Is There A Healthcare Staffing Crisis?

There have been several stories recently about Canadians waiting a long time for an ambulance in BC.

Just recently, one story detailed how an individual with a broken hip had to reportedly wait 7 hours for an ambulance.

Another story details a woman who reportedly suffered a stroke and who waited over an hour for an ambulance.

This is a problem that might not be facing Canadians alone as there have been other reports of concerns over ambulance wait times elsewhere, such as in the UK recently.

Some Canadian villages have launched surveys to get an idea from the public about how bad the problem might be, what sort of wait times are people facing in Canada for an ambulance? In some regions it might be longer than others.

Recent reports on the situation in BC have suggested that an overload of calls to emergency services resulted in long wait times for ambulance services. There is also concern that perhaps a paramedic shortage might cause an issue with those wait times too for an ambulance in BC.

There have been multiple stories about long waits and it is concerning to know that it can possibly take many hours in an emergency situation for help to finally be able to arrive.

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Be Prepared To Wait

We’ve heard about reports of there being issues in different regions around the province and across the country for staffing in the healthcare industry. It isn’t only ambulance services that might be suffering under that pressure, struggling to fill those positions to meet the overwhelming demand.

Mayors have also now reportedly been speaking up on the issue and some seem skeptical that no new solutions might be coming around to solve this problem.

There does seem to be more ongoing hiring however in the industry, yet still many have raised the question online in wondering why many who were let go over the last 2 years can’t be given their jobs back to fill that void.

We’ve also seen reports in Canada for some time now that ambulances might be sitting empty in BC because of those staffing shortages. Given the difficulty in hiring enough people they might need to think about paying more for the position if they are having a difficult time attracting enough interest.

Fundraiser Launched For Clean Drinking Water in Canadian Indigenous Communities

There has been an issue with drinking water in Indigenous communities for years. And this issue of clean drinking water in Canada is one that has impacted dozens of communities who lacked clean, safe, and reliable drinking water.

Trudeau has previously suggested that the situation had gone too far with the more than 100 different water boiling advisories that had been in place several years ago but still he is behind on that goal and it has been years without this issue being fully resolved yet.

Other political candidates have criticized Trudeau on those broken promises over drinking water conditions in various indigenous communities, asking why more hasn’t been done about it?

Still, there are communities that lack safe, reliable, and clean drinking water and for a country like Canada some say it’s unacceptable and has been going on for too long.

People Donating to Clean Water in Canada

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Just recently a GoFundMe was started to raise funds for the Freedom Convoy making its way across Canada and it didn’t take long for some to start wondering why not also raise funds for another problem, like drinking water around Canadian indigenous communities.

Over 3,000 donations to the fundraiser have been collected in less than a week, with thousands of dollars raised so far for clean drinking water in Canada.

Canadians are raising funds for clean drinking water for those living in indigenous communities in the country who lack reliable access.

They were able to raise over $700k for the cause.

The funds raised were intended to be donated to Water First which is an organization dedicated to this cause of supporting clean drinking water initiatives in Canada for indigenous communities with education, training, and more.

Canadians For Clean Water GoFundMe

No individual should be struggling for reliable, clean, and safe drinking water, and for too long many within those Indigenous communities in Canada have had to put up with it.

This initiative is just one small way that Canadians are listening now and trying to help directly to address the clean water issue.

This RV Park Is Offering Free Camping For Lytton Wildfire Evacuees

There are more than 1,000 people who have been forced from their homes in Lytton, B.C. after the wildfire destroyed more than 90% of the town. Donations are currently being accepted and makeshift evacuation centers have been established, and now there is also an RV park near Chilliwack that is offering free camping to those impacted by the wildfire.

• Bridal Falls Road

The people who have had to quickly evacuate from Lytton have been left with nothing. Donations are being accepted for those who have been impacted, including everything from cash and gift certificates, to tablets, phones, baby products, personal hygiene items, and more.

