginadowntown.ca

Instagram Story Takeover –Friday, May 8th

Tune in Friday, May 8^th as The Optical Shoppe takes over our Instagram stories!

Find us on Instagram @reginadowntownbid

Feel Good Friday – Friday, May 8^th

Coffee Break Discussion on Instagram LIVE at 1PM.

Grab a cup of coffee and join Dominika and special guest Lisa McIntyre, owner & COO of The Optical Shoppe.

Downtown Regina Security Patrols

Downtown Maintenance

Since March 16, we have had to put our Clean Team initiative on hiatus for employee safety. We are slowly reintroducing litter pick up using a skeleton crew during non-peak hours to ensure physical distancing measures are observed. It may take a little longer to cover all of downtown, but we are doing our best to ensure the RDBID staff is as safe as possible. Last week, we’ve collected six bags of litter and removed two graffiti tags. Should you see a graffiti or litter hot spot, please reach out to Nelson at nmitchell@reginadowntown.ca so we can deploy resources to address it in a timely manner.

Have a great Wednesday everyone! I can’t wait until I can enjoy a daiquiri with each and every one of you on a sunny patio, sharing COVID 19 war stories.

Stay safe everyone.

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith

MAY 6, 2020

Hi RDBID Members,

So this is where I’m at now. The days are all blurring into one long “day”. I am seriously thinking of investing in a selection of sweaters and hoodies with the days of the week printed on them. It’s been a struggle to remember what day it is! I’m constantly asking my family what day it is or checking my phone to check the date. It would be much easier if I just had to look down at the front of my sweater for the answer. I’m sure everyone is feeling the same way…right?

And now for your daily update…

Join Food and Beverage Industry (1 of 2) Zoom Meeting

Regina Downtown COVID 19 Conversations – Meeting Links

Please find the Zoom meeting invitations below:

Food and Beverage Industry Meeting (1 of 2 meetings) – Monday, May 11 from 9am – 10am

Meeting ID: 397 529 2180

Food and Beverage Industry Meeting (2 of 2 meetings) – Monday, May 11 from 2pm – 3pm

Join Food and Beverage Industry (2 of2) Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 397 529 2180

Staff Supper Program – Thursday, May 7

Regina Downtown and the Warehouse District are hosting a virtual supper for food and beverage workers in our districts who have been impacted by Covid-19.

Our sponsors this week include: Legacy Catering and Rebellion Brewing

We have a special meal price of $5.00. That gets you delicious food and a free beer!
Or you can make your own food and join us for the zoom call at 6:30pm on Thursday, May 7.

Chamber of Commerce – Q&A Session for Retailers

Friday, May 8, 10:00 – 11:00am; Via Zoom

Building a Strong Saskatchewan Announcement

Premier Scott Moe today announced a $7.5 billion, two-year capital plan to build a strong Saskatchewan and stimulate Saskatchewan’s economic recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The $7.5 billion in infrastructure funding represents a $2.0 billion increase over the government’s existing capital plan. We will continue to share details about this program as they are released.

Destination Canada Webinar – Tourism and Hospitality Industry – Tuesday, May 12 at 4:30SK

Destination Canada is hosting regular webinars, sharing our approach amid the COVID-19 situation and providing information on available federal support initiatives. We will have industry partners, representatives from government as well as applicable businesses join to provide the most up-to-date information and resources.

Speakers: The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages; Destination Canada; and Tourism Industry Association of Canada.

Details: Please click here to join the webinar:

Or Telephone:
Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
Canada: +1 647 374 4685 or +1 647 558 0588 or +1 778 907 2071 or +1 438 809 7799 or +1 587 328 1099

Webinar ID: 865 8786 1221

Bring Back Main Street – partnership with the Canadian Urban Institute

Canada’s main streets are iconic symbols of urban life and belonging — where we go to shop and do business, eat, play and participate in civic life. The harsh reality is that COVID-19 is having an unprecedented impact on our main streets. Many small businesses, for example, have already been lost, and more will continue to close permanently in the coming days, weeks, and months. We need bold action right now.

Regina Downtown BID and IDA Canada have been supporting the Canadian Urban Institute in developing Bring Back Main Street, a nationally-coordinated research and advocacy campaign to ensure the people, business and organizations that that call Canada’s main streets home can recover and emerge from the crisis more resilient than ever.

To learn more about the research and tools, recommendations for action and the national advocacy campaign, click here.

Digital Main Street – Building an Engaged Audience with Social Media

Keeping the attention (and business) of your customers and clients in the middle of a global pandemic is a challenge, without question, but there are ways you can stay top of mind, even now, and even if you’re a small business. Learn from Tornado Hunters host and owner of social media agency Blue Moose Media, Saskatchewan’s own Ricky Forbes, who has built a social media following 450,000 strong – and growing! Click link above.

Downtown Regina Zoom Backgrounds

If there is anybody looking to spice up their video meetings we have put together a selection of images from Downtown for you to download and use as virtual background backgrounds.

For downloads of the images please visit: https://reginadowntown.ca/zoombackgrounds/

To add virtual backgrounds to your Zoom calls:

Click your profile picture, then click on Settings.
In the left menu bar, click on the Virtual Background tab (if you don’t see this tab, log in to the Zoom website, go to Settings and toggle on Virtual Background).
In the Virtual Background tab, select one of Zoom’s defaults or upload your own image.
If you have a green screen set-up, you can select that option.
To add your own image or video, click the + icon to upload from your computer.

Regina Downtown Podcast Series “Heart of the City”

EPISODE 12– Thursday, May 7^th

Special guest: Chad Boudreau, Comic Readers Downtown

Discussion: Learn firsthand how COVID-19 has affected the comic industry. Chad shares new protocols and routines he has put in place to stay safe and connected to the community.

EPISODE 13– Friday, May 8^th

Special guest: Crystal Thorburn, 2019 Urban Canvas Downtown Regina Alley Door Artist

Discussion: The importance of art within a community.

Listen on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Breaker, Overcast, PocketCasts, RadioPublic, YouTube + Anchor App.

And subscribe to the Regina Downtown BID YouTube channel today!

**If you have interest in being a guest, please contact Dominika Deneve, Manager of Marketing and Communications ddeneve@reginadowntown.ca

Instagram Story Takeover –Friday, May 8th

Tune in Friday, May 8^th as The Optical Shoppe takes over our Instagram stories!

Find us on Instagram @reginadowntownbid

Feel Good Friday – Friday, May 8^th

Coffee Break Discussion on Instagram LIVE at 1PM.

Grab a cup of coffee and join Dominika and special guest Lisa McIntyre, owner & COO of The Optical Shoppe.

Happy hump day everyone! And if I am wearing one of these sweaters when we see each other again, you’ll know the whole back story…

Stay safe everyone.

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith

MAY 7, 2020

Hi RDBID Members,

Happy Thursday everyone! Gosh, another week is almost in the books. We are inching closer and closer to the start of Phase 2 of the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan, which will see the re-opening of our retail stores and our personal service providers. At RDBID we are working diligently to get all the pieces of the welcome package ready for distribution next week. Keep those orders coming!

Today I was a panelist on the Saskatchewan Economic Development Alliance webinar, speaking about Tactical Urbanism and COVID 19. Using tactical urbanism interventions to meet physical distancing guidelines on our downtown streets and sidewalks will be critical to maintaining Downtown Regina as a place for business and socialization (at a distance!). Short term, temporary solutions like expanded patios and widened sidewalks can lead to long term changes to our public realm and whatever our new normal will be.

If we ever want to get back to a vibrant city centre, we will need creative decisions to be made quickly, without fear of failure. We need a willingness to try something new; a willingness to set aside old beliefs. If we can do all that, hopefully our businesses will survive and thrive post COVID while meeting public health guidelines. Maybe we’ll discover new and more efficient ways of doing things. And maybe we’ll have a public realm that works better for everyone. You can check out my presentation here.

And now for your daily update…

Restaurants Canada – Best Practices For Reopening

In the restaurant industry, the health and safety of everyone we serve are always mission critical. This is just as true now as it was before the emergence of COVID-19. Informed by lessons learned from those operating during the pandemic so far, this document provides best practices that your operation can implement to comply with requirements from government in the following areas:

Physical Distancing
Cleaning and Sanitation
Health and Personal Hygiene

Chamber of Commerce – Q&A Session for Retailers

Friday, May 8, 10:00 – 11:00am; Via Zoom

Chamber of Commerce – How to make money with social media

The Regina & District Chamber of Commerce is pleased to present a Zoom session featuring Derek Robinson of Mash Media on how to make money with social media: 3 actions for small businesses during COVID-19. Please register for this complimentary session and we will send you the coordinates. If you have not received your coordinates by 4pm Wednesday May 13, please email Kali at kmcdonald@reginachamber.com or call (306)757-4645.

Members in the News – Welcome Gud Eats!

Welcome to our newest member, Gud Eats, located at 1810 Smith Street. Opening a business is not for the faint of heart. Even more so in the middle of a global pandemic. Chef Chris Cole is offering delicious vegan eats through take out with curbside pick up and delivery. Check out their website here.

