How You Can Buy Canadian and Support the Local Creative Economy Right Now

April 1, 2025 | Canada, Local, Creative Economy

Man carrying a Canadian flag riding a horse for Skijordue 2025

Canada is experiencing a renewed sense of national pride. With shifting global trade dynamics and an evolving relationship with the U.S., Canadians are more motivated than ever to support local businesses and industries. Across the country, people are choosing Canadian-made products, prioritizing local brands, and being more intentional about where they spend their money. Provincial governments are also taking action, favouring local companies in contracts. This collective effort is strengthening local economies and fostering a deeper appreciation for what Canada has to offer.

While much of the focus has been on retail and manufacturing, there’s another vital sector that deserves attention—the creative economy. From artists and musicians to designers and filmmakers, Canada’s creative talent plays a crucial role in shaping our cultural identity, enhancing community vibrancy, and driving economic growth.

What is the Creative Economy?

We’re glad you asked! The creative economy is more than just art galleries and theaters—it’s a dynamic ecosystem that we’ve defined with three threads: creative industries, creative talent and creative occupations. These threads contribute to employment, tourism, and the overall liveability of our cities, yet they can often be overlooked in economic discussions. Check out our page on the creative economy to learn more about this vital industry.

The creative economy is no stranger to economic shocks, the COVID-19 pandemic, firmly in the rearview mirror for many is still being felt, particularly by local music venues. Even today, some venues who have unfortunately made the decision to shut their doors cite the aftermath of the pandemic as reason for closure. 

To truly support local, we need to recognize the value of our creative industries and actively contribute to their success. This blog explores simple, impactful ways that individuals and groups can do to help sustain and grow Canada’s local creative economy.

CCMA Country Crawl 2024

Spruce Grove Summer Market

Esquao Awards Edmonton 2024

1. Shop Local, Buy Handmade

Canadians are already doing a wonderful job supporting local! A recent report by Interact highlights how strongly Canadians now feel about supporting local, “nearly eight in 10 Canadians (79 per cent) agree that supporting local businesses feels more important than it did at this time last year. More than two thirds of Canadians polled (68 per cent) believe the way they choose to spend their own money has a direct impact on their local community.” What’s more, Interact also reveals that Canadians are willing to spend more money if it means supporting local with “over half (53 per cent) prepared to spend an extra $5 to buy a product locally and a third (33 per cent) [willing to] pay $10 more.”

Simply opting out of purchasing from Amazon in support of Canadian retailers is one way of supporting local. But actively seeking out and shopping at market collectives, seasonal markets, local art shows, farmers markets, and pop-up thrift events near you can have a larger impact on your community.

Major cities have a plethora of local markets to choose from, here are just a few for Alberta’s major cities:

Calgary

Edmonton


We encourage you to seek out similar markets in your own area! Your local municipal website or your city’s tourism website often lists upcoming events. Listing websites like eventbrite.ca and allevents.in are also great resources.

Market Collective at Calgary City Hall

Art Spot at The Pioneer

Authentically Indigenous at The Pioneer

2. Attend and Promote Local Events

Local events—especially those organized by community groups and municipal partners—are essential to community vibrancy. In addition to supporting small businesses and culture, these events often involve non-profit organizations that benefit from exposure and donations from attendees. They provide platforms for local artists, musicians, and vendors while boosting tourism and improving overall city liveability. 

If you’re looking for a way to support your community while enjoying unique cultural experiences, consider:

  • Attending local festivals, art exhibitions, or live performances.

  • Sharing event details on social media to increase attendance.

  • Volunteering at a local festival or community activation.

The more we engage with these events, the more we help ensure their success and longevity.

New Years Eve on Rice Howard Way

Winter Whyte Light Up in Old Strathcona

3. Commission and Collaborate with Local Creatives

Hiring local artists, designers, photographers, and writers for personal or professional projects is a powerful way to support the creative economy. With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in creative fields, local artists face increased competition from AI-generated content, much of which is produced by companies based outside Canada.

While AI can be a helpful tool, it’s important to recognize opportunities where human creativity and craftsmanship add irreplaceable value. Investing in local talent is more environmentally friendly (unfortunately AI data centres use a lot of energy and resources) and ensures that artists can continue to thrive and contribute meaningfully to our communities.

Non-monetary ways you can support

4. Engage with Artists on Social Media

Social media algorithms prioritize engagement, meaning that liking, commenting, and sharing posts from local artists can significantly boost their reach. Simple actions like following a musician you heard on the radio or commenting on a painting you loved at a market can make a big impact. 

If a local artist, event, or business is running a fundraising campaign, consider sharing it on your social channels. Small acts of support can go a long way in helping creatives sustain their work.

A Note on AI-Generated Art

AI-generated images and content are becoming more prevalent, sometimes misleading audiences about their origins. Many AI models are trained on existing artwork scraped from the internet without crediting the original creators. To truly support the local creative economy, be mindful of what you engage with. Ensuring that you are engaging with legitimate local artists and not AI on social media can be tricky. Here is an article that details ways in which you can tell the difference between real and AI content. 

Person taking a photo of a performance during the CCMA Country Crawl.

5. Advocate for Public and Private Support

Advocacy in support of the creative economy can take many shapes. It can be as simple as voting for politicians that prioritize supporting or advancing policies aimed at building creative industries. A more hands-on approach could mean advocating to elected officials, initiatives aimed at providing resources or support for creative professionals.

There are currently many reports and networks that individuals can delve into and amplify detailing plans to advance the developing a certain creative industry or providing a network of creative professionals for collaboration opportunities. Here are two examples from Alberta:

  • West Anthem – Their Music City Strategies reports and toolkit outlines actionable plans for strengthening music industries in Calgary, Edmonton, and rural communities.

  • RISE UP Calgary – Their Partner Listings resource connects creative professionals and organizations for collaboration opportunities.

By staying informed and spreading awareness, we can push for long-term investment in Canada’s creative industries.

Music City Strategy Calgary Launch

6. Explore Volunteering Opportunities

Many festivals and creative events operate on tight budgets and rely heavily on volunteers to keep things running smoothly. Volunteering is a great way to support the creative economy while building connections within your local arts community.

For example, the Edmonton Folk Music Festival attracts over 2,800 volunteers each year, keeping a festival that hosts on average 20,000 people a day for four days running smoothly. This demonstrates how essential community involvement is to the success of major cultural events. Whether it’s a one-time festival shift or an ongoing role with a local arts organization, volunteering is a meaningful way to show support.

We’re in this together

Supporting the local creative economy isn’t just about making purchases—it’s about recognizing and valuing the industries, artists, and cultural experiences that shape our communities. From buying handmade goods and attending local events to advocating for policy changes and volunteering, every action contributes to a stronger, more sustainable creative sector.

As Canadians continue to embrace the importance of shopping local, we encourage everyone to extend that mindset to the creative economy. By making intentional choices, we can help ensure that artists, musicians, designers, and cultural organizations thrive, enriching our communities for years to come.

So, whether you’re commissioning a local artist, sharing an event on social media, or simply exploring a new festival in your city, remember—your support makes a difference. Let’s continue to champion Canada’s creative economy together!