Supporting Local Communities: Where Does It Take Us?

Read this post in Squamish Chief

The hype of shopping for local and organic, all-natural, and sustainably made products has been taking over the Western market. Many people like the idea of it, without actually realizing the impact that they’re making by buying locally and shopping at home-run businesses.

Emma explains it well on her blog, why is it so important to support the local artists, when traveling.

When and how do we support our local community in Squamish?

We support the local community when we shop at local stores such as mini health food store markets, cideries, and breweries, bakeries, farmers market, and other food and beverage shops that produce/shop for their ingredients locally.

When ingredients and products are produced, made or grown in Squamish, that means;

Those take less energy to produce/close to zero waste and no waste when it comes to transport!

Another way of investing in local businesses is retail, service, and art! Home-run businesses like hairdressers make up artists, shoe repairs, etc, as well as artists! (Like myself). Photographers, painters, craftsmen, woodworking and shaping, glass melting artists and native art artists! When you really look into the reach Squamish culture in the last decade, there are so many creative people, driving this community!

By supporting the locals, we are all participating in growing our community, our economy and I like this example: “When buying from your local business you are helping a family put food on the table, send kids to school, buy clothes, etc. When buying from a big corporation, you are only adding up the founding to some millionaire’s third beach house.”

Every single one of our daily decisions is important. Be mindful of where you shop and what you shop for! When supporting our local businesses we are contributing to the local decision making! Local ownership makes sure, their decisions and votes remain on the side that is better for the community in comparison to big co-ops that don’t really care. A great way to preserve the community is supporting those who are driving it! Of course, by buying locally in Squamish you are making sure the money stays here! If you are working in the city, you are bringing money in, but also keeping it in by buying local! It is really good for the economy. I hope that makes sense so far. Growing local ownerships also creates more job opportunities and usually better wages than big chains.

According to ILSR, “Local stores help to sustain vibrant, compact, walkable town centers-which, in turn, are essential to reducing sprawl, automobile use, habitat loss, and air and water pollution.”

My favorites in Squamish; locally owned businesses in Squamish

FOOD AND BEVERAGE: Zephyr Cafe, The Ledge, Backcountry Brewery, Turmeric Food Truck, Farmers Market on Saturdays, Cloudburst, Locavore food truck, Copper Coil, XOCO chocolate place, 99 North Dispensary

RETAIL & SERVICES: Random and Peals consignment stores, my friend Jenifer(the hairdresser), OTP dirt bike shop

SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT: Sea To Sky Art house gallery, magazines like Mountain Life magazine, snowboard brands like Known, apparel brands like BeWildHer, Wild and Heart, yoga places like Breathe, Klemen Mali mountain guide (my dad)

The list goes on and on…

CONCLUSION; WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES AND ARTIST?

– keeps money in the local economy
– creates more choice
– embraces what makes us unique
– makes our locality a destination

It is the most sustainable and eco-friendly decision to make. Shopping local reduces the environmental impact a lot, keeps the communities unique and diverse, invests in the community itself! It is a very logical decision to make. How do you support local businesses? Let me know in the comment section!

More about Alenka

My name is Alenka and I’m a Squamish based photographer. I love shooting nature, sports, sports in nature… underwater shots, adventures in the mountains and days on snow! I’m stoked. Very simply put, I am a stoked girl, ready to get up at 2 in the morning and hike for a sunrise, ready to go to the airport and take a random flight… I’m stoked on living and I love what I do for work.

Photography, web design and digital marketing have been things I’m proud to call my job! Very flexible, lots of traveling and even more adventures than when I was a kid. Here, on my website I share tips on photography, spreading awareness about the zero-waste lifestyle and sustainabilty and crazy stories from my travels. Welcome.

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