Hundreds Of Tombstones Are Placed At Toronto Businesses That Are 'Struggling To Survive'
"So many businesses have already closed, people need to rally to save those of us who are left."
A new campaign is aiming to raise awareness of the importance of shopping locally at Toronto businesses.
The initiative "Buy Toronto Time," which was created by the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas, has so far enlisted over 400 GTA businesses to display tombstone posters in their windows to remind shoppers that they are "struggling to survive the pandemic."
Each poster includes the business name and opening date, but the second date remains blank in an attempt to showcase how close many businesses are to closing forever.
"'Buy Toronto Time' is about the life or death of an individual business in our city's neighbourhoods," John Kiru, executive director or the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas, said. "With a possible end to the pandemic in sight, Torontonians may think that means all businesses will live on. But the fact is they need support now more than ever."
According to the press release, the average Canadian small business has been forced to take $150,000 to $170,000 in debt due to the impact of COVID-19.