Latest TLF Blog Post
- Canada Strong Starts Local
Canadians may not be able to control tariffs, trade negotiations or decisions made in Washington. But we can control where we spend our next dollar.
A national conversation is underway about how Canadians can strengthen our country at home. The challenge is not whether Canadians want to support Canadian businesses. Research from the Business Development Bank of Canada suggests they do. BDC found that 57% of Canadians surveyed are willing to pay more for Canadian-made goods, yet only two in five say Canadian products are easy to identify. BDC describes this as a gap between “intent and action.”
That gap matters locally too.
Every day, we decide where we shop, who we hire, where we eat, which organizations we support and where we participate in our community. Those choices may feel small, but together they shape the strength of the places we live.
This is not about being against the United States or against anyone. It is about being for Canada—recognizing what we have here, supporting it and making it stronger.
Prime Minister Mark Carney recently spoke about making it easier for Canadians to “buy Canadian, hire Canadian, and build Canadian.” Here in Greater Victoria, that idea has been at the heart of Think Local First since 2012: encouraging people to consider the impact of their everyday choices and to look local first.
And local is about much more than retail. It is the family running the neighbourhood store, the tradesperson hiring an apprentice, the entrepreneur building something new and the professional growing a practice. It is also the charity caring for people, the non-profit bringing people together and the local organization creating opportunities in our community.
Local isn’t only where we spend. It’s where we participate.
That is why “shop local” is no longer big enough. Buy local. Hire local. Eat local. Give local. Volunteer local. Partner local. Recommend local.
At Think Local First, we believe this is a moment to turn that intention into action. Our Local Strong. Canada Strong. campaign is asking Greater Victorians to make a simple pledge: before we buy, hire, give, partner or participate, look local first.
Our friends at the WestShore Chamber of Commerce, a valued Think Local First member, have also encouraged consumers to buy Canadian and support businesses that create jobs in our community. That shared message matters. Strong communities are built when businesses, charities, non-profits and individuals choose to support one another.
None of us will be able to choose Canadian or local every time. That is not the point. The goal is not perfection. The goal is intention.
Before your next purchase, hire, donation, supplier decision or partnership, take a moment and look local first.
One choice will not transform a community. Thousands of choices, made intentionally and repeatedly, can.
Canada’s strength is not built only in Ottawa. It is built in communities like ours.
Think Local First.
Local Strong. Canada Strong.
MAKE YOUR PLEDGE + GET A DECAL
Beverly Carter
President
Think Local First Association
beverly.carter@carternotary.com