Regina Downtown Podcast Series “Heart of the City”

EPISODE 12– Thursday, May 7^th

Special guest: Chad Boudreau, Comic Readers Downtown

Discussion: Learn firsthand how COVID-19 has affected the comic industry. Chad shares new protocols and routines he has put in place to stay safe and connected to the community.

EPISODE 13– Friday, May 8^th

Special guest: Crystal Thorburn, 2019 Urban Canvas Downtown Regina Alley Door Artist

Discussion: The importance of art within a community.

Listen on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Breaker, Overcast, PocketCasts, RadioPublic, YouTube + Anchor App.

And subscribe to the Regina Downtown BID YouTube channel today!

**If you have interest in being a guest, please contact Dominika Deneve, Manager of Marketing and Communications ddeneve@reginadowntown.ca

Instagram Story Takeover –Friday, May 8th

Tune in Friday, May 8^th as The Optical Shoppe takes over our Instagram stories!

Find us on Instagram @reginadowntownbid

Feel Good Friday – Friday, May 8^th

Coffee Break Discussion on Instagram LIVE at 1PM.

Grab a cup of coffee and join Dominika and special guest Lisa McIntyre, owner & COO of The Optical Shoppe.

Regina Downtown Business Improvement District (RDBID) Seeks Artwork for the 2020 Urban Canvas Alley Door Project — Artist Submission Deadline: May 15, 2020

We may not be able to draw a crowd right now, but we can still tap into the power of art to transform our downtown, and support our local artists and businesses through a challenging time.

Artists: Please submit your application via www.reginadowntown.ca/callforartists.

Have a great day everyone! Hang in there…it’s almost Friday! I’ll leave you with this great cover of I Think We’re Alone Now by Billie Jo Armstrong of Green Day. Ahhhh…memories of both my University days and the Tiffany cover of the same song (check out the days of crowded mall concerts!). Enjoy!

Stay safe everyone.

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith

MAY 8, 2020

Hi RDBID Members,

Happy Friday every one! Another week has come to an end.

I thought I would finish off this week by sharing a photo of my home office manager. Chevy makes sure I exercise during our excursions to chase rabbits, he makes sure I get away from my desk at least once every two hours to feed him treats, and he makes sure our shared office has a “last night’s dinner” odor with his farts. I honestly don’t know what my mental state would be without Chevy by my side. I hope you all have your own “Chevy” in your lives to keep you grounded and laughing during these not-so-funny times.

And now for your daily update…

Join Food and Beverage Industry (1 of 2) Zoom Meeting

Dean Renwick Face Masks

Yesterday, I was pleased to take delivery of some oh-so-stylish face masks made by Downtown Regina’s very own Dean Renwick. These masks will be included in our Welcome Packages (limit of 2 per business). If you haven’t ordered your Welcome Package yet, the link is here. We will begin delivery next week and will reach out to confirm a date/time for delivery. If you require more than two masks, send an email to designstudio@sasktel.net with your order and phone number so Dean can call you for pick up. Be sure to specify how many men’s and women’s masks you need. Masks are $16.65 including tax.

PPE Suppliers for COVID 19

The Government of Saskatchewan has provided a consolidated list of PPE suppliers on the provincial website.

**Provincial Disclaimers**

If we have missed you as a supplier please contact Scott Summach at Scott.summach@gov.sk.ca

and we will be sure to add you to this list.

These vendors are not endorsed by the Government of Saskatchewan and companies are urged to do their own due diligence directly with the company in question.

Regina Downtown COVID 19 Conversations – Meeting Links

Food and Beverage Industry Meeting (1 of 2 meetings) – Monday, May 11 from 9am – 10am

Meeting ID: 397 529 2180

Password: reopen2020

Food and Beverage Industry Meeting (2 of 2 meetings) – Monday, May 11 from 2pm – 3pm

Join Food and Beverage Industry (2 of2) Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 397 529 2180

Password: reopen2020

Digital Main Street – Optimize your Google Business Listing

If you are concerned about maximizing the chances of people finding YOUR business when they do a Google search (AKA: search engine optimization, or SEO), Google My Business is a key tool, according to the team at Digital Main St. Learn how to use it to your best advantage here. Click link above.

Google My Business – COVID 19 Changes for Restaurants

To help restaurants during this time, Google has launched new tools to make it easier for restaurants to share how they are operating. Canadian restaurants can now update their free Google My Business business listing to communicate adjusted hours or updated delivery options, such as curbside pickup, no-contact delivery or takeout. These attributes appear on a restaurant’s business profile on Google Search and Maps and are visible when customers are looking for dining options that meet their needs. Businesses can even create a COVID-19 post on their business profile to share any new safety precautions they’ve implemented to keep customers safe.

RDBID Staff Shout Out!

The RDBID Team has been amazing these past seven weeks. They’ve been working hard to keep Downtown Regina running! Here are just a few of their wins – they’ve done so much more than this, but if I listed everything, I would be writing a book.

Dominika – starting a podcast series highlighting health and wellness for our downtown businesses

Bonny – keeping the RDBID team safe by developing our own internal protocols while we prepare to re-open our office

Lindsay – organizing our industry round table zoom talks, continues to reach out to RDBID members to check in and connect

Nelson – overseeing our security contractors and Clean Team, ensuring our Downtown is clean and safe

Quentin – continuing to manage our social media channels and ensuring all our communications efforts look amazing (all while nursing a broken leg!)

Janell – learning all about the Victoria Avenue Beautification and Infrastructure project and communicating that information to our Downtown visitors

These guys have all my gratitude. If you have a chance to see them or talk to them, make sure you thank them – it really makes all the difference in the world!

Have a wonderful weekend! Stay safe everyone.

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith

MAY 11, 2020

Hi RDBID Members,

Welcome to a new week! I hope you all had a wonderful, restful weekend with folks that are near and dear to your heart.

Today, Regina Downtown BID announced the cancellation of our signature summer programs – Cinema Under the Stars, the Summer Concert Series, Summer in the Square programming and our Annual Clean Up Day. While it was disappointing to make this decision, we know it is the right one to make. Physical distancing and limited gathering will be key in keeping the spread of COVID 19 minimal.

Regina’s downtown will see some changes this spring and summer as part of the safe “Re-Opening” of Saskatchewan’s economy. Regina Downtown Business Improvement District is encouraging residents to access the downtown, but in a new, virtual way. Check out our media release here.

As well, we are set to launch our Reconnect with Downtown marketing campaign in the coming days. For now, I’ll share with you a sneak peek of one of our bus billboards set to premiere next week. To all our participating businesses, you look amazing! And if you are interested in participating in future marketing campaigns, please contact Dominika at ddeneve@reginadowntown.ca.

And now for your daily update…

Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan Update (as of May 8)

In response to feedback from the business community, the Government of Saskatchewan updated the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan. Farmers’ Markets will also be allowed to open on May 19. Please click link above for more details.

You can also find the Government of Saskatchewan re-opening plan FAQ’s here.

Retail Recovery Playbook

To assist retailers in their reopening planning, Retail Council of Canada, in partnership with the Boston Consulting Group and retailers from across Canada, are leveraging global best practices for a diverse range of retail formats with the fundamental aim of ensuring a safe environment for employees and customers. The playbooks cover topics such as Customer Health & Safety, Employee Wellbeing, Retail Operations and Merchandising & Marketing. Click links above for playbook PDF’s.

Business Resilience Webinar Series

The Business Resilience Series is a Regina-based community initiative geared to help business owners persevere through the COVID-19 challenge. If you missed the May 5 webinar, a recording of the webinar is here. The May 17 webinar focused on the restaurant industry can be found here.

Welcome Package Request Form

As different sectors of Downtown Regina begin the process of reopening, the RDBID Team is here to welcome you back. We are pleased to be able to offer you a Welcome Back package to help you reopen your doors to your customer. These packages will be available in limited quantities and must be reserved in advance. To reserve your Welcome Back Package, please fill out the reservation form here. We will be delivering the first wave of welcome packages at the end of this week.

Staff Supper Program – Thursday, May 14

Regina Downtown and the Warehouse District are hosting a virtual supper for food and beverage workers in our districts who have been impacted by Covid-19.

Our sponsors this week include: Avenue and Rebellion Brewing

We have a special meal price of $5.00. That gets you delicious food and a free beer!
Or you can make your own food and join us for the zoom call at 6:30pm on Thursday, May 14.

Regina Downtown Podcast Series “Heart of the City”

EPISODE 12– Tuesday, May 12th

Special guest: Chad Boudreau, Comic Readers Downtown

Discussion: Learn firsthand how COVID-19 has affected the comic industry. Chad shares new protocols and routines he has put in place to stay safe and connected to the community.

EPISODE 13– Wednesday, May 13^th

Special guest: Crystal Thorburn, 2019 Urban Canvas Downtown Regina Alley Door Artist

Discussion: The importance of art within a community.

EPISODE 14 – Friday, May 15^th

Special guest: Chris Johnson President, and General Manager of Cushman & Wakefield Integrated Property Management Inc.

Listen on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Breaker, Overcast, PocketCasts, RadioPublic, YouTube + Anchor App. And subscribe to the Regina Downtown BID YouTube channel today!

