As more people are shopping online or having items delivered during the COVID-19 pandemic, White Rock City Council wants to encourage residents and visitors to buy from local businesses and “Shop the Rock.”
According to the White Rock BIA, White Rock, the City by the Sea, has more than 300 small businesses, in addition to home-based businesses.
White Rock is fortunate to have award-winning, provincially and nationally recognized businesses that offer fantastic goods and services, ranging from hair products, restaurants, bakeries, health food stores, gourmet chocolate, home décor, flowers, craft beer, health food, mechanics and the arts.
Local businesses are often friends and neighbours who live and work in the community and many are hard hit by closures and reduced customer visits due to the pandemic.
List of Online and Pickup Options
The City of White Rock has started a list of businesses offering shopping alternatives and will keep adding to the list. To include your business, contact the City’s Economic Development Officer, Carolyn Latzen, at clatzen@whiterockcity.ca
Helping during the Pandemic
The City works closely with the White Rock BIA and the South Surrey-White Rock Chamber of Commerce to provide support for local businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Working with its partners, the City has:
- Worked with senior levels of government for help for White Rock businesses
- Provided credits for patio licence fees
- Extended business licence renewal discounts for businesses that have temporarily shut down
- Engaged with business owners to allow better weather protection enclosures for patios on City property
- Added picnic tables on the East Beach, Memorial Park and Five Corners to encourage outdoor takeout dining to help residents and businesses
- Streamlined applications for service area expansions under the temporary revisions to the Liquor Control Act
- Formed the COVID-19 Recovery Task Force, including business owners, to respond quickly to social and economic needs
- Extended free parking to seven days a week from Nov. 1 to Jan. 31.
Quotes
Mayor Darryl Walker
“Many businesses rely heavily on the holiday season. Whether you shop in person, online or pick up your goods curbside, think White Rock businesses first. Let’s all Shop the Rock.”
Carolyn Latzen
Economic Development Officer, City of White Rock
"I encourage everyone to check out the unique gifts, quality baked goods and products and services available in White Rock. Any way you to choose to shop, you will be impressed.”
For information about Shop the Rock, visit whiterockcity.ca/shoptherock. For information about business in White Rock, visit whiterockcity.ca/business.