B.C. Premier John Horgan is set to join Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Minister of Health Adrian Dix at the province’s May 6 COVID-19 briefing, where they are expected to provide a significant update on B.C.’s strategy moving forward through the pandemic.
Although the province has been hosting COVID-19 briefings most days since the pandemic arrived, and there have been some hints at longer-term strategy, the May 6 briefing is anticipated to clarify the province’s general direction in the coming months.
One subject of interest is how the province will manage reopening parts of the economy closed, curtailed, or restricted due to COVID-19.
What is the strategy? How will it find balance between so many serious concerns? How will it work in practice? There is no end to the questions. The B.C. premier’s May 6 update may illuminate some of the path ahead, a reminder of the need for preparations on the ground in Revelstoke.
Ahead of the May 6 briefing, the Revelstoke Mountaineer reached out to local commerce groups and organizations. We asked about their general efforts and plans to see that — when it does come — renewed economic activity and reopening of businesses is done well in Revelstoke.
Stacey Brensrud, Executive Director, Revelstoke Chamber of Commerce
Stacey Brensrud said the chamber’s main role through the pandemic has been keeping businesses up to date through their website, social media and media releases. The chamber has also been hosting weekly engagement sessions, including with lawyers, export development experts, accountants, and the recent session with the local MP and MLA. (See link to story below)
The chamber has also been encouraging Revelstoke residents to support local businesses by creating and promoting a list of businesses that are open, and launching a #spenditinRevy campaign. In addition, the chamber has been reaching out to each member by telephone.
How is the chamber working to help businesses do a good job of reopening? Brensrud said it has been messaging to businesses that they must adhere to orders from the Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry. Brensrud said the chamber has been keeping up to date with developments in the province by attending provincial chamber calls, attending local economic development commission meetings, calling into city emergency operations updates, and maintaining contacts with regional economic development organizations.
Kootenay-Columbia MP, MLA highlight need to support local as COVID-19 restrictions continue
Brensrud said the chamber has been studying re-opening strategies from other jurisdictions for best practices.
“We will be offering resource links for members to get supplies needed for re-openings such as hand sanitizer dispensers,” Brensrud said. “Plexi shields for service counters, [and] floor decals to help with physical distancing.”
Brensrud said the chamber is also mobilizing resources to support the Visitor Information Centre.
However, Brensrud said the key next step will be getting direction from the Provincial Health Officer.
Ingrid Bron, Director of Community Economic Development, City of Revelstoke/Columbia Shuswap Regional District
Bron serves as an economic development director in Revelstoke, a position that is funded by the city and the Columbia-Shuswap Regional District (CSRD). She said she’d studied the impacts of COVID-19 on the economic development department, as well as anticipated impacts on community, including sectors such as tourism and the social sector.
“Next week I am bringing forward a proposal from the [Revelstoke & Area] Economic Development Commission (RAEDC) to appoint an [e]conomic [r]ecovery task force to guide collective efforts from business centre partners on what that looks like in our community,” Bron said, adding the task force would guide its partners on best practices across the province and region. Bron said she would be presenting a report to council on May 12 that will outline challenges, issues and opportunities for Revelstoke.
Bron said that discussions are ongoing with organizations such as the chamber, Tourism Revelstoke, Community Futures Revelstoke, and the Revelstoke & Area Economic Development Commission, “all of whom will play a key role in informing our approach, as will our [Technology] Strategy and Food Security Strategy previously endorsed by [c]ouncil.”
Bron said she couldn’t provide any further details about the plan until council has reviewed the report and discusses it on May 12. Bron said RAEDC would meet May 13 to discuss next steps before handing over the process to the new task force.
“In the meantime, both Tourism Revelstoke and the [c]hamber have excellent resources to support safe business practices and eventual recovery, all of which is linked to the [c]ity’s website. I would also draw your attention to the [B.C. Economic Development Association] website which provides a good overview of resources and best practices which we will draw from as we craft a made-in-Revelstoke response,” Bron said. “I am certain that our collaborative efforts towards reopening and recovery will promote a future for our community that is Safe, Strong and Resilient.”
Robyn Goldsmith, Media Coordinator, Tourism Revelstoke
The tourism sector has been one of the hardest hit by the pandemic, with airline reductions, border closures, travel restrictions, venue closures and distancing rules combining to slow activity to a trickle. Tourism Revelstoke has encouraged visitors to stay away during the crisis, part of a BC-wide tourism campaign discouraging travel.
It’s hoped the May 6 update will provide direction on B.C. plans for the tourism sector.
Tourism Revelstoke spokesperson Robyn Goldsmith, Media Coordinator, said the organization had coordinated its COVID-19 response in many ways, including weekly tourism stakeholders calls, where reopening projection scenarios were discussed.
“On one call, we had guest speakers from RMR, Glacier House, and the [Revelstoke] Golf Club discuss the steps they are taking to reopen and to ensure safety measures are in place,” Goldsmith said in an email.
She said Tourism Revelstoke (TR) has coordinated a centralized digital resource to share ideas around safety precautions, opening steps, and information from various industry associations.
Goldsmith said TR is, “Encouraging business to use the next phase of the pandemic as a time to connect with locals and gain community support prior to welcoming tourists.”
TR has been helping members create virtual experiences and building virtual experiences and connecting to customers online. They’ve also been seeking feedback from residents about tourism in the community
What are your thoughts?
Retail and other activity has slowed to a trickle in the past six weeks, except for essential service operations, but there has definitely been an uptick in the past couple of weeks as more retailers offer partial services. How is Revelstoke doing so far? Are you satisfied with what you’ve seen on the ground? What does Revelstoke need to do to ensure that when it comes, renewed economic activity is done safely?
What did you think of this story?
Your feedback after we publish a story helps ensure we're always improving our reporting to better serve you
