Bruce Power joins Canada United to support local businesses and accelerate small business recovery

Bruce Power announced today (August 6th) its Retooling and Economic Recovery Council (RERC) has joined Canada United, a national movement to support local businesses in communities across the country.

As part of the movement, RBC has brought together more than 50 of Canada’s leading brands, business associations and the national Chamber of Commerce network to rally Canadians to ‘show local some love’ by buying, dining and shopping local. The initiative culminates with a shop-local celebration from Aug. 28-30.

Canada United joins the Strength in Numbers Personal Protective Equipment purchasing campaign as a way the RERC is supporting local businesses as they reopen to the public while ensuring the safety of their employees and patrons. The Grey-Bruce-Huron Strong initiative – a collaboration between Bruce Power, NPX Innovation and the Nuclear Innovation Institute – has also been providing residents and businesses with information and incentives to shop local since the early days of the pandemic.

“The small businesses in Bruce, Grey, Huron and Perth counties have done a fabulous job of altering their business models to continue serving the public in the safest way possible during these uncertain times, so Bruce Power and the Retooling and Economic Recovery Council felt it was important to champion this shop-local initiative,” said James Scongack, Bruce Power’s Executive Vice-President, Corporate Affairs and Operational Services.

“We encourage you to shop local every day, and to especially take advantage of the Canada United weekend from Aug. 28-30 by investing in your local business community in any way you can. Let’s show our businesses that we will continue to be here for them.”

Canadians are also encouraged to watch the Canada United videos online at GoCanadaUnited.ca, like posts from @GoCanadaUnited on social media and use #CanadaUnited to demonstrate their support. For each of these actions until Aug. 31, RBC will contribute five cents up to a maximum contribution amount of $2 million to the new Canada United Small Business Relief Fund, while working with government and corporate partners to source additional contributions to the fund during the course of the campaign. The fund will provide small businesses with grants of up to $5,000 to cover expenses related to personal protective equipment (PPE) renovations to accommodate re-opening guidelines and developing or improving e-commerce capabilities.

Small Canadian businesses across the country will be able to apply for up to $5,000 in grant funding. The program intends to support small Canadian businesses of all kinds from across the country. The Canada United Small Business Relief Fund will be administered by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce on behalf of the national Chamber network. Small business owners who are interested in the program can visit GoCanadaUnited.ca to learn more about grant application details, including eligibility criteria, and to apply.

“We are excited to welcome Bruce Power’s Retooling and Economic Recovery Council to Canada United to help local businesses and Canada’s economy come back strong,” said Neil McLaughlin, Group Head, Personal & Commercial Banking, Royal Bank of Canada. “Canada United was created to kick-start an economic rebound by rallying consumers to give local businesses the support they need to re-open during these uncertain times. By bringing together government, business associations and corporate Canada, we are looking to start a movement to get Canadians to buy local and support businesses across the country. We are genuinely excited by the energy all of our partners are bringing to this effort.”

“If there has been one silver lining in all the tragedy and sacrifices of the current crisis, it has been the spirit of collaboration and unity of purpose that has been evident between levels of government, across provinces and across sectors,” said Rocco Rossi, President and CEO, Ontario Chamber of Commerce. “We are calling on that same unity of purpose with Canada United. Small, local businesses are the heart of our communities, our main streets and our economy. Together, it is time to show local some love.”

About Bruce Power

Formed in 2001, Bruce Power is an electricity company based in Bruce County, Ontario. We are powered by our people. Our 4,200 employees are the foundation of our accomplishments and are proud of the role they play in safely delivering clean, reliable, low-cost nuclear power to families and businesses across the province. Bruce Power has worked hard to build strong roots in Ontario and is committed to protecting the environment and supporting the communities in which we live. Learn more at www.brucepower.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.