'Give them a fighting chance': Shop local for holidays, Aurora chamber says

‘Pandemic has caused a great deal of hardships for our local businesses,' president says

Yorkreigon.com
Dec. 2

As we end off a year dominated by the negative blow of the global COVID-19 pandemic, you can help make sure Aurora retailers don’t end up with nothing but a lump of coal in their stockings this holiday season.

'Tis the season to shop local in Aurora, Chamber of Commerce president, Sandra Ferri, said.

“The pandemic has caused a great deal of hardships for our local businesses, none more so that restaurants, retailers and service providers. As the holiday season draws near, it is more important than ever that we find ways to support these businesses and give them a fighting chance on the road to recovery,” she said.

“Aurora is a supportive community that has always been giving of their time and funds. This year we ask that the funds stay within our local community and help our neighbours who have invested their time and life savings in building businesses that offer us all a rich variety of goods and services.”

The chamber, the town and the Aurora Economic Development Corp. have joined forces to fund a second phase of Explore Aurora in support of local businesses.

Driven by the Aurora Business Continuity Task Force and managed by the chamber, the first phase of the campaign focused on the development of the ExploreAurora.ca website.

The site supported both the needs of businesses and acted as a one-stop place for customers to view available products and services in Aurora, Ferri said.

“The marketing campaign was heavily focused on telling the stories of local businesses and gaining followers on social media,” she said.

“At the end of the first phase, we had 200 businesses registered, hundreds of social media posts and a culminating campaign to recognize some of our local heroes. All in all, a very successful Phase 1.”

The second phase of Explore Aurora is a “robust” social media campaign designed to spotlight all Aurora businesses and chamber members who have registered on the website, Ferri said.

It consists of three components for the holiday season:

• Hero Campaign followup -- designed to reconnect with local heroes -- residents who had been rewarded for stepping up during the pandemic to help the community in meaningful ways -- and spotlight their experience with the local gift bags they received and the businesses that donated the goods and services.

• Community Candyland -- 12 weekly challenges around town where participants complete the challenge and post photos on social media to encourage the community to connect with businesses and amplify their experience.

• Holiday Special Offers -- Capitalizing on the special offers page, Explore Aurora Ambassadors will be visiting businesses and showcasing what they have to offer for the holiday season.

 

Mayor Tom Mrakas is encouraging residents to spend their holiday dollars with local businesses.

“Our small businesses are run by our friends, our neighbours, our good community partners -- they are our family. And we need to do all we can to support our local businesses during the holiday,” he said.

This year's annual retail study by consulting firm Deloitte indicates COVID-19 isn't cancelling the holidays but Canadians are trimming their spending and time spent shopping, with a focus on price, product and convenience.

And Canadians are looking to time spent with family and friends to make the holidays special this year.

It’s not only businesses that need your support more than ever this year.

Many local charities and organizations are asking residents to remember neighbours in less fortunate circumstances this holiday season.

For example, the Santa Fund run by the York Region Media Group, working together with Yellow Brick House, Canadian Cancer Society and Sandgate Women’s Shelter of York Region, is accepting gift cards.

For more information or to donate, email santafund@metroland.com

Neighbourhood Network’s annual holiday gift drive supporting families in need in Aurora, East Gwillimbury, Georgina, King Township and Newmarket, is looking for donations of urgently needed items and gift cards.

“While this year has been very unpredictable, we do know that there has been an increase in needs, especially for the upcoming holiday season,” program co-ordinator, Tanya Dennis, said.

“Each family has a different set of needs. Whether it is a necessity, such as toothpaste or shampoo, bed sheets, a warm winter jacket or toys for children, we want to make sure we do everything we can to help our neighbours during the holiday season."

For more information, visit neighbourhoodnetwork.org.

Other organizations collecting for residents in need include York Regional Police’s Holiday Heroes Toy Drive at yrp.ca, the Aurora Lions Club at aurora-lions-club-ontario.com or 905-727-6029, the Aurora branch of the Royal Canadian Legion through president Lori Hoyes at email hoyes.avon@gmail.com and and the Salvation Army's Northridge Community Church is running its drive at northridgesa.com/givethischristmas.