Feb. 15 is Canada flag day - it is the day that the current maple leaf sporting flag was adopted as the national symbol to fly across the country. This year marks the 60th anniversary of that day.
During the trucker protests of the COVID 19 pandemic days, there was a divisiveness that grew throughout the Canadian public. Those who flew the flag proudly were associated with the anti-vaxxer movement and it soured some people鈥檚 impression of the flag.
Now, however, the flag is being flown once again in unity, especially if you buy it from a Canadian company or store with the bonus of it being made in Canada.
The looming threat of tariffs from our American neighbours to the south has put Canadians on edge. An edge where as a country, we will no longer be spending our dollars in a country that has jokingly (but is it a joke?) talked about annexing Canada. Instead, we are looking closer to home.
LUSH Valley prepares their Good Food Boxes with produce and eggs locally sourced from Comox Valley farmers. We have always had an idea to 鈥渟hop local鈥� in the Valley, but with the sentiments coming from the south, there is a collective desire to do more. LUSH Valley has seen such an uptick in their requests for boxes. They did 14 more full-cost boxes which was 20 more than the week prior, essentially doubling their numbers.
It鈥檚 small things like this that show how the Valley cares about local and Canada first and shows we won鈥檛 bow down to bullies.
It only takes a quick look at Facebook or Reddit these days to see all the 鈥淏uy Canadian鈥� groups that have popped up in the last few weeks that call on our population to buy with intent. The groups show our southern neighbours with our dollars that we won鈥檛 be part of their country or tricks with tariffs.
The various groups speak of everything from cancelling vacations to the U.S., looking at labels that report where their products are made, boycotting U.S. subscriptions like Netflix and Amazon to just finding alternatives. One sentiment is shared: if you have to buy something that isn鈥檛 Canadian, avoid the U.S. products, and go for our good trade partners.
What does that mean for us in the Comox Valley?
It means that we continue to unite as a small community that puts its locals first. We buy from places like LUSH Valley that support our farmers and give back to the local economy. We check labels to support B.C. products and Canadian products. We spend a few extra minutes buying with intent. We unify for the greater good of our country. And we show them with our wallets what polite Canadians can do when we have a goal.
