Planning to make a plan
We blinked and April arrived, which means restaurants, hotels and small businesses throughout the County are about to start ramping up for the summer season - this time, a season without masks, if all goes to plan.
Cartoon by Brooke Bourgeois
There are a number of hiring initiatives on the docket for employers looking to alleviate their staffing shortage, including a job bank for Ukrainian nationals looking for employment upon arrival to Canada. There's also an event addressing workforce labour concerns with WSPS, in addition to continued economic opportunities geared toward supporting small business operations.
In other news...
Are you hiring for summer yet? Are you experiencing/expecting staffing challenges? Share you experiences with us at ecdev@dufferincounty.ca.
Stay safe,
Your Dufferin County Development & Tourism Team
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Gov't launches "Plan to Stay Open"
On March 29, the provincial government announced its Pandemic and Emergency Preparedness Act 2022, a legislative bundle entitled ‘Ontario’s Plan to Stay Open’ that, if passed, will focus on four key components:
- Expanding Ontario's Health Workforce
- Shoring-up Domestic Production of Critical Supplies
- Building More Hospital Beds
- Other Ways Government is Staying Prepared
The first part of the plan, Expanding Ontario’s Health Workforce, will introduce the “Learn and Stay” Grant, a $142 million investment to expand the Community Commitment Program for Nurses. The grant will allow thousands of nursing graduates to receive full tuition reimbursement in exchange for committing to practice in an underserved community.
Communities facing the most severe labour shortages in nursing will find immediate support. Further, the plan aims to reduce registration barriers for foreign-credentialed medical professionals, a permanent wage enhancement for personal support workers (PSWs), expanding medical schools, and annually investing $41.4 million in clinical education.
The second part of the plan focuses on shoring-up domestic production of critical supplies by building a life sciences sector that improves patient outcomes and provides 66,000 jobs. While also ensuring a long-term, transparent stockpile of personal protective equipment (PPE) and implementing a mandate to keep shelves stocked with essentials.
The third part of the plan aims to invest over $30 billon in infrastructure over the next 10 years to address longstanding challenges around hospital bed shortages.
Lastly, the government plans to be better prepared for emergencies with a coordinated, whole-of-government approach, enhancing data access and sharing, investing $25 million to continue delivering access to testing, increasing vaccination rates and providing support.
The province is also planning to implement an Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) Hub Program, invest $24.7 million to sustain Ontario’s wastewater surveillance initiative over the coming year, and digitalize the provincial diagnostic network.
To read the full government plan, please see the link below.
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The Government of Canada has created a process for employers interested in hiring Ukrainian nationals arriving in Canada. Interested employers can create an employer file on the federal Job Bank and upload job postings, indicating that they are for Ukrainian nationals.
Community groups can express their interest in being involved in the recruitment and support process. The Job Bank will be used by Ukrainian job seekers who have arrived in Canada.
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RTO 6 seeking Board of Directors members
Central Counties Tourism (RTO 6) is seeking new members for its Board of Directors. Board members will bring leadership, passion, and vision to the team that will be instrumental in growing the tourism industry in York, Durham, and Headwaters regions of Ontario.
If you are interested in contributing your knowledge and experience to help build a strong tourism region, the Board of Directors invites you to submit your nomination for the available positions by completing and submitting the fillable form posted here.
Please send your completed nomination form to king@centralcounties.ca by April 11, 2022.
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Effective April 27:
- Mask requirements are removed in all remaining settings
- All remaining orders under the Reopening Ontario Act expire
- Remaining health-care directives are lifted, however, the government will still direct health-care workers to wear personal protective equipment
- After this date, masks will not be mandatory but will be encouraged and highly recommended for those who are immunocompromised, at high risk, or who choose to still use them.
More information on living with and managing COVID-19 moving forward can be found via the link below.
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Online shop ready for Orangeville businesses
Are you a business located in Orangeville? Do you have an online shop? Downtown Orangeville is accepting submissions for online businesses to be listed on its website.
