Skip to content

BC Buy Local Week: Rediscover small businesses

Small businesses are the heart and soul of B.C.'s neighbourhoods. They are places to gather and visit with friends.

VICTORIA - Small businesses are the heart and soul of B.C.'s neighbourhoods. They are places to gather and visit with friends.

Their owners often live in the community and help grow the local economy by creating jobs. Small businesses often carry local products that help support other entrepreneurs, and many small businesses give back by sponsoring local sports teams, charities and the arts.

In other words, when you purchase something from a local small business, you are not only helping that business, you are also helping support a large network of other area businesses and the community.

In honour of the important role that local businesses play in communities throughout B.C., the Province is celebrating the fifth annual 'BC Buy Local Week' from Nov. 28 to Dec. 4, 2016. This week puts a spotlight on local businesses and their contributions to their neighbourhoods and local economies.

"Supporting local, small businesses helps ensure communities throughout B.C. continue to thrive," said Coralee Oakes, Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction. "Small businesses make up 98 per cent of all business in B.C. and BC Buy Local Week highlights their significant contribution to B.C.'s social and cultural fabric, and our strong economy."

The Province also promotes B.C. products and shopping local through the Ministry of Agriculture's B.C. Buy Local program. The Ministry of Agriculture's B.C. Buy Local program helps farmers and food processors promote their local agrifood and seafood products through buy local initiatives throughout B.C. such as social media campaigns or in-store promotions. These initiatives encourage businesses and British Columbians to explore products unique to B.C.

 

Another way the Province creates more opportunities for British Columbians to explore local products is through BC Liquor Stores' Buy Local program. The BC Liquor Stores' Buy Local program contributes over $500,000 to in-kind promotions and marketing annually to help promote B.C. products.