Top 10 COVID-19 resources
May 4th, 2020
The team at Startup Canada—like many organizations—has been working to bring together useful resources for entrepreneurs in this difficult time. Based on the sheer volume of information coming out in response to COVID-19, resources accumulate and it can become overwhelming to navigate.
As a result, we’ve decided to release a blog post each week listing the top resources to make it easier for entrepreneurs to find the information and support they need.
In no particular order, here are this week’s top resources for entrepreneurs in light of COVID-19:
1. Corporate and Government Partnerships Helping Indigenous Businesses Through COVID-19
Tabatha Bull, who was recently appointed as the President & CEO of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB), discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Canada’s Indigenous economy, and what measures the government and corporate Canada must take to ensure that Indigenous businesses can get the support need to survive the current economic challenges.
2. EDC: Currency exchange risk: How to handle the ups and downs during COVID-19
This article by Luc Fournier, the Regional Vice-President of Bank Channel for Export Development Canada (EDC), discusses how the EDC can safely help people and their businesses manage currency exchange risks. He also emphasizes the importance of building a foreign exchange policy for your business during the current crisis.
3. Business Sustainability During Times of Crisis with Connie Stacey
This webinar discusses what it means to become sustainable, and what measures need to be taken to ensure businesses reach that sustainability during times of crisis. This webinar also covers how different forms of sustainability can be beneficial during times of crisis.
The live webinar is scheduled for May 7, 2020, at 1:00 pm EST. A recording will be made available afterwards, here.
4. Entrepreneur Town Hall: Conversation with Gord Johns, Member of Parliament for Courtenay-Alberni
Through a series of Entrepreneur Town Halls, Startup Canada has facilitated discussions between members of parliament and entrepreneurs to discuss what the government is doing to support businesses during the COVID-19 crisis, as well as give entrepreneurs the chance to voice their concerns and priorities.
Watch this recorded Entrepreneur Town Hall featuring Gord Johns, Member of Parliament for Courtenay-Alberni.
5. BDC: COVID-19: How to get through the crisis with an online strategy
In this pre-recorded webinar, experts from the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) such as Chief Economist Pierre Cléroux, share their expertise with Canadian businesses impacted from the COVID-19 pandemic and how they can adapt their businesses to take advantage of online opportunities.
6. Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)
Are you a Canadian employer whose business has been affected by the COVID-19 crisis? If so, you may be eligible for a wage subsidy, which you can use towards re-hiring workers that were laid off as a result of this crisis.
7. Innovation Economy Council formed to drive Canada’s technology economy post-pandemic
The Innovation Economy Council (IEC) of Canada—whose founders include the Ryerson DMZ, MaRS, and Invest Ottawa—was established as a coalition of industry leaders and entrepreneurs with the goal of driving Canada’s Industrial Innovation Policy.
You can also check out the IEC’s white paper on how tech startups can drive the recovery from the COVID-19 crisis.
8. Crisis vs Innovation: How to harness product & strategy in times of change
During times of crisis, it is imperative to find new ways to prioritize the direction and efforts of your business and develop a new strategy to adapt. This article by entrepreneur Craig Follett discusses some of these strategies.
9. Work-Sharing Program – COVID-19
If you are an employer or employee concerned about losing employment due to COVID-19, be sure to check out the government of Canada’s Work-Sharing Program. This program provides Employment Insurance (EI) benefits and allows workers to keep their jobs and continue to work, while employers can retain the services of experienced employees, without having to find and train new employees.
You can find an overview of the program here.
10. COVID-19 Response DMZ Free Virtual Workshop Series
The Ryerson DMZ is a world-leading tech accelerator for Canadian Startups. In this time of crisis, the DMZ continues to support businesses through a virtual workshop series to help startups with business decisions and to recognize potential opportunities during times of crisis. For more information on past and upcoming workshops, visit their website.
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