Media Release

Yasaman Mehrsa answers the call to transform public art space at Rec Rentals @ The Docks

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 20, 2023

Welland, ON – Rec Rentals @ The Docks will have a different look late this year after Brock University graduate Yasaman Mehrsa was chosen as the artist to transform exterior surfaces with a creative theme celebrating the City and its connection to trails, parks, and the waterway.

Put forth to the arts community in April, the project’s focus was on creating a vibrant canvas on the buildings that foster community pride in public art and enhances the quality of life for residents and visitors to the area.

“We were fortunate to receive many submissions from very talented artists,” said Erin Carl, supervisor of festivals and events. “Yasaman’s submission stood out among all the others, and we’re excited to see her work; her public art experience positions her well for success on this project.”

With an overall budget of $8,000, the artistic design contains parameters set forth by the City, including visuals that celebrate the community, culture, and recreation.

Born and raised in Tehran/Iran, she got exposed to art from a young age. She completed her studies with a Bachelor of Visual Communication in Iran and later earned a Bachelor of Visual Arts from Brock University.

She uses both digital and traditional mediums; her work is illustrative in style, focusing on storytelling and exploring all facets of life and being human in a natural environment, and is often representative of awareness of the human-nature relationship.

She has worked on various public art projects for organizations, communities, BIAs, and festivals inside and outside Canada since 2018. She has painted murals on walls as tall as three stories high, windows, grounds, boxes, doors, stairs, and more.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Marc MacDonald

Corporate Communications Manager

905-735-1700 x2337

znep.znpqbanyq@jryynaq.pn

Supporting Small Businesses: Calling on the Federal Government to Extend the CEBA Loan Repayments and Forgiveness Deadline

June 20, 2023

Small Businesses Need Your Action

The Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) was an important lifeline to many businesses who were forced to close and had restricted operations during COVID-19. The Federal Government requests that businesses pay back the full amount of their loans by December 2023 in order to receive 33% of their loan (up to $20,000) forgiveness.

The Ontario Business Improvement Area Association (OBIAA) and the Ottawa Coalition of BIAs (OCOBIA) recently conducted a survey of 657 businesses collectively.

OCOBIA’s survey of 128 businesses, found that 97% of Ottawa small business respondents indicated that the repayment deadline of December 31, 2023 will adversely affect their business. Seventy-Four (74) percent of businesses stated that they will be forced further into debt under the current repayment plan, 41.4% fear that it will force them to close the business and 3 out of 4 businesses who were in operation before COVID declared that they are below 75 % of pre-pandemic sales.

The OBIAA survey of 529 businesses across Ontario had similar findings, with 88% of businesses stating the CEBA Loan Repayment will negatively impact their business, 66% stating they will not be able to invest in their business towards growth and 46% note they will be unable to expand their business.  Sadly, 37% indicated that it will require laying off staff.  Significantly, 42% stated that their business may be forced to close their business.

In a recent Canadian Federation of Independent Business report, their findings are hauntingly similar:

• Of the nine in ten small businesses who used CEBA, three quarters accessed loans between $40,001 and $60,000, while one quarter received loans of up to $40,000.
• Only 10% of CEBA users have repaid their loans.
• A total of 43% of CEBA users risk missing the current repayment deadline by end of 2023. Small businesses in the arts, recreation, and information (62%), hospitality (61%) and social services sectors (46%) are most likely to miss the current CEBA deadline.
• The smallest businesses with 0-4 employees are the most likely to miss the repayment deadline (49%)
• Even among the 47% of small business owners who indicate they will meet the 2023 deadline, half say they will struggle to do so, and two-thirds would like to see an extension of the repayment deadline.

• Extend the CEBA repayment deadline to the end of 2024 or 2025.
• Extend the 33% (up to $20,000) forgiveness deadline for businesses.

We thank you for your consideration and review and encourage you to act on this impending issue that will dramatically impact the state of our businesses and our BIA.

For more information and links to all survey results, please click through below.