BC Chamber Network Launches Building Resilience to Thrive Program

Squamish, B.C. – Developed in partnership the University of Victoria’s Gustavson School of Business, the six-week program will help SMEs stay viable and adapt to compete in the future.
The Building Resilience to Thrive program, powered by the BC Chamber of Commerce network and UVIC’s Gustavson School of Business, has launched to businesses across the province. Offered as a COVID-19 recovery certificate, the six-week program, delivered by award-winning professors Dr. Mark Colgate and Prof. Brian Leacock, will be presented in three cohorts between November and March 2021. The program will offer relief to businesses, helping to mitigate the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic by teaching them how to adapt their business models, re-engage customers, and adjust workplace cultures.
“The Squamish Chamber is excited to part of the Business Reslience to Thrive program, which will help local businesses in their COVID-19 recovery efforts” says Louise Walker, Squamish Chamber Executive Director. “The program brings a valuable opportunity for local businesses to access the knowledge and expertise of leading experts from UVIC’s Gustavson School of Business.”

The Building Resilience to Thrive program, supported by Western Economic Diversification Canada, will focus on the three key themes of Strive, Build, and Create. The curriculum will help SMEs be the best they can be, build a strong team, and create value with their customers. Weekly seminars will be supplemented by facilitated Resiliency Roundtables to bring local SMEs together in smaller groups online and offline to anchor and support the curriculum.
“We are excited to share the leadership knowledge and tools as well as build the emotional resilience to overcome the current unprecedented economic and socio-demographic challenges,” says Dr. Mark Colgate, Professor of Service Excellence at UVic’s Gustavson School of Business.
The six-week program will be offered to individuals at a minimal registration fee of $35.00 per participant for Chamber members and $70.00 per participant for non-members, to ensure cost isn’t a barrier during the pandemic. To continue to support the advancement and growth of SMEs in the province, registration revenue specific to each region will be attributed back to the regional Chamber for serving SMEs in BC.
The program was born out of a recent survey conducted by the BC Chamber of Commerce and its C19 Task Force of local Chambers. The Chamber Check-in Survey identified that 59 percent of Chambers in the network ranked a grant related function or service focused on COVID-19 recovery as the best help their organization could receive to stay viable through 2020. Pulling from this insight, the BC Chamber of Commerce, in consultation with the C19 Task Force, submitted a $500,000 proposal to Western Economic Diversification Canada. After a successful submission, the Building Resilience to Thrive program was established.

The program will be offered on the following dates:
• ROUND ONE: November 3rd to December 8th
• ROUND TWO: January 12th to February 16th
• ROUND THREE: February 24th to March 31st

To learn more about the Building Resilience to Thrive program visit bcchamber.org/events/building-resilience-to-thrive.
Squamish businesses should register at this link.