The Local Collective Names Local Canadian Business Superheroes

Just in time for National Superhero Day, Roncesvalles Village Business Improvement Area (BIA) launches the LOCAL HEROES campaign, as the second part of the NOT FOR LEASE campaign that went viral last November that encouraged the support of small and locally owned businesses in the Roncesvalles neighbourhood throughout the holiday season. 

With the recently imposed Ontario-wide lockdown forcing small non-essential businesses to close once again, it has become even more important for consumers to continue their shopping, locally. The reality is, 1/3 of Ontario businesses are not expected to survive another lockdown period.

“This continues to be so much strain on small businesses. It has been confusing to navigate and the constant strain of changes really have left their mark on communities. You can see it all over the country. I’m still calling on all levels of government to step up and save our main streets. I love celebrating the community members who continue to shop and support local. I urge everyone to keep supporting your communities by shopping local and continue being “local heroes”. MPP Bhutila Karpoche, Member of Provincial Parliament Parkdale-High Park

The campaign was developed by local Toronto agency The Local Collective (TLC), who was tasked with creating a campaign that continued to rally ‘Roncy Love’ and encouraged the Roncesvalles community to continue to shop locally and support their neighbourhood stores and restaurants online. As a result, TLC created a playful and positive way of showing that everyday people are the community heroes as they continue to shop local and support their local economy, enriching the community as a whole, and keeping small businesses running and alive during lockdowns.

"This was a natural follow-up to the NOT FOR LEASE campaign, because what we saw was overwhelming support from the community. People shopping locally, supporting their local small and independent businesses have quite literally saved the lives of these incredible staples in the neighbourhood. The community deserves to be showcased for the superheroes they truly are." Kaitlin Doherty, The Local Collective, founder and managing director

Starting April 28th, @roncesvillage and many small Roncy businesses will be posting the fun, vibrant campaign, engaging with the community in their search of folks to call a #LocalRoncyHero. This call to action will encourage shoppers to post their local purchases or experiences on their social media channels, tagging the respective businesses and hashtagging #LocalRoncyHero. Every week a winner will be announced and they will win a custom personalised comic book cover and have their ‘hero’ cover shared on the @roncesvillage social feeds, along with printed versions of the posters put up in small businesses throughout Roncesvalles and in supporting media, to show their involvement their love for their local community “heroes”. Winners will also receive a printed and framed copy of their one-of-a-kind superhero cover. 

"Roncy stepped up, came out and has continued to come to the local and independent businesses’ rescue. We can’t thank our neighbours and neighbourhood enough. It’s important as we all go through this really trying time to celebrate and thank those people that have made a difference and this community needs to be thanked. Keep shopping locally and post it on social for a chance to turn yourself into a custom piece of art.." Adam Langley, vice-chair Roncesvalles Village BIA

The goal of this initiative is to showcase the shoppers of Roncesvalles that continue to patronise and show love to their local neighbourhood businesses, owned and operated by their neighbours and friends. The program will continue through May, reminding residents that showing their local love can save the day, and encourage other local neighbourhoods throughout Toronto to nominate and find their own ‘local heroes’.