Who should stay Open, who can help, shop safety & Impact Survey

Essential Businesses

The provincial government has released a list businesses deemed essential. These include:

Grocery stores
Pharmacies
Restaurants (take-out only) and hotels
LCBO and Beer Stores
Taxis and other transportation providers
Veterinary services

Read the full list of essential businesses here

The mandatory closure of all non-essential workplaces in order to contain COVID-19 in Ontario will come into effect Tuesday, March 24 at 11:59 p.m. and will be in effect for 14 days with the possibility of extending this order as the situation evolves.

IMPACT SURVEY

Please help us, along with advocates assess the impact on our BIA community - Complete this quick survey!

Storefront Safety - scroll down for more Safety measures

We encourage you to put up extra signage within your windows communicating "There is no cash left on premise / active alarm system on premise / video surveillance on premise". Additionally, please consider signing up for the Night Time Directory with the police. It essentially creates and a call tree should anything unfortunate happen to the premise and authorized the police to call the contacts. 11 Division / 14 Division

I need help getting my Business Online

Lorenzo from the City of Toronto's Digital Mainstreet is now assigned to help Parkdale Businesses troubleshoot any online issues they are having or want to explore. This is FREE. If you have any questions about Digital Main Street or would like to chat further – please don’t hesitate to reach out!

Lorenzo can be reached at lorenzo@digitalmainstreet.ca or appointments can be booked by your businesses directly through a calendar link found here

Retail Check List

A Retail Check list has been created by the Retail Council of Canada.

Employment Insurance for Entrepreneurs Workshop

Workshop @ 2:00pm Wednesday March 25, 2020 - Register Here

The process to apply for Employment Insurance can be tedious especially if you have never done it before. The Government has announced that self employed business owners will be able to access $900 biweekly for 15 weeks. This is stage 1 and it may be extended and the amount could be increased. Brought to you by the Afro-Caribbean Business Network.

Mutual Aid/Caremongering

Parkdale People’s Economy has launched mutual aid networks in Parkdale to build strong connections with neighbours during the outbreak of COVID-19.
Windermere United Church has started a neighbourhood support group for residents in Parkdale—High Park.
FoodShare Toronto and Greenest City are teaming up to ensure that community members facing food insecurity have access to fresh food delivered to your door!
UHN Open Lab has a living document with a list of volunteer, donation and job postings for folks who want to support those impacted by COVID-19.

A list of known scams related to COVID-19, from Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre

— Cleaning or heating companies offering duct cleaning services or filters to protect from COVID-19 offering "special" air filters.

— Local and provincial hydro/electrical power companies threatening to disconnect power for non-payment.

— Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the World Health Organization (WHO) offering fake lists for sale of COVID-19 infected people in your neighbourhood

— Public Health Agency of Canada giving false results saying you have been tested positive for COVID-19 tricking you into confirming your health card and credit card numbers for a prescription

— Red Cross and other known charities offering free medical products (e.g. masks) for a donation.

— Government departments sending out coronavirus-themed phishing emails tricking you into opening malicious attachments tricking you to reveal sensitive personal and financial details

— Financial advisers pressuring people to invest in hot new stocks related to the disease offering financial aid and/or loans to help you get through the shut downs.

— Door-to-door sales people selling household decontamination services.

— Private companies offering fake COVID-19 tests for sale.

Additional Storefront Safety Measures & Crime Prevention Tips

Please take a moment and assess the following at your place of business.

Your cash

Keep as little cash around as possible.
Make bank deposits frequently, but, irregularly so as not to establish a discernible pattern.
Securely anchor your safe in a highly visible, well-lit location.
Empty your cash drawers and leave them open after hours. ( consider leaving the empty cash drawer near the front door, advertising that no money on hand )
Keep the premises visible from the street; avoid blocking the interior view with high window displays and/or advertisements on windows.
Make sure trees and shrubs around entranceways are trimmed.
Don't leave ladders or tools lying around that a burglar could use to help him break in.

Doors and windows

Use deadbolt locks on all exterior doors. Those with glass should have double cylinder deadbolts.
Make sure you check all doors and windows each day, before closing.
Develop a system of key security. Make sure all keys issued are signed for and turned in when an employee leaves the company. You may even want to change locks and combinations.
Do not label or identify keys with what they are used for. If necessary, use a coding system.
If you have doors with outside hinges, use non-removable hinge pins. Install panel doors lined with metal to resist drilling.
Doors and windows on the sides and rear of a building are often inviting to the burglar because they offer concealment.
Steel reinforcing bars on doors and gratings or bars on windows offer good security. ( Check with Toronto Fire & bylaw regarding bylaws or codes that may restrict this practice)
Every exterior opening offers a potential point of entry. Do not overlook security at places like fire escapes, skylights, roof openings, air ducts, doorway transoms, loading docks, sidewalk and basement openings.
Before you leave, check all potential hiding places, like bathrooms, closets and storage areas. The last thing you want to do is to lock a burglar inside.

Alarm System

Install a good alarm system and have it checked regularly.
Make sure it is wired to go off at all potential points of entry, including doors, windows, roof openings, loading docks and vents.

Surveillance CCTV System

Protect your business with a quality CCTV system
Ensure that the storage drive is recording and accessible to police when required
Post signs advising that the area is under video surveillance
Place height markers at the main entrance so employees can use them to gauge the height of a robber as he/she leaves the business on video
Install CCTV cameras that offer nighttime surveillance
Install motion-sensor lights around the exterior of the building

Reminder !

Attend your business periodically to assess if everything is in order
Post notice on front door stating “No Cash or Goods on Hand
Remove valuable items from the front of the store such as electronics, alcohol, IPAD, expensive hair care products, point of sale electronics

Officers will continue patrolling the division, but we need your assistance with a few simple preventative measures.

Crime Prevention offices will continue emailing our BIA associations various crime prevention material & posting information on our social media channels. Please follow our social media accounts and ensure that any new business locations that may not have our information do so. Please follow and retweet our information.

Twitter: @tps11div / Instagram: @tps11div

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tps11div/

11 Division Email: 11division@torontopolice.on.ca

14 Division Crime Prevention Officer: Constable Gordon Reid, 416-808-1427

Additional Resources

Business Development Bank of Canada
Support for Entrepreneurs Impacted by Coronavirus
Business Continuity Plan and Templates for Entrepreneurs

Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
List of Known COVID-19 Scams

Canadian Chamber of Commerce
Pandemic Preparedness for Business

Destination Development Association
Dealing With the Coronavirus Slide Deck

Dover Rocks Box
Dover Rocks Box

Employment Insurance and Labour and Occupational Health and Safety
Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) – Employment and Social Development Canada

Export Development Canada
EDC Stands Ready to Support Canadian Exporters Impacted by COVID-19
Coronavirus (COVID-19): Managing the impact on global supply chains

Facebook for Business
Facebook Small Business Grants Program

Government of Canada
COVID-19 Update Page
Resources for Business
Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan
Helping Canadians With the Economic Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Calling All Suppliers - Help Canada combat Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
ROE Guidelines for Issuing EI
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) – Benefits and services

Heritage Canada
COVID-19 Main Street Resources
COVID19 CRISIS MAIN STREET CHECKLIST