In a post to Facebook the Popkum Motor Park noted that they are opening their doors to those who have been impacted in Lytton. In that post they have said for anyone who might need a place to camp or stay, that they want to be the one to help in that regard and offer free camping at the RV park.

This is an opportunity for those who need help and shelter to be able to find a space for free camping and the Popkum Motor Park only asks for proof of a Lytton address. They’ve got water, space for tents and sleeping, outhouses, all that they ask is those who are in need show up.

For more information on that offer for those in need of a place to stay they are asked to please email ride@popkummotorpark.com or call 778.255.7433

How To Donate To Victims Of B.C. Wildfires

The Kelowna Salvation Army Church has been turned recently into a makeshift evacuation center for displaced residents from Lytton, B.C. After a recent wildfire burned roughly 90% of the town to the ground there are over 1,000 residents who have been displaced from their homes.

The Kelowna Salvation Army Church in Lytton became the evacuation center quickly for those who needed help, thanks to efforts from the ESS. They are able to receive essentials like hotel rooms and more for those who are in desperate need of help right now.

Those who were forced to evacuate within seconds didn’t have time to even think about what they might want to pack or bring with them. Some only had time to gather themselves, their pets, and get out. Now they have lost everything. This comes after a pandemic that had its own struggles that many of these people also had to endure. And now they’re struggling again but there is a strong community showing of support that is now coming in to meet that need.

Donate To Victims Of Lytton Wildfire

For anyone that has been separated from family members as a result of the ongoing fires in British Columbia, or if you are looking for an individual that might have been displaced or impacted then you can call the family reunification line at 1-800-863-6582.

This family reunification line for information is a service that is available from 8 am to 8 pm PT, 7 days a week.

DONATE TO RELIEF EFFORTS FOR B.C. WILDFIRES

By going to the Red Cross you can donate to the relief efforts that are ongoing and dealing with wildfires around the province right now. Those funds are going to go toward not only immediate efforts but also for ongoing relief efforts as well as long term recovery for impacted regions around British Columbia.

Monetary donations are being accepted but physical goods are also needed for Lytton Wildfire relief efforts and those displaced B.C. victims from the wildfires.

Where to send donations for Lytton victims of wildfires: GoFundMe being organized by Tuckkwiowhum Village.

There are still items that are needed for those who have been displaced and who need help at this time. Donations can be sent to a number of organizations that are now helping with those Lytton wildfire relief efforts.

DONATION ITEMS NEEDED:

• tablets and laptops
• new or lightly used clean coolers
• gift certificates for gas, food, pharmacies etc
• Camping chairs
• cardboard boxes for transport
• tents
• sleeping bags
• batteries
• cameras
• computers
• new baby items like diapers, bottles, or wipes
• personal electronics such as phones
• personal hygiene items

Donation Centers

Tourism Abbotsford/Tradex
Tradex, 1190 Cornell Street, Abbotsford
July 3 – 5, 10-am – 5pm

Tourism Langley
Mobile Donation Centre located at 20699 42 Avenue, Langley
July 3 – 4, 10am – 4pm

Crazy Indian Brotherhood – Now accepting donations of items for victims except furniture and appliances.
Mobile Donation Centre 45585 Luckakuck Way, Chilliwack (Parking lot of Cottonwood Mall),
July 3 – 7, Open daily

Wildfire evacuees are also now being urged to register at an emergency social services center, or to register with the province’s online portal, as soon as they can.

Aside from those donation centers for B.C. wildfire victims listed above you can also find other locations to drop off gift cards or money for victims as well.

FOR CASH AND GIFT CARD ONLY DONATION CENTERS IN B.C.