**If you have interest in being a guest, please contact Dominika Deneve, Manager of Marketing and Communications ddeneve@reginadowntown.ca

That’s it for Monday everyone! What’s that? Ok, just one more sneak peek of our Downtown Regina physical distancing posters…Here you go!

Stay safe everyone.

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith

MAY 12, 2020

Hi RDBID Members,

I know our beloved hair stylist are set to reopen next week, but for some of us, eight weeks was much too long to go without a cut, colour and style. For those of you who can’t wait another week, this is it. This is the update you’ve been waiting for – How to Cut Your Own Hair at Home!

Feeling shaggy? It’s been a while since we all got a trim, but that hasn’t stopped some of us. Show us your #HomeGrownHaircut for an opportunity to win a $100 gift card to your favourite downtown Regina hair stylist! Click here for more details!

And now for your daily update…

Victoria Avenue Infrastructure & Beautification Project Update – May 8

Work continues between Cornwall Street and Hamilton Street, as we head into Week 3! Curbs and gutters are going in, and most of the excavation work along the sidewalk is complete. Traffic continues to flow one lane each way in the north lanes of Victoria Avenue, with right-turn only access to 2000 block Cornwall Street (if eastbound) and 1900 block Scarth Street (if westbound). Pedestrians can cross at Cornwall or Hamilton Streets and use the sidewalk along the south edge of Victoria Park. Always watch for signs and plan alternate routes, slow down and allow extra travel time.

Keep an eye on RDBID’s social media posts, and do not hesitate to contact Janell (research@reginadowntown.ca) or Nelson (nmitchell@reginadowntown.ca) if you have any questions.

Regina Downtown Podcast Series “Heart of the City”

As different sectors of Downtown Regina begin the process of reopening, the RDBID Team is here to welcome you back. We are pleased to be able to offer you a Welcome Back package to help you reopen your doors to your customer. These packages will be available in limited quantities and must be reserved in advance. To reserve your Welcome Back Package, please fill out the reservation form here. We will be delivering the first wave of welcome packages at the end of this week.

Zoom Session for Restaurants – Friday, May 15 – 10:00 – 11:00am
The Regina & District Chamber of Commerce is pleased to present a Zoom question and answer session for retailers featuring speakers from the Government of Canada and Government of Saskatchewan. Please register for this complimentary session and we will send you the coordinates. If you have not received your coordinates by 4pm Thursday May 14, please email Kali at kmcdonald@reginachamber.com or call (306)757-4645.

Staff Supper Program – Thursday, May 14

Regina Downtown and the Warehouse District are hosting a virtual supper for food and beverage workers in our districts who have been impacted by Covid-19.

Our sponsors this week include: Avenue and Rebellion Brewing

We have a special meal price of $5.00. That gets you delicious food and a free beer!
Or you can make your own food and join us for the zoom call at 6:30pm on Thursday, May 14.

Downtown Regina Security Patrols

Downtown Maintenance

On May 4, our RDBID Clean Team was back on the streets! Their hours are shorter and they are working in the evenings, but they are still getting stuff done! It may take a little longer to cover all of downtown, but we are doing our best to ensure the RDBID staff is as safe as possible. Last week, we’ve collected fifteen bags of litter and removed four graffiti tags. Should you see a graffiti or litter hot spot, please reach out to Nelson at nmitchell@reginadowntown.ca so we can deploy resources to address it in a timely manner.

EPISODE 13– Wednesday, May 13^th

Special guest: Crystal Thorburn, 2019 Urban Canvas Downtown Regina Alley Door Artist

Discussion: The importance of art within a community.

EPISODE 14 – Friday, May 15^th

Special guest: Chris Johnson President, and General Manager of Cushman & Wakefield Integrated Property Management Inc.

Listen on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Breaker, Overcast, PocketCasts, RadioPublic, YouTube + Anchor App. And subscribe to the Regina Downtown BID YouTube channel today!

**If you have interest in being a guest, please contact Dominika Deneve, Manager of Marketing and Communications ddeneve@reginadowntown.ca

That’s it for Tuesday everyone! Don’t forget to share your quarantine haircut. I’ll just leave this here for inspiration. And don’t worry if you make a quarantine haircut fail…our hairstylists will be back at it soon enough! Happy clipping!

Stay safe everyone.

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith

MAY 14, 2020

It’s Thursday and our Welcome Back Packages are starting to roll out the door. It was great to finally see some of you face to face today while making my rounds with the packages. More packages will be delivered in the coming days. If you haven’t placed an order yet, the order form is still open (see below). Thanks for your patience as we try to assemble and deliver packages while physically distancing. Now I know that I have skills in logistics and delivery. It’s been said that everyone should learn a new skill during the pandemic. I guess logistics will be my new skill!

And now for your daily update…

Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance – CMHC Update

The CMHC updated the CECRA for small businesses web page to include new details on the program. They have also added answers to questions that have been received concerning eligibility, role of property owner/landlord, mortgage requirements, and process.

When the application process is open, property owners will need to provide information to prove eligibility, including:

proof of an existing rent reduction agreement
proof of a moratorium on eviction and
proof of small business tenant financial hardship

The application process will open in the second half of May.

Visit the updated program page to get the latest details.

Business Re-Open Videos – Social Media Campaign

We are excited to launch a social media campaign, providing video of downtown businesses and the services they are providing as they re-open. If you wish to submit a video, please send it to our Marketing and Communications Manager ddeneve@reginadowntown.ca. The information provided will also be included on our website www.reginadowntown.ca.

Below are instructions for video submission:

Video created by mobile phone should be taken horizontally, submitted in the highest quality (actual size)
Introduce yourself and business
Provide business operating hours (i.e. new, reduced, etc.)
Provide information on your product or services available
Provide a selfie tour of the business
Videos should be at least 30 seconds.
Please include a PNG/ JPEG file of your logo with submission
Please submit video using Google Drive

Regina Downtown Podcast Series “Heart of the City”

We’ve also added the poster below to our collection. Please let me know if you would like one added to your package.

Zoom Session for Restaurants – Friday, May 15 – 8:30-9:15am NEW TIME
PLEASE NOTE THE NEW TIME FOR THIS WEBINAR. The Regina & District Chamber of Commerce is pleased to present a Zoom question and answer session for retailers featuring speakers from the Government of Canada and Government of Saskatchewan. Please register for this complimentary session and we will send you the coordinates. If you have not received your coordinates by 4pm Thursday May 14, please email Kali at kmcdonald@reginachamber.com or call (306)757-4645.

EPISODE 14 – Friday, May 15^th

Special guest: Chris Johnson President, and General Manager of Cushman & Wakefield Integrated Property Management Inc.

Listen on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Breaker, Overcast, PocketCasts, RadioPublic, YouTube + Anchor App. And subscribe to the Regina Downtown BID YouTube channel today!

**If you have interest in being a guest, please contact Dominika Deneve, Manager of Marketing and Communications ddeneve@reginadowntown.ca

Daily Updates

Beginning May 19, we will send out updates two times a week. If important announcements are made by the Federal/Provincial government, we will send out a one-off update. As always, all resources/toolkits/information we come across to help your business will be saved on our website.

Stay safe everyone.

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith

MAY 15, 2020

Hi RDBID Members,

Victoria Day is upon us. A long weekend with beautiful weather is exactly what we all need. When we return to Downtown next Tuesday, some of our retailers and personal service providers will finally open their doors after being away for some time. I am looking forward to seeing you sometime next week – I’ll do my best to check in and perhaps drop off some welcome back posters.

Next Tuesday will also mark the launch of our “Reconnect, at the heart” campaign, highlighting local downtown business folks, like you! We will be encouraging the community to reconnect with Downtown businesses in all kinds of ways – online, curbside, delivery and in-store (but further apart). Look for our campaign on billboards and buses throughout the city, in your favorite downtown businesses, in public spaces including City Square Plaza and online on our website and on social media. Our “Reconnect, at the Heart” campaign is informative and from our heart!

And now for your daily update…

Downtown Construction Update

Victoria Avenue Re-Paving

In addition to the work continuing between Cornwall and Hamilton, paving between Albert Street and Smith Street will take place the week of May 19. It’s expected to be complete in one week, weather dependent. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction during the work. Access to McIntyre Street and Smith Street from Victoria Avenue will be closed to allow crew to pave the entire stretch of roadway.

Alley Re-Paving

During this paving, crews will also remove and replace the top layer of asphalt in the alleys as follows:

May 19 – Alley west of Scarth Street between 12th Avenue and 11th Avenue
May 19 – T-shape alley south of Saskatchewan Drive to 11th Avenue and from Smith Street to Lorne Street
May 21/22 – T-shape alley north of Victoria Avenue to 12th Avenue and from Scarth Street to Hamilton Street

Please contact research@reginadowntown.ca or nmitchell@reginadowntown.ca with any questions or concerns.

Thinking Ahead – How do we bring back Main Streets? Webinar

Tuesday, May 19 – 10:00am – 11:00am (SK Time)

Yours truly will be a panelist on this webinar hosted by the Canadian Urban Institute.

