By Stephanie Froese

Holiday shopping goes local

Dec 14, 2010 | 11:13 AM

A Bank of Montreal survey is suggesting nearly half of Canadians will do their holiday shopping at local businesses this year and Prince Albert is following that trend.

According to the report, four in 10 people plan to shop at independent or boutique stores and as many as 50 per cent will shop locally when buying for work.

“The economy for Prince Albert Local Business is as strong as it’s ever been and I think that holds true with that report,” Joe Bexson, chair of the Prince Albert and District Chamber of Commerce said.

“People just need to take a step back and think there’s nothing you can’t get here in Prince Albert … sure it a little busy out there but you go down the road (to Saskatoon) and it gets a little busier”

According to Bexson there is a ripple effect that happens when dollars are spent in the community.

International Spotlight

P.A.'s Howe one of 4 Sask. born players named to Canada's World Junior roster

8h ago

National

Ottawa to remove 30% investment cap for Canadian pension funds

12h ago

Budget woes

Golf and curling centre faces grim season without financial boost

16h ago

“When you shop locally, the employees that are working in every store are then going out and taking their paycheques and spending them in the community,” he said.

“People who do come in from the outlying areas to shop here are coming in or going for a meal at a restaurant or fueling up their vehicles, they’re basically spurring on the economy for local business so it’s positive all the way around.”

Marty Houle and Janet Lukan own Houle Furniture in Prince Albert. Houle says while many people do chose to shop at his store because it is local there doesn’t seem to be much of a change this year.

“You know we’ve been busy but I don’t think things are any different than they used to be,” Houle said.

“There are a lot of people who still go elsewhere to buy; Saskatoon, Alberta I suppose, but we do have a lot of local business.”

Houle says lots of customers who support them make reference to the different community projects that the store in turn supports.

That same relationship between community support and local business is echoed in other Prince Albert businesses.

sfroese@panow.com