May 2020

SUPPORT NET
As the foodservice industry faces financial challenges due
to the current crisis, members of the restaurant industry
in major cities, such as Vancouver and Montreal, have
come together to launch relief funds to provide support
for industry workers impacted by COVID-19. The Vancouver
Food & Beverage Community (VFBC) Relief Fund has
distributed funds of between $25 and $150 to workers
STANDING UNITED
Sysco Canada launched Foodies Unite, an initiative to help heal
the food industry in Canada. The program leverages the company’s
supply chain to help its restaurant customers and grocery
retailers adapt to the current and evolving environment created
by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as provide meals to those in
need. Sysco developed a wide range of online tools and resources,
including industry insights, how to develop a takeout/delivery
platform and social-media best practices. The company also
partnered with food-relief organizations to donate 250,000 meals
through the Food Rescue program.
DIGITAL
DONATION
MaxTV Media, a provider of condo-based digital
notice boards, is offering restaurant operators
access to free advertising on its network of 1,700
digital screens. The company is giving restaurants
and bars in Ontario free advertising to target local
residents with special offers and incentives to
mitigate business losses during the pandemic.
“COVID-19 is an unexpected, worst-case scenario
for Ontario businesses,” says Erik Kehat, CEO of
MaxTV Media. “Spending on new marketing campaigns
is simply not an option for these businesses
right now. We wanted to step up and help them
reach local customers in a new way to keep sales
coming in.”
in need of short-term assistance for use toward basic
necessities, such as groceries, bills, rent, prescriptions,
et cetera. The Montreal Restaurant Workers Relief Fund
(MRWRF) is providing funds of $50 to $150 to applicants
based on their needs. It received 349 applications from
restaurant workers in less than 24 hours and subsequently
raised the $41,500 needed for these applicants.
FEEDING
THE
FRONTLINE
The Windsor Arms Hotel and Cerise
Fine Catering have partnered to
deliver free meals to first responders at
Michael Garron Hospital in Toronto,
as well as prepared snacks to the
University Health Network, to support
healthcare professionals on the
frontline battling the COVID-19 crisis.
The partnership first offered this support
on April 2, delivering 500 lunches
and 1,000 snacks and has continued
the effort on a weekly basis. “After
receiving an overwhelming amount of
support from community members
and healthcare professionals, we’re
giving back in a small way by serving
up something fresh in the kitchen,”
says George Friedmann, president of
Windsor Arms Hotel.
SAFEGUARDING
SUMMER JOBS
In April, the federal government announced temporary changes
to the Canada Summer Jobs program. The changes aim to help
small-businesses hire and keep the workers they need so they can
continue to deliver essential services during the COVID-19 crisis.
These changes include an increase to the wage subsidy, so privateand
public-sector employers can also receive up to 100 per cent
of the provincial or territorial minimum hourly wage for each
employee (up from 50 per cent in previous years). The updated
program has also been extended to Feb. 28, 2021; allows employers to
adapt their projects and job activities to support essential services;
and allows employers to hire staff on a part-time basis. The call
for applications for the 2020 season closed in February, however,
the federal government will work to identify organizations that
provide essential services in the community and could provide
youth jobs but did not apply for the Canada Summer Jobs
program in 2020.
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6 FOODSERVICE AND HOSPITALITY MAY 2020 FOODSERVICEANDHOSPITALITY.COM