Joining CUI host Mary W. Rowe for Tuesday’s candid conversations — How do we bring back our main streets? — are Charles Montgomery, Founding Principal, Happy City; Michael Shuman, Director of Local Economy Projects, Neighbourhood Associates Corporation; Jake Stacey, Vice President, VanCity Community Investment Bank; and Judith Veresuk, Executive Director, Regina Downtown BID. Register at link above.

Government of Canada extends the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy

Finance Minister Bill Morneau today announced that the Government of Canada will extend the CEWS by an additional 12 weeks to August 29, 2020. Extending the program will give workers greater confidence that they will continue to get the support they need during these difficult times. The Government will consult with key business and labour representatives over the next month on potential adjustments to the program to incent jobs and growth, including the 30 per cent revenue decline threshold. Any potential changes following the consultation will have as key objectives to maximize employment, ensure the CEWS reflects the immediate needs of businesses, and support the post-crisis economic recovery. Eligibility for the CEWS program has also been extended. For more details, please click link hereand here.

Province of SK Updates

Re-Open SK Plan – May 14 Update

Business Response Team FAQ – May 14 Update

Business Re-Open Videos – Social Media Campaign

Below are instructions for video submission:

Video created by mobile phone should be taken horizontally, submitted in the highest quality (actual size)
Introduce yourself and business
Provide business operating hours (i.e. new, reduced, etc.)
Provide information on your product or services available
Provide a selfie tour of the business
Videos should be at least 30 seconds.
Please include a PNG/ JPEG file of your logo with submission
Please submit video using Google Drive

Re-Open SK Plan – May 14 Update

Daily Updates

Have a wonderful long weekend everyone! Make sure you take some time to do something you love this weekend. We’ll see (some of) you next week, when we reconnect, at the heart…in the heart of Regina!

Stay safe everyone.

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith

MAY 19, 2020

Hi RDBID Members,

Happy Phase 2 Reopening Day! RDBID welcomes back our retailers and personal service providers. The Cornwall Centre is also reopening today. We hope that your reopening was safe and successful.

RDBID will be checking in with everyone over the next week – through email, phone, in person (while physical distancing). We’d like to hear about your reopening experience. And if your business did not reopen today, we still want to know how RDBID can help you prepare for when you are able to reopen.

Coinciding with the Phase 2 reopening, we are also launching of our “Reconnect, at the heart” campaign today, highlighting local downtown business folks, like you! Look for your colleague’s smiling faces on billboards and buses throughout the city, in your favorite downtown businesses, in public spaces including City Square Plaza and online on our website and on social media.

And now for your daily update…

Downtown Regina & Warehouse District Consumer Confidence Survey

The Regina Downtown and the Warehouse District are looking for feedback on consumer confidence in our local businesses, particularly in Downtown and Warehouse. The results, while not scientific, will help us craft messaging around recovery and provide direction to our businesses in terms of what to expect.

Please fill out the survey and then post and share on your own social media pages. We will be sharing the results with our members once the survey is complete.

We want our local businesses to come through this difficult time stronger and safer than ever. To do this, they’ll need your feedback.

How do you feel about visiting businesses as they re-open? Tell us for a chance to win 1 of 4 $100 gift cards to a Regina Downtown or Warehouse District business of your choice.

Take the survey by May 22, 2020: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HVML89R

Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) – Expanded Eligibility Criteria

The Federal Government announced an expansion to the eligibility criteria for the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) to include many owner-operated small businesses. The changes to the CEBA will allow more Canadian small businesses to access interest free loans that will help cover operating costs during a period when revenues have been reduced, due to the pandemic.

The program will now be available to a greater number of businesses that are sole proprietors receiving income directly from their businesses, businesses that rely on contractors, and family-owned corporations that pay employees through dividends rather than payroll.

To qualify under the expanded eligibility criteria, applicants with payroll lower than $20,000 would need:

a business operating account at a participating financial institution
a Canada Revenue Agency business number, and to have filed a 2018 or 2019 tax return.
eligible non-deferrable expenses between $40,000 and $1.5 million. Eligible non-deferrable expenses could include costs such as rent, property taxes, utilities, and insurance.

For more information, click here.

Downtown Construction Update

Victoria Avenue Re-Paving

Alley Re-Paving

During this paving, crews will also remove and replace the top layer of asphalt in the alleys as follows:

May 19 – Alley west of Scarth Street between 12th Avenue and 11th Avenue
May 19 – T-shape alley south of Saskatchewan Drive to 11th Avenue and from Smith Street to Lorne Street
May 21/22 – T-shape alley north of Victoria Avenue to 12th Avenue and from Scarth Street to Hamilton Street

Please contact research@reginadowntown.ca or nmitchell@reginadowntown.ca with any questions or concerns.

Downtown Parking Enforcement

As businesses begin to reopen, I am getting a lot of questions about parking enforcement. Right now, there is no parking enforcement for time limits happening downtown. The City will still ticket for safety issues (parking in front of a hydrant, too close to an intersection, etc.). So, for now, customers can come downtown and park without getting a ticket, but they should be observing all safety rules. I am not sure for how long this will go for. I will continue to make inquiries and will let you all know when this will change.

Zoom Session for Hotels – Friday, May 22 – 10:00 – 11:00am
The Regina & District Chamber of Commerce is pleased to present a Zoom question and answer session for hotels featuring speakers from the Government of Canada and Government of Saskatchewan. Please register for this complimentary session and we will send you the coordinates. If you have not received your coordinates by 4pm Thursday May 21, please email Kali at kmcdonald@reginachamber.com or call (306)757-4645.

Staff Supper Program – Thursday, May 21

Regina Downtown and the Warehouse District are hosting a virtual supper for food and beverage workers in our districts who have been impacted by Covid-19.

Our sponsors this week include: Crave Kitchen and Wine Bar and Rebellion Brewing

We have a special meal price of $5.00. That gets you delicious food and a free beer!
Or you can make your own food and join us for the zoom call at 6:30pm on Thursday, May 21.

Province of SK Updates

Business Response Team FAQ – May 14 Update

Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CERCA)

If you require additional posters, they are available for download on our website www.reginadowntown.ca.

Daily Updates

Finally, our long road back to normal was marked by a sad long weekend in Saskatchewan. The loss Captain Jennifer Casey in a Canadian Forces Snowbirds crash is yet another heartbreak we’ve experienced this year. Just last Friday, the Snowbirds thrilled us with their inspirational flight over Regina before heading to Saskatoon. It’s hard to believe such a joyous and uplifting tour has ended in such a horrible tragedy. The Snowbirds’ connection to our Province is deep and I know we will lead all Canadians as we mourn Capt. Casey and pray for her friends, family and colleagues.

Stay safe everyone.

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith

MAY 21, 2020

Hi RDBID Members,

Well, the Phase 3 reopen date has finally been announced! June 8, barring any setbacks, should see the reopening of restaurants (50% capacity), gyms and fitness centres, and other personal service businesses. Tomorrow, the Province will release an updated ReOpen Saskatchewan Plan which will include additional guidelines for reopening.

We look forward to welcoming back these sectors to Downtown! As you make plans for your reopening, please let RDBID know how we can support you. Posters, hand sanitizer, face masks, face shields – you can order them all in our Welcome Package request form (see below).

And now for your daily update…

The application portal opens on May 25, 2020. To help you prepare, sample versions of the application documents are now available on the CMHC website. You can review them in order to have the required information on-hand when the application portal opens.

Please note that these sample documents are for illustrative purposes only. The final versions of the documents will be available within the portal when it becomes active.

Please visit the CECRA for small businesses web page as it has been updated it to include additional details on the program. We also invite you to consult our Frequently Asked Questions section as we have included additional answers to your questions surrounding eligibility, definitions and process.

Visit the updated program page to get the latest details.

Downtown Regina & Warehouse District Consumer Confidence Survey

Please fill out the survey and then post and share on your own social media pages. We will be sharing the results with our members once the survey is complete.

We want our local businesses to come through this difficult time stronger and safer than ever. To do this, they’ll need your feedback.

How do you feel about visiting businesses as they re-open? Tell us for a chance to win 1 of 4 $100 gift cards to a Regina Downtown or Warehouse District business of your choice.

Take the survey by May 22, 2020: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HVML89R

Zoom Session for Hotels – Friday, May 22 – 10:00 – 11:00am
The Regina & District Chamber of Commerce is pleased to present a Zoom question and answer session for hotels featuring speakers from the Government of Canada and Government of Saskatchewan. Please register for this complimentary session and we will send you the coordinates. If you have not received your coordinates by 4pm Thursday May 21, please email Kali at kmcdonald@reginachamber.com or call (306)757-4645.

ReOpen Saskatchewan Plan (May 22 Update)

If you require additional posters, they are available for download on our website www.reginadowntown.ca.

Downtown Regina Security Patrols

Downtown Maintenance

On May 4, our RDBID Clean Team was back on the streets! Their hours are shorter and they are working in the evenings, but they are still getting stuff done! It may take a little longer to cover all of downtown, but we are doing our best to ensure the RDBID staff is as safe as possible. Last week, we’ve collected ten bags of litter and removed eight graffiti tags. Should you see a graffiti or litter hot spot, please reach out to Nelson at nmitchell@reginadowntown.ca so we can deploy resources to address it in a timely manner.

