JULIE LAWLOR
WEST SHORE – While January is well over, resolutions can and do take place throughout the year.
Thanks to federal funding, we have launched an exciting campaign for 2022! The campaign is proudly led by the WestShore Chamber of Commerce and Think Local First Victoria, with the support of the Esquimalt Chamber of Commerce, the Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, the Sidney BIA and the Downtown Victoria Business Association. This Shop Local BC initiative is supported by the Government of Canada’s Strategic Activities Program, administered by the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, and delivered through the BC Chamber of Commerce.
We kicked off on January 17th by promoting our 2022 Buy Local Pledge campaign that asks consumers to pledge to make a 10 per cent shift towards spending their money locally in 2022. The idea is that this 10 per cent shift does not need to be extra money spent on top of consumers’ yearly budgets, but rather, we are encouraging their choice to spend money that they would already be spending on day-to-day items (gas, groceries, appointments, services, birthday gifts, getaways etc.) on local Greater Victoria businesses instead of multinational companies. We are also encouraging the idea that making these small lifestyle changes creates a spending local habit that has huge impacts on Greater Victoria’s economy.
The Buy Local Pledge website provides more information on the pledge, statistics on why spending locally is beneficial, and ideas for businesses where consumers can make their 10 per cent shift. The website also allows visitors to sign the pledge, make a list of local Greater Victoria businesses they plan to spend their money at, and have a chance to win prizes.
I feel like I say this every time I write an article, but local businesses need your support now more than ever. The arrival of the Omicron variant, on top of almost two years of managing during a pandemic, has hit some businesses particularly hard. Your support of your favourite businesses makes a world of difference.
Go to buylocalpledge.ca to find out more or take the pledge. You can also participate in this campaign by engaging with it on Instagram or Facebook – you’ll find the links on the website.
Thank you for loving local!
Julie Lawlor is Executive Director at the WestShore Chamber of Commerce.