Send your shop link to be featured on the Online Shop Directory by emailing ambassador@downtownorangeville.ca.
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Indigenous Youth Entrepreneur survey live
The National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA) has developed an Indigenous Youth Entrepreneurship Survey to help better understand the interests and needs of Indigenous Youth Entrepreneurs in Canada.
If you are an Indigenous business owner between the ages of 18 and 39, ITO would like to invite you to complete NACCA's 10-15 minute survey. Every participant who completes the survey will be provided with a free downloadable, digital art created by Chief Lady Bird, a Chippewa and Potawatomi artist, educator, and community activist from Rama First Nation.
Survey is now open until April 18, 2022.
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Violence & harassment de-escalation at work
Is your business experiencing increased customer aggression? On the latest episode of Small Biz Safety Podcast, safety expert Kristy Cork shares tips on managing angry or agitated customers. Then, Drea Mulligan from Sleeping Giant Brewery offers insights on creating a culture of caring for employees.
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Orangeville Summer Company program back
The Summer Company program has helped dozens of area youth get a start in small business. Offered in partnership with the Province of Ontario, Summer Company provides entrepreneurial training, mentorship and grants of up to $3,000 to eligible students.
How to apply: Apply for Summer Company by completing the online application. Once submitted, your application will be sent to the Orangeville SBEC and they will follow up with you.
Eligibility: View the eligibility checklist to see if you meet the program requirements.
Applicants must:
- be a high school, college or university student
- live in Ontario
- be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- be between 15 and 29 years of age (if under 18, a parent needs to sign the application)
- not already running a business
- not working at another job or going to school for more than 12 hours a week during the program
- be returning to school after the program ends
About the program:
The Summer Company program offers:
- training and business skills development to help youth create business plans and prepare to run their own business for the summer
- $1,500 of start-up funding for the new business and an additional $1,500 upon successful completion of the program
- mentorship and guidance from local business professionals and consultants
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Enhanced economic opportunities for BIPOC entrepreneurs
The Ontario government is investing $5 million over two years in a targeted program to help Indigenous, Black and other racialized entrepreneurs start or grow their business.
The Racialized and Indigenous Supports for Entrepreneurs (RAISE) Grant Program helps to remove economic barriers by providing funding, training, and culturally-relevant services to entrepreneurs.
The RAISE Grant will help grow local businesses across Ontario and will be delivered through Digital Main Street, the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (TABIA), and the Ontario Business Improvement Area Association (OBIAA) in collaboration with the Parkdale Centre for Innovation. Successful applicants will receive a $10,000 grant to faciliate innovation and growth, as well as training and coaching for sustainable economic development.
Online training for RAISE will include modules about business financials, cash flow management, creating a business plan, business operations, marketing and public relations strategies, and digital transformation. RAISE will also provide culturally-relevant business coaching to assist entrepreneurs in realizing their business plans and reducing barriers to information and services.
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WPS EmployerOne Webinar
📅 Apr 14, 11AM-12PM 📍 Online
Hosted by WPS, This webinar will showcase the trends and changes in Dufferin's local labour market, present the findings and methodology of the survey, and conduct an open Q&A.
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Dufferin BOT Industry Luncheon
📅 April 7, 11:30AM 📍 Fairgrounds
Join local business leaders for a gourmet lunch, great conversation and in-person networking. Keynote speaker, Rocco Rossi, will speak about building resiliency, community, and connections.
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Financing Your Business
📅 April 13 12:30-1:30PM 📍 Online
This webinar will focus on short-term, long-term, and start-up financing options, including the Canada Small Business Loan and what to expect from your bank.
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Turn Your Store into a Brand
📅 May 10, 2PM 📍 Online
In this webinar, you'll learn the difference between a business & a brand, the benefits of having a brand, + how to grow your social media through brand building.
