Nov. 30 to Dec. 4 has been proclaimed “Buy Local Week” by councils in Gibsons and Sechelt.
“Amazon, Best Buy and Costco don’t need our money and more than ever, our local businesses do,” said Sunshine Coast Regional Economic Development Organization (SCREDO) and Sunshine Coast Business Recovery Centre executive director Colin Stansfield after hearing the proclamation read at the Sechelt council meeting Nov. 18.
“In delivering this proclamation you’re not only affirming the fundamental connection between economic health and community well being, you’re issuing a call to action for highlighting the critical need for every one of us to support local business, and to strengthen our local economy so they can continue to support our communities,” Stansfield said.
According to Stansfield, research shows the average Canadian spends about $1,600 on travel, food, drinks and gifts during the holidays and that by shifting just 10 per cent of that spending to local businesses and locally made products, “you can contribute to creating 3,100 jobs and $94 million in wages to the B.C. economy.”
“As we step into a season of gift giving I hope that every one of us will think carefully about where, how, and the reasons behind why we spend our money,”
Stansfield said.
After reading the proclamation and listening to Stansfield’s remarks earlier in the week at the Gibsons council meeting, Mayor Bill Beamish offered a public pledge.
“I will make it my commitment to not purchase anything between now and Jan. 1 outside of this community or outside of the communities of the Sunshine Coast,” Beamish said. “I challenge other members of council to do the same.”
