COVID-19 brought illness, fear, strain on the health care system and the closures — both temporary and permanent — of many businesses, resulting in incredible stress on employment.

Rare was the industry that benefited, although there were some. Housing, for example, did the entirely unpredictable thing and actually boomed in comparison to other sectors. Shipping, again in certain sectors, was hopping.

Overall, however, business leaders struggled to pivot and support the members of their organizations. Owners were not just finding it difficult to keep businesses open but worrying deeply about their employees, and leaders wondered how to assist on both the industry and the human side.

All of them hope for better times this year, although 2021 still poses challenges. COVID is far from over, although vaccines for all are on the horizon. The full economic impact of the pandemic remains to be seen.

Yet business leaders see what we have learned, have faith in the entrepreneurial spirit, and now take a cautiously optimistic look into the new year.

JASON AEBIG, CEO, GREATER SASKATOON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

This past year has been unkind to us all and challenged us in ways we never could have imagined. That said, strange as it may seem, I hope that there are aspects of 2020 that we carry into 2021 and beyond: our renewed sense of community and supporting local enterprises; the creativity and agility so many of businesses and organizations displayed at the height of the pandemic; the courage of our business owners and entrepreneurs to press ahead and protect the livelihoods of their employees; the importance of connecting with others and developing deeper personal relationships; a rebalancing of our priorities that put the safety and well-being of our loved ones and families first; our renewed focus on mental health and wellness in our workplaces. For all that 2020 took from us — financially, emotionally, psychologically — it has left us with a set of important lessons and insights. As we look forward to returning some semblance of normal, I hope that they will continue to shape how we approach rebuilding our economy and helping our community recover into the future.

PRABHA MITCHELL, CEO, WESK (WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS OF SASKATCHEWAN)

We bid farewell to 2020 with much relief. It was an extraordinary year of the Black Swan that swooped in on us and altered our lives irrevocably. We look ahead with optimism, as the beacon of hope resides in the medical miracle of a vaccine for COVID-19.

A deep and reverberating experience from 2020 is the inextricable link between health and economics. As our small businesses were flailing through most of 2020, we as a community had to contend with another life lesson. The safety of our citizens is paramount, and sustaining our small businesses is essential.

While the effects and impacts of the pandemic will be experienced through 2021, a BDC survey indicated 87 per cent of Canadian entrepreneurs expect to be in business a year from now. This number would have dropped by December. The economic outlook projects a contraction of 5.5 per cent nationally in 2020, and a GDP growth of 4 to 4.5 per cent in 2021.

The pandemic has disproportionately affected certain segments of our community including women, youth and minorities. Women-owned businesses are much more vulnerable given their predominance in certain sectors such as hospitality. It is pivotal to keep our businesses open with additional supports and resources in 2021.

The driver of economic recovery in our province will remain local support and local shopping. Small business is big business in Saskatchewan, and many of our businesses will be reassessing and reshaping the way they conduct business and mitigate risks in the future. Innovation through digitization and technology will become an integral aspect of women-owned businesses in 2021 and beyond. This truly will be the silver lining in the dark cloud of COVID-19.

As we welcome 2021, I express my gratitude once again for living in Canada, where the pandemic has been less devastating than in many other countries. I am thankful to be in Saskatchewan, where the defining values of people and community anchor economic recovery. Wishing you all a healthy 2021, with renewed optimism for small business in our province.

KEITH MOEN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NSBA

There’s a saying about the only time having 20-20 vision is when it’s in your rear-view mirror. This is particularly poignant this year, given that we are entering 2021 fighting through a pandemic and we all want to put the pedal down to get 2020 behind us as quickly as we can.

Looking ahead to 2021, the business community will need to keep being innovative, resilient and flexible; necessary requirements for surviving 2020. Indeed, times are not just a changin’, they have changed, and the sooner businesses accept this new reality the better they will be able to respond to the ever-changing marketplace demands.

Despite the new love found for all things local, businesses will need to have an e-commerce presence just to be seen and heard, even in the local community. Those that adapt easy-to-follow, easy-to-share, likeable and memorable social media posts, transferring into e-commerce models — ones that capture the imagination and attention of the locals — will be the ones to capitalize upon early results.

History has shown that the people of Saskatoon and Saskatchewan are innovative, entrepreneurial and collaborative, and these traits will position us well for the postpandemic recovery. When this recovery begins is unknown, but hopefully 2021 will see the start of this next phase. The industries hardest hit — the tourism, hotel and hospitality sectors — will likely be the first to rebound, which will be much needed and welcome.

On the industrial side, Saskatchewan is well-positioned for the near and long term, as the need for food, fuel and fertilizer — the three F’s — will continue for a generation or longer. The transition into a greener world — though desirable and commendable — will take time to become financially feasible. Long story short, there is no better place to be than Saskatoon, Saskatchewan as we find our way into better days to come.

CHRIS GUERETTE, CEO, SASKATOON & REGION HOME BUILDERS’ ASSOCIATION

2020 has been described as many things, but I think surreal is still a descriptor that sticks for me. COVID-19 has left a mark on every facet of our homes, our lives and the economy.

Many still struggle to make sense of 2020. So, when we look to 2021 and beyond, I think it’s normal that we also struggle to make any kind of predictions or forecasts.

I am often asked how I think the new housing market and the renovation market will perform in the next year — and while I do not have much certainty, I also do not see any signs of slowing down. The market activity in housing we experienced in 2020 was not one many were expecting. Looking back, I suppose it makes sense that as we defined our homes in a new way, that there would be an economic response to that. I would say that redefinition is here to stay, and it will also have an impact how we design our communities. Our homes will mean more to us now than they did 12 months ago, no question. Yet I hope we will be able to experience more than our homes in 2021. My biggest wish for 2021 will be that we all have a solid base to call home but that we also have the freedom and capacity to step outside of it more. To explore, to connect and to celebrate that we got through this together.

JASON YOCHIM, CEO, SASKATCHEWAN REALTORS ASSOCIATION

The challenge with any type of forecast — particularly during a pandemic — is that there are so many unknowns that could have both positive and negative effects. The drop in housing prices predicted earlier this year never really happened, nor did the wave of mortgage defaults that was expected in the fall after months of payment deferrals.

That said, given the strong performance of 2020 which should have reduced pent-up demand somewhat, it’s likely that we’ll see the market slow down a little from 2020 levels, but activity should continue to be higher than it has been the past five years. The pandemic has led to a fall in inventories, and with the continued shortage of housing supply, this should have a moderately positive impact on prices.

-Joanne Paulson