Lastly, I wouldn’t be a Saskatchewanian, if I didn’t mention the Grey Cup! The news we were expecting, but definitely not hoping for has come. Grey Cup 2020 in Regina has been postponed until 2022. I know we are disappointed in the news, but this is the right decision given the time needed to plan for the festivities, the uncertainty surrounding the COVID pandemic and the importance of safety for our community. And even through the Grey Cup Festival has been postponed, that doesn’t mean that we aren’t hosting a Grey Cup. I have faith that Cody Fajardo and our beloved Riders will end the season as the top seed and we’ll be hosting (and perhaps hoisting!) a Grey Cup anyways!

Stay safe everyone.

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith

MAY 26, 2020

Hi RDBID Members,

It was great to see our restaurants and personal service providers respond so positively to the Phase 3 re-opening date that was announced last week. While physical distancing and health protocols are always a priority, I know our downtown businesses will do everything they need to, to ensure the safety of their employees and customers. If you need some re-opening supplies, just fill out the Welcome Back Package request form below. I am super excited about having a cold beverage and some crispy French fries while sitting on a sunny patio (and physically distancing from others on the patio)! Who’s with me?

And now for your daily update…

Retail/ Personal Services Industry Meeting – Monday, June 1^st 9:00 – 10:00am

Discussion: How has your re-opening plan been going? How can RDBID continue to support your reopening?

Zoom link

Meeting ID: 397 529 2180

Password: reopen2020

Victoria Avenue Construction Update

Work continues on sidewalks and curb extensions, infrastructure and lights, between Cornwall Street and Hamilton Street.

Paving is completed on the westbound lanes between Albert Street and Smith Street; paving on the eastbound lanes will be completed by early in the week of May 25^th, depending on weather or unforeseen circumstances.

Tree planting between Albert Street and Lorne Street will occur the week of May 25 and is expected to be complete in three days. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction.

No other changes to traffic and parking restrictions, from last week.

For full text of the latest update from City of Regina, please click here for more information. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact RDBID at research@reginadowntown.caor nmitchell@reginadowntown.ca.

Province of Saskatchewan Updates

Business Response Team FAQ (May 22 Update)

Restaurants and Licensed Establishments Guidelines

Restaurants, bars/nightclubs, lounges, food courts, cafeterias, cafes, bistros and similar facilities are allowed to re-open in Phase 3 at up to 50 per cent of regular capacity. The reduced seating capacity is intended to limit the size of gatherings and promote physical distancing. These guidelines apply to indoor and outdoor seating areas. In addition to these guidelines, all other applicable provincial regulations and standards must be followed. Click link above for full guidelines.

Gyms and Fitness Facilities Guidelines

General Information

Gyms and fitness facilities are included in Phase 3 of Re-Open Saskatchewan under the following condition:
- Re-opening gyms and fitness facilities promotes physical and mental wellness. Physical distancing must be maintained and stringent cleaning and disinfecting protocols must be established.
Gyms and fitness centres must only be open when at least one staff member is present. If patrons have uncontrolled access, it is not possible to ensure physical distancing rules are followed or disinfection of equipment is being performed after each use. Twenty-four hour unrestricted access without staff present must be suspended.
Clients should be screened upon arrival by asking if they are sick or symptomatic. If they answer in the affirmative, they should not be allowed to enter.
Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms should go straight home and contact HealthLine 811 for further guidance. If a patron is severely sick (e.g. difficulty breathing, chest pain, etc.), call 911.
Staff experiencing symptoms of the illness (fever, cough or difficulty breathing) must be sent home. Workplaces should have an employee illness policy to encourage staff who are sick to stay home.
Whenever possible, use contactless forms of payment and check-in.

Click link above for full guidelines

Zoom Session for Health Professionals – Friday, May 29 10:00 – 11:00am

The Regina & District Chamber of Commerce is pleased to present a Zoom question and answer session for health professionals featuring speakers from the Government of Canada and Government of Saskatchewan. Please register for this complimentary session and we will send you the coordinates. If you have not received your coordinates by 4pm Thursday May 28, please email Kali at kmcdonald@reginachamber.com or call (306)757-4645.

Government of Canada announces Business Resilience Service hotline

The Government of Canada is supporting the launch of a four-week Business Resilience Service hotline. The service offers a direct connection with business experts throughout Canada. Advice is provided on government relief programs appropriate to small- and medium-sized business, not-for-profits and charitable organizations, along with guidance on how to respond and adapt during these uncertain times.

The free program also offers:

Guidance on COVID-19 financial support program options and eligibility
Direction on accessing the most appropriate support organizations
Help to make decisions to support recovery plans
Real time insights and feedback to policymakers

The hotline is a national, bilingual service operated by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. As of May 25, small business owners with pressing financial needs can call 1-866-989-1080 (toll-free), seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (ET).

Staff Supper Program – Thursday, May 28

Regina Downtown and the Warehouse District are hosting a virtual supper for food and beverage workers in our districts who have been impacted by Covid-19.

Our sponsors this week include: Malinche and Pile O’ Bones
We have a special meal price of $5.00. That gets you delicious food and a free beer!
Or you can make your own food and join us for the zoom call at 6:30pm on Thursday, May 21.

Business Re-Open Videos – Social Media Campaign

Below are instructions for video submission:

Video created by mobile phone should be taken horizontally, submitted in the highest quality (actual size)
Introduce yourself and business
Provide business operating hours (i.e. new, reduced, etc.)
Provide information on your product or services available
Provide a selfie tour of the business
Videos should be at least 30 seconds.
Please include a PNG/ JPEG file of your logo with submission
Please submit video using Google Drive

Downtown Regina Security Patrols

Downtown Maintenance

On May 4, our RDBID Clean Team was back on the streets! Their hours are shorter and they are working in the evenings, but they are still getting stuff done! It may take a little longer to cover all of downtown, but we are doing our best to ensure the RDBID staff is as safe as possible. Last week, we’ve collected eight bags of litter and removed ten graffiti tags. Should you see a graffiti or litter hot spot, please reach out to Nelson at nmitchell@reginadowntown.ca so we can deploy resources to address it in a timely manner.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3975292180?pwd=bi9QV2NPT3lXQmpaUEorRDFrSGhKQT09

If you require additional posters, they are available for download on our website www.reginadowntown.ca.

Regina Downtown Podcast Series “Heart of the City”

EPISODE 16 – Thursday, May 28^th

Special Guest: Jennifer Dubois, owner of Miyosiwin Salon Spa

Discussion: Phase 2 salon re-opening protocols

Last week: Beata Kowalski, 1 of 4 owners of Fresh & Sweet, Fresh Carnival and Valley Girls catering, joined us to discuss how COVID-19 has affected their downtown businesses. Including how they continue to stay positive while navigating the unknown and trusting they will be okay. (EPISODE 15)

Listen on: Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Breaker, Overcast, PocketCasts, RadioPublic, YouTube + Anchor App & subscribe to the Regina Downtown BID YouTube channel today! (YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/yatjqh6l)

**If you have interest in being a guest, please contact Dominika Deneve, Manager of Marketing and Communications ddeneve@reginadowntown.ca

Regina Downtown Instagram Story Takeovers

Friday, May 29^th – Miyosiwin Salon Spa

Saturday, May 30^th – Kendi Boutique

Find us on Instagram @reginadowntownbid

Before I sign off, last week I had the pleasure of being a panelist on the Canadian Urban Institute City Talks Webinar, talking about how we bring our main streets back. You can click this link to see the five key takeaways from the conversation, along with the transcripts from the panel and chatroom. I think one of the most important takeaways is that “Recovery will not be a replication of what was”. We will need to have lots of creativity and imagination as we begin to reconnect with our customers and employees. Maybe it’s time to start focusing and trying new ways of doing things – it may be scary but if not now, when? Let’s be brave together!

Stay safe everyone.

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith

May 29, 2020

Daily Update from Regina Downtown

Hi RDBID Members,

Another month comes to an end. How did May happen so quickly? I am looking forward to June, when we will see more of you open up your doors, when we will see folks enjoying a cold one on your patios (while physical distancing!), when we see more of our friends and customers moving through our streets and sidewalks making their way to our downtown businesses. It’s still a long road ahead of us, but at least we can see a light at the end of the tunnel.

I finally had the chance to watch the Last Dance (the Chicago Bulls documentary on Netflix). As a casual NBA fan, I found it fascinating to see the real people behind the public image. If you have ten hours, the Last Dance is an easy watch for anyone – whether you are an NBA fan or not – highly recommend! What time is it? Game time!

And now for your daily update…

Retail/ Personal Services Industry Meeting – Monday, June 1^st 9:00 – 10:00am

Discussion: How has your re-opening plan been going? How can RDBID continue to support your reopening?

Zoom link:

Meeting ID: 397 529 2180

Password: reopen2020

Victoria Avenue Infrastructure and Beautification Project

Paving is now complete between Albert Street and Smith Street, and the next phase of work between Cornwall Street and Hamilton Street is about to begin! By the end of this week, or beginning of next (June 1), work between Cornwall Street and Hamilton Street will shift to the north side of Victoria Avenue. This means:

Road Traffic:

□ Starting on Tuesday or Wednesday (June 1 or 2), traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction on the south side of Victoria Avenue between Lorne Street and Hamilton Street.

