Free COVID-19 Work Safe Course
Provincial Stay-at-Home Order
As of January 14, 2021 at 12:01 a.m., a stay at home order is in effect for all of Ontario.
This means you must stay at home. You should only go out for necessities, such as:
- getting food, beverages or medication
- going to medical appointments
- supporting vulnerable community members
- child care
- attending school or a post-secondary institution
- going to a bank
- accessing government services
- getting exercise or walking pets
- going to work, if you can’t do it remotely
Businesses must ensure that all employees work from home if they can.
Do not travel outside your region or the province unless absolutely necessary.
As the city continues opening and more COVID-19 cases are reported daily, this is the perfect time to prepare your business to handle changing conditions. Emery Village BIA is the proud sponsor of SkillsPass’ FREE COVID-19 Work Safe Course.
View a CTV feature on the course HERE.
View a Toronto.com feature on the course HERE.
The course is the first program in Canada, free to all Emery BIA business owners and all of their employees. We strongly encourage as many employees as possible to take advantage of this, from management to skilled trade workers. The course will cover crucial information about safe working conditions which is important for all employees to know. Register today for this exclusive opportunity!
Emery Village BIA PPE Booklet
Reopening Guidance Package for BIAs
Emery Village BIA has put together a PPE Directory including businesses which are offering any of the following: gloves, temperature screening, electrostatic disinfection, masks, face shields, or eye protection.
The City of Toronto is preparing to oversee the safe restart of some services and partial reopening of many businesses. Resources have been developed to help support business through this time. For guidance on safely reopening, business operators can reference the Toronto Public Health Planning Guide, and visit the COVID-19: Reopening Guidelines for Businesses & Organizations to view sector specific resources.
Decisions about when and how businesses can begin operating will be made by the Government of Ontario in accordance with its framework to reopen the province after COVID-19.
COVID-19 Guidelines for Re-Opening your Restaurant
This guide provides you with the information you need to re-open your restaurant, or other food premise, after being closed or limited to take-out and delivery only. Part 1 provides advice on preparing your restaurant for food service, and Part 2 helps you to modify your premises and practices to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19.
You are advised to start preparing now for re-opening, but you are not permitted to start operating dine-in services until the revised order under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act is announced by the provincial government and comes into effect. Please note that announcement may contain conditions, which may result in amendments to Part 2 of this document. These conditions are likely to be minor, and you will be informed of them immediately. Please check the City’s website at www.toronto.ca/COVID19 for updates and new information.
Digital Main Street Programs Across Ontario
FedDev Ontario and the Province have provided funds to expand Digital Main Street’s services and resources across Ontario. You can see the overview here: https://www.feddevontario.gc.ca/eic/site/723.nsf/eng/02590.html?OpenDocument
What this means for municipalities and BIAs is that the following resources will be available to help you support your main street businesses over the coming months:
- Digital Main Street Grant – there will be $2,500 grants available to main street businesses to support their purchase of technologies. These will be available July 1st.
- Future-Proofing Program – Digital Main Street will be launching a new program focused on helping future-proof businesses. More details will follow on this in the coming weeks.
In addition, this also means the ShopHERE program, which builds an online store for small businesses and artists at no-cost, is also available across Ontario. You can find the details about the program here: www.digitalmainstreet.ca/shophere.
Emery Village BIA COVID-19 Town Hall (Virtual)
Emery Village BIA hosted a tele-town hall to address members’ questions about the impacts of COVID19 and the steps being taken by our governments to provide assistance to the business community. The one hour town hall featured commentary from local Humber River-Black Creek government representatives including Toronto City Councillor Anthony Perruzza, MPP Tom Rakocevic and Honourable MP Judy Sgro. Based on the feedback received in the discussion, the BIA is issuing a letter to Mayor Tory and the City’s Economic Support & Recovery Task Force outlining recommendations for a responsible approach to reopening the economy. If you were not able to make it to the tele-town hall, you may listen to a recording here:
- Canada’s largest Business Improvement Area founded in 2003
- Representing 3200 Businesses and Commercial Properties employing over 28000 people
- Provincially Designated Employment District
- Projects, programs and services to help meet business and community prospects and growth
- We work with the City of Toronto, and other BIAs to engage and give voice to our businesses.
Our office may be closed, but like many others, we’re still actively working on your behalf. Recently, we have made changes to our website to reflect the most immediate needs in support of our businesses. We believe that our priority in this time of crisis is to ensure that the Emery Village Stakeholders and Community have the tools and timely information from the most appropriate sources to guide us through, build sustainability, and safeguard the health and safety of our residents, employees and business operators.
We will, from time to time renew and update our links to continue to serve you. Also, please see the section on the latest changes to our Mobile Security Patrol Program through VP Security.
If you are a business or a commercial property owner, please register to obtain access to e-mail blasts and other news feeds to keep you keep informed and updated to the latest news and changes to our services and programs.
Federal Resources
CERS (Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy)
RRRF (Regional Relief and Recovery Funds)
Support for Indigenous businesses
COVID-19 benefits and services for businesses
CEBA (Canada Emergency Business Account)
Canada United Small Business Relief Fund
Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility
After CERB: Transitioning to New Benefits
Recovery benefits for Canadians
Canada United Small Business Relief Fund
Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan
BCAP (Business Credit Availability Program)
BEP (Black Entrepreneurship Program)
Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)
Provincial Resources
Ontario Declares Second Provincial Emergency to Address COVID-19 Crisis and Save Lives
https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/59922/ontario-declares-second-provincial-emergency-to-address-covid-19-crisis-and-save-lives
Ontario Workplace PPE Supplier Directory
Businesses: Get help with COVID-19 costs
Sector-Specific COVID-19 Resources for Businesses
COVID-19 Workplace Safety Plan
Ontario’s Regulation 82.80 Orders the Closure of Places of Non-Essential Businesses
Digital Main Street Ontario Grants
Ontario’s Small Business News Updates
Municipal Resources
COVID-19: Bills & Tax Relief for Businesses
COVID-19: Posters & Graphics
COVID-19: Credit, Mortgage & Banking Support for Businesses
COVID-19: Reopening Guidelines for Businesses & Community Organizations
COVID-19: Business & Sector Resources
COVID-19: Employee Wage Support for Businesses
COVID-19: Reopening Guidelines for Businesses & Community Organizations
Mobile Security
Other Resources
Emery Village has prepared an Emergency Security Plan due to the lockdown of non-essential businesses in the province.
As part of our security patrol service we will be prepared and be operating security patrol in the BIA Business Community 24/7. We have increased our operating patrols to include the following:
2- Day patrol cars (6am-6pm)
4- Evening patrol cars (6pm-6am)
This will ensure full coverage of our area and act a as a deterrence.
Please ensure that your alarm company has the most up to date contact information and telephone numbers in the event of an alarm call. Below are the two telephone numbers for VP Protection Dispatch:
416-218-3226 or 647-202-3022
If you have not signed the VP Protection Security Form please do so immediately and scan the form and sent by to: info@emeryvillagebia.ca