Tourism Chilliwack
Visitor Centre, 44150 Luckakuck Way, Chilliwack
July 3 – 4, 8:30am – 4:30pm

Agassiz-Harrison Museum
7011 Pioneer Avenue, Agassiz
July 3 – 8, 10am – 4pm

Tourism Harrison
Harrison Visitor Centre, 499 Hot Springs Road, Harrison Hot Springs
July 3 – 5, 9:30am – 5pm

Tourism Hope, Cascades & Canyons
Visitor Centre, 919 Water Avenue, Hope
July 3 – 8, 10am – 5pm

Tourism Langley
Office, 220-5385 216th Street, Langley
July 5, 9am – 5pm

Tourism Mission
Visitor Centre, 34033 Lougheed Highway, Mission
July 5 – 9, 8am – 4:30pm

Top 10 Local Gardens in Vancouver to Visit This Summer

Looking for a beautiful place in Vancouver to visit this summer? There are many parks and gardens to find in B.C. that you can explore when the weather is nice out. There are thousands of different plants and flowers to find in gardens around Metro Vancouver.

There are some popular gardens for tourists and locals that are going to cost money to visit, then there are others that are free and easily accessible.

Some of the most popular ones are places like Queen Elizabeth Park, VanDusen Gardens, and the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden etc, but you can find dozens of other garden spaces right in Vancouver, Burnaby, and other areas.

You do not have to go far in order to see a beautiful garden space. You might see some hummingbirds while you’re there, butterflies, bees, and other creatures.

It’s a great way to spend a beautiful day either by yourself, a friend, or a loved one. Here is a list of suggestions below for garden spaces to browse around the Lower Mainland this summer.

10. Momiji Gardens

Momiji Gardens is one of the best parks in Vancouver to visit, located in Hastings Park near the PNE. You will find the Momiji Gardens located on the south side right near the Garden Auditorium building which isn’t that far off from Hastings Street. This is a Japanese styled garden in Vancouver that offers a unique and quiet space to enjoy.

This is a beautiful garden and easy to get to if you are in the Vancouver area.

9. GardenWorks

Does a garden center count? Because if you are looking to see beautiful plants and flowers then you can certainly see that at a GardenWorks center in one of the various locations around B.C. today.

You will find indoor plants here, tropical houseplants, hanging baskets, outdoor plants, and much more. This is one of the best garden centers to visit if you are looking to buy flowers, plant flowers, or just look at flowers and consider what you might plant or buy eventually.

This is a quality garden shop that offers just about anything you could need if you are looking to start your own garden or spruce one up that you already have going now. For the best in flowers I would start with GardenWorks, you always find something beautiful there.

8. Strathcona Community Garden

The Strathcona Community Garden is located on 759 Malkin Avenue in Vancouver and this park is a community operation that is a thing of beauty. The lush garden space here is growing a wide variety of plants and flowers.

Find dahlias, sunflowers, Pansies, strawberries growing, and more.

There are so many beautiful and colorful flowers to see here growing in the summer and many sunflowers in the garden too that have been growing in the past.

If you are looking for a good local park in Vancouver then Strathcona Community Garden is one to check out. They have a rainbow of flowers to see, many vegetables and plants are also growing there too.

7. Davie Village Community Garden

There are many great community garden spaces around Vancouver and the Davie Village Community Garden is another one. If you want to spend some time at the garden and then go for lunch then visit the Davie Village Community Garden.

This is a beautiful garden space that is located near some of the best restaurants and cafes in the city. The Davie Village Community Garden is right near Stepho’s Greek Taverna, Vera’s Burger Shack, Mumbai Local, and other good food options.

Great Food Nearby!

At the garden here you can find a beautiful garden space that has been carefully watched over and taken care of. A lot of love has gone into keeping up with this garden area.

The Davie Village Community Garden is one of the best garden spaces that is right in the downtown region, making it easy to visit on a day of sightseeing around town.

6. Nelson Park Community Garden

The Nelson Park Community Garden in Vancouver is located in Nelson Park and is a very relaxed space with a lot going on there. It’s a overflowing garden space in the summer that has just about everything, from plants and flowers to fruit and bird feeders.

