JULIE LAWLOR
WEST SHORE – I don’t know about you, but I was not expecting to still be in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic by this time in 2021. We have been exceptionally fortunate on southern Vancouver Island, but that doesn’t change the fact that we are still managing the impacts of the fourth wave, both personally and in the business community. And of course, for some small business owners, this is one and the same.
So my message for this holiday season is the same as last holiday season – please support your local businesses. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of Canada’s economy. At the recent Canadian Chamber of Commerce virtual conference, I learned that 98 per cent of Canadian businesses have fewer than 100 employees. Profitable SMEs are therefore essential to the recovery of our economy, and to paying down our pandemic debt. And for many, 2021 has been no easier than 2020.
We of course have lots of local shopping options in our region, and wherever you can please purchase directly from your favourite businesses. While this is by no means a conclusive list, I’d like to give a special shout-out for restaurants & pubs, fitness establishments, accommodation & tourism businesses, and event and sporting initiatives & venues, who have been particularly impacted by the pandemic.
And if you want to buy a gift quickly and easily for friends, clients, staff, or relatives elsewhere in BC while still directly supporting small business, then I have the answer for you! Support Local BC is an initiative that allows you to buy gift certificates from local businesses in 110 communities ranging from Greater Victoria to Abbotsford to Prince George. And the best part is that 100 per cent of your purchase goes to the business. We are proud to support the work of fellow non-profit Think Local First in getting the word out about this initiative. At the time of writing, over $1.3 million dollars of business has gone to 1,799 businesses across the province through supportlocalbc.com
Thank you to the small business owners and their staff for everything you do, and thank you to everyone in the community who supports them! Our role at the WestShore Chamber is to support small business every day, and to find out more about our work please go to westshore.bc.ca
Julie Lawlor is Executive Director at the WestShore Chamber of Commerce.
