Celebrate local heritage

The lines that divide my community from my city have all been blurred in the last couple of months. The separation from my province and my country has also become unclear. Being part of a small community today feels the same as being part of a nation. There’s a renewed sense of patriotism here in Canada. This happened on face of some unspeakable threats by powerful forces that have sent shivers around the globe. The world order is being reshaped in front of our naked eyes. The next months, and even years, will not be so easy. But everyone here has felt a duty to help. And the way to improve our country happens to be the same as to help our community. On my end, among other things, I make an effort to buy local and celebrate local heritage.

Buy local

This is no surprise: big corporations control the electronic commerce. Oligarchs run the economy. It has become clear that the money we pay for goods mostly doesn’t get reinvested in the local economy. Why do we keep giving hard earned money to impersonal companies or hostile foreign governments?

Today I give preference for regional commerce and local brands. Instead of going to international coffee franchises I have chosen cozy coffee shops. I have changed from mass produced frozen food to nearby family-owned restaurants. They are getting so used with me going there. They already know my favorite orders and ask me to confirm if everything was alright when I try something new. It has a personal touch that companies don’t offer. But this may come as a surprise: you don’t pay more for this, most of the time it’s even cheaper.

Celebrate local heritage

The other day I mentioned about how our uniqueness fostered our diversity. And how that made us stronger. I suggested celebrating our local heritage, going to museums, absorbing the regional culture. Those things apply here too. This is so important to me. I want to learn everything I can about the place that I chose to call home. Last Saturday I visited a museum in Toronto, the Bata Shoe Museum. I was impressed with how just a simple topic like shoes can tell so much about how humanity evolved.

So, these are a couple of things that I try to do to improve my community. I buy local products and brands. I also celebrate local heritage. What are some of the things that you would suggest?