When you are walking through Nelson Park in Vancouver then this is an easy one to come across. You will also see many people that are biking and walking nearby. If you are making a visit to Nelson Park anyways then you might as well see what the Nelson Park Community Garden has got to offer too.

If you are in the area this is a great little space to visit if you are looking to see what’s growing, a good garden variety. For some more exercise wand walking space you can continue on after your garden visit and walk around Nelson Park for some more adventure.

5. Queen Mary Community Garden

In North Vancouver is another community garden space to explore and that is the Queen Mary Community Garden. Here you can find a number of garden beds that are filled with a variety of plants and flowers.

One of the best things about this space here is that the Queen Mary Community Garden offers great views of downtown Vancouver.

The Queen Mary Community Garden in North Vancouver is a beautifully kept space, growing fruit, vegetables, flowers, and more. There are a few chairs and benches that offer you a place to sit as well.

Whether early morning or when the sun is setting this is a truly beautiful garden space to sit in and enjoy, to pay a visit to whenever the weather is good.

4. Cypress Community Garden

The Cypress Community Garden area is a very unique space with a bike path and walking path going right nearby. If you are looking for a beautiful area to walk and enjoy the nice weather then visit Cypress Community Garden. All down the street you can see a wide variety of beautiful flowers and plants that are being grown.

Cypress Community Garden is unique because it goes along the street rather than being one large square garden space like you might find in other community gardens.

There is meter parking on the street there and when it isn’t busy it’s easy to park and pay for a few minutes to go and explore the garden area. There is plenty of shade available too with so many trees nearby, it’s really a beautiful place to be during summer.

Burrard is just down the street so if you are also looking to do some shopping and grab a bite to eat after or before the garden visit, this is another great place to do it.

3. Cambie Park Community Garden

The Cambie Park Community Garden is located right next to Cambie Park in Vancouver and this offers a good space for families because there is a play area for kids there. The Langara Golf Course is close to the park, so is Winona Park, and other popular destinations.

The Cambie Park Community Garden is a clean garden space in Vancouver that offers various plants and flowers to enjoy. There are many beautiful trees surrounding the park and garden space too. There is also free parking nearby unlike other community garden spaces in Vancouver.

2. Stanley Park Rose Garden

If you are looking for bigger and better then you might want the Stanley Park Rose Garden. This is a beautiful space in Stanley Park that has some of the most stunning roses to find in the city.

The Stanley Park Rose Garden was founded back in 1920 and is still around today. Stanley Park is a beautiful waterfront park area that offers stunning views and the Stanley Park Rose Garden in particular is a special rose garden that shouldn’t be missed.

There are beautiful arrangements of flowers here, covered walkways to find, and this is truly one of the best gardens in the area. It is also one of the most Instagram-worthy places in Vancouver too. The Stanley Park Rose Garden is popular with locals and tourists, those who want to snap that perfect picture for social.

If you want great color, stunning roses, water views, and one of the best gardens around then go to this local favorite the Stanley Park Rose Garden.

1. Elisabeth Rogers Community Garden

The Elisabeth Rogers Community Garden is located on 110 W 7th ave and is another small local community garden space in the area. This garden space is literally overflowing with options for what to see first. Find both flowers and food growing here in the community garden space.

The Elisabeth Rogers Community Garden is right near Jonathan Rogers Park and so that makes this garden space another great place to visit if you want to get out and walk around, still seeing some gorgeous flowers too.

Great for Cherry Blossoms and Vancouver Views

At Jonathan Rogers Park you can get some great views of the city and mountains, it’s a beautiful area to come and spend the day when the weather is nicer. You can see the field quickly fill up with people looking to soak in some sun or have fun playing sports.

Jonathan Rogers Park is a more laid back park area than other parks around Vancouver that can easily get many more thousands of visitors to them. If you are looking for something that might be a little more chill, with great views, and the garden too, then Jonathan Rogers Park it is.

