COVID-19 presents significant challenges for BC Tech members, we’re here to help
Our surveys of BC’s tech companies tell us:
80% of BC tech companies have seen a negative revenue/order impact with only 20% stable or increasing
50% of those seeing a negative revenue/order impact are down by 30% or more
90% of BC tech companies have implemented measures to cut costs to extend the runway of existing capital
50% of tech companies are not hiring – but – positively 50% are still hiring at this time
60% of tech companies have pivoted their business as a consequence of COVID, many to provide pro bono services and support to others, some to launch new products and services on their platform
We’ve moved our programs, C-Councils and other member services to a virtual model and more details are available at the links below. Please keep communication coming in to our team members or to hello@wearebctech.com. Your feedback on challenges and ideas are welcome.
BC Tech will be staying connected to our community through these challenging times through this webpage of COVID-19 resources, our weekly COVID-19 email update and a weekly 30 min COVID-19 Q&A call with our CEO Jill Tipping (register above). All the links we have shared in our weekly COVID-19 emails are collated at the links below.
Public Health
- Government of Canada – Public Health Agency of Canada
- Government of British Columbia – British Columbia Ministry of Health
Economic Data
- Canada Emergency Response Benefit statistics – 17 July
- Canadian Economic Dashboard and COVID-19 – 17 July
- Bank of Canada looks to long term, aiding recovery with rate near zero for two years – or longer – 15 July
- Canada Took A Small Hit To Inflation During Pandemic: StatCan – 13 July
- Canada’s economic recovery will be stronger in short term, poll suggests – 09 July
- Are we doing enough to support business tech adoption amidst COVID-19 – 25 June
- B.C. abandons balanced budget law for three years in wake of pandemic – 24 June
- How technology can underpin Canada’s post pandemic economy – 24 June
- Business Destruction and COVID-19 – 16 June
- A big jump in Canadian confidence this week bodes well for the recovery – 22 June
- Major Canadian real estate markets that reopened see inventory Explode higher – 22 June
- Consumer Confidence Rises in Canada for 7th Straight Week – 15 June
- Canadian consumer debt loads drop for the first time in a decade – 16 June
- StatsCan Retail Commodity Survey, March 2020 – 12 June
- Consumer Sentiment Ticks Up for a 6th Straight Week in Canada – 08 June
- Bank of Canada maintains target for the overnight rate, scales back some market operations as financial conditions improve – 03 June
- Canadian dollar notches three-month high as investors bet on global recovery – 02 June
- No cash, please — Will COVID-19 accelerate the demise of paper money?
- Canada Outlook April 2020 Adapting to a volatile environment
- Consumer confidence improving in Canada– 25 May
- Bank of Canada’s says inflation could return to 2% target more slowly – 25 May
- Poloz says risks to Canada’s economic outlook ‘overblown’ – 21 May
- RBC Consumer spending tracker – 19 May
- Statcan international transactions in securities – 15 May
- BC’s Emerging Economy Task Force report released – 11 May
- BC Innovation Commissioner report and recommendations – 11 May
- Canadian Venture Capital Investment – 04 May
- Canadian Survey on Business Conditions: Impact of COVID-19 on businesses in Canada – 29 April
- U.S. Economy Shrinks at 4.8% Pace, Signaling Start of Recession – 29 April
- Report: Startups could fuel the recovery of Canada’s economy – 28 April
- IMF projects 6.2% decline in Canada’s GDP in 2020
- National Bank of Canada – Monthly Economic Monitor April 2020
- Bank of Canada – Monetary Policy Report April 2020
Government Response
- Adapting the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy to Protect Jobs and Promote Growth – 17 July
- More support for Canadians through the Safe Restart Agreement – 16 July
- Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance CECRA – July Extension – 13 July
- Federal Government to extend 75% wage subsidy not December – 13 July
- Minister’s statement on June Labour Force Survey results – 10 July
- B.C. families get additional $450 with boosted climate action tax credit – 02 July
- Government Announces Extension of Rent Relief Program for Small Businesses– 30 June
- Government Provides Update on Sales Tax and Duty Payment Deferral – 29 June
- Applications open for expanded $40,000 CEBA small business loans – 26 June
- B.C. families get additional $450 with boosted climate action tax credit – 02 July
- Government Announces Extension of Rent Relief Program for Small Businesses– 30 June
- Government Provides Update on Sales Tax and Duty Payment Deferral – 29 June
- Applications open for expanded $40,000 CEBA small business loans – 26 June
- Mid-sized companies can now apply for BDC loans – 18 June
- Federal government commits $492 million in grants for virus, AI research – 17 June
