Langford

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LANGFORD

AUGUST 2, 2020 | City of Langford Community News

I AM Langford Taking Care of Business the Langford Way LANGFORD’S REPUTATION AS A DESIRABLE PLACE TO LIVE, WORK AND OWN A BUSINESS KEEPS GROWING. SO DOES ITS REPUTATION AS A CITY THAT GOES THE EXTRA MILE TO BACK ITS BUSINESS COMMUNITY. hen Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced on March 20 that B.C. restaurants must close due to COVID-19, except for takeout and delivery, Doug Stewart, owner of Poncho’s Coffee House in Langford, took a deep breath and pivoted the popular Goldstream Avenue coffee house to takeout only. And loyal customers and the City of Langford stepped up to support him in a big way, he says. Not only did Langford staff regularly check in with businesses like Poncho’s, they created a free weekly business resource guide and delivered directional and physical distancing signage and floor decals to businesses at no cost. They also set up the Langford COVID hotline with access to nurses and doctors, and immediately ordered 40,000 non-medical grade masks and 6,000 face shields to be delivered to businesses at cost. “When we say ‘We’re all in this together’ it’s more than just words,” says Mayor Stewart Young. “We have each other’s backs in the true Langford Way. Stewart Young grew up in Langford, where he’s been its Mayor and champion for 28 years, and he believes in the grit, loyalty, pride and resilience of his community to recover from the pandemic. “As we fire up the economy again, we want to continue to support our businesses and make sure that both customers and workers are safe while offering a positive experience,” he says. A big part of that is Langford’s Business Recovery Marketing Campaign — “I AM Langford” — created to celebrate all things Langford, and to remind people of the importance and impact of shopping locally. The campaign is more than encouraging

Front Runners

Mayor Young, Langford, BC

VINCE KLASSEN PHOTO

VINCE KLASSEN PHOTO

Keep an eye out for the Langford Acts of Kindness van travelling throughout the community spreading good vibes and rewarding shoppers for their loyalty to Langford. All sponsored by local businesses, once again demonstrating that Langford is in this together.

Ponchos Café

True Boutique

into Langford in early 2020, launching a new café model in Belmont Market. Be sure to keep an eye out for the Langford Acts of Kindness van traveling throughout the community, spreading good vibes and rewarding shoppers for their loyalty to Langford. This is all sponsored by local businesses, once again demonstrating that Langford is truly in this together. iamlangford.com VINCE KLASSEN PHOTO

residents to shop local -- it’s positioned to be more deeply rooted than that. The campaign uses a storytelling approach to connect the entire community together like never before. “Whether you live, work or own a business in Langford, we are all connected and need to support each other, even in little ways like never before,” says Young. “There was never a time when I called [the City of Langford] that my calls weren’t returned the same day,” says Young. And with his community’s support, Poncho’s has thrived during the crisis, turning a profit while avoiding the need for financial aid. Meanwhile, for local eateries without extra indoor space or patios, the City of Langford quickly passed a Sidewalk Use Bylaw on May 21 to enable restaurants and retail businesses to safely expand onto sidewalks, boulevards and other common areas. Council has designated authority to staff to work directly with businesses and approve applications within 24 hours. “Every day counts for businesses during this recovery period,” says Young, “so our staff are proactively visiting them to see how we can support

VINCE KLASSEN PHOTO

VINCE KLASSEN PHOTO

W

Origin Gluten Free Bakery & Café

their reopening plans. Businesses work hard and add vibrancy and jobs and services to our community. Any time they need us, we are there for them.” “I feel confident that the City of Langford is committed to engaging with the business community here and is being proactive in how to support us,” says Tara Black, co-owner of Origin Gluten-Free Bakery, which expanded

MOD Pizza


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