□ Cornwall Street remains accessible for eastbound traffic on Victoria Avenue.

□ Scarth Street northbound to 12th Avenue is not accessible from Victoria Avenue. Vehicles must access 1900-block Scarth Street via the alley from Hamilton Street, which is now temporarily one-way, westbound (from Hamilton Street to Scarth Street).

□ Scarth Street between Victoria Avenue and 13th Avenue returns to one-way traffic with northbound access from 13^th Avenue to eastbound Victoria Avenue only.

Parking:

□ Parking in front of Avord Tower has been removed.

□ No parking in the work zone along Victoria Avenue and limited parking on side streets.

□ Parking will be available on the south side of Victoria Avenue once the construction zone moves to the north side of the median.

This phase of work between Cornwall Street and Hamilton Street is expected to be in place for five weeks, depending on weather or unforeseen circumstances.

For full text of the update from City of Regina, please see attached.

Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns, by contacting:

Nelson Mitchell, Manager of Operations nmitchell@reginadowntown.ca

Downtown Outdoor Restaurants/Patios

With the limit to 50% of occupancy, I know some of you will need to rely on patio space to help with the bottom line. In discussions with the City of Regina, they are open to allowing patio sizes beyond the previous maximum to help you accommodate the physical distancing requirements. Depending on your location, you may be able to take over your adjacent on-street parking space to accommodate patio space. Each request will be considered on a case by case basis, ensuring fire and emergency vehicle access can be accommodated. The City has advised you put in your patio plan/request prior to June 3 so they can try and respond before the June 8 reopening date. I’ve attached the outdoor restaurant regulations for your reference. You can contact 306.777.7000 to put in your permit application. If you need assistance, you can contact me at jveresuk@reginadowntown.ca.

Ward 3 Community Discussion – Hosted by Councillor Andrew Stevens

Monday, June 1 7pm – 8pm

Andrew Stevens, our downtown councilor is meeting with residents on June 1 (7PM) on Zoom to discuss the prospects of re-activating the Centre Square Community Association, and potentially extending the boundaries to include the Downtown. Want to join? Send Andrew an email at ASTEVENS@regina.ca or personal message and Andrew will send you the Zoom ID.

Business Re-Open Videos – Social Media Campaign

Below are instructions for video submission:

Video created by mobile phone should be taken horizontally, submitted in the highest quality (actual size)
Introduce yourself and business
Provide business operating hours (i.e. new, reduced, etc.)
Provide information on your product or services available
Provide a selfie tour of the business
Videos should be at least 30 seconds.
Please include a PNG/ JPEG file of your logo with submission
Please submit video using Google Drive

Victoria Avenue Infrastructure and Beautification Project

As different sectors of Downtown Regina begin the process of reopening, the RDBID Team is here to welcome you back. We are pleased to be able to offer you a Welcome Back package to help you reopen your doors to your customer. These packages will be available in limited quantities and must be reserved in advance. To reserve your Welcome Back Package, please fill out the reservation form here. We also have floor stickers to for outdoor applications – if you think you will need to queue people outside, please let us know. We can include some outdoor stickers in your package.

If you require additional posters, they are available for download on our website www.reginadowntown.ca.

That’s it for May! I’ll leave you with some scenes of the new socially distant normal across the world. Maybe there is some inspiration in there for you! Maybe our offices will end up looking like this when we head back downtown!

Enjoy the wonderful weather everyone! We all know how short the SK summer season is, so let’s enjoy it while it’s here.

Stay safe everyone.

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith

June 1, 2020

Hi RDBID Members,

It was a tough weekend. The scenes coming from communities across North America triggered so many emotions – horror, frustration, sadness, hope. The news reports show just how much things need to change. As much as we don’t want to admit it, racism and oppression is still prevalent in society. We need to do better. Seek to understand even if it’s uncomfortable. Speak up when you see injustice. Be an ally. Be the change we need to see in the world.

And now for your daily update…

Starting June 1 or 2, construction is shifting to the north lanes of Victoria Avenue between Cornwall Street and Hamilton Street. Traffic will flow one lane each way in the south lanes of Victoria Avenue for approximately the next five weeks, barring weather and other unforeseen circumstances.

Please NOTE: 1900 block Scarth Street will ONLY be accessible via the alley from Hamilton Street (no access from Victoria Avenue) – this alley is temporarily switched to one-way WESTBOUND, and is now freshly paved, thanks to paving crews’ hard work under unusual conditions (Thank you, City of Regina!). 2000-block Scarth Street (south of Victoria Avenue) is once again one-way northbound, accessible from 13th Avenue, with RIGHT TURNS ONLY onto Victoria Avenue, proceeding eastbound.

See map below, or click https://tinyurl.com/ycr4kv2w for more information.

Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns, by contacting:

Nelson Mitchell, Manager of Operations nmitchell@reginadowntown.ca

Downtown Business Reopening

Many of you have asked which businesses are open. RDBID’s website has a list of retailers and restaurants that are currently open for business. You can find the Cornwall Center’s list of open retailers here. If we are missing your business, please contact Lindsay Des Rochers at ldesrochers@reginadowntown.ca so we can ensure the list is as up to date as possible.

Zoom Session – Q & A with Minister Jeremy Harrison – Thursday, June 4 – 10:00 – 10:30am
The Regina & District Chamber of Commerce is pleased to present a Zoom question and answer session with Minister Jeremy Harrison. Please register for this complimentary session and we will send you the coordinates. If you have not received your coordinates by 4pm Wednesday, June 3, please email Kali at kmcdonald@reginachamber.com or call (306)757-4645.

Thinking Ahead – Canadian Urban Institute Webinar – How will arts and culture survive physical distancing? – Thursday, June 4 – 12:00 – 1:00pm

Joining CUI host Mary W. Rowe for Thursday’s candid conversation – How will arts & culture survive physical distancing? – are Daryl Cloran, Artistic Director, The Citadel Theatre; Heather Igloliorte, Concordia University Research Chair, Circumpolar Indigenous Arts and Julie Nagam, Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Arts, Collaboration and Digital Media, Co-Chairs, Indigenous Advisory Circle, Winnipeg Art Gallery; Noémie Lafrance, Artistic Director, Sens Production; and Michael Hidetoshi Mori, Artistic Director, Tapestry Opera

Staff Supper Program – Thursday, June 4 – LAST ONE!

Regina Downtown and the Warehouse District are hosting a virtual supper for food and beverage workers in our districts who have been impacted by Covid-19.

Our sponsors this week include: Beer Bros./Bar Willow and Rebellion Brewing

We have a special meal price of $5.00. That gets you delicious food and a free beer!
Or you can make your own food and join us for the zoom call at 6:30pm on June 4.

Restaurants Canada offers Rapid Recovery sessions

Restaurants Canada has developed a Rapid Recovery series of online sessions to help operators reopen, reinvent and rebuild their business. Titles, dates and times are:

Session 1: COVID-19 Impact and Industry Outlook, June 9, 7 a.m. (CT)/9 a.m. (ET)
Session 2: Opening Your Doors to a Safer Future, June 9, 9 a.m. (CT)/11 a.m. (ET)
Session 3: What’s Your Post-COVID-19 Profit Model?, June 9, 11 a.m. (CT)/1 p.m. (ET)
Session 4: Navigating Landlord and Tenant Agreements, June 10, 7 a.m. (CT)/9 a.m. (ET)
Session 5: Driving Your Online Revenue, June 10, 9 a.m. (CT)/11 a.m. (ET)
Session 6: Rebuilding Your Workforce, June 10, 11 a.m. (CT)/1 p.m. (ET)
Session 7: Winning Your Customer Back, June 11, 7 a.m. (CT)/9 a.m. (ET)
Session 8: Engineering Your Menu for Profits, June 11, 9 a.m. (CT)/11 a.m. (ET)
Session 9: Leveraging the Supply Chain for the Future, June 11, 11 a.m. (CT)/1 p.m. (ET)
Session 10: CEO Panel – Driving Business Forward, June 11, 1 p.m. (CT)/3 p.m. (ET)

Province of SK Updates

Re-Open SK Plan – May 29 Update

Business Response Team FAQ – May 22 Update

Business Re-Open Videos – Social Media Campaign

Below are instructions for video submission:

Video created by mobile phone should be taken horizontally, submitted in the highest quality (actual size)
Introduce yourself and business
Provide business operating hours (i.e. new, reduced, etc.)
Provide information on your product or services available
Provide a selfie tour of the business
Videos should be at least 30 seconds.
Please include a PNG/ JPEG file of your logo with submission
Please submit video using Google Drive

Downtown Dental Centre made a great video highlighting the protocols they’ve put into place to ensure your visit is a comfortable and safe experience. Terrific job, Gayle and Dennis! So proud to have you guys in Downtown Regina!