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Avian influenza found in Ontario
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has reported Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Ontario flocks and wild birds. CFIA has established Primary Control Zones (PCZ), in the areas where highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) have been identified.
View them here.
To maintain export market access, effective immediately, poultry meat products originating from PCZ must meet the HPAI requirements of the importing countries.
HPAI resources offered by the Poultry Industry Council for commercial and small flock producers, including backyard flocks. View them here.
The Poultry Industry Council will continue to offer webinar updates as the situation evolves.
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NFU releases new agricultural emissions report
The National Farmers Union has released its most detailed report on Agricultural greenhouse gas emissions in Canada to date. "Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Canada: A New, Comprehensive Assessment" is a complete and detailed look at nearly 40 different sources of agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from Canadian agricultural production and production of associated farm inputs.
This report is expected to directly impact and inform farmers’ and policymakers’ efforts to reduce those emissions. With adequate policy and program support and a clear understanding of GHG sources, farmers can make a large contribution to Canada’s success both in meeting its international emission-reduction commitments and also in helping stabilize the climate.
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OFA Hiring in Dufferin region
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is currently seeking a Member Services Representative for the Wellington, Waterloo & Dufferin Region, to join its Member Services Group.
Applicants may submit their cover letter and resume, in confidence to hr@ofa.on.ca no later than Friday, April 8, 2022, at 4 pm.
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Free farmer training program for all
The first term of EFAO's 2022 Ignatius New Farmer Training Program starts in April, and all sessions of this year's program will be free and accessible to all.
Topics include:
- Introduction to Organic Growing
- Botany for Farmers and Gardeners
- The Language of Ecological Agriculture
- Identifying and Controlling Pests and Disease
- Farm Workers Rights and Responsibilities
- Soil Health
The Ignatius New Farmer Training Program is a collaboration between the Ignatius Jesuit Centre, EFAO, Everdale and the National Farmers Union Ontario. It is a project of Employment Ontario and is funded in part by the Canadian Government and the Ontario Government.
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Get the skills you need: Agri-HR Toolkit
The Canadian Agricultural Human Resources Council (CAHRC) has developed an AgriHR Toolkit that offers assistance every step of the way. The toolkit includes guides, templates, resources and critical questions that you need to ask and answer for your business.
The toolkit also offers an Employee Handbook template you can download and customize to suit your farm business needs.
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2022 Annual Conference
📅 April 13, 10AM-4PM 📍 Online
Join Farm & Food Care Ontario (FFCO) in-person or virtually for their hybrid 2022 Annual Conference. This year’s theme is “Evolving in a Changing World”.
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Coyotes & Livestock: Avoiding Conflict
📅 Apr 12. 12PM 📍 Online
Join OFA, OSF, and MNDMNRF to discuss coyote ecology, problems with livestock degradation, and advice on how to avoid conflict with coyotes.
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Take the Sustainable Tourism 2030 Pledge
The Sustainable Tourism 2030 Pledge is a commitment to improve the sustainability performance of your tourism business or destination between now and 2030.
Launched in June 2021, the Sustainable Tourism 2030 Pledge is a global movement of individuals, businesses, and organizations within the tourism and hospitality industry that believe tourism has a tremendous opportunity to become a force for good and change the world.
How to take the pledge
Complete the Pledge Form
First, complete the form below to take the pledge. By taking the pledge, you commit to taking the two actions below:
1. Measure your sustainability performance
Once you take the pledge, you'll be sent a link to complete your free, comprehensive, Sustainable Tourism assessment. The assessment criteria for businesses and destinations are based upon the internationally recognized Global Sustainable Tourism Council Criteria.* Once you complete your assessment, you will receive your Sustainability Score.
2. Make public commitment to improve sustainability score by 2030
Finally, your Sustainability Score will show you where you're doing well and where you can improve, on a broad range of sustainability criteria. You can now prepare your public commitment, which can highlight these areas, or be more general. See an example on the Guidance page.
