Welcome to a new year and, with it, new and ever evolving changes as we continue to learn to live and work with the ongoing COVID-19 virus and variants. While we had all hoped that by now this pandemic would be behind us, it is clear that is not yet the case.
In Dr. Bonnie Henry’s first health briefing of the new year, she made it clear that Omicron is changing the rules yet again and that we must all be diligent in our efforts to reduce the impacts of this new variant on our day to day lives, our hospitals, and our economy.
To this end, revisiting, revising, and reinstating COVID plans by all businesses was a key focus. Having updated Communicable Disease Prevention Plans in place is one of the most important ways we can collectively help avoid additional restrictions, closures, and lockdowns.
It is also important that we ensure we are using the tools available to mitigate illness including vaccinations and boosters as they become available, wearing properly fitted three-layer masks, continuing with frequent hand washing, maintaining social distancing, and staying home for those who feel unwell.
We have proven our resilience and adaptability as a tourism industry over the past two years and as an organization we will continue to work hard in the days and weeks to come to provide further support to our industry stakeholders, communities, and partners.
We will get ahead of this and we will return to a new “normal” in time with a revitalized and strengthened tourism industry where we can once again invite the world to enjoy all that we have in the Thompson Okanagan and our beautiful province of British Columbia.
Effective January 1, 2022, employees are entitled to employer paid leave for personal illness and injury. This new, permanent paid sick leave entitlement will provide up to 5 paid days and 3 unpaid days of job-protected leave each year for eligible employees.
The BC Employment Standards website provides information for employees and employers regarding the application of the new paid sick leave entitlement, including eligibility criteria and how to calculate an “average day’s pay.”
To ensure clarity and that industry is prepared with updated policies and training, employers can review the following resources:
B.C. health officials warned on January 4 that many BC businesses could soon be dealing with additional staffing shortages due to the rapid spread of the Omicron COVID-19 variant.
With unprecedented levels of transmission occurring in communities, PHO Dr. Bonnie Henry urged business owners to start putting together contingency plans so they can keep operating if a significant number of employees are forced to call in sick.
Case numbers have repeatedly broken all-time records in recent weeks to the point that officials estimate actual transmission could be up to five times higher given that testing capacity is at maximum levels.
Dr. Henry said the government is not imposing any more COVID-19 restrictions yet, only urging businesses to prepare themselves for potential disruptions.
The tourism and hospitality sector has been among those most severely affected by the pandemic. An article published by CBC News on December 27, 2021, explained that the federal minister responsible for the industry, Hon. Randy Boissonnault, said the return of international travellers could still be a long way off due to the uncertainty over the persisting Omicron variant.
In Canada, domestic travellers account for 78% of tourism spending. But international visitors spend an average of $1,047 per trip, while domestic vacationers spend less than a quarter of that.
The sector has contracted by more than 50% over the course of the pandemic, falling from a $105 billion-a-year industry before the pandemic to one worth about $53 billion now. That's a drop of 40% in domestic spending and 8% in spending by international visitors.
Industry stakeholders like TIABC's national counterparts, TIAC, say that the sector faces three significant challenges over the next year such as:
To simply survive until visitors return
The impact of ongoing restrictions on travel
A labour shortage brought on by the pandemic
Industry insiders say that the labour shortage is not being driven solely by slack short-term demand that will correct itself once borders reopen — that it represents a permanent move away from the sector by key workers.
The industry wants the federal government to make adjustments to the temporary foreign worker program and immigration streams to fill the demand for key workers in the sector. Stakeholders say they have to fix the damage done to the reputation of the industry as a result of the pandemic in order to attract new workers.
The B.C. government has announced that the temporary food delivery cap, which was set to expire at midnight on December 31st has now been extended until December 31st, 2022.
The cap limits the total fees delivery companies can charge food establishments, helping restaurants to continue to operate and build their own recovery while serving their communities.
The cap limits fees charged to restaurants from food delivery companies at 15%. An additional cap of 5% will also be extended for other related fees associated with use of the service, such as online ordering and processing fees.
This measure also prohibits delivery companies from reducing compensation for their drivers or retaining staff gratuity, making sure employees will continue to be paid their regular wages.
Tourism Kamloops’ Board of Directors is looking for a passionate leader to champion and drive the visitor economy in Kamloops. As a community champion the CEO will lead with innovative solutions in support of the organization's mandate, our community, and our stakeholders.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Tourism Kamloops is responsible for the leadership and management of all daily operations of the organization in its mission to brand, market, and grow Kamloops as a valuable tourism destination.