Victoria Avenue Infrastructure and Beautification Project

As different sectors of Downtown Regina begin the process of reopening, the RDBID Team is here to welcome you back. We are pleased to be able to offer you a Welcome Back package to help you reopen your doors to your customer. These packages will be available in limited quantities and must be reserved in advance. To reserve your Welcome Back Package, please fill out the reservation form here. We also have floor stickers to for outdoor applications – if you think you will need to queue people outside, please let us know. We can include some outdoor stickers in your package.

If you require additional posters, they are available for download on our website www.reginadowntown.ca.

Instagram Story Takeover –Wednesday, June 3rd

Tune in Wednesday, June 3^rd as fix Coffee takes over our Instagram stories!

Find us on Instagram @reginadowntownbid

Lastly, I would like to thank Michael Kram, MP for Regina-Wascana. When things get tough, like they’ve been for the past several months, it’s good to know that our voice is being heard by those that represent us in Ottawa. Your continued support will help Downtown Regina and the local business community as we adapt to whatever the new normal will be. Thank you for the House of Commons shout out!

Stay safe everyone.

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith

JUNE 1, 2020

Hi RDBID Members,

And now for your daily update…

See map below, or click here for more information.

Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns, by contacting:

Nelson Mitchell, Manager of Operations nmitchell@reginadowntown.ca

Downtown Business Reopening

Zoom Session – Q & A with Minister Jeremy Harrison – Thursday, June 4 – 10:00 – 10:30am

The Regina & District Chamber of Commerce is pleased to present a Zoom question and answer session with Minister Jeremy Harrison. Please register for this complimentary session and we will send you the coordinates. If you have not received your coordinates by 4pm Wednesday, June 3, please email Kali at kmcdonald@reginachamber.com or call (306)757-4645.

Thinking Ahead – Canadian Urban Institute Webinar – How will arts and culture survive physical distancing? – Thursday, June 4 – 12:00 – 1:00pm

Staff Supper Program – Thursday, June 4 – LAST ONE!

Regina Downtown and the Warehouse District are hosting a virtual supper for food and beverage workers in our districts who have been impacted by Covid-19.

Our sponsors this week include: Beer Bros./Bar Willow and Rebellion Brewing

We have a special meal price of $5.00. That gets you delicious food and a free beer!
Or you can make your own food and join us for the zoom call at 6:30pm on June 4.

Restaurants Canada offers Rapid Recovery sessions

Restaurants Canada has developed a Rapid Recovery series of online sessions to help operators reopen, reinvent and rebuild their business. Titles, dates and times are:

Session 1: COVID-19 Impact and Industry Outlook, June 9, 7 a.m. (CT)/9 a.m. (ET)
Session 2: Opening Your Doors to a Safer Future, June 9, 9 a.m. (CT)/11 a.m. (ET)
Session 3: What’s Your Post-COVID-19 Profit Model?, June 9, 11 a.m. (CT)/1 p.m. (ET)
Session 4: Navigating Landlord and Tenant Agreements, June 10, 7 a.m. (CT)/9 a.m. (ET)
Session 5: Driving Your Online Revenue, June 10, 9 a.m. (CT)/11 a.m. (ET)
Session 6: Rebuilding Your Workforce, June 10, 11 a.m. (CT)/1 p.m. (ET)
Session 7: Winning Your Customer Back, June 11, 7 a.m. (CT)/9 a.m. (ET)
Session 8: Engineering Your Menu for Profits, June 11, 9 a.m. (CT)/11 a.m. (ET)
Session 9: Leveraging the Supply Chain for the Future, June 11, 11 a.m. (CT)/1 p.m. (ET)
Session 10: CEO Panel – Driving Business Forward, June 11, 1 p.m. (CT)/3 p.m. (ET)

Province of SK Updates

Re-Open SK Plan – May 29 Update

Business Response Team FAQ – May 22 Update

Business Re-Open Videos – Social Media Campaign

Below are instructions for video submission:

Video created by mobile phone should be taken horizontally, submitted in the highest quality (actual size)
Introduce yourself and business
Provide business operating hours (i.e. new, reduced, etc.)
Provide information on your product or services available
Provide a selfie tour of the business
Videos should be at least 30 seconds.
Please include a PNG/ JPEG file of your logo with submission
Please submit video using Google Drive

Parking Enforcement and Fees Resume June 15

As different sectors of Downtown Regina begin the process of reopening, the RDBID Team is here to welcome you back. We are pleased to be able to offer you a Welcome Back package to help you reopen your doors to your customer. These packages will be available in limited quantities and must be reserved in advance. To reserve your Welcome Back Package, please fill out the reservation form here. We also have floor stickers to for outdoor applications – if you think you will need to queue people outside, please let us know. We can include some outdoor stickers in your package.

If you require additional posters, they are available for download on our website www.reginadowntown.ca.

Instagram Story Takeover –Wednesday, June 3rd

Tune in Wednesday, June 3rd as fix Coffee takes over our Instagram stories!

Find us on Instagram @reginadowntownbid

Stay safe everyone.

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith

JUNE 12, 2020 END OF WEEK UPDATE

Hi RDBID Members,

The first week of Phase 3 re-opening has come to an end. We are starting to see a few more folks on our downtown streets. I’ve had a chance to stop in at a few of your patios this week. It was great to see you! I’ll slowly make my rounds to all of your locations so if you haven’t seen me yet, be sure that I am on my way…I can only eat so much in one day! As stated in an earlier update, please let us know how your first week went and if RDBID can provide further assistance.

And now for your end of week update…

Just a reminder to advise your employees, tenants and customers that parking fees and enforcement will resume on Monday, June 15. Based on member request, RDBID petitioned the City of Regina to reinstate enforcement. With the reopening of our businesses over the past month, we were observing many parking spaces being used the whole day by folks on the construction sites or in our offices. While this was not an issue while our on-street businesses were closed, it became a challenge for customers trying to access businesses when they reopened. Enforcement will increase turnover in the on-street parking spaces and allow customers who are coming downtown to shop, dine or for a personal service to find convenient parking close to their destination.

Re-Open Regina Plan

Other Re-Open Regina items that pertain specifically to downtown businesses and your employees include:

Mobile food vending and outdoor restaurant seating fees will be waived for 2020.
On-street parking fees and enforcement will be reinstated on June 15.
Non-metered on-street parking (primarily south of 13^th Avenue) enforcement will be reinstated on June 29.
Transit fares will be reinstated on June 29.
Transit Information Centre will reopen on June 15.
City Hall will be re-opened to the public with limited services on June 15.

You can find the Re-Open Regina report attached.

Victoria Avenue Infrastructure and Beautification Project– June 12, 2020

Work on the south side of Victoria Avenue between Cornwall Street and Hamilton Street is nearing completion with some landscaping to be finished in the coming weeks. Trees have been planted in the medians from Albert Street to Lorne Street. City crews will complete the work on the medians between Albert Street and Lorne Street with the installation of mulch on June 18, 6 – 11 p.m.

Work continues in the north lanes of Victoria Avenue between Lorne Street and Hamilton Street, with access to 1900-block Scarth Street only through the temporarily westbound alley from Hamilton Street. Other traffic and parking restrictions remain the same as last week. RDBID is currently working to get approval for added signage to guide traffic through this detour.

Crews prepare to install curbs and gutters along sidewalks, rebuild/relocate catch basins and weeping tile, as well as continue with the installation of sidewalk and parkade crossing. SaskPower and Traffic crews will start setting bases and infrastructure.

RDBID has installed some of our brand new scrim signage on fencing in the area. We hope this brightens your day and your way around the construction!

For full text of the update from City of Regina, see attached.

If you have any questions, please contact RDBID at research@reginadowntown.ca or nmitchell@reginadowntown.ca.

BDC Webinar – How to adapt your business to thrive in the new normal

June 15 – 10:00am

BDC Advisory Services experts will discuss the best practices to adapt your business to the current business environment. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce will share insights into its survey on Canadian business conditions as a result of the pandemic. Click link above to register.

Province of SK Updates

Re-Open SK Plan – June 12 Update

Regina Farmers’ Market Announces 2020 Open-Air Summer Market Season at City Square Plaza

As different sectors of Downtown Regina begin the process of reopening, the RDBID Team is here to welcome you back. We are pleased to be able to offer you a Welcome Back package to help you reopen your doors to your customer. These packages will be available in limited quantities and must be reserved in advance. To reserve your Welcome Back Package, please fill out the reservation form here. We also have floor stickers to for outdoor applications – if you think you will need to queue people outside, please let us know. We can include some outdoor stickers in your package.

If you require additional posters, they are available for download on our website www.reginadowntown.ca.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Stay safe everyone.

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith

JUNE 17, 2020 MIDWEEK UPDATE

Mid-Week Update from Regina Downtown

Hi RDBID Members,

Even with this unpredictable weather we are having, it’s awesome to see folks out and about on our downtown streets this past week. Support for our local businesses is so critical as they begin to reopen their doors. If you are able to, please continue to shop online, order take-out or delivery, stop in for a drink on the patio or order a box of cinnamon buns or cupcakes. What seems so small can mean so much for our local entrepreneurs, so keep supporting our downtown friends and neighbours.