- The Government of Canada invests $50 million to help Southern Ontario businesses adopt digital technologies to recover from the pandemic and emerge stronger – 11 June
- CERB payments to be extended for 2 more months – 16 June
- More small businesses can soon access the Canada Emergency Business Account – 15 June
- BC PNP Tech Pilot extended to June 2021 – 06 June
- IRAP says 97% of Innovation Assistance Program already committed – 09 June
- B.C. government to protect some small businesses from evictions – 01 June
- PM announces support to help communities create jobs and restart the economy – 01 June
- Minister Ng announces hotline to provide small businesses with financial planning advice – 25 May
- Government of Canada announces online tool to assist in accessing financial support – 22 May
- Eligibility criteria expansion for Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) – 19 May
- Western Economic Diversification launches Regional Relief and Recovery Fund – 13 May
- Prime Minister announces launch of Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF) – 11 May
- Federal government will extend 75% emergency wage subsidy beyond June – 08 May
- BDC to provide new support for medium-sized companies to help navigate COVID-19 as part of Government of Canada’s Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP) – 11 May
- Federal Government invests $175m in BC company AbCellera – 03 May
- Economic Development Minister Joly discusses federal support of Tech sector – 01 May
- CRA confirms SRED audits and claims will be fast tracked – 23 April
- Prime Minister announces partnerships with provinces and territories to deliver the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance for small businesses – 24 April
- Provincial funding to improve rural internet connectivity – 24 April
- BDC Co-Lending Program – 24 April
- PM Trudeau announces $9B in new COVID-19 funding for students – 22 April
- NRC IRAP Innovation Assistance Program– 22 April
- CRA releases CEWS calculator for businesses to determine their eligibility amount – 21 April
- Digital Technology Supercluster announces $60M COVID-19 Program
- Prime Minister announces new support to protect Canadian jobs – 17 April
- Prime Minister announces additional support for small businesses– 16 April
- Additional details on wage subsidy – 8 April
- Canada emergency wage subsidy – 3 April
- The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy – 01 April
- Details on the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit – 01 April
- Prime Minister announces partnerships with Canadian industry – 31 March
- Additional small business reliefs – 27 March
- Canada Emergency Response Benefit – 25 March
- EDC’s relief for exporters – 24 March
- BC’s COVID-19 Action Plan – 23 March
- Canada’s call to action to mobilize science – 23 March
- Canada’s call to action to manufacturers – 20 March
- Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan: Support for Canadians and Businesses – 18 March
- Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan
- Canada’s Small Business Financing Program
- CRA Guidance on Temporary Wage Subsidy
- Canada Business App
- Support for Small Businesses in BC
- Small Business Loans
- Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan: Support for Canadians and Businesses
Positive Community Stories
Traction Guest’s Grant Initiative Provides Visitor Management Software to Long-Term Care Facilities
- Is COVID-19 ready for RoboMop? – 21 July
- Gerri Sinclair Appointed New B.C. Innovation Commissioner – 20 July
- Working with industry during COVID-19: BCIT Computing students help non-profit organization improve operations efficiency – 15 July
- Vancouver’s Foodee makes first acquisition with $13m in new financing in hand – 14 July
- B.C.’s COVID-19 robots prep for deployment at hospitals, labs – 09 July
- B.C. startups navigate new realities of launching in pandemic – 08 July
- B.C. startup Thoughtexchange raises $10m as activity spikes amid pandemic– 29 June
- BC Cleantech Gets $6.7 Million In SDTC Funding – 23 June
- Bench rehires workers as sales rebound following shift to helping businesses with COVID relief – 22 June
- Innovate BC Awards $1.2 Million In Funding Through its Ignite Program – 17 June
- BENCH RE-HIRES WORKERS AS SALES REBOUND FOLLOWING SHIFT TO HELPING US BUSINESSES WITH COVID RELIEF
- Three B.C. tech firms make World Economic Forum’s top 100 list – 16 June
- Double Accolades For Trulioo From CNBC and World Economic Forum – 16 June
- Terramera Leads Collaborative Effort to Predict New COVID-19 Virus Strains – 11 June
- Supercluster Funds More COVID-19 Recovery Projects In B.C. – 04 June
- Betakit, Jobbio, and Talentminded team up to help unemployed Canadian tech workers bounce back – 04 June
- Five B.C. Companies That Have Adapted & Thrived During COVID-19 – 02 June
- Copperleaf Donates to COVID-19 Pandemic Response
- Life sciences see silver lining in dark COVID clouds – 03 June
