Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Adam Donnelly

ECONOMIC IMPACT

Even with government supports, COVID-19 pandemic a shock to the system for downtown Kamloops businesses

Apr 17, 2020 | 4:52 PM

KAMLOOPS — It was almost one month ago to the day that it became apparent to Emily Sedgwick that she wouldn’t be able to launch her new store, Crooked Crown, as planned.

“It was a little bit of a rough week as things started to progress,” Sedgwick says, outside of the Victoria Street shop she had been working to open. “It was pretty upsetting. We had already sunk money into the business. I had quit my job.”

Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sedgwick, like so many other business owners throughout the city, had to press pause and adjust to what many are calling “the new normal.”

“I think the impact is significant,” Dino Bernardo says. “Anyone who says they’re not significantly impacted by this, I’d love to sit down and talk to them. Feel how they’re weathering the storm.”

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Bernardo is president of the Downtown Kamloops board, an organization he says is doing everything it can to help its members through the pandemic.

“Carl and our team at the BIA have done a great job of keeping all the businesses up to date,” Bernardo says. “[They’re] sending out resources, and sending out information to everyone so they can get the help that they need to apply for grants and keep their businesses going.”

Earlier this week, the prime minister announced an expansion to the Canadian Emergency Business Account. The program provides government-guaranteed loans to small- and medium-sized businesses who require help who are struggling during the pandemic.

“Now, businesses who spent between $20,000 and $1.5 million in total payroll in 2019 will be eligible to receive a loan through the CEBA,” Justin Trudeau announced on Wednesday (Apr. 15).

Carl DeSantis, Downtown Kamloops Executive Director, isn’t a fan of the program. Instead of increasing the debt load for business owners, he’d rather see support for landlords to ease the financial burden.

“What we need to see is financial forgiveness to support not just the businesses and business leaders, but also the commercial property owners,” DeSantis suggests. “They’re the ones who rely on retail and service industries to pay the rent so they can pay their mortgages. We can’t forget about them.”

With no fixed date for resuming business as usual, entrepreneurs like Emily found new ways to stay afloat. Instead of opening her doors on April 16th as planned, she launched her website and plans to build the business online slowly.

“I think the biggest thing that’s getting me through right now is being grateful to have a business I can still launch online,” Sedgwick says. There are people who have businesses where there’s no pivot for them. I hope that when it gets back to normal, and people start shopping downtown and are comfortable going inside stores, they’re going to want to come downtown and support local more than ever.”