Civil Liberties Group Raises Concern for Travel Restrictions in BC

Travel restrictions have been announced recently for BC and it didn’t take long for a great deal of public backlash to ensue. Not only that, but the BC Civil Liberties Association has also raised concerns, over the negative impact that might result from an order that would restrict travel and impose random checkpoints to make sure people were only out for essential reasons.

There is concern that it might impact some groups disproportionately and give new powers to authorities that could be abused and mean a less safe community for those in BC.

The RCMP Union even expressed that they too had concerns and how those new restrictions might be implemented.

BC authorities said that they had been working with BC Parks and tourism agencies etc to try and navigate cancelling out of town guests and to prioritize British Columbians staying in campgrounds etc, but that has caused some confusion. One BC Parks Contractor has sought a clarification on the restrictions after having to cancel some campers over these new concerns.

Alberta reportedly respects the decision that BC might want to make in putting signs up and reducing travel with certain COVID-19 related travel restrictions this spring, but there is a lot of confusion about how they are going to be implemented. As well, there is confusion over what constitutes essential travel, and from students to seniors many in the public are looking for more answers on what they can or cannot do.

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Public Safety Minister Promises No Roadblocks Between Vancouver and Burnaby

The BC Public Safety Minister has promised that there will be no roadblocks coming between Vancouver and Burnaby, and we don’t have to worry about those random road checks to take place in such a manner. But what about other areas? We still might see some road blocks that look like drunk driving road blocks near popular tourist places like ferry terminals and other areas.

The safety minister has suggested that you won’t see these set up in places like Burnaby or Tri-Cities, but to expect them near ferry terminals.

There might be some periodic road blocks that you will see in other parts of BC, but no individual stops are reportedly planned. They are looking to use these actions to try and discourage leisure travel and non-essential travel at this time.

Not only have some suggested that it would be an logistical nightmare for authorities to enforce but it also further exposes front line workers to further risk and possible infection. A comprehensive list for those in BC of what is or isn’t essential travel is expected to be released soon.

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Authorities in BC are still encouraging people to look for their nearest parks and beaches, and to explore their own communities at this time and not travel too far. BC is still dealing with an increase in COVID-19 cases, as well as other areas of Canada, and they especially want to limit travel from one province to another, and have urged people to stay in their own health authority communities.

BC business owners are trying to navigate the increasing restrictions, on indoor dining and other measures, and it might mean that many more are going to go out of business.

It has been very difficult for them to try and survive through this pandemic and now they are dealing with even more difficulty with these new restrictions, understandably frustrated about when they might expect to see a new normal or things to get easier for them.

Many hotels and cafes are going to be struggling this spring and summer if these restrictions continue.

Small businesses all around the lower mainland that also cater to those businesses in the tourism industry are also feeling the pain. While feelings are mixed on whether to lock down or not, many seem ready and willing to sacrifice for a few more weeks if it means having a good summer.

More on those BC travel restrictions is expected to be announced soon, as well as more information about essential and non-essential travel. These travel restrictions are expected to continue for several weeks at least until May long weekend. From there we will have to see if they get extended as many other COVID-19 changes have been, or if we take a turn and go in another direction.

International Student Decline: Schools in BC Losing Millions

Last year during the pandemic we saw that many industries faced a crisis, international travel came to a stop and the border still hasn’t been opened since. Right now travel is still restricted for essential purposes only and people are highly encouraged to stay in their own communities.

During the pandemic the number of international students in Canada decreased and that meant that schools around BC were going to lose millions in revenue.

We have seen a decrease of tens of thousands of international students around Canada through the pandemic.

Thanks to COVID-19 overall there has been more than a 30 per cent drop in international students compared to the previous year. Foreign enrollment in school has fallen 17 per cent and that means that BC schools and schools in other provinces are going to be struggling without that money coming in from students.

