If you still have some last-minute Christmas shopping to do, our newsroom would like to use this space to once again bring up the importance of spending your dollars at local businesses. It's a message we've promoted throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, including in one of our editorials last Christmas, but we feel it's one that continues to be prudent.
Calgary and area malls are always packed this time of year, but there are also plenty of local opportunities to find unique and interesting gift ideas. We've recently written about some of the holiday markets held in Airdrie and Rocky View County around late November and early December, such as the Airdrie Farmers' Market's event on Dec. 4, and some of the similar markets that were hosted that day in Balzac. The great thing about these events is they mostly feature local small-business owners. If you haven't been to any of these markets before, they present a fantastic opportunity to find cool Christmas gifts, while supporting local entrepreneurs at the same time.
If in-person shopping has lost its appeal for you due to the pandemic or other reasons, many local businesses have embraced e-commerce options, so you can still support small businesses from the comfort of your own home. Locally, many businesses have joined a new online shopping platform called Chamber Market, which was launched provincially earlier this year. Chamber of commerce representatives in Airdrie have likened the new digital market to becoming the city's online mall.
Though many local companies may not be in as dire a situation as last year, the fact is most are still reeling from the financial impact of pandemic-related restrictions. Government supports have mostly dried up in the last year – if they were ever received to begin with – and businesses are going to need the support of the community in getting through this ongoing dilemma.
So once again, we ask our readers to support and shop local this holiday season.
