Support Local campaign launched by Nenshi for holiday season, but raises concern over COVID spike

CALGARY (660 NEWS) — With the continued rise in COVID-19 cases, Mayor Naheed Nenshi is asking Calgarians to shop local this holiday season to help keep struggling businesses afloat.

Nenshi and Calgary Emergency Management Agency Chief, Tom Sampson, says we need to do more to curb numbers.

The Support Local holiday campaign is a way to bring some holiday cheer to small businesses as Nenshi is putting a focus on local instead of turning to the big box stores.

“Go to that second or third local company (online) that’s selling it, I’m trying to do the same thing right now. You know I might go to that big online retailer, find what I’m looking for, find that brand name and then Google it and see if it’s available from a local business,” Nenshi said.

He also understands people like to browse for items in-store instead of shopping online, but he adds that we need to maintain our distance, wear a mask, use hand sanitizer and continue following public health guidelines.

“Curbside pickup or delivery from local businesses is always preferred. If you are going to go shopping then going into one of these smaller businesses on one of these shopping streets where you can be outdoors in between is also a safer way of moving,” he said.

But top of mind has been the rise in COVID-19 cases and Nenshi and Sampson are concerned.

“The rise in cases is extraordinary, we need to see if the province’s restrictions they put in last week are really going to flatten the curve — I’m not convinced that they will — I think that we have to be very thoughtful in how to move forward,” Nenshi said

“These cases are severe and it’s concerning. The challenge seems to be how to stop it and we continue to work on that,” Sampson added during a session with a council committee on Wednesday.

There has been discussion about a ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown of shutting things down for a short period of time and Nenshi said if we go down that route, we need to do it quickly.

“If we are going to move into more of a ‘circuit breaker’ situation, it makes sense to do it quickly. That way we will still have a chance for businesses to be able to reopen for that critical Christmas shopping season.

“The point we’re at right now is we’ve got to protect the public health, or we will ruin the economy,” he said.

Nenshi has also heard from some business owners that they prefer a short lockdown.

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