Dear Chamber Members and Business Community,

These are challenging times for our world. Our federal, provincial and municipal governments have taken broad sweeping measures to protect us, as Canadians and Albertans, from the COVID-19 virus. While these measures are aimed at protecting our health from this global pandemic, they continue to have a devastating effect on our business community. As such, we want to ensure that you have all the necessary information available to you and to help minimize the impact this pandemic has locally on our community.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared, our Board of Directors and staff have been working diligently to provide resources and support to the business community. Following is an update of our activities:

• Creation of a COVID-19 resource page on our website, which is updated daily
• Creation of a Status of Local Business list indicating which businesses are open, open with restrictions or closed; updated regularly
• Creation of a list of local businesses providing delivery to your doorstep; updated regularly
• Weekly newsletter with updates from all levels of government, free webinars and other resources
• Feel Good Friday newsletter with uplifting stories of how our community is pulling together
• Partnership with the Town of Drumheller to establish the Economic Recovery Task Force to help businesses navigate government financial aid programs
• DDCC office, World’s Largest Dinosaur and Visitor Information Centre: closed to the public as of March 20 until further notice; staff continue to be available by email and telephone, Monday to Friday from 8:30am-4:30pm
• DDCC Board room rentals: all bookings have been cancelled as of March 20 until further notice
• DDCC Board meetings: will continue monthly, as scheduled via teleconference
• Committee meetings: cancelled until further notice, unless need arises; then teleconference meetings will be held
• AGM and Election of Board of Directors: postponed; notice of AGM will be provided at least 21 days in advance of meeting as per our bylaws
• Spring Expo Tradeshow: cancelled for April 24 & 25; new date for 2020 still being evaluated; current exhibitors have the option to be refunded for April date or leave payment with DDCC until a decision on a 2020 event is reached
• Lunch & Learns: program paused until further notice
• Celebration of Excellence: postponed until fall 2020

Please be assured that the DDCC Board of Directors and staff value your membership and all the goods and services that you provide to our community. We also understand the stress that our business community is going through. Please reach out to us via email (chamberinfo@drumhellerchamber.com) or telephone (403-823-8100) to let us know how you are being impacted and what support you require going forward. This information will help us to advocate and communicate on behalf of the business community to all levels of government, as well as other stakeholders and partners.

Sincerely,

Your Drumheller & District Chamber of Commerce Team