Tourism sector ready to bounce back after COVID

By Mark Ribble

LEAMINGTON — Last week, the Leamington Small Business Update was held virtually, outlining economic development, tourism and arts and culture in the municipality.

Hosted by the Municipality of Leamington, the panel included representatives from Tourism Windsor-Essex Pelee Island, The Bank Theatre, Invest Windsor-Essex, Leamington District Chamber of Commerce, the Municipality of Leamington, and the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Centre.

Leamington Mayor Hilda MacDonald started the meeting off by welcoming all of the delegates.

“We appreciate what small business has gone through in this past year,” she said. “We certainly have been through tough times and we think that will get better.”

Sabrina Demarco, Executive Director of the Small Business and Entrepreneurial Centre, outlined the programs and services produced by her organization to help businesses.

“We offer various programs, including helping with start-up or helping businesses re-open safely,” she said.

Demarco highlighted some of the programs available to small businesses, such as the Ontario Tourism and Travel Small Business Support Grant, which allows up to $20,000 and is available until June 25.

Other programs available to small tourism and hospitality business are the Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program (HASCAP), the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) and the Canada Wage Subsidy Program, which have all been extended and expire at the end of June.

WENDY PARSONS

Wendy Parsons, Manager of the Leamington District Chamber of Commerce, said that many local restaurants and hospitality businesses have taken advantage of such programs and have managed to stay afloat in this uncertain world.

“Those that have embraced change have come out so much better,” she said. “Our restaurants have changed menus, changed to curbside and some continue to thrive.” Diane Malenfant, General Manager of Community Futures Essex County, also offered various programs and connections to small rural businesses throughout the county.

“Seventy per cent of our clients are from main street business and two-thirds of those are from Leamington, Kingsville and Pelee Island,” she said.

Community Futures provides guidance, capital and programs that rural businesses need to succeed.

Gordon Orr, CEO of Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island (TWEPI), says his organization has been working hard behind the scenes in preparation for the ‘new normal.’

“The tourism and hospitality industries were hit first and hit the hardest,” he said. We’re looking for better days ahead and have a plan for those days ahead.”

TWEPI has developed various programs and initiatives to help the sector out of the pandemic when the time comes.

Over at The Bank Theatre, President Corey Robertson hopes that their preparation and experiences during the pandemic will help them hit the ground running when the time comes.

They’ve moved online with a lot of their old and new performance content and have ‘pivoted’ in many aspects along the way, including their recent 12 Days of Christmas and Spring Fling concert series.

Robertson says in true show business fashion, “the show must go on.”

They’ve got a future partnership going with the Leamington Arts Centre, which will allow patrons to purchase an Arts Pass that covers both venues.

They are also getting ready to launch their Spirit Walks at Point Pelee National Park.

“We have to get up and running as soon as possible,” said Robertson. “Not just to get our performances back, but to help this town get back on its feet.”

Leamington CAO Peter Neufeld summed it up best when he closed with words of hope and optimism.

“We have great hope,” he said. “Arts and culture events create a common experience for those in attendance. They also create a sense of community.”