(Advertising feature)
Live Here, Shop Here is a Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows News campaign that spans the holiday season to spotlight the value of shopping local.
.
Small businesses are deeply rooted in the community, creating local jobs and supporting nearby enterprises, keeping local investment circulating in the community.
In the City of Pitt Meadows Business Directory, a partnership between the city and the Ridge Meadows Chamber of Commerce, around 700 small businesses are licensed to operate just in Pitt Meadows.
The 2021 Statistics Canada census, the most recent census taken, there were 7,505 jobs in the city.
Since then, the city reported, they have seen a steady increase in the number of business licences issued each year, especially with the opening of Phases 3 and 4 of the Golden Ears Business Park.
Not only does small business bring in more than 30 per cent of the property tax revenue for the city, they also make positive contributions to the community, noted Pitt Meadows Mayor Nicole MacDonald.
“Many also contribute beyond the local economy by sponsoring local events, supporting charities, and volunteering their time and expertise. Together, these efforts strengthen the Pitt Meadows community and foster a strong sense of local pride and connection,” explained the mayor.
And, through the city’s annual Community Services Awards Program, established in 2019, the city recognizes a local business each year that makes a positive impact in Pitt Meadows.
The Business of the Year Award recognizes a local business that, on a regular basis, contributes to the overall quality of life in Pitt Meadows through community service endeavours.
Last year the Business of the Year Award was awarded to the Pitt Meadows Combat Club, a kickboxing and Brazilian Jiu jitsu gym for all ages, in recognition of the positive impact on health, fitness and community spirit in Pitt Meadows.
The club offers programs that encourage confidence, self-esteem and a stronger sense of community. There is an after-school pickup program, providing peace of mind for working parents and safe, engaging after-school care for children through their Heron Athletics Program.
Additionally, their support and sponsorship of local mixed martial arts (MMA) athletes who compete at the professional level fosters both athletic excellence and community pride. Pitt Meadows Combat Club is actively involved in many community events, including Pitt Meadows Day and collecting food bank donations.
Connor Gallagher, who co-owns the club with his business partner Cheryl Martin, said receiving the award was validating for what they are trying to do as a small business in a community that has given them so much since they opened in 2022.
“We do try to incorporate the community as much as we can in most things we try and do,” said Gallagher.
For Halloween the club puts together a haunted house which the community can enjoy by donation and for club competitions, students are asked to bring a non-perishable food item, with donations going to the Food Bank on Wheels in Pitt Meadows.
Throughout the year the club also holds other smaller fundraising events, including one to help families in need with the costs involved with back-to-school.
“Small businesses are inherently a part of the community. Our business is where we live and helps mold the general environment that we exist in,” said Gallagher, who grew up in Maple Ridge.
Small business owners work hard for their success and staying power, added Gallagher, who believes that being active in the community is a more honest way to conduct business.
He noted success doesn’t involve just one person. It involves being part of the greater community.
“You can be in it for yourself, but I find that disingenuous because no one really exists on their own,” he said.
“It’s the connections that you make. It’s the people you get to see day to day. It’s the people,” he added.
MacDonald noted that shopping local means investing in businesses, farms and artisans that keep Pitt Meadows’ economy strong and the community vibrant.
”Choosing to spend locally helps sustain jobs, preserve our rural character and ensure that investment stays right here at home,” she said.
This holiday season, MacDonald is encouraging locals to explore offerings in their own backyard, including the Handcrafted Gifts exhibit at the Pitt Meadows Art Gallery, at 10932 Barnston View Rd., which runs until Dec. 24.
The holiday shop is an annual tradition and features unique works from more than 50 local artists and artisans – from original art to beautifully handcrafted items, each piece tells a story and contributes to our unique creative community, explained MacDonald.
“Whether you are shopping for gifts, food or everyday essentials, every local purchase makes a difference. Supporting local businesses strengthens the fabric of Pitt Meadows. It ensures that growth remains rooted in sustainability, authenticity and community connection.”
To learn more about economic development in the City of Pitt Meadows go to: https://www.pittmeadows.ca/business-services/local-economic-development.
• Check out upcoming Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows News editions for more stories in our Live Here, Shop Here series.
<!– WrlWuos it –>