With at least a dozen businesses closed due to the Winters Hotel fire, the Gastown Business Improvement Society (GBIS) is raising funds. The fire destroyed the historic hotel, which will need to be demolished. While the upper floors were used as SROs, on the street level seven companies had shop windows, such as the Flying Pig and Nika Fashion and Design Co. “Loss of revenue, damaged valuables and merchandise and income-based staff are just some of the financial burdens these businesses will face as they go through this disastrous time,” GBIS said. To help with this navigation, society is raising funds to help cover costs. So far they have raised almost $ 8,000 in less than a day. The funds will be held by GBIS and distributed later. “All requests will be collected by our office, will be audited by a subcommittee of the GBIS Board of Directors and then the funds will be distributed to companies,” said GBIS. The list of companies affected by the fire exceeds those in the building affected by the fire. Due to its age and damage, there is a risk of it collapsing before it is deliberately demolished. Therefore, residents and workers can not return to the collapse zone around the building. “It was heartbreaking to see our neighborhood endure this extreme disaster and to see these small businesses lose their livelihood and solid ground for the future,” says GBIS. The team also encourages people to help businesses that are directly affected, if possible. A special donation event is held for those whose homes have been destroyed by fire and have been displaced.
