Owner of Riversong Guitars Mike Miltimore was featured by YKA Strong for using his equipment to fabricate "ear-savers" for masks, instead of making guitar picks.

Image Credit: FACEBOOK / YKA Strong

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, some Kamloops residents stepped up to the plate with unique and effective strategies to keep their businesses afloat. 

YKA Strong is highlighting some of these businesses in a series of 12 short videos posted to their social media platforms.

"We have launched the video campaign as part of YKA Strong to bring to light stories of business pivots in the time of COVID-19," Monica Dickinson with Tourism Kamloops said. "Also to recognize remarkable Kamloopsians who are going above and beyond to give back to the community and those most in need."

YKA Strong is a working partnership between 10 businesses in Kamloops, which includes Tourism Kamloops, the City of Kamloops, Kamloops Chamber of Commerce, the North Shore and Central Business Improvement Associations, Community Futures, the Kamloops Airport, TRU and Venture Kamloops.

The organizations came together to streamline communications and resources to businesses in Kamloops during the COVID-19 pandemic.

YKA Strong is currently halfway through their video campaign.

 

 

 

 

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YKAStrong celebrates local business pivots and remarkable Kamloopsians. Over the next 3 weeks, we will follow story makers highlighting hope and resiliency in a time of uncertainty - a testament to being stronger together. Today's video features the @kamloopsfarmersmarket. They have pivoted their operating strategy to ensure all local food vendors are able to sell their goods and still provide safe, nutritious, fresh food to Kamloops. Greg Unger and his team opened an online store and established a curbside pickup plan to keep shoppers safe. If you are attending the market, you will notice fewer access points to enter the market, more space between vendors, and controlled numbers of shoppers in the market at any given time to ensure everyone has the space to stay 6 feet apart. . ??: @aspectfilmworks . #ykastrong #kamloops #bekind

A post shared by YKAStrong (@yka_strong) on May 20, 2020 at 1:24pm PDT

Thus far, they have featured the B.C. Wildlife Park, Accent Inns, Kamloops Farmers Market, NuTech Safety, Riversong Guitars, Mount Paul Community Food Centre and Cookshack Cravings.

New videos will be released twice a week for the next three weeks on the group's Facebook and Instagram pages.

The videos provide inspiration to businesses who are unsure of how to resume operations safely amidst the pandemic, Dickinson said.

"On the other side too, it was a way for us to celebrate remarkable Kamloopsians that go above and beyond to really take care of the community and give back in a time where others might need some help.”

YKA Strong will continue to evolve to address the changing needs of their local audience amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Dickinson said.

“This is far from over. We all know that,” she said.

“We’re very cognizant to what that looks like and the role of this group as we move day to day into the next phase."

Things have begun to shift as the province moves into phase two of the reopening plan, but the organization’s goal remains the same.

"The focus of YKA Strong in the very near future, as we look to open our spheres a little bit, becomes that focus on supporting Kamloops,” she said.

She said that the pandemic has been challenging for local businesses, and the partners of YKA Strong will continue to assist businesses on a case by case basis.

“I don’t think there are any cookie-cutter solutions to this,” she said.

“We look to each other to provide support in all of these independent cases."

YKA Strong has provided resources for local businesses on its website here, including information about financial aid, business innovations and COVID-19.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Brie Welton or call (250) 819-3723 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

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News from © iNFOnews, 2020