The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association, in partnership with FortisBC, has established a position to engage tourism businesses within the Thompson Okanagan region and provide expertise to find natural gas and electricity savings through energy efficiency upgrades and FortisBC incentives.
Apply by January 10, 2022.
This role, based in Kelowna, will be instrumental in helping tourism operators better understand their energy use patterns and savings opportunities as well as opportunities to reduce their organizational carbon footprint.
The Energy Analyst will also identify areas for optimization and support participation in FortisBC rebate programs, resulting in energy, and cost savings for their organization.
Wilderness Tourism Association of BC Annual General Meeting (Virtual)
Thursday, January 13, 2022 | 1:00pm - 4:15pm
Join the Wilderness Tourism Association (WTA) of BC to learn about recent WTA accomplishments and areas of focus for the new year. Hear from Walt Judas, CEO of TIABC, and Krista Bax, CEO of go2HR, who will provide guidance in imagining what's next for British Columbia's tourism industry.
The Reopening Fund is a one-year funding initiative through the Celebration and Commemoration Program to support initiatives that will:
increase opportunities for Canadians to participate in various commemorative activities and celebrations to mark Canada’s emergence from the COVID-19 pandemic; or
build a sense of pride and belonging to Canada by holding celebratory and commemorative activities that recognize people and achievements in the response to COVID-19 ; and / or
support the revival of local economies through in-person events.
Canadian not-for-profit organizations, for-profit organizations with non-commercial projects, educational institutions, and government institutions are eligible to apply.
BCIT's 2022 Tourism Management Internship Program students will be looking for Internship opportunities in late March 2022. Submit your Internship Application request form by January 10, 2022. The internship runs for 8 weeks from March 28, 2022, to May 20, 2022. Students can work evenings, weekends, and any day of the week except Mondays, as they must be at school on this day. Any questions, contact David Tikkanen, Program Head, Tourism Management, David_Tikkanen@bcit.ca
Over 100 Capilano University (CapU) Tourism Management students will be looking for work placements from May – September 2022. Many of the students can move into full-time positions at the end of their summer placement as they will graduate. The Cap U Work Integrated Learning team for the School of Tourism and Outdoor Recreation will be conducting an online Information Lunch and Learn session on January 18, 2022, 12:30 – 1 pm. For additional information, contact tourism@capilanou.ca.
Immigration Services Society of BC (ISSofBC) has been providing various support services for immigrants and refugees to help them get settled, find careers, and learn all they need to know about starting their new lives in Canada. Through dedicated staff, volunteers, and community partners, ISSofBC provides settlement, education, and employment services to over 20,000 clients every year. There are approximately 20+ graduating students who recently completed the Global Tourism Diploma Program looking for full and/or part-time employment in Tourism & Hospitality. Some are available to start working immediately. Contact Shelina Spilchen, Case Manager – Skills Training for Tourism, for more information: shelina.spilchen@issbc.org
The Province of BC has introduced the COVID-19 Closure Relief Grant aimed at assisting B.C. businesses that were mandated to temporarily shut down through public health orders because of the surge in COVID-19 cases under the December 22nd, 2021 Provincial Health Officer orders.
Businesses ordered fully closed include:
gyms, fitness and adult dance centres
bars, lounges and nightclubs
event venues that can no longer hold events
The fund will provide relief grants of between $1,000 and $10,000 to help affected businesses alleviate some financial pressures and help with expenses including rent, employee wages, insurance, maintenance, and utilities.
Applications for the grant will begin in January with the application process open until the end of February 2022. Businesses can email questions to: covid@smallbusinessbc.ca
The Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit (CWLB) gives temporary income support to employed and self-employed people who cannot work due to a COVID-19 lockdown.
The CWLB is only available when a COVID-19 lockdown order is designated for a province or region.
Those eligible for the CWLB, can receive $300 ($270 after taxes withheld) for each 1-week period and apply for any weeks their region is eligible between October 24, 2021 and May 7, 2022.
The new Local Lockdown Program is a way non-tourism and hospitality businesses, charities, and non-profits affected by a qualifying public health restriction can be eligible for wage and rent support through the Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program (THRP).
Women in B.C. with a desire for training in the culinary, beverage, or hospitality fields are invited to apply for Les Dames d’Escoffier BC Scholarship Program to receive partial funds to an educational institution/course of their choice.
All scholarships are awarded based on merit, ability, commitment, and passion, and may range in value anywhere between $1,000 – $2,000 depending on funds available, program requirements and approved applicants.
Apply by January 31, 2022. Scholarships will be awarded in March 2022.
