Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade Support Small Businesses by Shopping and Dining Local with the Canada United Shopping Weekend

(August 27, 2020 – Toronto) – Today, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce alongside the national chamber network, the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) and more than 65 of Canada’s leading brands are rallying Canadians to “show local some love” by buying, dining, and shopping local. The Canada United Shopping Weekend is taking place from August 28 to 30, 2020, celebrating small businesses – who have been the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic – in every corner of the country.

“Small businesses are cornerstones of our local economies and key to thriving communities—creating jobs, driving innovation, and generating wealth for Canadians. Local businesses have always been there for us and now need our support now more than ever,” said Rocco Rossi, President and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce.

Communities from coast to coast to coast have come together and proclaimed August 28 to 30 as the official Canada United Shopping Weekend, encouraging residents to safely patronize and support small businesses in their communities.

“Small businesses across Toronto have been heavily impacted by the pandemic, and need our support right now. I am proud to celebrate Toronto’s small businesses by proclaiming August 28 to 30 as the official Canada United Shopping Weekend in the City of Toronto. I encourage the people of Toronto to dine, shop, visit and celebrate all that is local in our great city during the Canada United Weekend,” said Toronto Mayor John Tory.

Over the course of the three days by shopping or dining at local eligible businesses, Canadians will also have access to exclusive offers and the chance to win big, such as the chance to enter to win 1 one of 25 $10,000 prizes at gocanadaunited.ca/win.

“I encourage every Canadian and business to take part in Canada United Weekend and show local some love. Together, with the help of our incredible partners and chambers of commerce and boards of trade across the country, we can make a difference for local businesses and help move Canada’s recovery forward,” added Mike Dobbins, Chief Strategy & Development Officer, RBC.

Canadians can also show their support online by watching the Canada United videos at GoCanadaUnited.ca, liking posts from @GoCanadaUnited on social media and using #CanadaUnited to demonstrate their support. For each of these actions until August 31, 2020, RBC and partners have contributed 5 cents up to a maximum contribution amount of $2 million to the Canada United Small Business Relief Fund. The Fund will provide small businesses with grants of up to $5,000 to cover expenses related to personal protective equipment (PPE) renovations to accommodate re-opening guidelines and developing or improving e-commerce capabilities. Applications for the Canada United Small Business Relief Fund will be accepted starting on August 31, 2020, at 1 p.m. (EST). Learn more about the Small Business Relief Fund here.

“By coming together in celebration of Canadians small businesses, we can come through this time stronger and more resilient than ever,” added Rossi.

Supportive Quotes

“Our small business members have been hard hit by closures and capacity restrictions due to COVID-19 and they need our support now as they continue to reopen. The Toronto Region Board of Trade is proud to get behind the Canada United movement, and we encourage Torontonians to shop and dine local during this August weekend!” ― Jan De Silva, President & CEO of the Toronto Region Board of Trade

“The Canada United Shopping Weekend is the kickstart our small businesses and economy need. Chambers of commerce and boards of trade from coast, to coast, to coast have come together to start the Canada United movement, to show local businesses all the support they deserve!” ― Perrin Beatty, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce

Click here to learn more about Canada United.

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About the Ontario Chamber of Commerce
For more than a century, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) has been the non-partisan, indispensable partner of Ontario business. The OCC’s mission is to support economic growth in Ontario by defending business priorities at Queen’s Park on behalf of its network’s diverse 60,000 members.

For more information, please contact:

Ceara Copps – Edwards
Manager, Public Affairs
Ontario Chamber of Commerce
cearacoppsedwards@occ.ca | 647-936-6734