- World’s first human tests of COVID-19 antibody treatment have Vancouver connection – 01 June
- Facebook Canada Announces Small Business Grant Program – 26 May
- Sales of Burnaby-made medical device surge amid COVID-19 pandemic – 26 May
- COVID-19 pandemic offers a chance to reset industries in need of a shakeup – 21 May
- UBC grads create app for small businesses struggling during COVID-19 – 15 May
- Post-pandemic workplace will be more tech-intensive– 15 May
- Uplifting BC Tech stories – 14 May
- Clevest offers automated worker location app access free for 6 months – 14 May
- B.C. startup offers ‘contactless screening’ as workplaces re-open – 13 May
- Canadian VCs launch initiative to provide one on one support to startups – 07 May
- Amazing ways Canadian startups are tackling the COVID-19 crisis – 06 May
- Shopify revenue exceeds forecasts – 06 May
- B.C.-led tool gets nod from IBM to help small businesses battle COVID-19 – 06 May
- Clearly donates 60,000 face shields and 1,000 safety glasses to Canadian healthcare workers – 05 May
- Ayogo Completes $7.5M Series B Financing – 29 April
- Shopify Capital launches in Canada to provide small business loans to merchants – 20 April
- Vancouver’s tech supercluster commits $60m to COVID-19 fight – 20 April
- Telus offers 10,000 free mobile devices to seniors, patients amid pandemic – 20 April
- NRC IRAP Innovation Assistance Program – 22 April
- The Future of Work: B.C.’s tech industry – interview with BC Tech CEO – 16 April
- KPU Instructors produce ‘ear savers’ for local hospital – 16 April
- Rocket Builders Releases ‘Ready to Rocket’ Lists to Profile BC Tech Companies with Highest Growth Potential in 2020 – 15 April
- Vancouver software company gets shout-out from premier, sees jump in job applications – 11 April
- Regulator fast-tracks 1QBits X-ray software to help fight COVID-19 – 10 April
- Find out more about the development, deployment and success of the COVID-19 Supply Hub – 09 April
- Telus Health enables 26,000 doctors to conduct virtual visits– 08 April
- STEMCELL Technologies Is an Essential Industry Partner for COVID-19 Research and Vaccine Development– 7 April
- Clearly to donate tens of thousands of face shields to Vancouver hospitals – 3 April
- COVID-19: Delta 3D printer manufacturer switches to making face shields for medical staff – 2 April
- BC Tech company Traction on Demand has developed an online Supply Hub to help the BC Government source critical supplies – 01 April
- B.C. startup launches app to help swamped health-care workers outside of work – 31 March
- Partnering Together to Help Save Lives: The Story Behind the COVID-19 Critical Care Resource Management Application – 30 March
- Rise Up Challenge for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank! Donate unused food budgets – 27 March
- Here’s how you can use your 3D printer to make face shields for hospital workers – 26 March
- March 2020: 5 B.C. tech stories that caught my eye – 26 March
- Clio Donates $1M To Help Keep Attorneys Serving Clients Through COVID-19 – 23 March
- Vancity, Vancouver Foundation, United Way Fund for front line non-profits dispersing emergency grants – 21 March
- World’s Fastest Supercomputer Identifies Chemicals That Could Stop Coronavirus From Spreading – 20 March
- 19 encouraging developments in the Coronavirus crisis – 19 March
- Abcellera & Eli Lilly partner to begin testing therapeutic within 4 months – 13 March
- Two Canadian teams of scientists isolate coronavirus to speed research effort 13 March
Resources for your Team
- BDO Covid-19 Resource Hub
- See What COVID-19 Safety Looks Like In Classrooms Around The World – 21 July
- How To Pivot And Prosper Through COVID-19 – 17 July
- Canadian Federation of Independent Business – Reconnecting Shoppers with Small Business
- Cisco to provide small businesses with COVID19 recovery kits through new contest – 14 July
- Moving Forward – Accessing Capital Post COVID-19
- Federal Government launches digital solution to connect Business Registries across Canada – 02 July
New business option empowers companies to give back – 30 June
Travel restrictions to Canada remain in place for July holidays – 30 June - New business option empowers companies to give back – 30 June
- Travel restrictions to Canada remain in place for July holidays – 30 June
- Organizations buying and selling personal protective equipment during COVID-19
- Province announces next steps to support renters, landlords – 19 June
- Support for child care continues during COVID-19 recovery – 16 June
- BC Summer Reading Club goes virtual – 14 June
- Tech sector reiterates calls to expand wage subsidy as Canadian government asks for feedback – 08 June
- Office rethink could retool Vancouver’s tech status – 29 May
- Prepare for a Behavioral Disaster Wave: Resilience If and When COVID-19 Returns – 25 May
- Filing 2019 taxes through the COVID-19 crisis
- Covid-19 Thought Leadership Content by Apply Digital
- Will our Tech Industry Return to the Office?
