CityTalk Live Webinar
5 Key Takeaways
1. Community-Driven Innovation Thrives in Times of Crisis
A common thread among all panellists was that local innovation thrives in times of disruption. From pandemic-era buying programs to procurement shifts triggered by tariffs, these efforts show how communities respond with creativity and determination. Gwen Patrick noted, “It’s not a coincidence that this work was incubated in an environment of scarcity.” Mary Pattison echoed this, pointing out that today’s uncertainty is being met with five years of expertise built during the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of waiting for top-down solutions, all three panellists offered scalable, place-based tools that redefine economic leadership from the ground up.
2. Economic Nutrition Labels Can Make Local Impact Visible
Gwen Patrick of Shorefast shared how the organization fosters economic resilience on Fogo Island, Newfoundland, through community-owned businesses and local procurement. She introduced the Economic Nutrition Label, a transparency tool modeled after food labels that breaks down where money goes—by geography and by category (e.g., salaries, operations). This tool holds businesses accountable, informs consumer choices, and benchmarks local impact. Gwen announced a national pilot launching this summer to adapt the label for broader use, including in urban settings. This effort is part of the upcoming Shorefast Institute for Place-Based Economies, which will share tools developed on Fogo Island with communities across Canada. She emphasized the label’s versatility and growing interest from BIAs, small businesses, and arts organizations—highlighting its potential to support sustainable, place-based economic decision-making nationwide.
3. Incentives Work: Small Rewards Can Drive Big Local Change
Mary Pattison, co-founder of Shop Local to Win, shared how the contest initiative transformed a grassroots pandemic response into a nationally scalable model for main street recovery. Launched during COVID-19 with co-founder Kim Lesperance, the initiative incentivized local shopping through cash-prize contests—generating $85,000 in incremental spending and encouraged people to explore new local businesses. Now expanded to over 68 contests across North America, the program helps Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) strengthen ties with their communities while collecting valuable data on consumer behaviour. Mary highlighted how small incentives can meaningfully shift consumer behavior, driving purchases away from big-box and online retailers. More than just promoting local shopping, the initiative aims to build long-term community investment and offers a repeatable, measurable and community-driven tool for revitalizing local economies in uncertain times. For Mary, it’s not only about getting people to shop locally—it’s about making them feel invested in the long-term health of their neighbourhoods.
4. Social Procurement Is a Powerful, Underused Tool for Community Resilience
Tori Williamson of Buy Social Canada emphasized that procurement is one of the most overlooked yet powerful tools for social and economic change, noting that every purchase has a social, economic, cultural, and environmental impact—whether intended or not. She advocates for social procurement, a strategy that directs spending toward local, social, and Indigenous enterprises to build more resilient and equitable communities. Tori stressed the importance of clear procurement policies, measurable goals, and small, consistent actions that can scale over time. “You’re already spending,” she said. “Why not make that spending do more?” By aligning procurement with community values, organizations can foster economic ecosystems that promote inclusion, equity, and sustainability. While her work focuses on institutional buyers, Tori also encouraged individuals to reflect on their purchasing habits and help grow demand for values-driven businesses. Scaling impact begins with intentional choices—and the right policies can accelerate meaningful change.
5. Main Streets Are Critical Infrastructure—Not Just Commercial Zones
Throughout the discussion, the panel reinforced the idea that main streets are more than shopping districts—they are economic, cultural, and social arteries of communities. CityTalk Host Mary W. Rowe described main streets as “the spines of our communities… often becoming the hearts [of where] they intersect.” Tools like the Canadian Urban Institute’s MainStreetCanada.ca and the Tariff Tracker help communities better understand and invest in these spaces. Resilient main streets can help buffer against global uncertainty and provide tangible entry points for economic innovation, citizen engagement, and local recovery.