There is millions of dollars that schools in Canada are going to be missing out on with those numbers down.

From issues with paying bills, worries over travel rules restrictions on international travel, there are a variety of reasons why there is a decline in international students in Canada.

Fewer International Students in Canada Means Less Revenue For Schools

With vaccination efforts expanding in the country and hopes of overcoming the 3rd wave in BC and COVID-19 crisis in other regions, there is hope that we might see a normal summer or fall this year. After that things could resume with the border opening up more for travel, and those COVID-19 restrictions being eased. It might not be very long then before international student numbers start to grow again.

They’ve seen the largest declines for international students in the smallest cities, between 20 to 30 per cent for international student enrollment dropping in Canada.This could have significant implications for BC and other regions, for the schools that will be facing a cash crunch as a result of that decline.

International student enrollment rates have declined at universities around the world through the pandemic.

To deal with the decline other cost-cutting actions might be taken, like looking at outsourcing services in schools, or making potential layoffs, among other actions.

Who knows how long they might face the decline or what will be implemented to deal with it. Though some officials have already insisted that we won’t see layoffs as a result of the decline in international students in Canada.

There is billions in revenue coming in yearly from international students and that is going to be missed as this funding helps fuel a variety of programs in BC and around the country. Universities in Canada are facing a drastic drop in international enrollment but that isn’t going to last forever.

The number of international students in BC right now is below pre-pandemic levels and some districts have lost out on millions in revenue because of that drop in international student enrollment.

This lack of funding is eventually going to leak into core programing and this is at the very least highlighting the vulnerability of the current model right now.

Many Canadians Prefer Remote Work But It Might Have These Unintended Consequences

Some Canadians who are working from home now are experiencing emotional burnout and they have been having a hard time with it. For others though they are thriving and truly enjoying the experience.

Working from home is not the best situation that will work for everyone but there are millions who would prefer it.

Recent surveys indicate that three quarters of workers want that option to be able to work from home.

They want to continue working from home even after the pandemic, and if their job requires them to come back then some are going to consider leaving for good.

That might mean making a career change altogether if they are going to look for something where they can work from home only, and aren’t interested in going into the office. It might become harder and harder for employers to attract people back into the office.

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Though some are struggling do not enjoy the experience, for others they are doing better and say they are just as productive working from home than they are when they are working at the office. And now employers also need to come up with efficient ways to keep an eye on their workers too, to be able to monitor that efficiency and make sure they are staying on task. Working from home doesn’t mean they won’t be observed or are going to be slacking any.

Working from home and its impact on Canadian inequality

One survey shows that the working from home transition might only widen inequality though, with certain industries seeing the benefits more than others. There might be more challenges for those like young parents or young workers, and those in certain job spaces too.

Remote work for example has been much more common with clerical workers and executives, professionals, and less likely for those who are working in transportation, trades, services, and sales.

3 out of 5 people say working from home is easier than they anticipated it was going to be. There are still many who are struggling with it though and who cannot wait to get back into the office like they used to. But for others they are enjoying the at home work transition so much that they want it to continue.

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Those who have been working from home report feeling burned out, they feel physical discomfort, they have difficulty striking that balance between work and home life, and for many companies this might be how they go about operations now.

If Canadian workers are going to have any say about it, many of them have made it clear that they want to work from home.

They might be enjoying the transition of working from home in Canada right now but they also need more balance between their home life and that work life.

Many who are working from home are struggling because they do not have good techniques yet that enable them to deal with that new life of working from home.

They are having an issue with trying to find a healthy balance between the two. Without a balance it can easily start to feel like you never leave work and you’re just working or worried about work all day long.

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Not only do Canadian workers want to work from home but they also expect that this is going to be the case at least for the foreseeable future.

While working from home completely isn’t what everyone wants, as some other surveys show that about 45 percent of Canadians might prefer a portion of the work week done at home and many also want flexible work hours rather than the solid 8 hours straight.

