Premier Doug Ford speaks at Mayor’s annual business breakfast

By Rob Paul

On Friday October 22, Caledon Mayor Allan Thompson hosted his annual fall business breakfast at Mt. Alverno Resort in Caledon Village.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford delivered the keynote address at the event.

“What better way to celebrate our small business community,” said Mayor Thompson. “A big thank you to Premier Ford for his continued support of Caledon, I truly believe we are poised to come back better, thanks in large part to the resilience of our small business community. You have been a friend to Caledon and to all the businesses across the province. Throughout the pandemic you and your cabinet have had some tough decisions in a constantly changing environment and I want to thank you for tour leadership.”

In attendance at the event alongside Thompson and Ford were Dufferin-Caledon MPP Sylvia Jones, Dufferin-Caledon MP Kyle Seeback, Brampton South MPP Prabmeet Sarkaria, Orangeville Mayor Sandy Brown, Erin Mayor Allan Alls, and Peel Regional Chair Nando Iannicca.

The breakfast was an opportunity for Mayor and Council to connect with the local Caledon business community while updating them on Town initiatives such as the 2022 budget, business improvement plans, and to share recent business news and events.

Due to COVID protocols, the event was streamed live online for the entire local business community to keep connected. 

“Small businesses are backbone of our economy, and the lifeblood of our communities,” said Ford. “They have weathered a lot throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and we will never forget the sacrifices they made. Our government will continue to ensure we create the best conditions for them to thrive right here in Caledon and across Ontario, and I know that we will soon be the number one destination to do business once again.

“The people working together are the reason we are leading North America with the lowest cases per 100,000. It's been the frontline healthcare workers that have made it happen and I'm forever grateful.”

With the impact of COVID-19 causing many people to work from home, Thompson and Jones took the time to thank those who didn't have that option and continued to support the rest of the community throughout the pandemic.

“Local businesses have had tough decision, and some had to close for a long period of time to protect the health of us all, they deserve a thanks,” said Thompson. “Some of them were on the front-lines delivering services and programs so everyone else could stay at home. Let's take a moment and give a round of applause to our frontline workers including our farmers, our grocery stores, and the healthcare and emergency workers. Thank you for getting us through this. And I think we can now finally start to see a light at the end of the tunnel and begin to look into the future.”

Added Jones: “I don't need to remind you how challenging the last 20 months has been. It's been challenging interacting with our families, with our neighbours, it's been challenging for frontline workers who have continued to put forward their most important work looking after the safety of our communities. They didn't have a choice, they had to keep going to work, they had to keep showing up, and they had to keep doing their job. I want to thank them for that because I think a lot of us who have been cocooned in our home offices forget there were an awful lot of people who had no choice and had to go to work.”

Now as the pandemic's impact lessens, Thompson is calling on Caledon residents to support the local businesses that have been hurting for over a year because they're the ones that keep the community prospers.

“With the worst of the pandemic behind us, there's still some challenges for businesses,” said Thompson. “I think it's important that every level of government continues to do what they can to help our businesses through these post-pandemic challenges, there's a lot of work to be done. Here in Caledon, I see so much promise though—possibilities of business expansion, entrepreneurs, and start-ups.

“I have a goal that I know is shared by my dedicated Council team. The goal is to make a Caledon a place where small business thrives, a Town that features a variety of commercial, industrial, services, small independent businesses, and technology-based companies—big and small. They're the ones that put their names on the back of the jerseys when these kids step onto the ice or soccer pitch or baseball diamond. They're the ones that have always been there to support our communities and more than ever we have to find ways on how to give back.”

As part of Small Business Week, the Town of Caledon has been highlighting recent business openings on its @YourCaledon social media channels.