Mike Crabbe is the general manager at the Woodstock Chamber of Commerce. (Supplied photo).
Lee Griffi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The issues of homelessness, mental health and addiction affect many parts of society and they also can negatively impact business.
As a result, three city business groups are holding a workshop designed to provide practical strategies for enhancing workplace safety and security. Hosted by The Woodstock Chamber of Commerce, The Woodstock Small Business Centre and the Downtown Woodstock BIA, the “Retail/Commercial Safety and Security Workshop” will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at Market Centre Woodstock.
Chamber general manager Mike Crabbe said the idea came from interactions with membership and police.
“We do often have our members reach out with questions and concerns of situations that come up and they aren’t equipped in how to navigate them. The Woodstock Police Service forwarded us the Retail Safety Security Guide and we realized how much great information was in it.”
He added as the chamber was reviewing the material it became clear it was a solid resource for small and medium-sized businesses who may not have access to such information. His organization thought it would be the perfect time to reach out to its partners and collaborate on the event.
“Workplace Safety and Prevention Services will be there to talk about the guide and share some of the prevalent topics in our community and offer that local perspective,” said Crabbe.
This event, free for local business owners and managers, will bring together experts from Woodstock Police Services and Workplace Safety and Prevention Services to share valuable insights on key topics that include loss prevention strategies, managing intoxicated individuals, conflict resolution and de-escalation techniques along with connecting with local human service agencies.
“Our goal is to empower local businesses with the tools and knowledge they need to create safer environments for their teams, customers, and operations,” explained Crabbe.
Crabbe explained many chamber members have experienced a person with mental health and addiction issues at their places of business.
“It’s hard to find the solutions and maintain safety for yourself, your employees, your customers and the community. We are hoping people will leave with a better sense of how to maintain safety within the workplace, how to feel confident navigating difficult situations.”
The three groups are hoping participants walk away with the ability to ensure their workplaces are safe and for anyone able to show up in person, Crabbe hopes they will be able to share video afterward.
“We are hoping to have this recorded so it is accessible to those not able to attend in person. We’ve also opened up a question intake form so anyone can submit their questions ahead of time and we can address them at the event.”
Crabbe added people will be able to submit questions after the event.
“Whether you're looking to refine your safety protocols or learn how to handle challenging situations, this workshop is designed for businesses of all sizes and sectors,” he added.
Doors open at 8:30 a.m. and the presentation begins at 9 a.m. Registration is required and can be completed online at www.woodstockchamber.ca/events-calendar.
Tariff Survey
The chamber is also conducting a survey to understand the potential impact of U.S. and Canadian tariffs on local businesses.
Crabbe said the chamber was looking to do its own survey but the provincial body stepped up.
“The Ontario chamber already had some ideas in the pipeline so we now have a coordinated response to receive feedback from our members about the impacts. We are happy to send it out to our members and are hoping they engage to be able to provide not only us but the Ontario body with some local context.”
He added the more business owners taking part, the better the results will be.
“High participation is crucial in helping us gather insights into how these tariffs are affecting various industries and what support or resources are needed to address the challenges posed by these trade policies,” said Crabbe.
This survey aims to collect information on the type and size of an organization, the industry and region in which a business operates, the impact of U.S. and Canadian tariffs on business operations, strategies a business has considered or implemented in response to tariffs, and the confidence level in Ontario's economic outlook and your business's ability to adapt to ongoing trade tensions.
“Your responses will help us advocate for policies and resources that support the business community in Ontario. The survey should take approximately 3-5 minutes to complete, and all responses are anonymous and will be kept confidential,” explained Crabbe.
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