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Make local food sourcing work for you
Food tourism is one of the fastest growing forms of tourism and a powerful driver for sustainable economic development in Ontario. Culinary Tourism Alliance in partnership with OTEC, has announced the launch of a brand new, free certificate training program called "Make Local Sourcing Work For You."
This course is for anyone who is interested in growing food tourism in Ontario including but not limited to employees and front-line staff (servers, cooks, chefs, general managers, tour guides, etc.) at tourism business that have some form of foodservice operation or have the potential to enhance their tourism product or service by adding a culinary component.
Learn how leveraging local sourcing, storytelling and partnerships can help grow your business and attract more people.
This is a self-paced eLearning Course divided into five (5) modules and offered free for a limited time!
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Thriving in a post-pandemic economy
📅 May 4, 2-3:30PM 📍 Online
Join Orangeville SBEC us as Donald Burns, The Restaurant Coach™ and leading authority in the hospitality industry talks about the secrets to thriving in a post-pandemic economy.
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Building Inclusive Tourism
📅 Apr 13, 12PM 📍 Online
This webinar features best practices of integrating DEI principles at the DMO level. Rebecca Godfrey will moderate a discussion with Explore Edmonton on the status of their journey to build a more inclusive tourism industry.
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Support Ukraine inDufferin
The community and residents of Dufferin County continue to stand with and support the people of Ukraine and Ukrainian-Canadians.
If you are in a position to make a donation and you are looking for organizations to support, please consider the following:
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Apply for Resilient Communities Fund
The Resilient Communities Fund supports the recovery efforts of organizations impacted by COVID-19 with immediate, medium, and longer-term recovery projects.
Applicants can apply for a minimum of $10,000, and up to $200,000, with a maximum of $100,000 per year.
Resilient Communities Fund grants support projects that help rebuild an organization’s capacity, enhance their resiliency, and meet the changing needs of their communities.
Projects should be focused on:
- developing new approaches;
- starting new activities;
- adjusting strategies, or
- planning for future challenges
Application deadline is April 6, 2022.
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Dufferin County Outdoor Recreation Plan
This year, the County of Dufferin is embarking on an extensive public consultation of the Recreational Use Policy for the Dufferin County Forest. The goal is to have a broader Recreation Plan for both the County Forest and the County-owned Rail Trail, with consideration for the best ways to use these spaces as well as what services and facilities (signs, parking lots, electric vehicle charging stations, portable toilets, picnic shelters, interpretive features, public and volunteer engagement) to implement in the future.
For now, we are looking for your great ideas! What does your ideal County Forest look like? When you picture the Rail Trail, what do you see?
Share your ideas here and answer a quick survey to help this process get started. You can also comment and vote on ideas that have already been submitted.
Your input will be used to produce a draft recreation plan that will be subject to public review and more specific feedback.
Ideas are due by April 22, 2022 and participants have a chance to win 1 of 3 $50 gift cards to an independent business of their choice in Dufferin County.
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Closing the gap
If you hire musicians for live music nights or theatre, this report by the Canadian Live Music Association is for you. Closing the Gap reveals the disproportionately impacted and underrepresented experiences of Indigenous, Black, and People of Colour live music workers in Canada.
Read here
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Should you keep some COVID controls in place?
This article by WSPS outlines how to merge workplace safety measures that are already in place into a sustainable system, and keeping the flexibility to either ramp up again if COVID-19 case numbers increase and guidelines are reinstated, or loosen restrictions as needed.
Read here
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Building bridges to food, farming
This Op-ed by Crystal Mackay, Keynote Speaker at York Region’s 2021 Agri-Food Forum, explores gaps between farmers and consumers and types of farms, between regions and sectors across the food system and more.
Read here
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The New Ag Revolution
This article by Nourish Food Marketing explains why we might be witnessing the next revolution in agriculture in which digital connectivity allows new firms to extract big data from livestock and crop production.
Read here
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