- BC CPA-COVID-19 Updates and Resources
- Business Resilience Services – 25 May
- Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) portal now open – 25 May
- COVID-19 & real estate:implications on the industry in Canada + the way forward
- Mitacs Business Strategy Internship
- Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) Resources
- American Society of Heating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) COVID-19 Resources
- Carbon60 Webinar – COVID-19 Lessons Learned: The New Normal
- Farris: COVID-19 Resource Centre
- Employee onboarding during a pandemic – 13 May
- BC Tech’s guide to slowly getting back to the office – 11 May
- BC’s restart Plan– 06 May
- Returning to safe operation – Worksafe BC – 06 May
- Return to work – Go Forward checklist -06 May
- Best Practices for Marketing During and After COVID-19 – 10 May
- Details on BC Hydro reliefs for commercial accounts
- Hiring Co-op Students During COVID-19
- COVID–19: CECRA for Small Businesses
- Fasken: Coronavirus Knowledge Center
- FaskenTech: COVID-19 Resources
- Predicting the Post-Pandemic Rebound – Covid-19 Economic Recovery Dashboard
- Many are asking which funds are actively investing – here, here and here are some good links – send us other and we will add it to our new webpage of capital resources.
- OMERS Ventures signals renewed commitment to Canadian startups with launch of US$750-million fund – 25 April
- Post COVID-19: Office Design & Market – thanks to Colin Scarlett for posting this
- BC Ministry of Education – More online options for students to support social, emotional well-being
- Customers Still Need You: Here’s How to Start Your Online Business Quickly
- COVID-19 Small Business Help Centre
- Online learning for kids– thanks to Allison Boulton for putting this together!
- Tips for working from home
- Post COVID-19: Office Design & Market – thanks to Colin Scarlett for posting this
- Canadian Mental Health Association: COVID-19 and mental health
- Canadian Business Resilience Network
- LinkedIn’s making its recruitment tools free to those fighting the coronavirus pandemic – 1 April
- Startup Survival Guide to COVID19 – 24 Mar
- How to keep your kids busy (and learning) while schools are closed – 23 March
- Comprehensive resources for working remotely – 20 March
Partner Links
- Scale AI, partners invest $29 Million into five artificial intelligence projects – 21 July
- Vision Critical Founder Turns To Mobile With Rival Technologies – 17 July
- BDC commits $160 Million to fund IP development in Canada – 16 July
- Hundreds of Youth Experience Robotics During Discovery Foundation Robot Week
- Reopening toolkit – Canadian Business Resilience Network
- Workplace reopening resources – Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
- From Surviving to Thriving: Why Canada must do more for its start-ups and scale-ups in crisis – 09 June
- Black Lives Matter: Anti-racism resources and organizations in Vancouver and Canada – 03 June
- Black organizations and fundraisers you can support in Vancouver and British Columbia – 02 June
- Digital Supercluster – Black Lives Matter
- Creative Destruction Lab officially kicks off COVID-19 recovery program – 29 May
- Digital Technology Supercluster Leverages Technology & Collaboration to Bolster
- Healthcare During COVID-19 – 26 May
- Canadian Tech Talent & Job List
- Deloitte’s Small Business Relief Tool
- Blakes- COVID-19: Your Resource Centre
- Vancouver Economic Commission Business Resources
- EY’s Business Continuity Plan
- Funding changes + options to help you hire a B.C. student during COVID-19
- DigiBC COVID19 Member Resources
- Futurpreneur Canada’s COVID-19 resources for small businesses
- BC/Vancouver VR/AR Ecosystem Report
- A number of Canadian companies and organizations want to ensure Canada’s recovery measures build a vision for a resilient recovery. Please visit www.resilientrecovery.ca for more information and to sign up.
- BDC COVID-19: Supports for Canadian Businesses
- B.C. Business COVID-19 Support Service
- Creative Destruction Lab launches COVID-19 Rapid Response Program – 08 April
- VIATEC’s COVID-19 Member Resources
- Slack Channel – Covid-19 Tech Group – Slack Channel
- BC Economic Development Association: COVID-19 Resources for BC Businesses
- Greater Vancouver Board of Trade COVID-19 Resources
- MaRs COVID-19 Collection of Resources
- Hockeystick database of active funders in Canada
- Next Generation Manufacturing Canada (NGen), will invest $50 million to support companies that will aid in the fight against COVID-19
- BDC COVID-19: Supports for Canadian Businesses
- B.C. Business COVID-19 Support Service
- STEMCELL-Tools for COVID-19 Research
Weekly Q&A Videos
Alex Freudigmann, Senior Vice President & Partner, Inventa
Sean Bacon, President, Dynamic Shift Consulting Inc