If they are working from home then why can’t they break up that time into chunks and still get the same work done? It’s going to be something that companies will need to sort out and adapt to as they make that transition which might be permanent for some and their workers.

The pandemic has made more Canadian workers realize they want that work flexibility, they want to decide when and how they work. For some that might mean not going back to their position if they are forced back into the office.

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For right now there are still many companies that are having their workers work from home in Canada.

This could change over the coming weeks and months, with more being asked to come in at least temporarily to the office for a few days during the work week and then doing the rest of the time at home. But so long as COVID-19 cases stay high and hospitals are overcrowded then they aren’t going to make that move.

It’s believed that as many as 40 percent of Canadian employees started working from home when the pandemic hit but that might change significantly as several Canadian employers don’t want to continue with that way of doing things. Then there are others who think their teams are more productive in this environment.

It isn’t clear what direction it might go, so we are surely to see a mix of both and not a solid majority trend of businesses adopting that work from home model. There are already some who have returned to their offices since the beginning of the pandemic and likely many more to come maybe this year.

More Shared Food Hub Kitchen Spaces Coming to B.C.

Another food hub kitchen space just opened in the Cariboo region, Sprout Kitchen Food Hub, that offers a shared kitchen operation. Located in Quesnel, B.C., the space allows small businesses to be able to rent certain storage facilities or food processing areas so that they can grow their business.

These collective kitchen spaces have also provided access to resources that can help those small businesses navigate the business process, connecting with others in the industry for example.

This new one has been funded by the provincial government, the city, and others, and joins with the province’s network of growing food hubs like this around the region. There are already various food hub spaces that you can access in Vancouver and other areas.

These food hub spaces in Vancouver and other regions act as a sort of incubator for those small businesses that might need help with finding the right space to work or learning more to try and grow their business.

Some small businesses cannot afford to spend that initial investment of thousands of dollars on getting a commercial kitchen space for example, and instead there is the cheaper option of renting a space from one of these sorts of food hubs. It’s a much more cost effective option for business owners in the region.

If you were to look into starting your own commercial kitchen operation in order to satisfy the requirements to sell certain food products in the regional market, that could cost tens of thousands of dollars. Not every small business can afford that, most of them can’t, they need another option.

These food hubs allow those businesses to rent a space instead, for $45/hour in some cases, and that is a much cheaper option for them.

These commissary kitchen spaces are a solution to the problem businesses have faced with being unable to meet those costly requirements for their business, in struggling to afford the right tools and kitchen space to get it off the ground or to grow bigger.

These kitchen spaces have not only provided a cheaper rental option but they also provide a space for networking and learning more about business in general, enabling people to access resources that could provide great value for their business.

You never know who you might meet or what you might learn, who you might be able to eventually network with by accessing these kitchen spaces. There are many reasons that these memberships are valuable and why these are growing around the province, gaining popularity with many small businesses.

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The food hubs around the province are helping small businesses and also local food producers too. From accessing different workshops and training, learning about different distribution networks too, and about local products in the region, these food hubs are providing a great benefit to their communities.

They can help businesses to be able to get the necessary tools and space required to scale up and get to that next level of business.

There are different food hub collaborative efforts to find that are already in different areas around the province. These collective kitchen spaces are offering things like convenient scheduling, office spaces, teaching areas, kitchen supplies, flexibility, a collaborative work environment, and more.

You can also book tours to explore them as well if you want to know more about what is offered and what the space looks like etc, a great way to know more about the process. There are several locations already in Vancouver if you are looking for commissary kitchens in BC.

The shared kitchen spaces in Vancouver could be said to be the future of food business, especially for small businesses. Aside from offering supplies and other services, there is also the potential to access things like pop up retail spaces for those who might be looking to test if they are ready to go retail or operate their own cafe or store front.

The shared kitchen spaces in Vancouver and other areas of BC are transforming this industry for businesses around the province.

