Proudly Canadian, Proudly Local: The Canadian-Owned Sticker Campaign in Downtown Mission

Introduction: Why Local Matters

In a world where shopping can be as quick as a tap on your phone, it’s easy to forget the importance of the businesses in our own backyard. These are the places that know your name, give back to community events, sponsor local teams, and bring life to our downtown streets. Supporting local businesses isn’t just about convenience—it’s about community, identity, and resilience.

That’s why the Mission Downtown Business Association (MDBA) is proud to introduce the Canadian-Owned Sticker Campaign—an initiative designed to highlight and celebrate businesses that are owned and operated right here in Canada.

This campaign makes it easier than ever for residents and visitors to identify Canadian-owned businesses and show their support by choosing to shop, dine, and invest locally.

What Is the Canadian-Owned Sticker Campaign?

The Canadian-Owned Sticker Campaign is a simple but powerful idea: give businesses a clear, visible way to showcase their Canadian roots and encourage customers to shop with them.

Participating businesses receive a custom “Proudly Canadian-Owned” window sticker, designed to be displayed prominently in storefronts. This lets everyone passing by know that the business is Canadian-owned and operated.

But the sticker is just the start. Participating businesses are also:

• Featured in the Mission Downtown Business Directory with a Canadian-owned badge.

• Highlighted in MDBA’s social media campaigns and community spotlights.

• Promoted at downtown events to increase visibility.

By creating a unified visual identity across our downtown core, this initiative helps Canadian-owned businesses stand out and connects shoppers to the local businesses they want to support.

Why Celebrate Canadian-Owned Businesses?

At first glance, it might seem that all businesses—no matter who owns them—contribute to the local economy. And that’s true. But Canadian-owned businesses offer something uniquely valuable:

1. Economic Strength at Home Money spent at Canadian-owned businesses is more likely to stay in Canada, supporting local supply chains, job creation, and reinvestment in our communities.

2. Community Connection Canadian entrepreneurs often have deep roots in the places where they do business. They’re the ones sponsoring local fundraisers, volunteering at community events, and making decisions that put people ahead of profits.

3. National Identity Supporting Canadian-owned businesses is a way of strengthening our collective identity. It reinforces what it means to be Canadian—resilient, innovative, community-driven—and ensures those values remain at the heart of our economy.

Not About Division—About Celebration

One of the most important aspects of this campaign is its inclusive spirit. The Canadian-Owned Sticker Campaign isn’t about creating division between Canadian-owned businesses and others. It’s about giving customers who want to shop Canadian a clear and easy way to identify those businesses.

Downtown Mission remains a welcoming, inclusive place for all businesses—no matter their ownership. But by highlighting Canadian-owned businesses, we’re offering both locals and visitors a chance to make informed choices that align with their values.

How Businesses Benefit

If you’re a business owner, participating in the Canadian-Owned Sticker Campaign offers multiple benefits:

✔ Brand Visibility – The window sticker catches attention and sparks curiosity, drawing in new customers.

✔ Marketing Support – MDBA’s social media promotion ensures your business is seen by thousands of community members.

✔ Directory Listing – Being identified in the Mission Downtown Business Directory as Canadian-owned gives you an edge when customers are choosing where to shop.

✔ Community Pride – Showcasing your Canadian ownership strengthens customer loyalty and builds trust.

How Customers Benefit

For shoppers, this campaign offers:

• Clarity: No more guessing if a business is locally owned—just look for the sticker.

• Confidence: Supporting Canadian-owned businesses means knowing your money stays close to home.

• Community Impact: Every purchase helps build a stronger, more vibrant downtown core.

Stories of Local Pride

(Here you can insert short interviews or spotlight stories of actual downtown businesses that are Canadian-owned—this section can be expanded as you collect quotes and features. For the blog, I can structure it so placeholders are ready for you to plug in real stories later.)

Example: "When people see the sticker in our window, they stop in and tell us how much they appreciate knowing we’re Canadian-owned,” says [Business Owner Name], owner of [Business]. “It’s not just about business—it’s about being recognized as part of the Mission community.”

How to Participate

If your business is Canadian-owned and operated, it’s easy to get involved:

1. Receive Your Sticker – MDBA has distributed custom window stickers to Canadian-owned businesses in downtown Mission.

2. Display It Proudly – Place it on your storefront window where customers can see it.

3. Spread the Word – Share photos of your sticker on social media using hashtags like #ShopLocal and #CanadianOwned.

4. Stay Connected – Watch for marketing campaigns, directory listings, and community events that highlight your business.

The Bigger Picture: Why This Matters for Mission

Local businesses are the heartbeat of our downtown. When they thrive, our whole community thrives.

• Jobs: Local businesses create employment opportunities for Mission residents.

• Character: They give downtown its unique flavour and sense of identity.

• Resilience: A strong local economy is better able to withstand external challenges.

By launching the Canadian-Owned Sticker Campaign, MDBA is reinforcing its commitment to building a downtown core that is vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable.

Call to Action

Next time you’re walking through Downtown Mission, take a look at the storefronts around you. Spot the red-and-white sticker? Step inside. Make a purchase. Say hello. Every time you choose to shop Canadian-owned, you’re investing in the heart of your community.

And if you’re a business owner, don’t miss the chance to participate in this campaign. It’s free, it’s simple, and it’s a powerful way to show your pride in being Canadian-owned.

Conclusion

The Canadian-Owned Sticker Campaign is more than just a marketing initiative—it’s a movement to celebrate what makes our community strong: resilience, entrepreneurship, and pride in being Canadian.

Together, we can make downtown Mission a destination for residents and visitors who want to shop with businesses that reflect their values. Together, we can keep our local economy thriving. And together, we can celebrate the businesses that make Mission not just a place to shop, but a place to belong.