#ShopVaughanLocal
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Support local businesses
this holiday season
With the holiday season fast approaching, the City of Vaughan
is reminding residents that everything on their shopping lists can be purchased
from local businesses – which continue to be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Whether safely
shopping in-store or from the comfort of your home, there are many ways to show
your local love. Make a difference by:
- ordering takeout or delivery from a local restaurant.
- shopping online from local businesses.
- sharing local love using #ShopVaughanLocal on social media platforms.
- buying gift cards for local businesses to use at a later date.
On
Monday, Nov. 16, York Region – and Vaughan – moved to the Control-Red level in
the Province of Ontario’s tiered Keeping Ontario Safe
and Open Framework.
The Control-Red level includes broader-scale measures across multiple sectors
to control transmission of COVID-19. On Monday, Nov. 23, York Region issued a class order for requirements
business and retailers need to follow to help combat COVID-19.
York
Region Public Health has provided tips on how to protect
customers and employees when working and shopping, including using contactless
payment if possible. A toolkit for safely reopening
during COVID-19 is also available. The province has also put forward the
principles of the People Outside Safely
Together Promise, encouraging small businesses to
strictly follow health guidelines and reopen with appropriate measures in
place, so consumers can shop safely and with confidence. In addition, the
province, in partnership with various health and safety organizations, has
released sector-specific
guidelines.
These documents help workplaces better understand their responsibilities and
include best practices on complying with their legal obligation to protect the
health and safety of workers, customers and the public throughout the pandemic.
As the
virus continues to evolve, the City of Vaughan remains committed to working
with all levels of government to stand up for entrepreneurs and small-business
owners. Maintaining the competitiveness of the local economy throughout the
global pandemic is also a priority.
Launched
in April, the #ShopVaughanLocal initiative is one of the many measures introduced
by the City to provide relief to the business community and help ease the
financial burden caused by COVID-19.
Advisory
consultations
The Economic and
Cultural Development team continues to offer advisory consultations via tele-
or video-conference, email and phone. They also host webinars. For information,
additional resources or to book a consultation, visit vaughanbusiness.ca.
Open for Business
The voluntary Open for Business
online directory includes both
essential services and businesses that are open or providing modified
operations by phone, online, takeout or delivery in compliance with provincial
and municipal regulations. Vaughan businesses interested in being included in
the list must apply and can do so through this online form.
Vaughan
Business Resilience Plan
On Tuesday,
June 23, the City launched the Vaughan Business Resilience
Plan as
an immediate and long-term plan to help Vaughan’s business community build
capacity to adapt to the post-COVID-19 world. Through this plan, the Economic
and Cultural Development department will:
- help businesses and the economy build resilience.
- build resilience into key economic opportunities and strategic sectors like healthcare, supply-chain and manufacturing, and tourism.
- share Vaughan’s reimagined public spaces within social distancing and invite the community to experience Vaughan’s culture and arts.
For more
information, visit vaughanbusiness.ca/COVID.
To
receive the City’s latest COVID-19 updates as they happen, sign up for the City
Update eNewsletter at vaughan.ca/CityUpdate and follow the City’s Twitter, Facebook and Instagram channels.
Those
who feel unwell, and believe they have symptoms related to COVID-19, should
contact York Region Public Health or Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000.
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