Calgarians encouraged to #SupportLocalYYC during, after COVID-19 pandemic

Calgarians are being encouraged to put their support behind the city’s struggling local businesses as much as possible during the covonavirus pandemic, and after.

According Mayor Naheed Nenshi, during natural disasters, about 30 to 40 per cent of businesses that close their doors don’t open again.

During the historic flood of 2013, Nenshi said that number in Calgary was reduced to less than five per cent.

In an effort to encourage that same kind of support for the city’s shops and restaurants and stores during the pandemic, the city has launched the #SupportLocalYYC initiative.

“This pandemic has hit our business community very hard in a time when many of them were already challenged from a tough economy,” Nenshi said.

He added that the city is continuing to advocate to the provincial and federal governments to offer more supports to businesses hit hard by restrictions and cancellations imposed to help stop the spread of the virus.

1:59 Nenshi says province and feds need to step up to help municipalities overcome finances

Wednesday marked one month since the city issued its state of local emergency, which has been extended again.

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Nenshi said officials are examining daily whether the cancellation of all public events and permits — which currently spans until the end of June — needs to be cancelled.

The same goes for whether the Calgary Stampede will be able to go ahead. On Wednesday, the mayor echoed comments made about the event last week, that the board was evaluating the likelihood of being able to host a 2020 Stampede, adding that more information would be coming in the next week.

The Calgary Stampede said again on Wednesday that planning for the 2020 event has been paused since restrictions on mass gatherings were put in place.

“We continue to work with our trusted partners with Calgary Emergency Management Agency, Alberta Health Services, and the City of Calgary to determine the best path forward,” the Stampede said.

“Please understand this decision is bigger than our not-for-profit organization. Many local businesses are part of the greater Stampede and we need to make the right decision for everyone, with the health and safety of our community front of mind.”

The Stampede said there would be an update on the 2020 event next week.

1:10 Nenshi reminds citizens the safest thing to do is ‘stay home’

As of April 14, Calgary had 1,242 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 33 deaths.

— With files from Melissa Gilligan