With the announcement of the , we thought it would be good to look at just what it means to B次元官网网址渢hink local.B次元官网网址�

While this initiative, along with the Ten Per Cent Shift initiative, asks people to consider changing their shopping habits to support local business B次元官网网址� even going so far as to provide rewards for doing so B次元官网网址� it shouldnB次元官网网址檛 be just about economics.

Sure, when you spend your hard-earned dollars at locally owned and operated retailers and businesses, more of that money stays within the community.

But itB次元官网网址檚 more than that.

WeB次元官网网址檙e hoping people who are participating in these programs and supporting these initiatives take B次元官网网址渢hinking localB次元官网网址� one step further.

Thinking local means having consideration for your neighbours.

It means recognizing that your actions have an impact on those around you.

Whether thatB次元官网网址檚 doing more of your purchasing and hiring of services from a local provider, or simply not dropping that empty candy wrapper on the sidewalk, thinking local is about doing whatB次元官网网址檚 best for your own community, and considering that before thinking about whatB次元官网网址檚 best for yourself.

A rising tide raises all ships, after all.

Now, no one is saying we should all stop shopping at big box stores or banking at huge national banking chains. These businesses have their place within our communities, as well. They employ thousands B次元官网网址� if not tens of thousands B次元官网网址� of people on the West Shore alone, and few would say thatB次元官网网址檚 a bad thing for a community.

WeB次元官网网址檙e just hoping that people take the opportunity, a bit more often, to consider what effect their actions have on those around them, whether thatB次元官网网址檚 where to purchase their next recliner or how loud they need their music to be at 10:30 p.m.

Because good neighbours make good communities.