Westshore Business

This is a "must" listen session with John Ranns, Mayor of Metchosin.

• 100,000 masks being distributed (at cost)

• being delivered to businesses

----more----

• The Mayor's thoughts regarding a post-COVID economy...

• January - March 2019 - $108 million in development permits

• Big Box stores still open

• Mayor Young has an extensive personal network across the world, e.g., Hong Kong, England, Edmonton

We understand the success of Colwood’s recovery depends on how we help our residents and businesses through these challenging times.

1. Last night council passed a 0% residential tax lift and a business tax reduction that over the next 5 years will match the average business rate in the CRD.  

----more----

1. In coordination with South Island Prosperity Project, Councilor Kobayashi has been appointed to the Regional Prosperity Recovery taskforce. In addition, Councilor Kobayashi chaired the Colwood Development and Business leaders Covid 19 Recovery RoundTable that included business leaders, the Westshore Chamber and council. These roundtables are designed to help the city understand the real impacts on local businesses and what we as city can do and the importance of advocating to our provincial and federal governments on how to best support local business moving forward. 

1. Brief summary of the City survey to help us better understand how COVID-19 is impacting business owners, we invited all Colwood businesses to participate in a survey.

• We received 68 responses representing 16 different business categories including construction, finance, health, food + accommodation, professional + technical services, education and more.

• health – balancing continued vigilance with loosening restrictions, continuing to follow the direction of the provincial health officer 

• protecting vulnerable populations – approval of affordable housing at 85 Belmont 

I have a question for the two of you since you over the last month spoken to almost all the Westshore Mayors as well as our MLA Mitzi Dean. My question is “what has the Westshore done right with Covid and what are opportunities for our communities do our municipalities have moving forward?

Thanks to View Royal Mayor David Screech for an overview of View Royal's response to the COVID health crisis. Highlights:

• 4 mile pub / 6 mile pub / casino - all major revenue sources for the municipality, all closed

In our first "Recorded" Podcast with Esquimalt-Metchosin MLA Mitzi Dean we talk about a number of topics related to life in the Westshore and across our Province.

Both John and Kelly would like to express our sincere thanks and gratitude to everyone in MLA Deans office that continue to work and help local residents in this very stressful and challenging environment.

COVID-19 Topics and Links

1. Small Business BC Covid Information - https://covid.smallbusinessbc.ca/hc/en-us

Gender Equity in B.C.

1. Mitzi Dean is the Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity - https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/gender-equityh

We also talked about the co-operative nature and communication between the Municipal, Provincial and Federal Governments.

• https://www.colwood.ca/

Esquimalt-Metchosin Constituency Office

• http://mitzidean.ca/

In this podcast with Lindsay, Co-owner of Country Bee Honey Farm (6440 West Saanich Rd) discusses:

• their planned walking & pollinating tour

• likely more stay-cations this summer

We chatted with Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins about Esquimalt's COVID 19 response. She reviewed what has happened, what is happening and most intriguing what will happen in the near future. Listen in to this concisely planned and managed response to our Global Health crisis. 

Please note that we conduct these podcasts somewhat on the fly...they're very impromptu...we are certainly not in a recording studio...LOL! But the information needs to get out to the community asap...today Mayor Young reviews:

We discuss the City of Colwood's:

• response to stopping the spread of COVID-19

The Mayor also discusses the emotional & mental impact of this health crisis on the Colwood community.

----more----

Colwood notice:

On Tuesday, April 7th at 6pm, HMCS Calgary will depart Esquimalt Harbour as military personnel deploy and leave their families behind during some of the most uncertain and challenging times we have ever encountered.

Base Commander, Captain Sam Sader and Mayor Rob Martin are working together to allow military families access to the Lagoon Beach in Colwood to wave goodbye to loved ones and see the ship off as it sails out. This small action will be a great comfort to both the departing sailors and the partners and children staying behind.

Colwood Bylaw Officers will open the gate at Fort Rodd Hill to allow families to access the beach. Base personnel will ensure families comply with strict physical distancing measures for the hour or so that they will be there.

Bylaw Officers will re-lock the gate after military families have departed.