a)Historically
With a greater proportion of entrepreneurial businesses than any other GTA city, business in Burlington
is founded on entrepreneurs and their energy, their drive, their philosophies and their businesses. These
are typically one- or two- person owned businesses.
b)COVID
The impact of COVID was devastating – from the very beginning for many but as COVID continued,
more and more of these many quiet entrepreneurial pillars of our community were forced to close their
doors. Many of our favourite service businesses, cafes and food shops and small product based
businesses disappeared both during and up to shortly after COVID.
Which is why for many of us we sounded the cry back then for “buy local”, “buy from
owner/operators” where possible. Entrepreneurs from around the city in many sectors collaborated
helping many of us to survive.
c)Post-COVID
And now . . . more new small businesses are growing and thriving. And, yes, there are those who try
and fail as well, but that too is part of the entrepreneurial spirit. They often regroup, morph, learn and
try something different.
In current economic times, not only is the buy Canadian mindset required, the buy local, from people
you get to know, from owner/operators theme and mindset moves us all forward together. Here’s to our
entrepreneurs!
