-by Anne Finlay-Stewart, Editor

This is the way a local economy works.

Peter Reid of Tibbs Management Inc. is our landlord and partner in the Community Incubator – the Inc. He believes, as we do at the Hub, that where you spend your money matters. Buying local keeps our businesses alive and keeps a roof over the heads of owners and employees alike, but there are benefits for our whole community.  

Local business people in Grey Bruce also support local projects and organizations with donations of cash, products and services. Peter considers himself fortunate to have been able to support Crime Stoppers, Safe 'n Sound, OSHaRE, the Reach Centre, Giche Namewikwedong Reconciliation Garden, Saugeen First Nation foodbank, local Royal Canadian Legions, Holland Chatsworth Central School playground, the Harmony Centre and United Way Bruce Grey.

But he knows he's one of a crowd, and you have almost certainly been on the receiving end of their contributions.

Notice the sponsors on the jerseys of our minor sports teams, on signs and posters for concerts and special events.Read the names on the backs of the seats at the Roxy, on the stones in the Summerfolk Circle, on the program at the Symphony and the Kiwanis Music Festival.

Consider who donates to our silent auctions, penny sales and door prizes; who sponsors the holes in the golf tournaments or donates the food to the fun runs; who furnished the REACH Centre, put new mattresses in the Women's Centre and the living wall in the hospice, gave materials to Habitat builds; who sponsors free skates, free swims and free ice cream.

Look at the cheque presentation photos in the paper, the donor wall at the hospital, the quiet thank you's on the websites of all our local charities.

Some are tiny local businesses, family-owned stores and restaurants, self-employed professionals and trades-people. Even the donations from big grocery stores or financial institutions are all courtesy of local stores and branches.

Some of these businesses have seen very little financial impact during the pandemic. A few even did very well. Many of them had a serious hit in their revenue which won't easily – or ever – be replaced.

But in small anonymous ways and grand gifts, they are still enriching our community in hundreds of ways, making things we value happen that would not be possible without them.

When you buy local, it comes right back to us. That is how a local economy works. This is what community looks like.