• SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY IN TIMES OF NEED.

  • EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND

    The Emergency Relief Fund is the bedrock of the BBF, and was built to help hospitality professionals who urgently need financial support.

     

    The fund is designed to support applicants in covering the cost of essential elements, such as paying their rent, utilities, childcare or medical bills including mental health support.

     

    You will require proof of employment and a valid SIN, and approved, awarded funds will be transferred to you digitally via our third party program; Plooto.

     

    The application period is open monthly between the 15th to the 14th of the following month.

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    WHO CAN APPLY

    - Open to all who can demonstrate they held a position within a licensed establishment in the previous 3 months.

    - You must currently reside in Canada.

    - Your place of employment must have a valid license to serve wine, beer or spirits.

    WHAT IS THE PROCESS

    To apply, outline your specific circumstances and upload supporting documentation through our online application form, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

     

    The application period is open monthly between the 15th to the 14th of the following month.

     

    Every month, applications received are stripped of identifying information before being objectively scored based on a needs-based lens, and reviewed by a panel of hospitality professionals from across the country to understand the unique circumstances of each applicant.

     

    Applicants that are awarded the funds can expect to receive an email from Plooto on how to access the funds, around the 25th of each month.

    WHAT YOU NEED TO APPLY

    - SIN Number

    - Proof of Employment: ROE or pay stub

    - Canadian Bank Account

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  • SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY HAS SUFFERED THE LARGEST JOB LOSS GAP OF ANY MAJOR INDUSTRY IN CANADA​.

  • FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

    We've gathered together answers to the questions we hear the most, but if you have any other questions check out the FAQ page for more answers, or feel free to email us.

    WHO CAN APPLY?

    Professional bartenders, servers, chefs, line cooks, dish washers, bussers and all front and back of house support staff, as well as salaried employees, such as general managers, bar managers, floor managers, kitchen managers and sommeliers residing in Canada, are eligible for up to a maximum of $250 from our Emergency Relief Fund.

    WHAT INFORMATION IS REQUIRED TO APPLY?

    We need to confirm that you are a hospitality professional. This can be through either by a Record of Employment (ROE) or a pay stub (values may be blanked out) from your current/last place of work. Your name and address must be clearly visible on both. You do not need to be currently employed to apply, but you must have held a position within a Canadian venue with an active liquor license, for at least six months before the start of the first national lockdown, March 16th, 2020.

    CAN UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS APPLY FOR BBF ASSISTANCE?

    We require a Social Insurance Number (SIN) from all successful applicants to the Emergency Relief Fund and the Hospitality Workers Mental Health Fund to prove program eligibility for our funding partners. As a result, those without a valid SIN are ineligible to apply for our programs.

    WHO DECIDES HOW THE APPLICATIONS ARE PROCESSED?

    Applications are reviewed following a process defined by our Board of Directors centred around protecting the privacy of those applying for support, and removing barriers to application. Applications go directly to our Funding Officer who verifies details, then either removes identifying information and shares them to the appropriate Disbursement or Review Panel, or processes the qualifying applications. Our panels are comprised of current and former industry professionals.

    HOW DO YOU ENSURE MY INFORMATION REMAINS PRIVATE?

    The Bartenders Benevolent Fund and its volunteers will at all times respect the confidentiality of the Personal Information placed in its care. The Fund will endeavour to ensure that the policies affecting the collection, storage and disclosure of Personal Information reflect the confidential nature of the information. Our Privacy Policy ensures your personal details remain as such. All applications are verified and then redacted by our Funding Officer before applications are reviewed by their respective panels. The redacted information is only accessible by our Funding Officer and Executive Director. Our Privacy Policy extends to all email, social, verbal and written correspondence.

    WILL I BE TAXED ON MY EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND AWARD?

    This award will class as taxable income, meaning that it will combine with your other annual income to provide a total number on which you will be required to pay tax. So, in rare instances, this award has the potential to put your income into a higher tax bracket. If you have any further questions relating to this question, please reach out to us using the form below.

  • NEED HELP APPLYING?

    Have any questions about your application or guidance on how to apply? Send us a message and we would be happy to answer your questions.

    Questions submitted through the website will be kept in confidence and will not be shared with any member of any of our selection committees.

  • FOR THE COMMUNITY. BY THE COMMUNITY.

    Stay up to date on the Bartenders Benevolent Fund news and follow us on our social channels. For any and all questions please feel free to reach out to our team by email.

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