Hop to local shops this long weekend
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#ShopVaughanLocal to support local businesses this holiday
However you plan to spend the holiday long weekend, Vaughan has what you need! Whether you’re shopping for friends, family or yourself, the City of Vaughan is reminding you to #ShopVaughanLocal.
There are many ways to show your local support this long weekend. Make a difference by:
- shopping online, curbside or safely in-person at a local business.
- buying gift cards from local stores to use at a later date.
- using filters to find local products when shopping with large online retailers.
- leaving a positive review on your favourite local business’ online profiles.
- using #ShopVaughanLocal on social media.
As COVID-19 continues to evolve, the City remains committed to working with all levels of government to support entrepreneurs and small business owners. Maintaining the competitiveness of the local economy throughout the pandemic is a priority. The #ShopVaughanLocal and #DineVaughanLocal initiatives are just a couple of the many measures introduced by the City to provide relief to the business community and ease the financial burden caused by COVID-19. Here are some other examples:
Consumer confidence
Vaughan businesses can reassure customers of a safe experience through two consumer confidence identifiers: the POST Promise and the Safe Travels Stamp. These nationally and internationally recognized identifiers are visual cues acknowledging that the business is working to prevent the spread of COVID-19, following public health measures and supporting a safe customer experience.
How to apply:
- Make the POST Promise – a self-declaration for any type of business through a national not-for-profit corporation that was built specifically for this effort. Taking the POST Promise is a pre-requisite for the Safe Travels Stamp and the Vaughan Safe Travels Toolkit.
- Apply for the Safe Travels Stamp and Vaughan Safe Travels Toolkit – a nationally recognized program for tourism businesses, including restaurants, through the World Travel and Tourism Corporation and the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO). To apply, business owners can complete the Safe Travels Stamp application. Once confirmation from TIAO is received, email tourism@vaughan.ca to request the Vaughan Safe Travels Toolkit. This kit includes marketing assets to share the stamp on your business’ website, social media channels, eNewsletter, counter signs, window decals and more, all shipped free of charge.
Increasing consumer confidence is part of an economic resiliency strategy for the City’s Economic Development department, including Tourism Vaughan. For more information and to apply, visit vaughanbusiness.ca/ConsumerConfidence. The City is also reminding businesses that a business licence may be required to operate within Vaughan.
Advantage Vaughan
On Feb. 15, Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua and Members of Council took the next step in supporting the business community by endorsing Advantage Vaughan, Phase 3 of the City’s economic development response to COVID-19.
Advantage Vaughan proposes a series of programs to support four strategic pillars of the economy, including:
- local small business owners and entrepreneurs.
- Vaughan’s residents who make up the city’s talent base.
- Vaughan’s local organizations which animate the community and foster local destination development opportunities.
- community branding and marketing to demonstrate the advantages of doing business in Vaughan.
Advantage Vaughan fosters economic prosperity, investment and social capital through funding opportunities for the business community and training opportunities for local talent development – key priorities outlined in the City’s 2018-2022 Term of Council Service Excellence Strategic Plan. The plan builds off the momentum of the Vaughan Business Action Plan, approved in March 2020 as the first phase in the response efforts, and the Vaughan Business Resilience Plan, which began in June 2020.
Advisory consultations
The Economic and Development department offers advisory consultations via tele- or video-conference, email and phone. The team is also hosting educational webinars. For information, additional resources or to book a consultation, visit vaughanbusiness.ca.
Support Vaughan Local
Tourism Vaughan and the Vaughan Chamber of Commerce have partnered to create the #SupportVaughanLocal initiative. The program showcases businesses in the city and encourages citizens to shop, dine and experience Vaughan. Visit SupportVaughanLocal.ca for more information.
To stay informed on the City of Vaughan’s latest business resources and initiatives, entrepreneurs can sign up for the Economic Development department’s eNewsletters at vaughanbusiness.ca/enewsletters.
Those who feel unwell and believe they have symptoms related to COVID-19 should contact York Region Public Health at 1-800-361-5653 or Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000. For additional information and resources on the virus, visit York Region's website at york.ca/COVID19.
For updates and news as they happen, subscribe to Vaughan News and follow the official corporate channels on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.