This concept is one that is helping by saving those businesses a lot of money with these solutions, giving access to tools they otherwise wouldn’t have had without those valuable services and resources provided in this shared way.

Food processing and shared kitchen spaces like this are bringing new opportunities to people in the lower mainland and around B.C. Those who process local food and beverage products for example can now access shared kitchen spaces in B.C. through these food hubs.

This business concept is one that helps those businesses to further develop, gaining access to tools that can help them to succeed. We can expect this trend to continue to grow with many more of these shared kitchen spaces opening up around Vancouver and the B.C. region. Some of these operations, like Coho Collective, have been seeing booming business during the pandemic.

These shared food hub networks seem to be going along with the same growing trend of ghost kitchens or cloud kitchens that we have already seen gaining popularity in the U.S.

Those ghost kitchens give small food businesses a way to access a cost effective restaurant area where they can prep food and get it out via third party delivery apps.

Finding a Kitchen Space For Your Business

The shared kitchen space concept is a great idea that provides small businesses a chance to just rent what they are going to use, giving that cost effective start-up solution.

For those that are looking to scale too, they can access shared kitchen spaces rather than seeking to start-up their own very costly production facility that requires all of the necessary equipment.

There is so much more that you are getting from these spaces other than just the floor space or the equipment too, some of the networking and other value that you might reap from the experience could be priceless.

These shared kitchen space concepts are growing not only in the B.C. region but around the world, in places like the U.S. or as far away as South Korea we can see that this is a popular concept.

The Perfect Time to be Getting Outdoors

Experts have recently urged that right now is the perfect time for British Columbians to be getting outdoors in order to socialize. They say that this is much better than organizing indoor activities.

Rather than people meeting up and spending time in poorly ventilated work spaces and other areas, they are suggesting that getting outdoors is the best move to make when you’re staying distanced. The weather is also getting a lot warmer here now with spring and summer soon approaching.

There are many things to see and do in BC when you are looking to find a lake, park, or get out for the day. Look to explore B.C. and you will not run out of places to see. There are many waterfalls, hiking areas, trails, parks, garden spaces, and a lot more to see. Right now though, British Columbians are being encouraged to stay in their own communities.

Don’t look to plan any vacation anytime soon where you will be driving far away because public health orders still urge you to stay close to home. Not only that but they are also urging you to avoid non-essential travel whenever possible.

B.C. Expecting Busy Camping Season

Spaces are already filling up for the busy camping season ahead. If you are looking to go out and do some camping then you might want to get into looking for a space already. There are spaces that you are able to register within 2 months of when you might be going on vacation. There are many different camping spaces to find in B.C., some that offer a longer getaway or only daytime operations etc. There is something for everyone, no matter if you want a sports camp situation, an outdoor wilderness camping situation, or some other type of camping experience.

B.C. is a beautiful province to travel to when you are looking to get outdoors and go camping. There are so many beautiful lakes and outdoor spaces here, thousands of different parks and forests, so much natural beauty to take in.

B.C. is still pushing forward with its plan for reopening and we are doing arguably better than some other provinces who have seen a much more severe lock down to try and get control of the rising rates.

We have been lucky here but there are still a variety of restrictions in place and recent changes to indoor dining and more. If they can get control of things and those cases start to go down then we might see them move further along in their reopening plan by summer.

Still, there are many events and festivals that are planning to go on throughout the year. But it isn’t known if or when another more severe lock down might come.

Those recent changes to indoor dining came as a surprise to some, they caused a lot of frustration and confusion, and there is a lot of hope that by summer we can see more unraveling of those restrictions.

People want to get out and enjoy the weather, enjoy their summer, and spend time with their friends and families. For those in B.C., according to experts, the outdoor gatherings might be the safest bet.

Right now you can get out and gather with up to 10 people and in the coming weeks we might see that start to shift with more allowances for gatherings being made.