And now for your mid week update…

Food and Beverage Industry Meeting – Monday, June 22^st 9:00 – 10:00am OR 2:00 – 3:00pm

Discussion: How has your re-opening plan been going? How can RDBID continue to support your reopening?

Zoom link

Meeting ID: 397 529 2180

Password: reopen2020

A warm welcome back to our friends at the Regina Farmers’ Market as they make their way back to City Square Plaza on Saturday, June 20 from 9am – 1pm. Modified market etiquette will be in place to safely connect our community with locally sourced essentials. Click link above to learn more.

Extension of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)

The federal government announced that it is extending the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) by eight weeks, to ensure Canadians have the help they need as they transition back to work. This extension will make the benefit available to eligible workers for up to a total of 24 weeks.

Zoom Session – Q&A for Arts Community on Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan

Thursday, June 18 – 11:00am – 12:00pm

SK Arts is hosting an online information session and Q&A with a representative from the Ministry of Trade & Export Development about the position of the arts sector in the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan.

This is an open forum for the arts community. There will be a brief presentation, and then you will have opportunities to ask questions and raise concerns about where you fit in the re-open plan and what the arts sector can do to prepare for a return to some form of business.

The meeting will include captioning for accessibility.

Please RSVP to Chip McDaniel at cmcdaniel@sk-arts.ca before the meeting to receive the ZOOM link and password.

Zoom Session – Mental Health Panel Discussion – Thursday, June 18 – 10:00am – 11:00am
The Regina & District Chamber of Commerce is pleased to present a Zoom session on mental health featuring Jeff Lobb of Game Changers Leadership Development, Nadene Joy of Nadene Joy Consulting and Wendy Turner-Larsen of Turner Larsen Consulting.

Please register for this complimentary session and we will send you the Zoom coordinates.
If you have not received your coordinates by 4pm Wednesday, June 17 please email Kali at kmcdonald@reginachamber.com or call (306) 757-4645.

Zoom Session – Q&A Session for Health and Fitness Centres – Friday, June 19 – 10:00am – 11:00am

The Regina & District Chamber of Commerce is pleased to present a Zoom Q&A session on health and fitness centres featuring speakers from the Government of Canada and the Government of Saskatchewan.

Please register for this complimentary session and we will send you the coordinates. If you have not received your coordinates by 4pm Thursday June 18, please email Kali at kmcdonald@reginachamber.com or call (306)757-4645.

Future of Workplace Webinar – Cushman Wakefield – Tuesday, June 23

Cushman Wakefield captured more than 2.5 million data points from over 50,000 workers all over the globe – the largest survey on the impact of COVID-19 on the way we work – and developed their unprecedented report, The Future of Workplace.

Hear Cushman & Wakefield workplace experts share our findings, discuss what is the role of the office and reimagine how and where we will live and work in the future on June 23 at 10 a.m. CST I 4 p.m. GMT. Click link above to register.

Province of SK Updates

Re-Open SK Plan – June 12 Update

nmitchell@reginadowntown.ca

Have a great week everyone!

Stay safe everyone.

Much love and in solidarity,

Judith

JUNE 26, 2020 END OF WEEK UPDATE

Hi RDBID Members,

And just like that, Canada Day is upon us! It seems just like yesterday we were cancelling our St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. It’s been a long road – some days felt shorter than other – but here we are. We are on the cusp of a summer that will be so much more different than any summer before. But knowing that our business environment has changed, should encourage us to keep trying new things. Try out a new idea, if it works – you are further ahead than where you were before. If it doesn’t – there’s no judgement – everyone knows that businesses are just trying to stay alive. And if you want to bounce new ideas around, well, that’s what RDBID is here for. Give us a shout and we can help you figure out a way forward!

And now for your end of week update…

Retail and Personal Services Industry Meeting – Monday, July 6, 9:00 – 10:30am

Join us to continue the discussion on reopening. What’s working? What support do you need? How can we help you?

Zoom link

Meeting ID: 297 529 2180

Password: reopen 2020

Meeting Agenda:

Round Table – business updates for the month of June
Summer PayByPhone Parking Giveaway
Ongoing RDBID Marketing Initiatives
Heart of the City Podcast
Re-Opening Videos
IG Takeovers
IG/FB LIVES
GetintheLoop
How can RDBID continue to support your re-opening?
(10AM – 11AM) Shop Local Sask marketplace discussion

Shop Local Sask

It’s important now more than ever to focus on our local economy. At Shop Local Sask, we bring all Saskatchewan small businesses to the front of the end consumer. By developing a centralized marketplace we can facilitate the e-commerce demands of the end consumer while presenting incredible opportunities for local businesses to sell their products to people within their province. For short, it’s Saskatchewan’s Amazon.

Shop Local Sask brings a wide set of tools to enable small business owners to develop an online presence or establish an additional revenue stream from locally minded customers in our province.

Website: www.shoplocalsask.ca

Instagram: @shoplocalsask

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShopLocalSask/

Victoria Avenue Infrastructure and Beautification Project Update – June 26, 2020

Work continues in the north lanes between Lorne Street and Hamilton Street, with traffic flowing one-lane-each-direction (westbound and eastbound) in the south lanes of Victoria Avenue. The sidewalk is open on the south side of Victoria Avenue between Lorne Street and Hamilton Street, and pedestrians may cross at either Lorne Street or Hamilton Street. 1900-block Scarth Street north of Victoria Avenue is still accessible through the alley from southbound 1900-block Hamilton Street (turn right at CK Pizza). This alley continues to be a temporary one-way westbound until the end of this phase of construction, which is expected to be early July, depending on weather and other unforeseen circumstances.

Street lighting and traffic signals are in the final stages of being installed. The contractor will be installing the curb extensions at the northeast and northwest corners of Scarth Street; otherwise, sidewalk install is complete. The median has been installed with the ends remaining to be complete. Landscaping work, which includes trees and mulch, has been completed from Albert Street to Lorne Street.

For more information, click here to read the full-text of the latest update from City of Regina, and follow us on Facebook @reginadowntownbid.

If you have any questions, please contact RDBID at:

research@reginadowntown.ca or

Regina Downtown Summer PaybyPhone Parking Giveaway

On Wednesday, July 1st we kick-off the summer PayByPhone Parking Giveaway. Each time a customer makes a purchase at a participating downtown business, between July 1^st – August 31^st and shows their active PayByPhone transaction, they will be entered in a draw for a chance to win $250 in gift cards to their favourite local downtown Regina businesses. See attached PDF for more details.

The RDBID Marketing Team will be downtown (today & Monday, June 29^th) distributing the attached parking giveaway information and compiling a list of participating businesses. Participation is not mandatory. But, RDBID does require each business to please send participation confirmation by Monday June 29^th email: ddeneve@reginadowntown.ca

Regina Public Library Update

We LOVE that Saskatchewan libraries have been cleared to open, but we won’t be opening our doors just yet, because we’re still hard at work getting our spaces and staff ready to operate under new safety guidelines. It’s going to take some time, but we’re aiming to welcome you back by July 13.

Stay tuned to our website and social channels for updates, and please continue to enjoy our digital services, online programming and curbside pickup of holds in the meantime!

Tourism Saskatchewan creates Content Playbook for industry to communicate with customers

Tourism Saskatchewan, in partnership with Destination Think!, has developed a new resource to help industry mitigate some of the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and reconnect with customers.

The Tourism Saskatchewan Content Playbook is a concise, straightforward guide to communicating with audiences on social media.

Sections feature advice on messaging and best practices throughout the stages of mitigating challenges, recovery efforts and building post-pandemic resilience. A set of guidelines for communications during each stage of the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan is also included.

The playbook offers tips on time management, a daily checklist and samples of posts that operators can customize to suit their own needs.

The Tourism Saskatchewan Content Playbook is a source for consistent messaging across the industry and a unified approach to rebuilding a vibrant tourism sector in Saskatchewan.

Regina Downtown Podcast Series “Heart of the City”

Episode 20 – Friday, June 26^th

Special guest: Matthew Gourlie, Communications Coordinator at Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame

Discussion: Matthew shares how the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame continues to “think outside the box” and explore different ways to share Saskatchewan’s sport history. We discuss postponing the 2020 Induction, gallery renovations and Creating Active Champions remote summer programming

LISTEN ON your favourite podcast platform or subscribe to “Regina Downtown BID” YouTube channel today!

**If you have interest in being a guest, please contact Dominika Deneve, Manager of Marketing and Communications ddeneve@reginadowntown.ca

As your businesses have reopened or are planning to reopen, you may find you require some additional supplies. RDBID has Welcome Back Packages available in limited quantities and can be reserve by filling out the reservation form here. We also have floor stickers to for outdoor applications – if you think you will need to queue people outside, please let us know. We can include some outdoor stickers in your package. If you require additional posters, they are available for download on our websitewww.reginadowntown.ca.

Consumer Confidence Survey

In May, Regina Downtown and the Warehouse District partnered on a consumer confidence survey in our local businesses, particularly in Downtown and Warehouse. We received over 1,000 responses! The results, while not scientific, have helped us craft messaging around recovery and provide direction to businesses in terms of what to expect. A copy of the analysis report is attached.

Province of SK Updates

Re-Open SK Plan – June 23 Update