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Keeping Christmas shopping local FRANCIS RACINE francis.racine@eap.on.ca
CORNWALL | Christmas is more than three weeks away but some have already begun or even "nished their Christmas shop- ping. But as with every other jolly sea- son, a wave of love for local business has arisen, encouraging shoppers to visit their neighborhood stores before browsing the aisles of big box superstores. But as famed broadcast journalist Walter Cronkite once said, “in seeking truth you have to get both sides of the story.” The Journal therefore decided to conduct its own little experiment, in order to consid- er just how much more money is needed, in order to keep Christmas shopping local. The biggest issue facing local buyers is, of course, the price. Some argue that although they dowant to encourage local businesses, prices for the same product are signi"cantly higher than their big box store counter- part. The Journal therefore decided to scout aisles at local stores as well as larger stores. Nearly identical toys, wrapping paper and Christmas fruit cakes were purchased; one at a local commerce, the other at a big box store. The results were quite surprising.. Two of the same puzzles were bought, one at a big box store located on Brookdale Avenue, and another at a local toy store. Both were in the same price range, the one bought at the local merchant being slightly more expensive. As for wrapping paper, The Journal decid- ed to purchase one at a local family owned dollar store and one at a corporate owned commerce. In the long run, we were forced to pay a total of 35 cents more for our locally bought roll. Although cheaper, the product purchased at the larger facility proved to be of lesser quality, the colors being duller and the paper seeming more likely to tear.
Any Christmas supper could not be com- plete without the traditional fruit cake. Therefore, one was bought at a big box store, and the other at a local bakery. The prices were quite di#erent, the big box version of the product being signi"cantly cheaper. Yet the bakery bought one actu- ally had a better fruit taste, whereas the big box store cake had the consistency of a bath sponge. Purchases that bene!t the community The Cornwall and Area Chamber of Com- merce and the City of Cornwall teamed up in November 2013 and launched We Shop in Cornwall , a Facebook page dedicated to encouraging local shopping. “Buying local helps to stimulate local eco- nomic activity, which is good for the overall health of our community,” had expressed Kevin Hargreaves, president of the Corn- wall and Area Chamber of Commerce, dur- ing the launch “When we shop at home, we are supporting our family members, friends and neighbors who work for and manage these businesses.” According to Hargreaves, purchases made locally mean that a greater share of the money stays in the community and gets reinvested in it through wages, taxes, community donations, supplies and vari-
ous support services from other local busi- nesses. But who really cares about the price? Eat Right Ontario , a dietitian service pro- vided free of charge to residents of the province, provides a great answer to the commonly asked question; when comes Christmas time: “How can I save money but still eat local foods?” “Some of the most nutritious vegetables
and fruits can also be the least expensive, like potatoes, apples, carrots and other root vegetables,” states the service’s web- site. “You may also "nd that you can save money by buying locally grown foods that are frozen or canned. As long as you choose frozen or canned food with reduced salt, fat or sugar, you are getting budget friendly vegetables and fruit that have been packed when they have the most nutrients.”
KEEP YOUR TREE А In a sturdy stand А Away from heating vents, fireplaces and candles А Watered daily Remember to make sure all electric lights, connections and smoke alarms are in good working order. ASSUREZ-VOUS QUE VOTRE ARBRE А est installé dans un support solide А est placé loin des bouches de chaleur, du foyer ou des chandelles А est arrosé chaque jour N’oubliez pas de vérifier que les lumières électriques, les branchements et les détecteurs de fumée sont en bon état.
Une mort qui secoue la ville entière Le chaos s’est installé dans presque toute la ville le 26 novembre dernier, lorsqu’un homme a été retrouvé poignardé, près du Ramada Inn sur l’avenue Brookdale. Une grande partie de l’artère commerciale a donc été fermée, créant la consternation chez de nombreux résidents de la ville. À l’heure de mettre sous presse, l’homme n’avait pas encore été identi"é par les policiers. Par contre, selon un communiqué de presse envoyé par les services de police de Cornwall, la victime se serait enlevé la vie. Charity hockey game: December 13 The Cornwall Colts and the Benson Group are once again teaming up to support the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul with a charity hockey game. The 2 nd annual event will take place on Saturday, December 13 at 4 p.m. at the Benson Centre. Local business and community leaders will skate alongside the Colts to raise money and non-perishable food items just in time for Christmas distribution through the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul. Joining the Colts on the ice for the game will be Marty Benson, Mark Boileau, Pierre Brous- seau, Chris Fraser, Ray Jock, MP Guy Lauzon, Scott Lecky, BJ MacDonald, Ian MacInnis, Har- old McBride, Tim McCuaig, Pat McLeod, Sean Mecteau, David Murphy and Shawn Pilon.
613-933-1375 or/ou 1 800 267-7120 Ask for Health Line/Demandez la ligne Appel-santé
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